flexible wand blowout

[Mel(NC)]

While I was cleaning up my car wash tonight, a flexible wand ruptured on a customer. A small hole formed in the middle of the rubber and shot a stream of water straight up. Luckily, it was not pointing back on the customer. I moved him to another bay and he did not seem too bothered by the event but I am somewhat concerned about these things blowing out. I think the wand was less than a year old but I can't say for sure since I don't change them on any schedule. Anybody else have any problems with these?

 

[Waxman]

No problems in 3 years with mine.

 

[Randy]

I give up on those Flex wands years ago after a few blow outs. Now I make my own Flex wands. They last almost forever and they look better than the Flex wands that are on the market. I tried to post some pictures but they wouldn't load

 

[MEP001]

I hate flex wands. If your booms are installed and "homed" properly you don't need them. I quit using hose guards on the high-pressure hoses for basically the same reason - I had one rupture on a customer, and I never saw a sign that it was going to fail until it did. Without them, I can see the rubber cracking and the metal start to rust, so I can change it before it bursts.

 

[Eric H]

Are there spring wands or the wands with the rubber piece in the middle of 2 straight pipes?
I've been using the spring wands forever and only had one blowout. I can't stand the type with the rubber connector.

 

[Mel(NC)]

These are the type with the rubber between two pieces of pipe.

 

[DavidM]

I am surprised by the dislike of flex wands. We have been using them for many years in our tunnel and self serves. They make it much more convenient for getting into fenderwells and such.
Years ago we had some fail but nothing in the last 6+ years.
There are different brands and I suspect that may have something to do with the different experiences.

David

 

[CRHAMEL]

Mel,

Who did you buy your wand from??

This is Chris Hamel with Hamel mfg we make the orginal flexwand.

Please give me a call to futher discuss

Chris

 

[PaulLovesJamie]

I'm also surprised to hear the negative comments about flex wands, I've been using them for almost 15 years, I like them a lot, I've had very few problems with them.

 

[I.B. Washincars]

Over many years I probably had a couple of them pop. I stopped using them because they don't stay straight for any length of time at all. I always thought that their "droopy" look was cheap and sloppy looking. They could make them more rigid and still be flexible, but they don't seem to want to.

 

[soapy]

I like the flex wands for one reason. We get a lot of cars here in the winter that build up ice in the wheel wells. People are always using the wands to pry off the ice. When I had straight wands I had to replace on per week in the winter because people would break them off where they thread into the gun. I have not seen more than a few ever come apart in 15+ years.

 

[mjc3333]

I have used the spring flex wand from KR for the past 20+ years. They have good points and bad points. More good than bad. In the winter people love them because they can get under wheel openings and the undercarriage. They do break, but you have the same issue with all high pressure hose to begin with.

 

[CRHAMEL]

Thank-you to all that use our products in the car wash industry...
and the feedback.
If you have any questions coments or concers you are always able to contact us at Hamel mfg.
Respectfuly,

Chris Hamel

 

[rph9168]

they don't stay straight for any length of time at all. I always thought that their "droopy" look was cheap and sloppy looking.

I. B.,
Have your tried Viagra?

 

[I.B. Washincars]

I. B.,
Have your tried Viagra?

No, but I rubbed it up and down real fast...didn't seem to help.