Caustic????

What are the cleaning expectations with caustic? If a property has been neglected will one cleaning with caustic bring it back? I recently did a restaurant that had been maintained with a cold water machine and I assume no chems. Black in front of the entrance from the foot traffic and the dumpster pad was bad. I did use F-18 on these areas mixed one pound to two gallons of water and downstreamed on then hot water. The property definitely was cleaner but I think the manager was expecting something better. I will do this property again in a month and have ordered caustic soda beads to try this time.

Will the property look better after each month's cleaning? Is there a point of neglect where no cleaner can restore the concrete or make it better? Is once a month adequate to see continued improvement if that is possible? How do others set the customers expectations?
 
I love Caustic... Hey you know it's drain opener ... Remember Red Devil Lye..We buy 300 lbs at a time at 28.00 a bag.. I usually mix it with hot water in a pump up sprayer, though many may think I am crazy for doing this and for the fact that I have been lucky for 19years and probably 1000's of jobs I can honestly say that if caustic didnot work so good I wouldnt use it .. When it comes in cantact with grease it lets out an ammonia smell that will may you choke your brains out.. I have also tried potassium Hydroxide and could not get it to work.. One other thing is butyl based degreasers they work good but you will pay about 4.00 per gallon..
 
David O'Connell Jr said:
I hear that Russ just reaches into the bucket and mixes it with his bare hand :eek:
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Actually I did have a huge "clump" in the bottom that didnt mix so "with chem gloves" I stuck my hand in the bucket and in about .00001 seconds I felt seering heat that melted 2 fingernails !

ahhhhh dont try that at home :confused:
 
Doug Dahlke said:
What are the cleaning expectations with caustic? If a property has been neglected will one cleaning with caustic bring it back? I recently did a restaurant that had been maintained with a cold water machine and I assume no chems. Black in front of the entrance from the foot traffic and the dumpster pad was bad. I did use F-18 on these areas mixed one pound to two gallons of water and downstreamed on then hot water. The property definitely was cleaner but I think the manager was expecting something better. I will do this property again in a month and have ordered caustic soda beads to try this time.

Will the property look better after each month's cleaning? Is there a point of neglect where no cleaner can restore the concrete or make it better? Is once a month adequate to see continued improvement if that is possible? How do others set the customers expectations?
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Since these same questions are being asked in some other threads I thought I would give this a bump. I know there are guys on here that have the answers.
 
does caustic have any effect on gum?

Does the heat generated soften it - or help when removing with hot water and wand?

I've got a live demo coming up... would rather not use chemicals or try to keep them to a minimum when the bigwigs are watching - but would like to get dramatic results (the gum has been there for at least 5 years!)

:confused:
 
1 cup to 2gal is what I was told to use with a pump up sprayer. 5 to 10 min dwell. Don't get it on anything but concrete.

I am not telling you to use that mixture, but it is a good starting point.
 
I usually just pour a big blob of caustic bead in my pump up sprayer.. ( Make sure you trim the suction hose inside the pump up sprayer or it will get stopped up ) Then Hot water ... I know I have it mixed right when the pump up sprayer jumps up and down in the sink by itself... Then pump and shoot , then start the machine ( 3000@4 Whitco Hot water machine ) and BOOOYAHH!!!!! Another Clean Hood... Been doing it that ways since 1991..
 
John, have you ever measured how much caustic you are dumping into the pump up sprayer, when you mix your chem?
 
Lets see if I was to guess I would say about 2-12 ounce cups....It depends .. Most of the time I pour it from the bag into one of those auto-chlor plastic containers .. and just pour it in ..enough to cover the bottom of the pump up sprayer about 1 inch up.. I get it so hot sometimes it feels like hornets stinging you when it hits your skin... I have gotten used to it though...
 
JohnB said:
Lets see if I was to guess I would say about 2-12 ounce cups....It depends .. Most of the time I pour it from the bag into one of those auto-chlor plastic containers .. and just pour it in ..enough to cover the bottom of the pump up sprayer about 1 inch up.. I get it so hot sometimes it feels like hornets stinging you when it hits your skin... I have gotten used to it though...
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...and that's in a two gallon pump up, right?
 
Wow I am looking to buy some of caustic flakes. I buy a drum pack with 5lbs of caustic flakes amd 5 lbs of tsp and some green dye for $150. Mix for a 55 gal
 
Hi Paul here .mrs green to everyine else.
As a new member i don't claim to know everything but have a few answers to you questions.
The E.P.A. is closing in on all of us,every year the eliminate more chemicals from their list,and don't forget the talk of the town is GREEN.
Anyone has seen one of the EPA alerts lately,how the DOW company got fined millons for polluting wetlands and waterway's,gess wat for?????.
Dioxin the main ingredient of chlorine and bleach.
So isn't time to make use of something else,wat by the way does the same thing and better,without any toxins or fumes.
I'm not sure on how or where to post my products yet,like i said i'm new,but in a mean time anyone like to call me,feel free to do so on 813-679-9703.
yours.
Paul Bogaars.
Extreme Seal inc.
Tampa. FL.
 
JohnB said:
I love Caustic... Hey you know it's drain opener ... Remember Red Devil Lye..We buy 300 lbs at a time at 28.00 a bag.. I usually mix it with hot water in a pump up sprayer, though many may think I am crazy for doing this and for the fact that I have been lucky for 19years and probably 1000's of jobs I can honestly say that if caustic didnot work so good I wouldnt use it .. When it comes in cantact with grease it lets out an ammonia smell that will may you choke your brains out.. I have also tried potassium Hydroxide and could not get it to work.. One other thing is butyl based degreasers they work good but you will pay about 4.00 per gallon..
Click to expand...

I feel the same about the Butyl, if you use a good Butyl and let it set for a bit It will do a great job without the risk.
 
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