Elevance Clean 1200 and Plexiglass

If this video does not show on your phone please go to the link for my channel at the bottom of this post.

Clean 1200 is an excellent solvent.  True it is rather stinky but it is very powerful.  I put it through a very hard test here.  The paint that I used was a very strong paint.  Very thick.  Then I let it cure for a full month.  It was extremely difficult to get off even with a single edge razor.  But after a full hour of dwell time with the Clean 1200 I could scratch it off with my finger nail slowly.  When looking for a great solvent you will want one that has a very slow evaporation rate.  I did this test in 85 degree weather.  This allows you to let it set for a full hour.  Which will only make your job that much easier.  Otherwise even the most powerful solvent won't work at all.  Another thing is you will want a solvent that is miscible in water.  So a soapy water solution will quickly remove all of the residue.  Again the Clean 1200 is rather stinky so I would not use it inside.  But if you are working on a non-routine job and have your waiver signed, just use caution and make sure you clean up very well.

Now what we need to know is that even though the Clean 1200 is safe for glass and likely for tin oxide low e coatings as well;...it is absolutely NOT safe for plastic glazing.  This would be all three.  Not acrylic as is demonstrated here, nor polycarbonate, and or polyester/mylar.  I think how it crazes acrylic is the most demonstrative.  But the potential damage which can be done to the other two can also be quite bad.  Also non repairable!

Just to explain a little about what I have demonstrated.  When plexi is exposed to even the residue of most solvents and any type of physical stress, then it will craze.  That is crack up.  Such cracks can be long or zillions of very fine cracks depending on conditions.  The physical stress can be as I have shown here.  Or it can be vibrations from sound or just the constant slamming of a plexiglass door.  It can even be tight screws holding a plexi storm window on.  The stress might have been there for literally years.  But when you come along and use your wonder solvent to get some paint off, you could easily end up with cracks all around the edge where the screws were used.

I won't get into the chemistry and the physics of micro-fissures.  But you get the point!  In time I will post more videos on this topic.  So stay tuned to the channel and blog.  My goal is to educate and entertain.

Written by Henry Grover Jr.

henrygroverjr@gmail.com

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Kleer Vu Demonstration

  

Contact Information;

Karen Wright

Kleer Vu Sales

kleervu@onewest.net  

3005 N 4th E
Idaho Falls, Idaho 83401

208-524-4949

This product is based on a very special surfactant blend that attracts water when applied to glass and even plastic surfaces.  Which by the way are by nature quite hydrophobic, not hydrophylic!  It works very well on mirrors as you can see here.  Also sunglasses, regular glasses, swimming goggles, ski goggles, and many more situations.  What I am holding here is a two ounce bottle which fits very easily in your pocket or purse.  So you can carry it around wherever you go.

How does it become a "private label" product?  All you have to do is create your label on a computer using a graphics program.  Then send that by email attachment to Karen.  Tell her you found Kleer Vu on my YouTube Channel and Blog.  Then she has a print shop that they have negotiated the best price with who will print up a bunch of labels based on your artwork.  So be creative!  She will then fill the bottles with their anti-fog formula and send back to you however many bottles you want at the moment.  You will get a wholesale rate on the bottles and be able to sell them directly to your window customers for a good profit.  Once your customers get hooked they might even want to sell them to friends.  The most important benefit to you however is that the bottles become a business card.  Cards are just filed away and no one sees them again.  But these little bottles (or larger) of anti-fog will be carried around in purses or pockets.  People will be looking at them all the time.  Make sure all of your contact info is on the label.  Because one little bottle of anti-fog could win you a thousand dollar job.

I am working on a few other private label products right now that will work just as well as this one and maybe even better.  This is the way people.  Forget your business cards and flyers.  Private label products are the very best way to advertise your business!

Written by Henry Grover Jr.

henrygroverjr@gmail.com

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There are so many short videos coming your way to help you with new products and new technology which will put you way ahead of the competition.  Those companies that want to continue with just a mop, bucket, and squeegee will be left in the dust!

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NG1010 & Protection Tech

The window cleaning company that understands protection technology will win the storefront every time!  Think about it.  As a company that specializes in storefront accounts you make your money by cleaning the same windows hundreds and possibly thousands of times.  So what if we did a demonstration of how a very special chemical sealant can actually prevent scratches on doors and other windows.  Show how we can remove light scratches and light stains.  Show how glass can be easily damaged by the wrong hands but actually preserved by the more experienced worker.  Who do you think will get the job?

Protection technology is now a reality.  This is NOT routine window cleaning.  It is however a very advanced technology that will keep windows looking brand new for their entire life.  If someone is renting they might not care so much.  But how many large stores do own the building?  Usually these are restaurant chains.  One of the most profitable accounts.  Also one of the most difficult to maintain.

The Glass Smart YouTube Channel will be demonstrating these techniques.  You will be able to show these videos to your prospective customers and win the account.  If you were to walk in to a restaurant and show them which glass surface was scratch sensitive and how you could change this I am sure you would get attention.  Plus you would get the job.  Especially if the building was brand new.

Window cleaning companies that do not want to get involved with this technology will lose.  Just one account could cost you potentially hundreds of thousands of dollars.  Is it really worth it.  You just can't remain in the past thinking all you need is a mop, bucket, and squeegee.  Those days are long gone.  And the cleaning companies that realize it and move ahead will win the accounts.

NG1010 is in my opinion the best sealant we have in the States right now.  It came from Australia and is currently being manufactured and sold in these States by NanovationsUSA located in Florida.  There are many articles and videos in this blog demonstrating it.  Further there will be many videos in the Glass Smart YouTube Channel in time demonstrating it too.  Contact NanovationsUSA today and ask for a sample.  If you go to the Glass Smart Facebook Group (use the link on the left side here) you will find other guys testing it.  Talk with them to see what they say.  Some like Marc Tanner have videos you can watch.

This product covers the most square feet at the least expense.  It also goes on very quickly and will not cause any cloudiness.  It creates a crystal clear appearance.  It is in fact a sol/gel chemistry which is not organic as many of the other hydrophobic sealants are.  So the results are much more long lasting and resistant to alkali attack from hard water spots or concrete.

https://nanovationsusa.net/

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Written by Henry Grover Jr.

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Liabilities & Issues Regarding Non-Routine Window Cleaning

When do we take on liability?

Let me be perfectly plain.  As soon as you put down the squeegee and soft applicator/wetting wand;...you take on liability.  When you turn on a drill motor for polishing the glass; pickup even a piece of steel, bronze, or synthetic wool; take a razor blade to the window; get out any chemical be it a solvent, acid, or alkali; or even use a plastic powder by hand or mixed with a chemical;....you become liable.  The reason why is very simple.  The process you are now using is NOT outlined as a common safe practice by the glass manufacturing association.  They do NOT endorse it.  Their suggestion is to simply use a mop and a squeegee.

Avoid Liability Through Education!

We must first educate ourselves.  Get out the GANA Bulletins.  Read them over.  Share this information with your customers.  I will be writing about these Bulletins here in this blog.  But you will find them through the IWCA Glass Committee.  Which I am assisting but am no longer a member of.  The IWCA has actually shared in writing joint bulletins with the glass manufacturers association.  These carry weight!  Further, they actually do state in very plain language, if glass surfaces are allowed to become covered with concrete, stucco, paint, wood stain, silicone caulk, silane concrete sealant runoff, and so on;....they have in fact become damaged.  Whenever "routine window cleaning" (a mop and a squeegee) procedures are incapable of removing any type of deposit, then the window is essentially wasted.  Those are my words.  You need to know this and so do your customers!

To read the IWCA/GANA Bulletins and access lots more unformation of glass surfaces from the IWCA use this link;...

https://www.iwca.org/glass-surface-information/

Knowing When To Walk

Better yet run!  If you have not become responsible for doing any further damage, and especially are not completely comfortable with any procedure to remove the deposit without doing harm to the surface;....then absolutely take your leave.  However before you do, educate.  If enough of us do this contractors especially will get the idea very quick that they must use protective measures once the glass has arrived for storage.  Yes storage.  Even before installation.  It should be inspected, protected, and safely stored.  Protected through the installation/construction process, and then cleaned at the end of the job.  I am looking into protection technology now and have already posted some interesting videos on my YouTube channel.

Avoid Liability With Waivers For Non-Routine Work

Get one!  Whenever someone says, go ahead and do it anyway, and you think you can and make gobs of money in the process, don't be ill witted, be smart, get a waiver signed.  You must first educate the customer.  Let them know exactly what they are facing here.  Explain what GANA says, show them those important lines in the bulletins.  Explain what the problem is, concrete, silicone, etc.  Explain that your procedure could do worse damage to the surface.  Exactly.  It could do worse damage.  This is always possible.  It could also and does many times "void the manufacturers warranty".

Identify The Surface and Avoid Liability

This will set you apart from other window cleaners.  It is usually rather easy to identify what the problem is and where it came from.  Concrete, hard water deposits, silicone, stucco, etc.  But these days it is absolutely NOT an easy matter to identify the surface.  This is ESPECIALLY true for any employees you have.  If you are a franchise/business owner it could very well be true for you!  If so how could you ever expect that of your employees!?  And the wrong move could very easily affect the liability of your company and that of the entire franchise.  So once again education is key here.  How do we identify the surface?  Is it a pyrolytic first surface tin oxide, what of a first surface AR, or an acrylic, polycarbonate, or polyester?  Does it have a pyrolytic hydrophobic coating applied right off the glass line at the factory?  These are becoming more common for shower doors and enclosures.  Why is this so important?  Because there are non-routine procedures out there which are considered perfectly harmless;....BUT THEY ARE NOT!  Take for example the use of razor blades.  On most glass surfaces they are harmless.  But more and more now, glass surfaces are becoming very "scratch sensitive".  To razors and other non-routine methods.  So even if you have identified that you are working on plain glass you need to ask yourself is it rough, and does it "fizz and pop"?  If so back off.  Immediately!  Then there are other surfaces like AR coatings, tin oxide pyrolytics, plastics, etc.  You would NEVER under any circumstances want to use any type of metallic means (such as a razor or wool) on these surfaces.  Once you identify this type of surface and feel the need to use other tools, (other then those used in routine window cleaning), back off.  In fact let me put it this way.  Educate, identify, educate again, walk away, or proceed with extreme caution with a waiver.  You might choose to expand on any of this advice.  The bottom line is to minimize liability as much as is reasonably possible.  Never think you are losing a ton of money.  The fact is that there is a ton of money left to make out there just by dragging rubber!

The Process of Limiting Liability

The procedure should always be one of education.  Both the customer, ourselves, and our employees.  How can windows be ruined?  What are the manufacturers cleaning recommendations?  Have they been violated?  Is our customer demanding assistance?  Have we obtained a legal waiver and has it been signed by the necessary parties?  But most important is to know when to just walk away!

My YouTube channel will help to educate yourself and your employees in identifying various surfaces.  Along with various techniques that can be used with caution in non-routine work.  I would be delighted if you came aboard and supported my efforts by subscribing!  The YouTube link is;...

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKzhmAWtlsHJiwRd6WrgGyA

Written by Henry Grover Jr.
henrygroverjr@gmail.com

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Testing For Plastic Surfaces With A Simple Razor Blade

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First of all you will need to determine that the surface is absolutely NOT a low e metallic surface such as an AR coating or a tin oxide low e coating from Pilkington or another manufacturer.  These coatings are very easy to scratch with a razor and the razor will not "stick in" like it does on acrylic, polycarbonate, or mylar film.  So the razor tip will actually slide on such a metallic surface leaving a rather noticeable scratch!  Not good.  There are some simple tests for metallic surfaces such as a special electronic tool.  Or an LED flashlight.  Metal surfaces feel different as I demonstrated in another video.  

Nonetheless the tip of a razor applied gently to a plastic surface will actually sink in just enough so it will not move easily as demonstrated here.  This is true for plexiglass (acrylic), lexan (polycarbonate), and mylar (polyester).  Single edged scrapers and larger handheld razors such as this Triumph work very well.

Plastic glazing is turning up everywhere these days.  You would never want to scratch it as it can be very costly to replace.  Further if it has paint on it this might be one of those situations where it would be best to just walk away.  Especially if you do not have a foolproof way of safely removing whatever is on it.  If the owner is will to sign a waiver absolving you of any and all responsibility then have it it.  But again only if you feel very comfortable.  The most safe course to follow is just to walk away.  This does not mean you are not a professional.  Just show them this little video and they will know that you are!

Written by Henry Grover Jr.

henrygroverjr@gmail.com

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKzhmAWtlsHJiwRd6WrgGyA

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Private Label Products

If you cannot play this video on your device go directly to the Glass Smart Product Development YouTube Channel at;...

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKzhmAWtlsHJiwRd6WrgGyA

Private Label Products are way better than a business card.  One reason is you can sell them to your customers and prospective customers.  You certainly can't sell a business card.  So you can make money off them.  Your customers can also sell them to their customers spreading word about your window cleaning business even further.  This will also earn you a greater profit.

Private Label Products are designed with your business name and contact information printed right on the label.  You design this and have it printed.  Take for example the company Nu Kleer.  They make a number of different products.  Their figurehead product being an anti-fog.  Which is a product that everyone needs.  It can even be sold in quarts or gallons to motels for bathroom mirrors.  A simple spray on wipe off anti-fog glass cleaner.  Works very well on eyeglasses, sunglasses, and swimming goggles.  I personally would not use it on the inside of car glass however.  Once it starts to wear off it will attract even more fog than before it was applied.  Then if you are asked to remove it this can be very time consuming and problematic.  Been there done that, am not going back!

You might need an MSDS.  Which Kleer Vu does have.  All you need to do is change the heading at the top to your own company name and contact info and you are golden.  If you do want to purchase product liability insurance you can.  I found a very reasonable policy once for a small start up.  The rates are always based on the total dollar volume of your annual sales. So if you are not planning on selling that much you should not have to pay that much.  Although if you do go over the amount you anticipate then definitely tell the insurance company asap so they can adjust your premium.  This is a safeguard for you.

Written by Henry Grover Jr.

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The High Shine Slip

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That was an old woman at the laundromat that I had take the video for me by the way.  You can see her over to the right just a little.  I will use anyone that is or isn't agreeable.

On these demo videos I will be breaking glass in many different ways.  Just thought you would like that.  And I have also chosen this name for my videography, "Breaking Glass Productions".  You can rhyme that any way you like.

Anyhow.  I have been talking about this surfactant chemistry for a long time now.  So have decided to simply show you what kind of toys I have been playing with.  In as concise a way as possible.  Of course.  Then get a little technical on the blog.

The name High Shine was chosen to honor Lee Burbidge of the WCM.  He published many high caliber high tech articles in that mag.  High Shine is his company name.  It is interesting that the inorganic chemistry of this product does leave a special shine on the glass.  Which can be one of its downsides since it can streak on very hot glass in the direct sun.  Very hot dark glass too.  Hey I am not a manufacturer.  So I can degrade my own products!  Although this is usually not a problem.  But.  What we are trying to accomplish here is to attain a formula that will give the kind of solution which allows for easy cleaning of phobic surfaces.

The High Shine video begins by demonstrating with pure water exactly how phobic the test window is.  What I do not mention during the video is that I did apply a phobic product (which I will not identify) on the left side about a couple feet in.  This is just to demonstrate that even a surface that phobic can be sheeted and squeegeed with the High Shine.  You can see that the left side is somewhat more phobic than the rest of the glass but the entire surface is in fact quite phobic.  

Now I mentioned that this product is a Slip.  Actually it can be used by itself without any other product.  It can also be used with any other product.  I like to use it with Dawn.  And in this video I am only using a very little bit of Dawn.  That is why the sudz are almost totally just not there.  But we still have adequate glide or slip.

Now you can get sudz with Dawn up until you mix a 50/50 Slip/Dawn.  Then the sudz disappear.  That is because the High Shine is based on a silicone superwetter.  Silicone surfactants are typically sudz killers.  So that is what is happening here.  This is an anionic nonorganic superwetting surface active agent.  Dawn is based on two very common anionic organic surfs.  It is the strange combination of these two surfs that form what appear to be "islands" in the bucket.  The sun was out bright so I got some good pictures of this effect which is in the video.

Currently I am looking for some manufacturers or distributors to start carrying some of these products.  It might even be a window cleaning company that takes it on.  Who knows!  As long as I can get the smallest piece of cheese.  I do know however I can't do it and really don't want to.  My love is and always will be "the toy box".  Just got to have it.  I also love show and tell.  The new tech these days has given me that.  Didn't have it 25 years ago when I started writing for the AWC.  Never could have imagined it either.

I have many other things coming down the tube for you.  The YouTube that is.  Stay tuned to the channel.  And please subscribe.  I get more power that way.

Written by Henry Grover Jr.
henrygroverjr@gmail.com

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKzhmAWtlsHJiwRd6WrgGyA

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