Starch cycles

[supremewhirlpol]

Thanks for the parts info, I have to order some new belts!
The pump system has a manufacture date of 1987 on the side of the unit. By the pictures above, Was this pump a custom installation for this machine? Do you have automated pump systems on your machines? I am new to the chemicals used for commercial laundry. What are sour, alkali, etc. used for in the washing process? My only guess is that Starch used for clothing is similar to the sugar in candy, otherwise I don't know.

 

[sudsman]

I do have a total automated system.

But have it desinged so that with the flick of a switch we go to powder system.
Alkali is used as a builder for heavy soil loads and raises the ph to around 11 or higher. Sour is a nutralizer for the alkali and will bring down the ph to the range needed for proper finishing. Some plants like 7 .0 or 6.5 I like 6.0 it stops problems on the flatwork ironer and keeps everything nice and white. It got its name sour as the older laundry managers would taste the last rinse water with a finger .if it had a sour taste there was enough sour in the wheel if not one added another 2 or 3 oz. I trainied under one that taught me how to do that. But only did it a few times for his benefit.
There are ph indicators that tell you exactly where you stand when a drop is placed on a pc of linen. If the pump is a 87 or so model there are most likely not many parts for them now. Pumps design have changed a lot since that time. When you get your liquid starch take a sniff then tell me what you think is is.. Your first guess will probally be correct after only a short sniff. I would not worry with the liquid pumps on that machine anyway.. As I see it has a 3 or compartment flush in supply for dry supplies anyway.. I would use that , for the liquid starch just put a cup in when the machine starts and wash it down with some water.. Use of a good detergent should give you a good clean wash as that model did a good wash job. It is also very easy to get a buzzer and attach to the bleach light and the softener light to buzz when time to add bleach or softner remember to install a switch on them to turn them on or off after you have used them or they will signal the entire time the light is on.. I had a simple doorbell buzzer on the ones we had. to alert us to add bleach if we used liquid .. But most of the time we used dry bleach and put it in the # 2 supply pocket with the detergent. and used a liquid sour and sofener in the softener pocket and we did not have to go back to the machines until they were finished.

 

[sudsman]

Melvin a couple of pics of the products dispensers we use

The liquid system is P & G Proline use 3 products with it.. A VERY VERY costly system but does good quality work. and is almost fool proof. I call it wash by number. just match the wash formula with the P & G formula training someone takes less than a min, all they need to do is count to 8. As they are 8 different formulas.

 

[sudsman]

The dry products are Ecolab.

Very Good and VERY cost effective. a bit hard to train with as most cannot understand fractions or ounces anymore. Products are Soil Out a very high alkali detergent, Dry bleach (18%) sour with a brightner and softner. Also use some sears ultra plus in the orange box on the smaller and home machines. and on them AFB bleach Amway most of the time. The dry products still give far better quality work at a much lower price that do any of the liquid systems. My cost per lb. avgs. 3.5 cents , and @ 5500 to 6500 lbs per day I have to watch that cost VERY close.

 

[supremewhirlpol]

Do you buy your Ecolab products online, or do you have a distributor? I'm trying to find rough price estimates for the products above. I've looked into prices for the liquid versions and they are VERY expensive! I think I will stay with the powder. With that being said, I can probably remove the pump system from the machine.

 

[sudsman]

Melvin

I have a rep that is here almost every week. We get contract pricing and it brings the pricing way down. We have contract pricing on just almost everything now. Any Equiptment, Linen, Chemicals, even the trucks. Ecolab is NOT a private sector friendly company in fact they are really very very nasty.I have never understood why either.. If a private party calls about a product or problem they will not help them at all. My Rep (which I have had since God was a baby) is VERY good to me. I get samples first before any of the others do. Also usually he gives me next day delivery on most all the products.Most all of the larger compaines Linen, machinery, chemicals all give us contract pricing and we must agree to not disclose what that is , however I can tell you that most of the time in is far less than half the list price.On almost all the items we buy. Most all the chemical compaines send reps by here on a regular basis. They get "points" for leaving samples. Some of the P & G reps even leave case lots of things to try. Lever use to do the same as well as many of the linen supply companies. Sheets, towels and either blankets all are big sample items.

 

[supremewhirlpol]

A no go for private sector! What other brands besides Ecolab are good to use? Without disclosing the details of the contract terms, can you please give me some advise on what to watch out for when it comes to contracts with suppliers? Like you said above, I could make up a company name and use that, but I'm thinking there is a minimum volume of supplies that I must use per month in order to get one of these contracts. At 5500-6500LB of laundry per day, I'd say you go through several boxes of Ecolab per day. How many machines do you have? What sizes are they? Do you have any pictures of them?

 

[sudsman]

melvin

Most all the companies want a min order of 1000 lbs or a skid full each order. shipping cost come in to play is the main reason.
Also most will want to send a rep to see you for the 1st order


At this time I have 9 Washers 2 150 lb machines 1 80lb, 4 40lb 1 20lb, and a home machine we consider a 18 lb. I will get you pics later today or this eve .

The washer in the corner is a 150 lb Edro Dyna Wash 3 pocket machine 50 lbs to each pocket.. my favorite ,click on it for a closer view.

 

[supremewhirlpol]

Dyna Wash, it looks big! 3 50LB pockets? By looking at the controls, looks like you can do quite a bit with it.

Companies want min order of 1000 or skid full:

Looks like I will have to do some shopping. I don't think I even use close to 1000LB of powder per year!

 

[sudsman]

For laundry chemicals

try your area janitoral suppiers . They supply hotels nursing homes and hospitals, and almost all carry laundry products.or can get them. below are the pics you wanted.. very very hard to get all the machines in one pic..

 

[sudsman]

2nd

pic

 

[sudsman]

washman

Jose

 

[sudsman]

Loading carts for hospital

all counts must be checked

 

[sudsman]

Dyna Wash

open

 

[supremewhirlpol]

So awesome!! Seeing those machines makes want even more!! Are those Continental machines soft mount machines? Can you please tell me more about the 4th machine from the end? Is it a 40LB machine too? You have some nice machines Lee! Looks like being a washman is pretty fun, being that you get to run the machines all day. Lee, I don't think you realize for me, how awesome it would be to live nearby, I'd be observing those machines everyday! There is actually a Janitorial supply business a few blocks from home. I'll check there tomorrow and see what trouble I can get into. Hopefully I can get what I need. Thanks thus far!! Keep those machines going!!

 

[sudsman]

4th from end not sure which end you speak

the 2 middles machines which would be 4th from each end. from left end is a Speed Queen 150. the other is a softmount uniwash high speed. 40 lb. All the Continentals are soft mount high speed machines. the 20 and the 3 40's
Washman is a VERY hard and demanding job. Keeping 9 washers going all the time is very difficult. I want no more than 1 min turn around time on any thing smaller than 150 and only 2 mins on the 150's Not to mention all the tumblers that must he keep going also. Most of the work is just down right nasty and the summer can make odors almost overbearing. Esp. after a weekend. Morgue linen O. R. and E.R. and ambulance linens are all quite "ripe" most of the time. Also most of the time E R carts must be hosed down and cleaned with Alcohol. Many times it takes all 3 of us to get themals out of the machines. As they are so heavy when wet and if they dont balance the frist try or two they tend to "tie up" and they have been times we had to rerun the last softener bath to even get them to unload. Not often but it does happen. Sheets can be a problem from time to time too. Weekend washman must clean vacuum and clean all intake filters on all washers. His job is a little different he also has to hose out all carts and the trucks too. [this post was last edited: 7/15/2010-05:18]

 

[supremewhirlpol]

I have ordered the top panel and kick panel. Still no luck on the timer. The latest quote I have is $800. Didn't have time to stop by the supply store today. Try tomorrow.

Yes, That job is very busy, but It still is easier than what I was doing 5 months ago. 9 machines + tumblers going at once, I say I could do that, more of a routine type of deal. The machines make it all worth doing.

The 150 LB machine I could tell it had SQ written all over it. The one I'm interested in is the Uniwash? machine. How long have you had it? How reliable is it? , etc.

 

[sudsman]

5 years

have yet to have a problem with it

 

[sudsman]

Melvin Think this will help you..

Timers Rebuilt Ipso all main and reverse timers. Call for price sheet. Reeco timer co 2860 Kirby Circle N E
Suite #14 Palm Bay
Fl 32905 phone# 886-952-1889 Hope this helps you, Mac

 

[supremewhirlpol]

Timers:
Thanks Lee, I'll check them out Monday.