Who Said Laundromats Don't Have Bock Extractors?

[spee_man]

What brand twintub did you have?

I never had one, my Aunt had a AEG Tournette Twinnie.

 

[foraloysius]

Ah, I think you mean a Turnamat?

 

[knitwits1975]

Insurance issues with extractors:
The lid locks tightly closed during the cycle so there shouldn't be any.
The price:
50 cents a cycle at any mat I've been to. So money is made.
The down side:
Never put delicate fabrics in.
The plus side:
A 3000+ RPM spin and a much larger circumference than most washers make for a great G-force. The more moisture extracted, the fluffier the clothes come out.
I have been told by some mats that the extractors are hard to find parts for, which may or may not be the case. This is why many of them are broken and never get fixed. I've also heard that they don't get used as much as they used to, I could see this being the case since many people are too lazy to use them and transfer their loads twice. I say unto you that laundromats that wish to please their customers keep extractors. Frankly, I'd like to have one at home.

 

[launderess]

Have to say towels and other items spun in my Hoovermatic's spin dryer (21oo rpms, much smaller tub capacity than any Bock model), are much fluffier after line drying. This is even after 1200 rpm final spin in the front loader, so go figure.

Most coin laundry ownwers we spoke with stated extractors were an insurance nightmare, hence they didn't install them. Have not seen one in ages. But, yes when properly installed and operated there should be a danger risk near nil. However considering how many people treat coin laundry equipment today, one has to wonder if it is worth the bother for you average urban mat owner.

Landeress

 

[toggleswitch]

..and let us not forget faster spins cause wrinkles.
Some of these don't always come out in the dryer.

Perhaps why F/L-ers are obsessed with having the ability to set the spin speed slower. Is "None, Slow, Normal, Super" not enough of a selection? Do we really desperately need:

1,200 rpm
1,000
800
600
400
200
0
HOLD

???

http://www.miele.com/usa/laundry/about_miele_laundry.asp?cat=4&page_number=5&bhcp=1

 

[Designgeek]

I've never seen one at a laundromat in the Oakland California area, though the point is well taken that there should be no insurance issue if the machine is properly installed & maintained.

Re. fluffy: the less water in the fabric, the less stiff it gets as it air-dries the rest of the way. Less stiff = more fluffy.

What I do with towels and a few other such items is: after 5 minutes at 1600 rpm, I'll put 'em in the tumble dryer on air-fluff for 5 minutes and then on the indoor line to dry the rest of the way. The brief tumble seems to add something to the fluffy factor. Which is a good thing when it comes to towels. Now that it's cold (I keep my place at 62 to 64 degrees) and indoor line-drying takes longer (about 24 hours), this could be altered to: 1600 rpm for 5 minutes, onto the line overnight to get almost-dry, and then into the tumble dryer on Hot for 10-15 minutes to get totally dry -and fluffy of course!

Life's simple pleasures dep't: A nice relaxing hot shower (using a water-saving showerhead so it's not wasteful) followed by drying off in big fluffy towels. Especially good right before bedtime, with fluffy flannel sheets and lots of cozy blankets on an otherwise cold night. (See, the "sophisticated grownup pleasures" like getting drunk or flirting with the neighbor's spouse or watching R-rated movies, are really pretty dumb. The best things in life are simple, basic, and G-rated!)

 

[maytagman806s]

Lord, do I remember the old Bock extractors at the laundromat. I don't see too many of them around here anymore either. Although they still exist in some laundromats I have passed, everytime I see one, I fondly remember the famous roar the motors made when they fired up. How could you forget it? Does anyone also remember the instructions on the inside of the lid that recommended that you place a towel over the top of the load???

 

[launderess]

Final Spin Speed:

Our washing machine repair person told us there really isn't much difference in water extraction after about 1000 or 1200 rpm final spin speed. That is to say one reaches the laws of diminishing returns after a certian point and that spinning loads at uber speeds does not result in any more water being removed than say 1000 rpms. What super high spin speeds can do is cause terrible creasing, especially if done for too long.

Happen to like front loaders with an option for no spinning and perhaps something between naught and 400. 400 is generally a "gentle" spin, but there are items one wishes to gently force water out of, such as delicate lace trim on bedding. When combined with some of the more delicate handwash cycles found on TOL washers like Miele's this can truly eliminate hand laundry all together.

Bock Extractors,

Using a towel on top of the wash load in a Bock extractor is rather like the spin mats used in twin tub extractors. Simple function is to keep the load below the rim tub line and prevent small items from being flug up and perhaps becoming wedged between the tubs. Worse still, having said wandering item making it's way into the pump.

L.

 

[toggleswitch]

What super high spin speeds can do....

I also heard that it tears fibers and weakens the fabrics over time. Surprised this little debate has not popped up lately.

 

[sudsmaster]

Well, I guess I've never gotten bock on my clothing, and therefore never needed get it extracted.

;-)

 

[toggleswitch]

Listen Monica...

It appears you definitely aint havin' enough recreation!

 

[sudsmaster]

WEll, I don't have a blue dress, either.