Thursday, September 26, 2013

Pad comparison SPP to High Pro

I recently decided to compare the SPP (surface prep pads)  to the high pro pad to see which is a better pad. For the test I again used the Advance REV and performed several tests.

Stripping. We applied a stripper to a vct tile which only had about 5 coats of wax. Stripper was diluted at 4:1 and after 5 minutes dwell time we scrubbed half with the SPP pad and half with a high pro pad. On the side of the aisle where we used the high pro pad,  we removed all the wax and penetrated the sealer giving us a deep full strip. In the side that we used the SPP pad,  we removed most of the finish off the floor but did not remove the sealer.
Aisle stripped Right High Pro Left SPP



Scrub. This time using two aisles with again about 5 coats of wax on each,  we laid down a HD Degreaser diluted at 32:1. We applied this product using the floor scrubber and performed a double scrub. In the aisle where we used the high pro pad, the floor became blotchy, sticky and not really wax ready upon completion. Where as in the aisle where we used the SPP pad, we had a uniform removal of finish,  the floor was smooth and ready for 2 coats of new finish.
Scrubbed with SPP
Scrubbed with High Pro


















The conclusion is that the high pro pad is great for stripping floors and is your best bet especially when you have heavy build up. Whereas if want a deep scrub that leaves your floor with a nice even finish try the SPP pad as an effective alternative to a black or green pad. You may well be impressed with the results.

Phil-T 

Sunday, September 15, 2013

Advance REV orbital scrubber

Floor requiring refinishing
Last year advance released the REV orbital scrubber. I recently had the opportunity to put the unit to the test. Here are my findings.

The floor that required refinishing had at least 10 coats of finish. The finish had browned and was scrubbed 2 weeks earlier. The program currently in place for these stores is a scrub and wax every 2 months with 1 wash and polish in-between. The shine was decent but the build up is tough.

First test. Using an Adfinity REV at about 100 lbs pressure and a 3M SPP pad I did a double scrub.  We laid down using the scrubber a heavy duty degreaser and gave 10 minutes dwell before picking up. The result was that it prepped the floor to a point where if not for the browning we would have been able to wax.
First scrub
 
Second test. In the next aisle we laid down stripper with a mop at a 15:1 ratio. After 10 minutes dwell we scrubber again with the Adfinity REV and a SPP pad. I was quite impressed by the results. We were able to remove 90% of what was on the aisle. The only build up left was a tiles worth on each side of the aisle.

Third test. This time we laid down the third aisle with stripper at a 15:1 ratio using a Tennant 5680 and a emerald stripping pad we double scrubbed the aisle after a 10 minute dwell time. The result, we removed about 60% of what was on the floor requiring a second full strip of this aisle.

Scrubbed but still brown




All said and done my thoughts are as follows. The Advance Rev is a scrubber which will save you in several circumstances. Consider when stripping, the extra orbital action will help remove more wax from the floor then a regular strip would. In the case where you have a floor that is in great shape you may be able to scrub your floor without chemicals or lower the the ratio of scrub product you use. In either of these situations it is a winner as no chemical or less chemical makes you green, lowers your cost procurement and makes your work place safer. All this will also make your company more sustainable. And when you factor in that the REV technology on an Advance scrubber is only 300$ more, it's a technology that pays for itself. The only thing left to be seen is what it will cost to repair should it breakdown.

Unfortunately I only have pictures up to the scrub. Hope to get more next time.

Definitely a win in my books.
Phil-T
"Nothings too filthy for Phil-T"