[Grafters Cleaning Services]

stick with it, you will get a few teething problems to start but once you get used to doing things in a better orderly fashion (so to speak) you won't wanna go back to trad methods.
jay

[neil100]

Rich,
Its a flowjet 60psi, Through my pole the flow rate is 1.4 ltrs a min.
Compare that with my 1/2" were I get 4 ltrs a min. Though I never use that amount as I have the hose valve turned on less then half way.

I will check at weekend what flow rate is like with 60 mtrs, If it is a lot better I am thinking of cutting 20mtrs off my 100 mtr m/bore and putting on the 60 mtr to give me 2 x80 mtr hoses. I just orderd a couple of 6mm ID pipemenders in my latest order so it should be a easy job.

Regards Nel.

[Andrew McCann]

Morning Nel

Are you finding that at 1.4 ltrs per minute that you jets/spray out the pole is very weak? I ask because I can use that flow rate and still have a decent jet out of the pole. A weak jet/spray is a real pain when rinsin. Especially doing the tops of the windows. I have a Shurflo 100 PSI combined with a Varistream which gives me very good flow control. I can cut the flow rate down with hardly any noticable reduction in pressure which is great when rinsing. At around 1.4 ltrs per min I absolutely fly through my work. No having to try to angle the brush head upwards to get a decent rinse at the top of the window which is the most important bit to rinse well otherwise it will run down leaving streaks/spots.


YAWN another day

Andrew

[jsm]

stick with it, you will get a few teething problems to start but once you get used to doing things in a better orderly fashion (so to speak) you won't wanna go back to trad methods.
jay

Yes I agree with Jay and matt , we all started about the same time WFPing _ I now fly round my round . I started with a Diy trolley system and a while ago was lucky to get a second hand Ionics 400ltr tank and pump so now do the van mount with 50mtrs of tricoflex running out the back . just so much faster I find - 

I do alot of the new 2-3 bed semi starter homes all next to each other and run the hose right round the back first , then work to the front - then jump in the back of the van , roll up the hose  and drive next door and do the same . I find it quicker to do this  and less hassel than draging the hose next door and all over the place .   

I have my poles racked in the back of the van so I just grab it and the hose in the other hand and walk to the back .

not sure on the micro bore stuff as I use the small blue stuff up the poles , it hasn't got the ani-kink in it like the tricoflex .
I only roll up the 1/2 inch on the reel and just throw the microbore in the back of the van .

[neil100]

Andrew, The spray out of the microbore is ok, Not fantastic, I wonderd if I changed to a smaller spray jet hole weather that would improve the power of the spray. Having said that I am wanting to try a fan jet spray.

I do admitt I would not know what a good spray should be. I have a Shuroflow backback and the spray I get of the micrbore would be between speed setting 2 & 3 on the backpack. I find setting 1 on the backpack to be  rubbish at rinseing. So I normally set it to 2 to rinse.

Its suprising how some take to change Quicker then others. My son cut short is winter  Hibernation in Lanzarote, It was is first day on wfp and he loved it. In fact it was a record day in earnings for the two of us working together, and that was on first cleans,with the added time wasted in showing him what to do, the + & - .He also had a 10 min break every hour, Hes a swimmer and waterpolo player so I did not want him to wreck his arms and shoulders.

I just dont know how we got through so much work. Its like walking into the Tardis from Docter Who with work and wfp. The thing was we were taking it easy having a laugh showing him how everything works in the van, and its a record day.

So it has been a positive day for once.

Nel. ps. (I am still not sure of this wfp though.)

[Andrew McCann]

I just dont know how we got through so much work. Its like walking into the Tardis from Docter Who with work and wfp.

The thing was we were taking it easy having a laugh showing him how everything works in the van, and its a record day.

Hi again Nel. I think that the above may say it all really. Please don't take this wrong but I really think that the change to WFP is affecting you in an adverse mannr and I think it's becuase you obviously take such a pride in your work.

It's not surprising that you should be so doubtfull. Think about it.

a WHOLE NEW WAY of doing your work.

LEAVING THE WINDOWS WET.. that was a biggie for me. The urge to go back and check every single one when it was dry was really very powerfull. I HAD to learn to trust the process ( of course I did relapse a few times and go back and look only to be pleasantly surprised)

YOU ARE RE-LEARNING your round. Before WFP you didnt have to conciously think where to put you ladders. What kit you needed for a particular property etc. IT WAS 2ND NATURE to you. Now its all different again. BUT and I honestly promise you this. IT WILL GET MUCH EASIER and before you know it you will have those "IN THE ZONE DAYS" again.

The first time around can be a nightmare. All of the doubt..re-learning etc. My advice for what its worth is to take it easy.. dont try to rush around like you thought you were doing with ladders. Take a more relaxed appoach and you will honestly begin to relax about the whole thing. The rest will follow naturally.

Dont know if this helps but I am sure many more of us here have felt just the same as you and now we are through it we can look back and think... IT WAS REALLY WORTH IT.

Cheers

Andrew

[neil100]

Thanks for the encouragement Andrew and sparing the time to post a reply. It is hard to change as you get older and I know I have to let time run its course.

The second cleans are nearly here with wfp, I think that will have a dramatic effect on my attitude. It is something to look forward too.

I do appreciate all the positive posts. Thanks Guys.

Nel.

[master cleaner]

Gary,
You say you thought it was a mistake buying wfp in the first week, how long was it before you were glad you had done it?

I have got other jobs all lined up in the spring, Con roofs. Facia's, Gutters.To make some extra money.

Thats not the point though, I just want to be at ease with the new system without the hassle. Or is it a case of what came first, the chicken or the egg?

Nel.

week 2 when i realised that i wasnt as tired also now after 4 months i know where to put the hose (microbore ) which makes a massive difference and all my customers are ok with the new system and are asking me to clean frames etc and complimenting me on the windows if you take a pride in your work neil and i know you do from your posts keep going and as i said earlier put another post to let us know how you are getting on in 3 months
by then like me you will be wondering what all the fuss was about at the beginning

gary

[jsm]

The second cleans are nearly here with wfp, I think that will have a dramatic effect on my attitude. It is something to look forward too.

Nel.

wait till you do the second cleans - you will think someone has beaten you to it and cleaned them the day before - as they will still look clean - the magic of WFP 

thats another thing to get your head round -  :

you may get a few switch to Bi-monthly because of this at first, I did .

[Paul Coleman]

This is my Fourth week on wfp, By the end of next week I will be able to start doing 2nd cleans with wfp which I'm looking forward too as First cleans are a real PAIN.

But I'm having great diffiuclty in coping with the frustration that wfp brings. Its a big problem the amount of time the hoses get stuck or caught on something. Or the hose decides to get all affectionate and starts to wrap itself round my legs.

Tradiontal seamed so easy in comparison, No stress no frustration, I just flowed along like a piece of Germanic enginering, Now its an whole new world where I feel like a fish out of water.

Please tell me things improve?

Or is frustration with hoses, plant pots, shrubs etc , just something I am going to have to get used too?

Nel.

Neil.  I've had a few things go wrong in my early weeks of WFPing too.  A number of frustrating hassles needed resolving and the work took me twice as long to get around.  I feel as if I've just started turning the corner with it now and it's only been a few weeks.  I've had to throw money at it at times in order to be able to work in a way that is more comfortable for me, but I know I will be able to get this money back (and more) as my business starts to change shape.  I've had a few customers moan - though only twice about the quality of the work (one cancelled).  I've had two other cancellations because their frames leaked - though I only found this out from a neighbour.  If they had taken the trouble to tell me about it, I would have informed them that I would be using a lower water flow starting with the second clean.  There are two others who want me back up the ladder.  They will be passed on to another w/c.
The hose tangling is happening less often now.  I can't put my finger on what I'm doing differently but it just seems to be feeling easier as the weeks go by.  Another few weeks and I reckon I will have consolidated and that will be the time to really start hunting down larger jobs.  I have got three new jobs because of WFP now.  They don't quite make up for the few I've lot but I'm not bothered at this stage.  If a few customers don't want to come on board, that's fine. I'm not holding my business back in order to appease them.

When I first started trad cleaning in 1991, I had a lot of frustration then too.  I took a load of work with bad access - locked gates, ladders through the house etc.  Gradually I changed the type of work that I did to suit the system I ran.  The same will be true of WFP.

Because I introduced WFP to my round in stages, I am mostly on second cleans right now.  However, I still have a few first cleans to do even though I'm on the third clean with a few jobs.

On reflection, I would suggest to anyone starting WFP NOT to start it during the Winter.  Wait till Winter is coming to a close at least.  At least when the days are getting a bit longer you can make up for the lost time as you re-learn your round.

[master cleaner]

i think that winter is the perfect time to start wfp if you start in summer you could dread the winter get it out of the way then enjoy summer
also in winter it gets dark earlier so on those first cleans where you might get the spots especially if you are new to wfp when the customer comes home from work it is dark and so can cover any mistakes that you might have made
then when the light nights come you are allready competant at it so i doesnt matter

gary

[Paul Coleman]

i think that winter is the perfect time to start wfp if you start in summer you could dread the winter get it out of the way then enjoy summer
also in winter it gets dark earlier so on those first cleans where you might get the spots especially if you are new to wfp when the customer comes home from work it is dark and so can cover any mistakes that you might have made
then when the light nights come you are allready competant at it so i doesnt matter

gary

You do make some good points there Gary about poorer work quality not showing up so much in Winter.  I was coming from a perspective of finance myself as my income has been greatly depleted in the early stages of WFP and I've been unable to work longer hours to make it up.  I suppose it depends on individual circumstances really.

[master cleaner]

i think that winter is the perfect time to start wfp if you start in summer you could dread the winter get it out of the way then enjoy summer
also in winter it gets dark earlier so on those first cleans where you might get the spots especially if you are new to wfp when the customer comes home from work it is dark and so can cover any mistakes that you might have made
then when the light nights come you are allready competant at it so i doesnt matter

gary

You do make some good points there Gary about poorer work quality not showing up so much in Winter.  I was coming from a perspective of finance myself as my income has been greatly depleted in the early stages of WFP and I've been unable to work longer hours to make it up.  I suppose it depends on individual circumstances really.

how long have you been wfp for ive been doing it 4 months and ive got customers coming out of my ears at the moment
i hope it carries on like this

i cant wait till summer

gary

[neil100]

Thanks for the post Shiner, But I agree with Gary on reflection, I think Winter is the perfect time to start.Especially at the start of the new year. Your mistakes can be coverd over more because of it getting dark early and the bad weather.Many of my customers dont get to see their windows untill the weekend because they work. When the light evenings kick in I will have mastered wfp and will have done the third w/cleans so the windows will be comeing up perfect with Detergent contamination consigned to the history books.

Shiner my earnings have not suffered, this being due to me putting up my prices 20%, but also because I'm going the same speed on average as I would of done Traditional, In fact if the frames are in a cleanish condition I am faster with wfp on first cleans, My son is also faster with wfp.

In fact this week I set a record for the most I have earned in a week ever, thats 26yrs of w/cleaning.

Come spring I will be flying, In March I am going to canvass again to get more work in, If I fail in buying my freinds wfp round off him.

Nel.