wolverine rug duster

I had the chance to use one in a demo situation. Tried it on a couple of rugs. I really liked it.

I demoed one a couple years ago. It is a nice machine and works well. I compared it to the Rug Badger and my decision was the Rug Badger was better designed and built so I bought it. I didn't like the aluminum rollers on the Wolverine. To move the machine around in the shop you either move it on concrete on those aluminum rollers or had to lift it up onto a cart. Either way, I sure hate buying anything I haven't run unless I can return it after a trial period. Paying some on freight to send it back is a lot better than having another machine or tool sitting in the shop.

Lisa what do you use and why? I Know you don't use the Badger. I don't know about the Wolverine.

I like the Badger. I don't use it in my plant (because my guys like to use the Sanitaire commercial vacuums along the back of the rugs - plus we are not getting super soiled rugs, we have clients who wash their rugs regularly). So I do not use a Badger not because it's a bad piece of equipment... we just have a system that works already very well (and is not as loud as these other large dusters are).

The Wolverine was based on the Badger, so I assume it's similar. But since Badger has been around longer, and I know many more who own and love it... I'm more inclined to go with a company that has been around longer. But that's me. In this day and age so many companies go under, I just want to know there is someone to help if things have issues.

Now... if you are only doing a couple rugs a week... it makes no sense to get this equipment. Go lower - and cheaper - tech with an upright vacuum, and then save up money to buy it when you are ready and growing. You might find some second hand - I know a number have cleaners have jumped into rugs too fast, bought lots of equipment, and then went under. So there is 2nd hand goods around.

Lisa

I dusted rugs for years with a Sanitaire and if the rug is heavy with a lot of soil, you'll be there for a long time. More than likely, you'll end up just not doing a very good job. You can start cleaning rugs with little investment just like you can start cleaning carpet with a used 100 psi portable in the trunk of your car. I don't think that is a good way to go into business. That doesn't mean that you have to buy a new box truck and top of the line truck mount to clean carpet either. If you don't have the money to invest in basic rug cleaning equipment, I would say wait until you do. Good dusting is basic in my opinion as are good, safe rug drying racks unless you have the room and want to dry flat. If you can find them used, great.

You can ask Dusty at Rug Badger if he has used equipment to resell - he now and then does have some. You can also post on forums asking for one second-hand, as cleaners are often going out of business.

If you Google the words "rug washing mini duster greece" you will find a link to www.alibaba.com which is an international machinery portal where you can find not only small and large dusters, but a whole host of rug washing large machinery from wringers to centrifugal machines to fully automated machines like Moore used to make here in the US. You can also Google "rug washing machines Turkey" and get links to more.

I put in several bids, and the asking prices on some are quite good, and I know the first asking price is not necessarily the end price accepted (kinda like real estate...). Anyway... you might price some items internationally and determine the freight and if you may find a better deal abroad. Not sure if you will, but with all the rugs woven in that area, they are pretty good at building machinery for rugs. Couple sites I discovered were www.carpetwashingmachine.com and www.tankmakina.com - both based in Turkey.

Anyway... some things to look at. Amazing what you can find through Google these days.
Lisa

Lisa, there are major problems with this machinery from Europe. These machines are designed for the cleaning of smaller and synthetic rugs. I have travelled extensively in Europe and was disappointed. Most of these "automatic" machines use spinning brushes and that is just too aggressive for most natural fiber rugs, and as the rugs over there are all much smaller the machines are not big enough, nor heavy duty enough for large and heavy, soaking wet, natural fiber rugs. Of coarse the other issue is warranty. Kinda like having a Europeen car with no service center anywhere in North America. Good luck when it breaks.

I aggree with Lisa on this one. If you only have a very small number of rugs a week you do not need a RugBadger. Just get an upright vac and dust with it. Put your time and efforts into marketing so you will have more rugs to care for and your profits will buy you some time saving equipment.

Everyone I know who owns the European equipment seems really happy to me. Of course, they are getting the goods at a steep amount lower than the offerings in the US, so I guess you weight the pros/cons of that versus the warranty I suppose.

My roller wringer was made in 1951 - obviously no warranty to speak of - LOL! But the construction is simple enough to have locals help when we need it. Love that piece of machinery though... today everything has computer chips and it more complex, when the simple stuff just seems to work awesome for a really long time.

Lisa