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wheel cleaning revisited
- Thread starter Rons
- Start date
Earl Weiss
Well-known member
I am about to test a new brush configuration for Erie Brush.
It is a replacement for the "Poodle" brush.
I will report back.
Earl Weiss
Well-known member
I am currently testing 3 more versions.
Please note we are all filament and 3 pieces of equipment hit the wheel before the tire brush, so any improvement is whatever 3 ither pieces did not hit.
It is kind of like looking for a black cat in a dark room for to get in the nooks and crannies with a piece of friction equipment after 3 other pieces have not been able to get in the nooks and crannies. . AFAIAC the test brush did not add much to what we had. We will see how the next 3 perform. One is in place now.
Wheel cleaning
From my experience the brush configuration and/or high pressure makes no difference in wheel cleaning unless you have an "outstanding" wheel cleaner chemical.
When I operated Cuzzin's Car Wash in Portland all we had for friction were the wraps; two sets of rocker panels, a set of high side washers and a high volume side blaster for cleaning. NO specific wheel cleaning brush.
The key to our clean wheels was the Kaady Chemical Corp's TWB Chemical.
This is a multi-purpose chemical that we diluted to different dilutions for:
Prep Gun
Body Shampoo
Tires
Wheels
Have to tell you it was outstanding. Often wondered what it would do if I had a Poodle Type brush.
Could not recommend a better Wheel Cleaner Chemical, or car wash chemical for that matter.
REgards
Bud Abraham
From my experience the brush configuration and/or high pressure makes no difference in wheel cleaning unless you have an "outstanding" wheel cleaner chemical.
When I operated Cuzzin's Car Wash in Portland all we had for friction were the wraps; two sets of rocker panels, a set of high side washers and a high volume side blaster for cleaning. NO specific wheel cleaning brush.
The key to our clean wheels was the Kaady Chemical Corp's TWB Chemical.
This is a multi-purpose chemical that we diluted to different dilutions for:
Prep Gun
Body Shampoo
Tires
Wheels
Have to tell you it was outstanding. Often wondered what it would do if I had a Poodle Type brush.
Could not recommend a better Wheel Cleaner Chemical, or car wash chemical for that matter.
REgards
Bud Abraham
Earl Weiss
Well-known member
1. Well no difference may be a heck of a statement. The above configuration you mention has cloth (Filament) hitting the wheel 4 times. Many tunnels have a lot less, possibly only twice. I think the type of material such as foam, filament or cloth may make a difference.
2. I am currently testing two foam configurations one really seems to do a nice job, but we are in the salt season, and I think wheels are much easier to clean when full of salt and it's cold then when brake dust is cooked on for a while.
Earl
You make a good point, however if rocker panels hitting the wheels were enough then the car wash equipment manufacturers would not be spending all their R&D to develop brushes that clean wheels specificially.
As they say, what goes around, comes around. When I was with Hanna back in the 70's we had wheel brushes that were 13" in diameter and staggered brushes a combo of 13" and 8" to clean wheels. They came, they went and now they are back as something new.
My experience with foam was less than satisfactory, on the wraps it did not clean well at all. The only thing that got the oil film and dirt off was cloth.
Which leads me back to the original point, the chemical is most important in cleaning the wheels.
In my opinion, of course.
Bud A
You make a good point, however if rocker panels hitting the wheels were enough then the car wash equipment manufacturers would not be spending all their R&D to develop brushes that clean wheels specificially.
As they say, what goes around, comes around. When I was with Hanna back in the 70's we had wheel brushes that were 13" in diameter and staggered brushes a combo of 13" and 8" to clean wheels. They came, they went and now they are back as something new.
My experience with foam was less than satisfactory, on the wraps it did not clean well at all. The only thing that got the oil film and dirt off was cloth.
Which leads me back to the original point, the chemical is most important in cleaning the wheels.
In my opinion, of course.
Bud A
Earl Weiss
Well-known member
I agree what was old is new again. I actualy know one of the supplers of the "New" poodle Brush. He apparently worked with Sonny's in developing it for them and it was based on the "Old" staggered brush he did.
As far as whether the lower details clean wheels , you may take note that this is exactly one configuration Sonny's offers for this purpose. 1 or 2 lower details mounted on their tire brush, and with a filament option to boot. I know you have been around long enough to remember filament and agree that Foam does not seem to clean as well as cloth. Surprised you omitted mention of filament.
And, yes, just with cleaning the body. Good solutions are a must. However, to date, I have seen nothing except high pressure reall get into the little nooks and crannies of wheels. (Exceptt some really aggressive solutions)
Earl Weiss
Well-known member
One idea I had was to run the tire brush in a direction reverse to normal . (Contact from abottom up instead of top down) Thought maybe a longer filament would follow the wheel contours better / bridge less. This guy told me not to it would tend to cause the brush to pull under the tire.
Wheel cleaning
Earl
That's right, SONNY'S did come put with a very short rocker panel mounted on their tire washer that was a plastic bristle brush engineered to clean wheels.
Not sure if it works or not, never seen it function.
Did not mention the plastic bristles because in my opinion they are a thing of the past too aggressive on clear-coat paint. The above mentioned SONNY'S brush would hit the lower rocker panels of the car and have the potential for scratching or as they called in my day, "hazing."
Never seen high pressure work either, without friction of some kind or a good chemical.
That is why I really recommend that operators at least try this Kaady TWB, it cleaned my wheels and left the body unbelieveably clean and shiny.
Just some well intentioned thoughts on the subject of wheel cleaning from an "old timer" who has been around long-enough to remember.
Bud A
Earl
That's right, SONNY'S did come put with a very short rocker panel mounted on their tire washer that was a plastic bristle brush engineered to clean wheels.
Not sure if it works or not, never seen it function.
Did not mention the plastic bristles because in my opinion they are a thing of the past too aggressive on clear-coat paint. The above mentioned SONNY'S brush would hit the lower rocker panels of the car and have the potential for scratching or as they called in my day, "hazing."
Never seen high pressure work either, without friction of some kind or a good chemical.
That is why I really recommend that operators at least try this Kaady TWB, it cleaned my wheels and left the body unbelieveably clean and shiny.
Just some well intentioned thoughts on the subject of wheel cleaning from an "old timer" who has been around long-enough to remember.
Bud A
Earl Weiss
Well-known member
Interesting. FWIW I do not think that a properly lubricated filament has any more potential for adverse effects on a vehicles finish than properly lubricated cloth. Apparently Sonny's, as well as mfgrs of various other equip. particularly IBA do not think so either.
TheChemicalGuy1
Member
I like what I have experienced with the Wheel Boss by MacNeil. This brush too uses the closed cell foam material, but the way the brush is designed, it really does reach inside a lot of the nooks and crannies of the rims. Now, I will say, a lot has to do with the fact that I'm running BlendCo's Tunnel Vision Wheel cleaner. Only using about 6-8ml of surfactant but titrating at 25 drops. I could even increase my alkalinity for a tougher cleaning season and still be in a reasonable cost per car. In fact , If I'm not mistaken, I could increase up to 50 drops and still be around what most chemical companies charge for a 15 drop solution, so thanks Blend Co for all the clean rims!
Earl Weiss
Well-known member
I believe you sell Blendco. Correct? For the sake of fairness I think anyone that may have a financial interest in their opinion should share that fact. That does not neccessarily invalidate the opininion, but I think that is the ethical thing to do.
TheChemicalGuy1
Member
I don't come to these forums to stir anything up. Sorry to anyone I rubbed the wrong way with my newbie post. I've only been learning about the carwash industry for 5-6 months now, so I love this forum as I get to learn a crap ton of information. I really enjoy all the members, their questions and inputs...no more "self serving" post from this guy.
