Some of you guys posted a SC technique I’m struggling to understand. Instead of horizontal back-and-forth, there’s a push/pull method that eliminates stripes, which I just can’t seem to get rid of no matter what speed or tips I use.
A video or the like would be extremely helpful.
Push pull method? How do you mean? I always do perpendicular to line of sight. Sometimes, on sidewalks, I do both the edges first which leaves a strip down the middle and then I just kind of go left to right and back while walking backwards to eliminate the chances of the center strip leaving two edge lines. I don’t know why it works that way but it does.
I’ve heard it recommend on here once or twice as a more circular mr miagee wax on wax off style.
But I to have never seen it done that way.
That seems like a good way to get tennis elbow or something. It’s not a floor buffer so I doubt it makes much difference. If I ever have stripes that a post treat won’t handle I just go back over it in the opposite direction and I’ve never had visible lines afterwards.
I did both forward and reverse and side to side on this driveway and still got lines afterwards. I had to go over a second time and was able to pick up the pace to clean it up. The driveway was pretty bad before starting so maybe the condition has alot to do with it.
Did you either pre treat or post treat that one? What time of year? Did you ever let it dry completely? Sometimes you’ll see lines when wet and once you post treat and let dry you won’t see anything.
That’s the exact issue I’m having. Doesn’t matter what I do.
I just have to wonder if an 8gpm would solve this, or maybe a 4-nozzle bar. I also got some chuckles but suggested using the injector with a surfactant/soap.
Anybody try using wider fan nozzles like 35’s? Using 2503’s right now on a 5.5gpm.
It was last week. I did a pre treat washed it until I couldn’t see anymore. Had to go two days later to finish cleaning up the lines. I did not post treat, but given how dirty it was I probably should have.
Probably a stupid question but how fast are you moving? Have you tried slowing down? Some people use a circular technique. Like creating arm width circles if you know what I mean… I remember @Racer talking about it a while back
What’s you setup like? What are you using for pre and post treat?
Yeah when you have a driveway that’s literally black you really should post treat. Some you can get away without it but I just figure it into my prices and do it on pretty much every one. Makes it really pop.
Its a 4000psi 4gpm AAA pump, 20" surface cleaner, used 5 gal bucket 3 gallons water 1 gallon sh and a couple oz wildcat( a degreaser from Alclean out here in Houston).
Edit: used this as a pre treat. I did not post treat this one due to me going over it twice to clean up the lines.
What’s your approximate PSI and how long hose run?
The breeze way up front took all use of a 100ft hose.
Are you running an undersized injector on your 4/4? If so you should actually be able to lay down a pretty decent pretreat by downstreaming. I don’t know the ratios but they pull harder than the big machines. You should pick up an actual surfactant to help break the surface tension of the water so it can more easily penetrate the substrate. Degreaser doesn’t do the best job at that by itself. If you’re using 12.5% SH then you should be doing just fine with a good post treat. It really does make a difference. Try it out on a friends dirty driveway. Split the drive into thirds and do no pre or post on one area, do pre only on the next and then do pre and post on the final. You’ll see the difference when it’s all dry.
You’re also running a pretty big surface cleaner for a 4gpm machine, in my opinion. I run a 21" on an 8/3500. You may have better luck with a bit smaller surface cleaner.
I have read that about the surface cleaner on another post. Sad thing is I bought the pressure washer and surface cleaner as a package deal and didnt know any better at the time. It sounds funny, but after paying off the equipment I actually plan to get a smaller one. I have some products from pressure tek coming I can mix with the sh. I will definitely try the pre and post treat on my next concrete job to see results.
Ah yeah that’s unfortunate. Do you have a 12v system?
I’m running a 3500/5.5 and 16” Ultra.
Really I’m just trying to find the guy on here that mentioned the push/pull method.
Doesn’t matter what speed I go, the outside edge gets ‘polished’ more as the water hits that part a lot more than the middle and the result is stripes. If I go too slow the cream gets blasted down some, you can physically feel the difference with your hand.
I might be wrong but it might’ve been @Clean_Blue . I remember the post but can’t remember who it was. If I’m remembering correctly you’re basically facing the road but you still want to go left to right. You push forward like 32" (since you have a 16" sc), go right 16", then pull back 32". Go to right 16", push forward 32", go right 16", pull back 32", etc. That’s if I’m even remembering the right post.
