Larry Hinckley
Hall of Fame Member
Graffiti Removal & Abatement
With
Bob Farmer, “’Buffer’ the ‘Graffiti Guru’”
Owner and Founder of
“Coyote Carpet Cleaning & Pressure Washing”
By: Robert M. Hinderliter, President and Amber Stepan, Multi-Media Tech
Delco Cleaning Systems of Fort Worth
During January of 2007 Bob Farmer purchased a RK-43-1A Hot High Wash Rig from Delco Cleaning Systems to use in his graffiti removal and abatement business. To save freight charges and to visit Delco Cleaning Systems of Fort worth, Bob decided to drive to Fort Worth and pick up the Wash Rig in person. Its takes about 26 hours of driving (windshield) time to reach Fort Worth, TX from Santa Cruz, CA. Bob noted on the trip that when he reached the Texas border he was about ½ way to Delco Cleaning Systems.
Bob enjoyed his visit with Delco and was able to visit with the staff that he had only spoken with over the telephone and communicated with by email. During this period Bob visited with Robert Hinderliter, president of Delco, about the techniques he had developed for graffiti removal and abatement. Bob expressed his concern to Robert about how much money was wasted by municipalities because of a lack of knowledge about graffiti removal techniques and equipment. Bob shared with Robert about one municipality that spent over $40,000.00 for a system that was basically inadequate. With better knowledge and training the municipality could have spent less than $10,000 and obtained a better system that was faster and more efficient.
Bob explained how he had developed his system over the past 13 years with a lot of trial and error. He has tested a broad range of equipment and chemicals including: pressure washers, paint removers, sand blasters, and graffiti abatement products.
This conversation led to the idea of producing an instructional DVD on Graffiti Removal and Abatement. Robert explained to Bob that Delco’s multimedia technician was now his granddaughter, Amber Stepan, who was studying the subject in college. And the best time for filming would be during her summer break. Plans were made for filming during July. Because of all of the equipment needed for the filming project Robert and Amber drove from Fort Worth to Santa Cruz in a van that could carry the equipment. The return trip was made nonstop in 26 ½ hours!
Graffiti continues to be a part of the American Culture ranging from unsightly marking and disfigurations to tags identifying different gangs and crews. Markings can identify individuals, territories, or be confrontational depending on where the tag or graffiti is located. On ‘DVD-620 Graffiti Removal & Abatement” Bob interviews an ex-crew member and discuss the social cultures of gangs and crews, and how it has changed in the last 10 years.
Most municipalities have anti-graffiti units or subcontractors that attempt to eradicate or eliminate graffiti in their jurisdictions. Bob Farmer has been an anti-graffiti contractor for the City and County of Santa Cruz, California for over ten years. During this time Bob has developed very effective methods for the elimination and removal of graffiti.
The method chosen for a particular location depends on several different factors. But Bob has developed 4 effective methods for removing the graffiti, which are:
1. Pressure washing or water blasting
2. Wet Sand Blasting
3. Chemicals (Paint Removers & Strippers)
a. Wiping
b. Pressure Washing
4. Painting (Cover up)
Where tags are continually applied the surface can be coated with a sacrificial coating (wax) or a hard clear surface that paint will not penetrate. When graffiti is applied over a sacrificial coating it takes a hot high pressure washer to remove the graffiti. The hot water simply melts the wax and the graffiti is immediately washed away. And on the hard clear coating the graffiti is removed with a rag soaked in acetone.
In the Graffiti World Taggers get recognition by putting tags in impossible places that are hard to get to, as well as on items that move around the country like trains and buses. The worst thing that can happen to a Tagger is have his tag or graffiti removed immediately before it can be viewed by others.
It is considered a challenge to the tag community whenever a news story talks about the clean up of tags in a particular area. This invites “bombing” (covering the entire area with tags) at that particular location to show the authorities who is in control.
The difficult part about prosecuting this type of crime is that the tagger has to be caught in the act of tagging. It is too easy for another tagger to copy the art work of another tagger which will result in miss identification.
Wet Sandblasting will always remove the tag but can also damage the underlying surface. Therefore, extreme care is required when using this method. Also Wet soda blasting can be used instead of sandblasting, but this method is a lot more expensive. Therefore, this can only be used where the customer can assume the additional expense like where tagging is on a work of art or statue. (See the Delco Wats Blaster Page 22 for Master Blaster Media)
Good customer service requires before and after pictures with a digital camera. These need to accompany your invoice for proof of service. Therefore before/after photos need to be organized into folders on your computer to match your invoice periods.
Pressure Washing or Water Blasting involves a pressure range of 2,000 to 4,000 psi; 5, 10, 15 or 25 degrees spray nozzles (5 and 10 degrees nozzles are sold as gum blasters, see The Delco Wats Blaster page 11); zero degree rotating nozzles; and hot and cold water. While the use of a zero degree nozzle is quite effective it will leave chicken tracks (wand traces) in the surface that is cleaned. Therefore, the use of zero degree nozzles should be limited similar to the precautions with sandblasting. Rotating zero degree nozzles generally will have the cleaning power of a zero degrees nozzle without the chicken track (tracer) effect. However, if you do not have a steady movement of a zero degree rotating nozzle it will bore a hole in the surface being cleaned. Note: “DVD-620 Graffiti Removal” was made with a Bob Farmer’s RK-43 (18 hp, 3,500 psi, 5 gpm, and 200˚F) Hot High Pressure Washer. Mr. Farmer also captures his waste water and this technique is demonstrated on the DVD. For more options for waste water capture see The Delco Wats Blaster.
For painting cover up you should just stock the primary colors in liquid tight containers with removal lids. A 5 gallon bucket with lid is just large enough to hold a couple gallons of paint, small roller, and drip screen. With an air tight lid, the paint will last in the container for about 3 or 4 months without drying out. Using this procedure roller and paint clean up is not required but you will need a container for every color of paint. This technique is demonstrated on the graffiti DVD-620 by an Anti-graffiti Volunteer Agency and Bob Farmer. Bob identifies the colors he stocks and the brand and type of paint he uses.
Graffiti Abatement techniques include: lighting, plants and vegetation, and murals. Motion detectors can be placed to cover areas where tagging is a problem. Whenever anyone enters the area a light comes on discouraging tagging. Also plants, vegetation, and murals can be used to cover areas where tagging is a problem. Taggers generally will not tag over a mural or painting.
You can order DVD-620 “Graffiti Removal and Abatement” from Delco Cleaning Systems for $50.00. The DVD is over 2 hours long and is jam packed with a lot of Bob’s Tips and Tricks.
Also available is a 2-day “Graffiti Removal and Abatement” School from Bob Farmer in Santa Cruz, California. The price is $1,295.00. The class is scheduled at your convience with Bob Farmer. Call Delco Cleaning Systems at 800-433-2113 for details.
With
Bob Farmer, “’Buffer’ the ‘Graffiti Guru’”
Owner and Founder of
“Coyote Carpet Cleaning & Pressure Washing”
By: Robert M. Hinderliter, President and Amber Stepan, Multi-Media Tech
Delco Cleaning Systems of Fort Worth
During January of 2007 Bob Farmer purchased a RK-43-1A Hot High Wash Rig from Delco Cleaning Systems to use in his graffiti removal and abatement business. To save freight charges and to visit Delco Cleaning Systems of Fort worth, Bob decided to drive to Fort Worth and pick up the Wash Rig in person. Its takes about 26 hours of driving (windshield) time to reach Fort Worth, TX from Santa Cruz, CA. Bob noted on the trip that when he reached the Texas border he was about ½ way to Delco Cleaning Systems.
Bob enjoyed his visit with Delco and was able to visit with the staff that he had only spoken with over the telephone and communicated with by email. During this period Bob visited with Robert Hinderliter, president of Delco, about the techniques he had developed for graffiti removal and abatement. Bob expressed his concern to Robert about how much money was wasted by municipalities because of a lack of knowledge about graffiti removal techniques and equipment. Bob shared with Robert about one municipality that spent over $40,000.00 for a system that was basically inadequate. With better knowledge and training the municipality could have spent less than $10,000 and obtained a better system that was faster and more efficient.
Bob explained how he had developed his system over the past 13 years with a lot of trial and error. He has tested a broad range of equipment and chemicals including: pressure washers, paint removers, sand blasters, and graffiti abatement products.
This conversation led to the idea of producing an instructional DVD on Graffiti Removal and Abatement. Robert explained to Bob that Delco’s multimedia technician was now his granddaughter, Amber Stepan, who was studying the subject in college. And the best time for filming would be during her summer break. Plans were made for filming during July. Because of all of the equipment needed for the filming project Robert and Amber drove from Fort Worth to Santa Cruz in a van that could carry the equipment. The return trip was made nonstop in 26 ½ hours!
Graffiti continues to be a part of the American Culture ranging from unsightly marking and disfigurations to tags identifying different gangs and crews. Markings can identify individuals, territories, or be confrontational depending on where the tag or graffiti is located. On ‘DVD-620 Graffiti Removal & Abatement” Bob interviews an ex-crew member and discuss the social cultures of gangs and crews, and how it has changed in the last 10 years.
Most municipalities have anti-graffiti units or subcontractors that attempt to eradicate or eliminate graffiti in their jurisdictions. Bob Farmer has been an anti-graffiti contractor for the City and County of Santa Cruz, California for over ten years. During this time Bob has developed very effective methods for the elimination and removal of graffiti.
The method chosen for a particular location depends on several different factors. But Bob has developed 4 effective methods for removing the graffiti, which are:
1. Pressure washing or water blasting
2. Wet Sand Blasting
3. Chemicals (Paint Removers & Strippers)
a. Wiping
b. Pressure Washing
4. Painting (Cover up)
Where tags are continually applied the surface can be coated with a sacrificial coating (wax) or a hard clear surface that paint will not penetrate. When graffiti is applied over a sacrificial coating it takes a hot high pressure washer to remove the graffiti. The hot water simply melts the wax and the graffiti is immediately washed away. And on the hard clear coating the graffiti is removed with a rag soaked in acetone.
In the Graffiti World Taggers get recognition by putting tags in impossible places that are hard to get to, as well as on items that move around the country like trains and buses. The worst thing that can happen to a Tagger is have his tag or graffiti removed immediately before it can be viewed by others.
It is considered a challenge to the tag community whenever a news story talks about the clean up of tags in a particular area. This invites “bombing” (covering the entire area with tags) at that particular location to show the authorities who is in control.
The difficult part about prosecuting this type of crime is that the tagger has to be caught in the act of tagging. It is too easy for another tagger to copy the art work of another tagger which will result in miss identification.
Wet Sandblasting will always remove the tag but can also damage the underlying surface. Therefore, extreme care is required when using this method. Also Wet soda blasting can be used instead of sandblasting, but this method is a lot more expensive. Therefore, this can only be used where the customer can assume the additional expense like where tagging is on a work of art or statue. (See the Delco Wats Blaster Page 22 for Master Blaster Media)
Good customer service requires before and after pictures with a digital camera. These need to accompany your invoice for proof of service. Therefore before/after photos need to be organized into folders on your computer to match your invoice periods.
Pressure Washing or Water Blasting involves a pressure range of 2,000 to 4,000 psi; 5, 10, 15 or 25 degrees spray nozzles (5 and 10 degrees nozzles are sold as gum blasters, see The Delco Wats Blaster page 11); zero degree rotating nozzles; and hot and cold water. While the use of a zero degree nozzle is quite effective it will leave chicken tracks (wand traces) in the surface that is cleaned. Therefore, the use of zero degree nozzles should be limited similar to the precautions with sandblasting. Rotating zero degree nozzles generally will have the cleaning power of a zero degrees nozzle without the chicken track (tracer) effect. However, if you do not have a steady movement of a zero degree rotating nozzle it will bore a hole in the surface being cleaned. Note: “DVD-620 Graffiti Removal” was made with a Bob Farmer’s RK-43 (18 hp, 3,500 psi, 5 gpm, and 200˚F) Hot High Pressure Washer. Mr. Farmer also captures his waste water and this technique is demonstrated on the DVD. For more options for waste water capture see The Delco Wats Blaster.
For painting cover up you should just stock the primary colors in liquid tight containers with removal lids. A 5 gallon bucket with lid is just large enough to hold a couple gallons of paint, small roller, and drip screen. With an air tight lid, the paint will last in the container for about 3 or 4 months without drying out. Using this procedure roller and paint clean up is not required but you will need a container for every color of paint. This technique is demonstrated on the graffiti DVD-620 by an Anti-graffiti Volunteer Agency and Bob Farmer. Bob identifies the colors he stocks and the brand and type of paint he uses.
Graffiti Abatement techniques include: lighting, plants and vegetation, and murals. Motion detectors can be placed to cover areas where tagging is a problem. Whenever anyone enters the area a light comes on discouraging tagging. Also plants, vegetation, and murals can be used to cover areas where tagging is a problem. Taggers generally will not tag over a mural or painting.
You can order DVD-620 “Graffiti Removal and Abatement” from Delco Cleaning Systems for $50.00. The DVD is over 2 hours long and is jam packed with a lot of Bob’s Tips and Tricks.
Also available is a 2-day “Graffiti Removal and Abatement” School from Bob Farmer in Santa Cruz, California. The price is $1,295.00. The class is scheduled at your convience with Bob Farmer. Call Delco Cleaning Systems at 800-433-2113 for details.