Who Said Laundromats Don't Have Bock Extractors?

[launderess]

Laundromat machines that are "hard mounted" do not need a suspension system since they are bolted into several feet of concrete. Wonderful thing about such units is they do not twitter around like some home front loaders about spinning, just simply get the job done. Because the washer is bolted down, all forces generated by tumbling and spinning are sent down through the pit to be dispersed by the building. Have stood several feet away from a 50lb Wascomat spinning two large down featerbeds. While the washer was happily spinning away, one could feel slight tremors from the floor.

Soft mount washers like their residential cousins have systems of counter weights, shock absorbers and or springs to act as suspension system. These systems deal with the forces generated by the washer as it tumbles and spins. Still such washers are happiest on soild surfaces. Down side can be on some washers is they are so sensitive to unbalanced loads they will either will not spin or spin at a reduced rpm. Either way the result is usually soaking wet or simply very wet laundry.

Miele makes soft mount washers that probably are every bit as stable as hard mount units, but IIRC weigh in on the heavy side, which kind of makes sense.


Launderess

 

[toggleswitch]

TYVM!

 

[frigilux]

Speaking of Extra Spin/Max Extract features...

personally, I think they're a crock-and-a-half.

1) Unless you spin for an extra hour so that the air-stream helps dry the outer layer, I don't believe you're removing enough extra moisture to warrant running the washer for more time. You're better off letting the washer shut off and using the energy to run the dryer.

2) If Max Extract features sped up the spin speed significantly, that would make a difference, but I'm not aware that any machines do that.

In brief, if you want to extract more moisture, you do it by significantly increasing the RPM's, not by letting a washer spin at 680-rmps for extra time.

 

[toggleswitch]

No Emerald for me...

Still,

depite it all, a WASCOMAT with mechanical controls (even with a slow spin), in my basement would make me coo like

like, like, like............ a chicken with a vertical beer-can roaster.

 

[peterh770]

Steve,

There are 2 HUGE outfits in NYC that sell used laundromat equipment. I can get you the info if you like. It should be very easy for you to obtain a good, used, single phase, 120v Wasco Gen 3 or Gen 4 washer for a couple hundred dollars. The issue will be bolting it down and maybe the drain (gravity).

 

[toggleswitch]

Dream machine becoming more real...

SURE!

TYVM.

Gravity drain-- no prob, nothing a separate "laundry tray" pump can't fix. The link is just an idea. There are better methods.....

http://www.neptunepump.com/laundry.htm

 

[sudsmaster]

I have never seen a laundromat with a separate extractor of any brand. Or maybe they were there and I just didn't recognize what they were. Been a while since I used a laundromat.

It's interesting that these extractors seem to be vertical axis. Is that an inherently more stable configuration for high speed spins? Are there any washers mounted on gimbals that can be horizontal axis for washing and vertical axis for spinning?

 

[Designgeek]

Yes, vertical axis is more stable for spinning.

With vertical axis, you're more likely to get the load distributed evenly around the circumference of the tub, so less overall potential for vibration. With horizontal axis, the drum has to pick up speed slowly in order to attempt to distribute the load evenly, and so there's greater potential for an off-center load, therefore greater vibration in the up-down direction.

With horizontal axis, you have the off-center load throwing angular momentum in a vertical direction that tries to lift the machine off the ground briefly, and each time that happens, it tends to lift more of the total weight off the feet, so the machine will tend to scoot across the floor unless it's bolted down.

With vertical spin, the off center load tends to lift one foot at a time, so the scoot factor is reduced.

As for a gimbal mounting, yes that's possible but it would complicate the mechanism like crazy. Including the water in/out hoses, which would be subject to flexing each time the unit changed position. And the mounting assembly would take up room, thereby reducing capacity, which is an unpopular tradeoff.

One way around this is a twin-tub design with a horizontal wash compartment (usually top-loading via a hatch) and a vertical spinner. In terms of full automatics, inclined axis drums seem to be a reasonable solution, in that they are more likely to distribute the load evenly before revving up to full speed.

If you want to hack one together on your own, get a FL that you can hack the controls on, use the low-speed spin mode (e.g. 600 rpm), and then use a SpinX or similar external spinner (3200 rpm vertical axis) at the end of the process. The hacked FL will probably last longer as a result (less wear on the bearings), and the SpinX will also reduce your dryer time (and energy cost of drying) by half.

 

[spee_man]

Twin Tub

In Germany we had those twintubs. An H Axis fullautomatic washer, without spincycle. Besides there was a highspeed vertical axis spinner.

http://www.waschmaschinen-forum.de/museum/scharpf/scharpf.html

 

[foraloysius]

Spee_man,

What brand twintub did you have?

 

[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.

;-)