Gum removal

Jim, those examples in your video are recent droppings (old gum is black almost all the way through) AND it's under canopies. We remove that gum the same way you do with the exception that we use 40 degree nozzles.

That isn't the type of gum this "gizmo" is made for.
 
WeWashConcrete said:
Wonder if this would work for gum on gas station concrete.... lol.
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Hell ya, burning off gum next to fuel pumps.......:dirol: get video of that for me please!
 
Tony Shelton said:
It still leaves a ring but the ring comes off in seconds with hot water. I don't know how well it works with cold.
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Well this thing could save me some serious time. I remember about a year ago I did a shopping center about a half mile long that had not been cleaned in years. The gum was really baked on there and was really old. I had to have a guy doing gum removal duty the whole time, which is a big deal. This seems like it is really quick and would cut time down. How exactly do you build the scraper at the end?
 
The scraper is this one from Lowes and is $25.00. We used it to scrap glue from under carpet before.

http://www.lowes.com/pd_160968-995-...pl=1&currentURL=/pl__0__s?Va=true&Ntt=scraper

There is one thing to think about. Ron brought up the idea that this thing might eventually make rust spots on the concrete (which we would have to treat) and he suggested a poly scraper (which I don't think will hold up to the heat.)

We haven't had any rust spots show up yet, but if they do start showing up I think I will just go get a leftover chunk of stainless from a fabricator and make a new scraper end with that. But I haven't seen any signs of rust yet.
 
Lou hoods&more said:
Hell ya, burning off gum next to fuel pumps.......:dirol: get video of that for me please!
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Hopefully we, as a group of professionals are good enough at selling that no gas stations will ever have 7 year old gum on it.
 
Tony Shelton said:
Hopefully we, as a group of professionals are good enough at selling that no gas stations will ever have 7 year old gum on it.
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Who cares if it's 7yr old gum? I don't care if the gum is a month old!
I want to see Habib going bananas when he sees that contraption next to his pumps :smash:
 
Tony Shelton said:
Hopefully we, as a group of professionals are good enough at selling that no gas stations will ever have 7 year old gum on it.
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Did this get developed any further? looks like an interesting concept along the lines of which I had in mind. Had also considered a steam generator like a steam mop type thing with a scraper on it. trouble with that is the need for a generator etc etc.
 
I took My propane torch and a scraper to a shop frontage the other evening (one that I've quoted on) to try the heat a scrape method. Biggest issue was you finished up with a hot sticky blob of gum that just wanted to get everywhere. Not impressed. I tried just good old muscle power and no heat and had far more success. I an going tomorrow to investigate the possibility of a liquid nitrogen application to the gum to make it GLASS HARD. My theory is it should just shatter off if you get a scraper onto the edge of it. I have seen tomatoes dipped in that stuff dropped on to concrete and they just explode like a glass ball. I have to find out if it can be applied with a gun arrangement. watch this space.
 
Tony Shelton said:
That gum just blows right off with hot water. Makes a big difference when you are working an area with 8pcs every square ft that has been through many summers of 155 degree surface temps.
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Yup Hear what you are saying Tony. I don't have hot water as I said in the very beginning. I can't justify a $3000 outlay for an $1100 job. I have, since my last posting, got onto an aerosol spray application that is recommended by the manufacturer for freezing gum on Upholstery and clothing. Should do the job for me. I have 243 gum deposits in a 300 square metre area so the infestation isn't high as such. Going to deal to it with a lino scraper and the Freeze spray. What I can't shift with just the scraper I will apply a touch of freeze spray and finish off with that. this is a first time for me doing this and I have factored plenty of time into the job for the gum removal. You have to start somewhere and making the odd mistake is a good learning tool. I have fully informed the customer that complete removal may not be possible but he will get my best effort. he is happy with that and accepts that they have left it to long to expect perfection. We have a good middle ground understanding.
 
Let me know how the job ends up turning out, I don't have heat yet as well, and would like to have the option to remove a piece or two for someone.

I'll be purchasing a burner in the future for sure, but would like to be able to say that I can clean up a few pieces of gum for a client, until then.
 
Rent a hot unit for the day. It would be well worth it!


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Chris Dubbs said:
Rent a hot unit for the day. It would be well worth it!


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+1.
In my beginning years of washing when I didn't own a hot water unit - upon commercial jobs I always rented a hot water unit and added the cost of the rental into the estimate.
I don't think youll like the aerosol and scraper method at all. Renting one will be a lot easier and faster
 
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