I just wanted to take a few minutes to write something about an amazing little company down in Mass that has been around for many years making window wetting sleeves for the window cleaning industry. Richie Petrashewicz the owner has always been ready to help me out in whatever way he can by bringing my ideas to life. When I first met Richie over the phone about twenty years ago I learned very fast how focused he was on servicing our industry. I will never forget asking him to make me a six foot long sleeve. I had developed a tool at that time for wetting any sized applicator and needed the biggest sleeve possible. So he did it. And I used it. I will never forget the looks I got working my stores downtown main street. From this came many other ideas. All of which he satisfied.
He has come up with many different sleeves over the years, and has recently developed an entire line of flat applicator tools. The most recent sleeve for window cleaning that he calls the Wizzer is just perfect. I hope I have spelled it correctly. It has a green scrubbing section that runs the length of one side. And is a white synthetic sleeve that holds just the right amount of water. Definitely a tough sleeve too and made to last. Richies company Wiljer was actually the first company to conquer the end wear out problem. You know when the ends of the bar break through the sleeve? So I am now using a Whizzer and loving it. I will never go back to any other sleeve. For cleaning windows I will remain with Wiljer forever. And as I continue in product development you can be sure it will be a Wiljer Textile product that I will use.
To go to the Wiljer web site use www.wiljer.com
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Written by Henry Grover Jr.
For product sales henrygroverjr@gmail.com
Tuesday, October 29, 2013
Thursday, October 24, 2013
Green Product Development
As I continue to work on developing different products for Window Cleaners I have chosen to focus on ingredients and materials that do as little harm to the environment as possible. This will likely require that I divert my attention from the halogens to carbon based technologies. Essentially the chemistry of life! Although it will also lead me down a trail that will teach me about all of the elements. Even elements such as erbium and gallium. They are all here on this planet for a reason. Even arsenic. Yet they are bound up with other elements in minerals buried in the ground. Released over many years into the water. People have sped this up by burning carbon based fuels. Which have created acid rain. This falls to the Earth, seeping into the ground, and breaks up the minerals there. That releases elements such as arsenic and mercury from the natural mineral compounds that have kept them safely bound up for millions of years. Once released they react with and become a part of the chemistry of life. That leads to death.
The first step would be to determine exactly what I want to do. Then to look at the planet to see how nature is doing the same thing. Or if there are "things" out there that can be used for this purpose which will break down in a short enough time so they can be reabsorbed into the natural ecological order. Another concern would be how certain chemicals might affect the soil. Since dirt or humus is actually alive with millions of different bacteria and fungi, it is critically important to consider how our chemicals would affect these. When Jehovah created this world he did it in such a way that everything is finely balanced. Our bodies are loaded with bacteria as an example. However when we move one bacteria to a place in the body that it is not supposed to be, that bacteria can cause disease and even death. The same is true of the ecosystem. Since our Earth is like one huge organism.
This new way of creating products actually excites me because it will demand that I learn more about the ecology of the planet. I have a book I just picked up on Water. Which the writer calls the blood of the Earth. Interestingly enough when people began polluting the planet they began with the air and the rivers, lakes, and oceans. Now the oceans are polluted with particles of plastic waste. There is a reason we have sand. It naturally cleans water. But there are chemicals we can put in water that sand will not filter out. Water molecules can be broken down and reformed. But they don't necessarily do this in nature. Water molecules are actually billions of years old. The water molecules that you have in your body today were likely used by at least one other creature at some time in the past. Maybe many creatures. Likely even worms long ago dead and gone.
If you study different Material Safety Data Sheets you will learn that certain ingredients do not have to be listed and identified with their Chemical Abstract Service Registry numbers if they are less than 1 percent of the overall mix or product. That means over time literally millions of pounds of toxic chemicals can be dumped into the environment without any legal consequence to the manufacturers. But there is of course a consequence to the ecosystem. One that could have a direct effect on the health and life of those people, animals, insects, and bacteria living in that area. Although now pollution has traveled around the globe. So we experience the results of pollution on the other side of the planet.
If you would like these posts to come directly into your inbox when they are written just put your email address into the box at the top right, "Follow By Email".
Written By Henry Grover Jr.
For product sales henrygroverjr@gmail.com
The first step would be to determine exactly what I want to do. Then to look at the planet to see how nature is doing the same thing. Or if there are "things" out there that can be used for this purpose which will break down in a short enough time so they can be reabsorbed into the natural ecological order. Another concern would be how certain chemicals might affect the soil. Since dirt or humus is actually alive with millions of different bacteria and fungi, it is critically important to consider how our chemicals would affect these. When Jehovah created this world he did it in such a way that everything is finely balanced. Our bodies are loaded with bacteria as an example. However when we move one bacteria to a place in the body that it is not supposed to be, that bacteria can cause disease and even death. The same is true of the ecosystem. Since our Earth is like one huge organism.
This new way of creating products actually excites me because it will demand that I learn more about the ecology of the planet. I have a book I just picked up on Water. Which the writer calls the blood of the Earth. Interestingly enough when people began polluting the planet they began with the air and the rivers, lakes, and oceans. Now the oceans are polluted with particles of plastic waste. There is a reason we have sand. It naturally cleans water. But there are chemicals we can put in water that sand will not filter out. Water molecules can be broken down and reformed. But they don't necessarily do this in nature. Water molecules are actually billions of years old. The water molecules that you have in your body today were likely used by at least one other creature at some time in the past. Maybe many creatures. Likely even worms long ago dead and gone.
If you study different Material Safety Data Sheets you will learn that certain ingredients do not have to be listed and identified with their Chemical Abstract Service Registry numbers if they are less than 1 percent of the overall mix or product. That means over time literally millions of pounds of toxic chemicals can be dumped into the environment without any legal consequence to the manufacturers. But there is of course a consequence to the ecosystem. One that could have a direct effect on the health and life of those people, animals, insects, and bacteria living in that area. Although now pollution has traveled around the globe. So we experience the results of pollution on the other side of the planet.
If you would like these posts to come directly into your inbox when they are written just put your email address into the box at the top right, "Follow By Email".
Written By Henry Grover Jr.
For product sales henrygroverjr@gmail.com
Saturday, October 12, 2013
Water Activated Disks for Removing Hard Water Spots
This is a polishing disk that is coated with a water soluble polymer loaded with various superabrasive powders. It works by releasing the polymer and superabrasive simultaneously when wet with water. The first step is to apply a good amount of soapy water to a clean window surface that is stained by hard water spots. Then start polishing with the W.A.D. or Water Activated Disk. The polymer will start to break down with the water, releasing just the right amount of powder/slurry. If you clear the glass with a squeegee after a minute you will see how much time is needed to remove the stains completely. Then proceed with your work. You can polish the entire window, then soap and squeegee for inspection. If the window looks good you might fog it to see if all of the spots have been completely removed. If they have you can seal the glass with whatever hydrophobe you choose.
WADs can be created from different water soluble polymers, and different polishing abrasive powders of varying particle types and sizes. Even diamond can be used. What is critically important along with the details just discussed, is the use of the right rotary polishing wheel. The one I have developed is both gyroscopic and has a 12 degree (fail safe) variable shaft. That is it has an outer edge that weighs much more than the rest of the wheel owing to six large holes cut around the center point. It is six inches in diameter with a universal joint fixed between the wheel center point and the drive shaft that fits into the chuck of most any drill motor. Also it is made from 1/4 inch aluminum alloy. The hard felt rings and polishing disks used have a pressure sensitive adhesive to temporarily secure them to the bottom of the wheel.
The purpose of the wheel design is to remain flat on the glass at all times. This completely eliminates what I call "the bobbing effect". Which helps to eliminate the problem of abrasion haze, and maximizes the effectiveness and efficiency of the WAD. Of course the same is also true if one were to use a polishing ring made from hard felt. Such rings increase the contact pressure and so optimize the speed with which the polishing compond is able to remove the hard water spots. Different compounds are applied directly to the contact surface of the rings a little at a time. The window is copiously wet with soapy water. The wheel is next put up to the window and turned on. You should polish about a couple square feet at a time. If you limit the amount of compound applied to the rings you will also limit how much will need to be removed from the window when done. In most cases all you will need to do when done polishing is rewet the window with your cleaning solution and squeegee it off. There should be virtually no messy compound left behind to remove. This greatly reduces the amount of time to clear a window. It also greatly reduces the amount of compound used per window, and hence the cost of product to completely clear each window.
This is a revolutionary new technology for removing hard water spots from window glass. Owing to the fact that there are spots out there that will come off with a finger nail, and others that require a jackhammer;...each stain removal/restoration job will be different. I do not foresee a one solution kit available any time soon. Although I do see an enormous amount of room for product development. Such as liquid coatings loaded with superabrasive powders that could be applied to different disks and rings. Such would be water based of course and would dry to the touch within a few hours. Once dry they could be put to use immediately. A product like this would give both the manufacturer and the user fantastic diversity. It is this type of product that I am now going to pursue. If you would like to become a beta tester for any of the products mentioned in this post, or any others as they are developed;...please just send me your name and email.
Written by Henry Grover Jr.
Also if you would like these posts sent directly to your inbox as they are written just write your email address in the box to the top right "Follow By Email".
For product sales henrygroverjr@gmail.com
WADs can be created from different water soluble polymers, and different polishing abrasive powders of varying particle types and sizes. Even diamond can be used. What is critically important along with the details just discussed, is the use of the right rotary polishing wheel. The one I have developed is both gyroscopic and has a 12 degree (fail safe) variable shaft. That is it has an outer edge that weighs much more than the rest of the wheel owing to six large holes cut around the center point. It is six inches in diameter with a universal joint fixed between the wheel center point and the drive shaft that fits into the chuck of most any drill motor. Also it is made from 1/4 inch aluminum alloy. The hard felt rings and polishing disks used have a pressure sensitive adhesive to temporarily secure them to the bottom of the wheel.
The purpose of the wheel design is to remain flat on the glass at all times. This completely eliminates what I call "the bobbing effect". Which helps to eliminate the problem of abrasion haze, and maximizes the effectiveness and efficiency of the WAD. Of course the same is also true if one were to use a polishing ring made from hard felt. Such rings increase the contact pressure and so optimize the speed with which the polishing compond is able to remove the hard water spots. Different compounds are applied directly to the contact surface of the rings a little at a time. The window is copiously wet with soapy water. The wheel is next put up to the window and turned on. You should polish about a couple square feet at a time. If you limit the amount of compound applied to the rings you will also limit how much will need to be removed from the window when done. In most cases all you will need to do when done polishing is rewet the window with your cleaning solution and squeegee it off. There should be virtually no messy compound left behind to remove. This greatly reduces the amount of time to clear a window. It also greatly reduces the amount of compound used per window, and hence the cost of product to completely clear each window.
This is a revolutionary new technology for removing hard water spots from window glass. Owing to the fact that there are spots out there that will come off with a finger nail, and others that require a jackhammer;...each stain removal/restoration job will be different. I do not foresee a one solution kit available any time soon. Although I do see an enormous amount of room for product development. Such as liquid coatings loaded with superabrasive powders that could be applied to different disks and rings. Such would be water based of course and would dry to the touch within a few hours. Once dry they could be put to use immediately. A product like this would give both the manufacturer and the user fantastic diversity. It is this type of product that I am now going to pursue. If you would like to become a beta tester for any of the products mentioned in this post, or any others as they are developed;...please just send me your name and email.
Written by Henry Grover Jr.
Also if you would like these posts sent directly to your inbox as they are written just write your email address in the box to the top right "Follow By Email".
For product sales henrygroverjr@gmail.com
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