Blow Dry Self Service Booms?

[mjwalsh]

This year, we are seriously considering updating our 25 year old side boom &/or spring mounted self service wand style blow drys that were 1987 era Specialty-Doyle. Probably the biggest need for update is the side boom (or in some bays just spring suspended) ... because when the customers are drying their vehicle the last thing they want is water dripping from a vacuum style hose on their clean spot free rinsed vehicle.

So a center mount 360 degree boom is a must for us. I am hoping we do not have to go custom made or heavily modify the future "close to center" 360 degree mounted boom. Any suggestions on the best brand or custom solution? It appears that maybe we might have enough room to keep the blow dry air boom above the main car wash hose boom path. We do not want to lower our height clearances or have increased danger of tangle problems. We also need to replace our side foaming brush hose booms ... if that has any bearing on a response.

MikeW

 

[mjwalsh]

Based on the KR free offer post it seems like possibly there is no such a thing as a center mount blow dry boom.

Could it be a really good side boom has already addressed the issue of unclean water dripping on a completely clean vehicle.

Has anybody else ... besides yours truly ... thought about ... or possibly used ... a center mount self service blow dry boom

mike walsh --- www.kingkoin.com

http://www.grandforksherald.com/event/image/id/57402/headline/Mike Walsh

 

[I.B. Washincars]

Keep in mind that you would need a swivel. I can't think of anything already on the market that would suffice and with such a low demand can't picture anyone designing one. If someone did, I can only imagine what it would cost. I've had 180 degree booms for 6 years and have never seen a need for anything different.

 

[MEP001]

I could see using a stainless tube as the boom arm and a swivel vac cuff as a swivel. I don't know if anyone makes such a thing, but it should be easy to fabricate.

 

[car washing systems inc]

Based on the KR free offer post it seems like possibly there is no such a thing as a center mount blow dry boom.

Could it be a really good side boom has already addressed the issue of unclean water dripping on a completely clean vehicle.

Has anybody else ... besides yours truly ... thought about ... or possibly used ... a center mount self service blow dry boom

mike walsh --- www.kingkoin.com

http://www.grandforksherald.com/event/image/id/57402/headline/Mike Walsh

Mosmatic has a few air booms that are a center mount

 

[sparkey]

I could see using a stainless tube as the boom arm and a swivel vac cuff as a swivel. I don't know if anyone makes such a thing, but it should be easy to fabricate.

I built my own dryers and used a swivel vac cuff as a swivel. They have been in service almost a year and I am still on my first swivels. The only problem I had was keeping the hoses from blowing out of the swivels. I ended up shooting a couple screws into the swivels to keep the hose attached.

 

[mjwalsh]

Please post a pic of center mount air swivel arrangement!

I built my own dryers and used a swivel vac cuff as a swivel. They have been in service almost a year and I am still on my first swivels. The only problem I had was keeping the hoses from blowing out of the swivels. I ended up shooting a couple screws into the swivels to keep the hose attached.

Sparkey,

When you have a chance ... could you post a pic of the center mount air boom as it is used with the other necessary booms? My main concern is tangling with other hoses ... not the swivel. Swivel wise I could go with like you use & Mep suggests but ... depending on what my machine shop expert & stainless welder friend says ... it seems like we might fabricate a swivel ... using an appropriate plastic bearing material & stainless.

Mike

 

[sparkey]

Sparkey,

When you have a chance ... could you post a pic of the center mount air boom as it is used with the other necessary booms? My main concern is tangling with other hoses ... not the swivel. Swivel wise I could go with like you use & Mep suggests but ... depending on what my machine shop expert & stainless welder friend says ... it seems like we might fabricate a swivel ... using an appropriate plastic bearing material & stainless.

Mike

I don't have a center mount boom. I modified a wall mount boom with the vac swivel cuff for the blower boom.

 

[Earl Weiss]

Could it be a really good side boom has already addressed the issue of unclean water dripping on a completely clean vehicle.



http://www.grandforksherald.com/event/image/id/57402/headline/Mike Walsh

I do not understand the concern. Why would this be different than other wall mount booms like foam brush? Or is it because the car has already been rinsed and now the boom is over the car? Why is a wall mount boom more prone to this than center mount?

What if the wall mount boom were pitched on a slight angle up toward the end so any water would run back to the wall?

 

[mjwalsh]

I do not understand the concern. Why would this be different than other wall mount booms like foam brush? Or is it because the car has already been rinsed and now the boom is over the car? Why is a wall mount boom more prone to this than center mount?

What if the wall mount boom were pitched on a slight angle up toward the end so any water would run back to the wall?

Earl & others,

The issue is not the water on the boom itself. The hose is a vacuum hose that has ribs in it where dirty water gets in & at minimum has slight drips on a completely clean & possibly even on a spot free rinsed vehicle.

My existing side mounted air booms only go about to the middle of the 17' wide x 32' long self service bays that we have. It is kind of one of those subtle items for the customers that possibly could be improved upon & that is why I thought maybe one of the forum members had already checked into the center approach or has actually done the center air boom.

Any thoughts on increased nuisance entanglements that would cancel out any gains

MikeW