The Big Question - Extraction Ability

[Unimatic1140]

Target was having a sale on towels today, $1.58 each for standard bath size towels. So I bought 12 of them to use as experimental towels. Our experimental towels are all exactly the same, just different colors. I figured it would be good to start with fresh, never before washed towels, I wont use these towels for anything but extraction tests so I can take them to wash-in‘s and such to measure machines that I don‘t have.

So the first thing I did was to measure the 12 towels right out of the store. They weigh 7lbs exactly dry.

 

[Unimatic1140]

Next I put them into the ‘41 Bendix and started the machine with a cold wash (I turned off the hot faucet). After the machine was filled up to its proper water level, I let the towels tumble for two minutes and then I put it into drain. Once all the water was drained out of the machine I pulled the plug and stopped the Bendix. I pulled out six of the twelve towels dripping wet and put them into a basket and plastic bag. Before I put them in the plastic bag I zeroed out the scale with the bag and basket on top of it so we are just weighting the towels.

 

[Unimatic1140]

Dripping wet 6 towels weight 17.8lbs, so all 12 towels weight 35.6lbs. Now I put them through a complete final rinse and spin in the ‘41 Bendix and I will go downstairs and weight the 12 towels and see how we did. More to come, any guesses on the final spin weight out of the 1941 Bendix at 250rpm?

 

[partscounterman]

Oh, wow this is exciting!

I really get off on knowing this kind of stuff. I wish I could be there with you Robert as you are doing this important and exciting research. I can just see us in our white lab coats, just like the ladies in the Maytag research facility....

(breathe)
(breathe)

Oh, well we don't have to wear white lab coats (but that WOULD create more laundry!)

The thing that really sold me on the need for an ultra fast spin speed is a simple test many of you can try.

Wash two towels.
Spin one in a regular (say 600 rpm spin) automatic
Spin the other at a super high speed (unimatic or newer HE machine)
Hang them both up to dry.

I promise that while neither towel will be soft, the one spun at the higher speed will dry much less "crusty" than the other.

Try it. You'll see...

 

[mrboilwash]

My guess is 14 lbs.

 

[bingwsguy]

Weight of 12 towels....I guess 27 lbs?

 

[exploder321]

I am intrested to find out.. My frigidaire couldn't spin all the stuff i had in it.. Me thinks i overloaded him...

 

[exploder321]

My guess is 22 LBS

 

[Unimatic1140]

Good guesses you guys, I wanted to do the little Bendix first because I suspect he will be the worse spinner of any of my automatics.

Well the answer is from 35.6lbs the Bendix spins down to:

 

[Unimatic1140]

Now the next washer on the test list is the 2004 General Electric Harmony, this washer spins for 9 minutes with a top speed of 1010rpm. I'm putting it through a full cold rinse and final spin right now as we speak. I'm pretty sure the final results will be less than 17.25 lbs. This should be quite interesting, test most of my other machines should fall somewhere between the Bendix and the Harmony, and it will be interesting to see exactly where some of them fall. Of course there is a chance the Unimatic might come out on top, but I'm not sure about that. Time will tell, stay tuned...

 

[frigilux]

Yes! I love these kinds of tests----especially when the tester has a bunch of different washers to try out. You'll have a long list by the time this is all finished, Robert.

 

[Unimatic1140]

Here are the results from the Harmony, how about the Kelvinator next?

 

[gansky1]

Wow - what a difference, but not as much as I expected from the Harmony. Did you have it set for "Kenmore Spin?"

 

[bingwsguy]

I think that these kind of tests are very initeresting. I am actually surprised the results were that good with the bendix at 250 RPM

 

[exploder321]

I would have expected better as well from the harmony..

 

[Unimatic1140]

Did you have it set for "Kenmore Spin?"

Greg! That's not very nice. We will find out exactly what a Kenmore is spin soon enough.

Now as for the Harmony there is Low Speed spin, Standard spin and Extended spin. I used Standard spin for this first test which is 9 minutes, 1010rpm top speed. Extended spin is the same as Standard spin except the time of spin goes from 9 minutes up to 18 minutes. I'm planning on retesting the Harmony with Extended spin, but I want to do some other machines first. 9 minutes should be plenty of time for a final spin anyway.

Next is the Kelvinator, with a solid-tub 550rpm, 5 minute spin it will be interesting to see the results. Not only does spin speed matter, but spin time as well as tub design go a long way to determine the final results.

 

[exploder321]

Have never seen that one b4, nice...

 

[Unimatic1140]

Results are in for the 1966 Kelvinator, 550rpm spin, solid tub, 5 minutes spin...

 

[Unimatic1140]

Next up, the 1949 Maytag AMP. 618rpm Spin, 4 minute final spin with perforated liner solid tub. This will be very interesting, results to follow shortly when machine is done.