floor machine

[clean it]

what floor machine would you recommend? what horsepower,size, etc.
thanks

 

[grimel]

Something 17" or 20" with 1 or 1.5hp motor. Pick the brand that looks coolest or has the best option set or on sale. Heavy is better than light.

 

[locko-fabara]

for carpets or vct purposes?

 

[clean it]

I want one for carpets, mostly residential. I have read that you can use one instead of an op machine. I don't see much difference in floor machine and op. maybe someone can explain the difference between both. i was told the one advantage is the wheels on the floor but am not clear as to why this would make it better.

 

[shane deubell]

Generally i would say it doesnt matter 175rpm are pretty much all same but for just residential carpet might want a smaller model 17in or even smaller to fit in tighter spaces and also think about weight for lifting up stairs.That would be the 2 factors for me

powerflite or
local janitorial supplier probably has some dirt cheap private label machines

Dont go nuts over this though floor buffers little difference to me anyway.We have 3 different brands and like the tennant the best because its really heavy but that would be bad for your purpose.

 

[locko-fabara]

Agree with Shane, 13 inches will be the best for residential applications, if you need more coverage surface, then you can adapt easily a 17 inches pad driver.

 

[clean it]

Am i better off using an op machine? Will the op machine clean better?

 

[locko-fabara]

you will over pay if you want agitation only.

 

[steam king]

The best floor machine I've ever owned was an old Clarke. I would recommend getting one between 13" to !7" a 19" or 20" is too big in residential settings. If you do VCT you might want to get a 2 speed floor machine; they can work as a buffer and a scrubber all in one machine.

 

[clean it]

It seems like the 13" @ 14" have low horsepower, does that matter?

 

[clean it]

What do you mean i will over pay if i want agitation only?

 

[locko-fabara]

even a 3/4 hp will do it, but if you can get 1 hp is better.

 

[steam king]

OP machines tend to cost a lot more than 175's and if you want it for agitation a 175 will do just fine. However as a stand alone cleaning machine an OP machine is known to provide better results.

 

[clean it]

Thanks guys you definitely answered my question. So the op machine is better as a stand alone, and that is exactly what i need. I want to offer just op cleaning to my customers, I do not own a HWE. But will the op be enough to effectively clean carpets?

 

[shane deubell]

Thanks guys you definitely answered my question. So the op machine is better as a stand alone, and that is exactly what i need. I want to offer just op cleaning to my customers, I do not own a HWE. But will the op be enough to effectively clean carpets?

Trickier question then you think but yes, sort of

Steamking was right on as a stand alone then you want to go with a op, cimex or procaps machine. If the goal {locko} was pointing out to just pre-scrub or agitate prior to steam cleaning{regardless of portable/tm} then it is less important because you are using 2 steps with 1 step you need to get that 1 step right.also same with detergent with multiple steps and heat/vacuum detergent is less important but with 1 step you really want to go higher end and vacuum very thoroughly

See less steps then it is more important to get each step right and move at a moderate pace and use higher end detergents.When you are pre-scrubbing and extracting if you make a mistake 1 of the actions will cover for the other, should even out.

Kinda like a sliding scale the more you spend on equipment less human error and less physical labor but you can get to same place, sorta.

 

[clean it]

so the buffer is good when your going to do the two step process you mentioned above. As far as op it sounds like it is a good idea to have a HWE just in case. But then again i know very little about op. The information i am seeking is literally whether or not an op machine can be used to clean carpets on its own, NO back up!
Also i have read posts where people claim to op with buffer 175 rpm.

thanks

 

[Canada-Eh]

Love my 13" with telescopic handle. It would fit on the back of a motorbike.
Use 3M red pad or 13" Cimex pad.

 

[Lefty724]

Shane said it!

For 1 step cleaning go op with it. For agitation and commercial carpet a 175 will do just fine with the right pads, brushes, and/or bonnets. I have a 13" and a 17" 175 and find myself using the 17" a lot more even though it's a lot heavier.

 

[C Spot Stop]

Dude, I clean carpets every day. I clean the nastiest carpets ever seen....and I do so with a buffer, NOT an OP machine. You can ask this question a thousand times....

Go buy a used buffer and start there. Then, if you actually get busy enough, you can buy 50 OP machines.

Nothing cleans better than nothing regardless of what the salesman tells you. YOU are the key...not the tool.

I can clean carpets with a slinky and a tooth brush.

 

[shane deubell]

Dude, I clean carpets every day. I clean the nastiest carpets ever seen....and I do so with a buffer, NOT an OP machine. You can ask this question a thousand times....

Go buy a used buffer and start there. Then, if you actually get busy enough, you can buy 50 OP machines.

Nothing cleans better than nothing regardless of what the salesman tells you. YOU are the key...not the tool.

I can clean carpets with a slinky and a tooth brush.

just not at my house at yours that is fine