Plastic Abrasives For Sale

 This is the very next step for IGSA.  The sale of specialty products for the safe maintenance, restoration, and preservation of different glazing surfaces.  There are many plastic abrasive products out there.  Which I have been working on over the last several years.  There is one in particular that I am offering to the window cleaning industry.  It is softer than glass and most coated glass surfaces.  The angular cut is very good for digging through silicone caulk and paint.  It can be blended with different organic solvents that help by chemically softening silicone.  It is available at 15 USD and shipped by USPS.  I will be doing several videos on what I am calling P-Polish 1, or PP1.  If you want to try this out just send me your email address since I bill by PayPal right now.  Also your mailing or shipping address.

There are many different abrasive products out there.  They are based on several different types of plastic.  The shape of the particles are different too.  Some are round and quite smooth.  Some are angular and course for cutting.  The different plastics are of different harnesses too.  Some are very hard, whereas others can be rather soft.  The greatest advantage of plastic over organics such as walnut shell or corncob is that they will not absorb water and certain other fluids.  Water will soften organics making them very ineffective.  So plastic is definitely the better choice.  It is softer than glass and so is much less likely to scratch the window.

Another interesting product is what is called synthetic steel wool.  It is made from plastic fibers instead of steel or bronze fibers.  So again it is less likely to scratch!  I would classify the green, red, white, brown, and other colored pads as synthetic wool.  They are all different because of the design of the filaments, the size of the filaments, the type of plastic used, and especially whether or not the plastic filaments have been "loaded" with various mineral abrasive particles such as silica, silicon carbide, aluminum oxide, and even diamond.  If these particles are too large then the pad will scratch the glass.  Further if you use a pad that has not been tested with a restoration product, and scratches result, you will have no idea what caused the scratches.  The loaded particles or the superabrasive particles in the commercial hard water spot removal product.

All this is really just a continuation of other articles in this blog.  The major difference is that I will be doing much more testing and making available special products/ingredients that you cannot get from any other source.  Since I will not be identifying such products if a manufacturer decided they would like to pickup any of these products to sell they will be able to.  Since they will be able to own what we have discovered.

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Written by Henry Grover Jr.

 henrygroverjr@gmail.com

    

Commercial Products Verses "Home Made" Products

 The very first failing some have identified with commercial products is bias.  Everyone that has a commercial product believes they have the best.  They also usually never see any direct or potential problems with their product.  The latter can be quite dangerous for the user.  Simply because such a product can easily cause harm to the glass or health issues.  Both could result in lawsuits that could cost the company tens of thousands of dollars.  I have run into both of these issues many many times.

Another glaring inadequacy is the matter of cost.  I do remember discussing this issue with manufacturers over the years.  Most window cleaners do know about the "formula".  That is all of the expenses to bring a product to market must be added up and multiplied by a factor of 4.5 to 6 to get to the end retail price.  So a product that cost 2 dollars to bring to market would cost the customer 12.  But if you could get that product for 1.50 you would save a lot!  This is why I am always looking at material safety data sheets under ingredients.  It is also why manufacturers try very hard to cover up this information.  Water is the greatest "filler" and way of hiding the main ingredient.  If the product can be made at 99 percent water, then the main ingredient does not have to be listed by law.  It can rather be explained as a proprietary ingredient.  I have seen this many times.  Laws are being passed now to make MSDS's much more transparent.  Which does make it much more difficult for manufacturers of chemical based products.

Don't get me wrong however.  If it were not for manufacturers we wouldn't have most of the products that we do.  Never underestimate the power of greed!  So many times I have located via the MSDS the key ingredients of certain products but could not source them.  Simply because the chemical was so rare that the companies that sold it would ONLY SELL quantities that were way too large for anyone to buy.  Lets say you only needed a quart a week.  But the company "needed" to ONLY sell four 55 gallon drums at a time.  It then becomes unavailable.  That same company might sell to another that sells to smaller companies.  But such smaller amounts might still be way too much.  Also the cost in these smaller amounts might be SO extreme that it cannot compete with any other chemical or product out there.  So again it is not available.  This is a VERY large problem when trying to source specialty chemicals of even powders.  So the manufacturer steps up and purchases the greater quantity to get the price down.  Knowing they will be selling to thousands and thousands of very small companies through their very large distribution networks.  Some companies have worldwide networks.  They buy the chemical, bottle and label it, then send it out.  It is also insured.  Plus they must write up an MSDS for it to comply with OSHA law.  And more.  So YES we do need manufacturers!

This is a very complicated problem.  Added to it is the further concern that manufacturers have of other manufacturers discovering their "formula" and "stealing" it.  Such companies will come up with their own product based on this formula, cut their cost somewhat, and sell it at that reduced cost.  But only for a short time until they can bring you over to their side.  Then they will jack the price until it is way over the original number.  Tricky yes.  But it does work!

When I discover a particular product and tell everyone what that ingredient is and where we can all get it, I actually take this away from the manufacturers.  Because none of them will be able to own a product based on that ingredient.  They cannot keeep the formula secrete so they cannot own it.  They will not put out the money or spend the time on such a product.  This is something I absolutely MUST consider when I do my research in developing products.  If I start bringing you a certain product at a cost, and do not tell you what exactly it is and where I got it, just know that I am protecting it FOR YOU.  At a future time a manufacturer might pick it up and begin selling it at a reasonable price.  But if they cannot own it they will not even want to touch it!

So many angles, so many problems, and so much greed.  The bottom line is that product development and manufacturing is not simple.  It takes much hard work.  Further those who are in this business deserve what they get for their efforts.  I certainly don't work for nothing;...do you?!

Written by Henry Grover Jr.

henrygroverjr@gmail.com

 

Product Development and Availability

     Products are really the key to accomplishing non-routine window cleaning.  Whether that be stain removal, scratch removal, or concrete, silane, silicone, paint, or wood stain removal.  Especially if we are working with a coated surface.  They are products already available on the open commercial market that need to be explored for different applications.  So they need to be further "developed".  These products I definitely need to look at for this purpose.  I will be writing about these different applications and endorsing such products.  A case in point is Water Spot Pro by EnviroSafe.  Mike created this product for removing hard water spots from glass.  But did you know that it is also a safe product for most coated surfaces if used correctly?  It is an excellent product for converting phobic glass to phylic too.

There are other products available that are not too well known.  These need to be discovered, tested, and revealed.  Then there are others that are pure ingredients whether these be powders or chemicals.  But they are very difficult to get.  The manufacturers sell them in lots of ten 55 gallon drums at a time to sales companies that only sell one drum.  So if a window cleaner only needs a gallon how does he get it.  My plan is to find a way to make these available at a reasonable cost.  

Products need to be tested against other products to see which ones are best.  Two other considerations must be longevity and cost.

Henry Grover Jr.

henrygroverjr@gmail.com

Interview with Phil Alexander of Simpole

 Preview YouTube video Meet The Inventor of Simpole

Meet The Inventor of Simpole

This was a fantastic interview of Phil Alexander.  He is indeed one of the geniuses we have in our industry.  I am working with him now in writing the third issue of the GSI EZine.  The theme of this entire issue being creating superhydrophylic glass for Water Fed Pole Window Cleaning.

Water Fed Pole Revolution / The Next Issue of the GSI due by Sept 1st

Most people think that finding the best pole, scrubbing brush, or water purification system is going to get them to the next level.  But this is a total lie and couldn't be further from the real truth.  Talk to anyone that works with a WFP and they will tell you how much they hate and despise hydrophobic glass.  Phobic glass is what drives them to focus on the best water purification system.  It drives them to spend thousands on resins and membranes.  Some companies even use names like Zero Pure.  Claiming that they can give you a TDS of zero.  So that if there are any drops left on the glass they will not leave behind spots when they evaporate.  Of course even an extremely low TDS can have a rather high silica content.  Which will leave behind spots.  The condition is called silica spotting.

What is the ultimate answer to WFP window cleaning is the technology of making rinse water sheet off the window.  This is where we are headed.  This is the revolution.  We need to find ways to accomplish this.  Because when we do even a high TDS rinse will sheet off the glass leaving no spots.  It is actually very simple.  No drops, no spots.  I am not being imaginative here because I have done it.  No one can tell me it cannot be done.

We can do this three different ways as I have described in previous writings.  We can first break down the surface tension of water with a super wetting silicon based surfactant chemistry.  Or second we can remove all of the hydrocarbon pollutants from the glass surface revealing its true hyrophylic nature.  Or third we can treat it with a hydrophylic sealant such as an OH terminated silane or siloxane SAM.  These are the three different techniques.  Of these I am personally more in favor the second one.  I find the chemistry for accomplishing this very fascinating.  But any one will work or any combination of these three.

The August September issue of the Glass Smart Insider will be totally focused on this theme.  Here is a rundown of some of the articles.  Revealing the HO Bond.  Changing Water Chemistry.  Using RH to our benefit.  Is Zero Pure Really Needed?  What Is the Real Reason Why Windows Are Phobic or Phylic?  What Is Silica Spotting?  The Three Ways That Phylic Glass Can Be Maintained.  The Phylic Properties of Titanium Dioxide Coatings.  The Hydrophobic Properties of Acrylic and Hydrophobic Surfaces.  And more.

The first two issues of the GSI are free.  They are available right now.  Just send me your email and I will send you a link to each.  Although there is a small cost of 35 dollars for the third and all others.  With the Covid 19 I have had to draw back from my WC route.  I am in the high risk category of heart problems and only one lung.  I am in fact disabled and so really do not have much of a choice but to totally focus on my product research.  At least for right now.  So any support anyone can give would be greatly appreciated.  I am not selling products but am totally focused on both product development and technology.

Henry Grover Jr.
henrygroverjr@gmail.com

Which Stain/Scratch Removal System is the Best?

Is there a best window cleaning kit on the market?  Is there a best squeegee on the market?  Is there even a squeegee that you would use for every window?  The obvious answer to these questions is no.  Further it does require skill to use any squeegee.  The same is true for the tools and commercial systems available for stain and scratch removal.  One person might actually damage a window with the same tools and system that another might do an excellent job with.  It is also possible that someone skilled in this line of work or technology could do the same quality of work with two different systems.

There are many stain/scratch removal systems on the market right now.  Some are more user friendly than others.  Some are more inexpensive than others.  Some are multi-step whereas others are just a one step.  Some use different compounds such as cerium oxide, silicon carbide, or diamond.  Some are dry except for the last step, whereas others are wet.  Some use a dry pad with a wet slurry (not a compound).  There are grinders and polishers which are rotary machines and operate at different rpms.  Then there are random orbitals, and random oscillators.  The pads can be leather, wool, synthetic wool, polyurethane, and many other different materials.  Some even use steel wool or bronze wool pads.  

I have a favorite squeegee that has an Unger handle with an Ettore Channel and a Black Diamond rubber.  Go figure.  I also run a zero degree angle.  This is my go to tool.  I might not be as fast as Alex Lacey and some others.  Never did the speed competition at the IWCA annual.  But I am very good.  Now there are restoration professionals out there that are truly amazing!  Like Marc Tanner.  I can take out scratches and remove stains.  Have used all the different compounds including diamond with great success.  But I can't come close to what Marc can do.  He is the King of Glass Restoration.  When he was beginning  years ago he started buying the commercial systems.  Spent a lot of money.  But ended up developing his own personal system.  Which he is very content with.  But is always looking for different products to add to his box.  I have talked with him a great deal about this technology and he always tells me every job is different.  Even one window can be very different from the one you just did.  For different reasons even.  So you will need to use different pads, compounds, polishers, and grinders.  These are the reasons why he developed his own system.  I do believe that anyone who wants to get into this line of work and do it right, will ultimately end up doing the same thing.  

Window glass restoration is a technology that requires a great deal of learning and training.  It doesn't come fast.  It is also loaded with dangers that absolutely must be learned.  Marc always says when you are starting out practice on your own glass.  Never practice on your customers windows.  My suggestion is to find someone who knows exactly what they are doing and pay them to train you first.  Before you put out any money for tools.  If you can too, find someone that has developed their own system.  My belief is that there really are no systems out there that are complete and free from glitches.

So after all that I have written I will answer the question which is the title of this post.  No!  There is no "best stain/scratch removal system" out there.  And you will waste a lot of time and money trying to find it.  What you will likely end up doing is taking from several different systems and companies to put together your own personal system.  If I can help you along the way just send me an email.

Henry Grover Jr.
henrygroverjr@gmail.com

  

   

The Glass Smart Insider

The GSI is an online magazine or ezine that will be published once every two months starting with April/May 2020.  The focus of this publication is the surface maintenance and restoration technology of various glazing surfaces.  This includes the fenestration envelopes of commercial and residential buildings.  It also includes vehicular glazing as well.  This technology involves specific commercial and other products.  Which will be discussed in the articles.  All articles will be written by the professionals who have either developed and are selling said products.  Or the technicians/business owners who are using them.  I will be assisting in the writing and at times will be a coauthor.  But you are going to hear from some people in this publication that you have never met online before.  These people are true innovators and will be able to help you a great deal in your business.  They will help you with new techniques that are so badly needed in non-conventional window cleaning, glass restoration, and preservation/sealant application.  Plus much more.

There is an opportunity to advertise here too.  Both for the product manufacturers and sales companies.  Also all individual window cleaning and detail companies.  If you would like to know more about this please just send an email to henrygroverjr@gmail.com  If you would like to subscribe to the GSI which is free but only available by email please contact me by the same email included above.

Written by Henry Grover Jr.

Transcendence Through the Glass Smart Youtube Channel

You can read all about something and even watch it on a video, but until you actually do it with your own hands you truly do not understand.  The Glass Smart Youtube Channel is beginning to show how to test certain products and chemicals on glass for nonconventional/nonroutine window cleaning.  You can play these for your potential customers.  But until you actually do them yourself you will not fully understand.

For example do you know the difference between a vapor etch and a contact etch?  How do certain acids affect scratches?  How do certain acids affect glass surfaces?  When you see it and feel it you have "transcended" in your understanding.  You will have moved beyond a cursory knowledge.  So that you will be able to recognize the problems with different surfaces that you will be exposed to in your work.  What of negative deflection?  This is a concave curvature of the glass panes of an insulating glass unit that result from outgassing.  But until you actually pass your razor blade across a soapy window that has a negative curvature in one direction and then another you will not completely understand.  Transcendence is the actual doing.  That is what sets you apart from other window cleaners.  It also gives you a great edge over your competition.  Once again this is why I have started the Glass Smart Youtube Channel.  To show you the tests you can do yourself.  And make it easier for you to show these to your customers and potential customers.  Look at this video below.  It is VERY short.  But makes the point very quick that a little experience can save a customer a hundred thousand dollars in potentially wasted windows.

I have actually put the coin in a customers hand and had them do the test themselves.  Then do the same test on a very smooth window.  The response is total amazement.  Believe me they get it.  And have a brand new respect for what I do.  That is transcendence.

My goal is to bring this to my Meets.  Which I will be continuing this year.  I am starting local here in NH.  Hoping to include as many from New England as possible.  My intention is to go worldwide through the Glass Smart Youtube Channel. 

CLICK BELOW AND PLEASE SUBSCRIBE 
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKzhmAWtlsHJiwRd6WrgGyA/videos

Written by Henry Grover Jr.
henrygroverjr@gmail.com

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Who Should Pay For Scratched Glass?

OK People lets get real here.  If we clean windows we have scratched glass!  I have.  And it scares me every time I take on a job with brand new glass.  Because I know like you know that glass surfaces today are very scratch sensitive.  So;... the quality of the razor and the precision of the technique used are NOT the only reasons why glass scratches.  You can use the same exact razor and technique on two different windows and only scratch one.  The largest determining reason for scratches is actually scratch sensitivity.  Which is very difficult to quantify.  And the window cleaner is NOT responsible for scratch sensitive glass surfaces.  The manufacturer is.  But it is way too easy to put all the blame on the window cleaner.  Since before the windows were cleaned the windows were not scratched.  The window cleaner then has to defend himself.  Which is exceptionally difficult to do since very few people understand exactly what causes glass surfaces to be scratch sensitive.  All glass surfaces are believed to be the same and therefore the tools that are used to clean them are believed to be the means by which the windows are scratched.  I even had a customer tell me she believed the squeegee rubber scratched her windows!  I could not convince her otherwise.

This discussion is not however a discussion of how windows are scratched or why they are scratched, but rather who should pay for the damage.  I have written what I have here for the purpose of demonstrating how complicated by ignorance this issue is.  The problem in answering this question is we are looking for a singular scapegoat.  We are looking for a singular responsible entity.  When the reality is it is a "shared responsibility".  I mean why don't even the razor manufacturers do something to educate the window cleaner that there are windows out there that should not be touched by a razor blade?  Why don't the glass manufacturers put out some of the millions they make for the scientific research to determine exactly why some surfaces are scratch sensitive?  Why don't glass and window sales companies do more to inspect the surfaces of the products they sell?  Why don't general contractors perform inspections of the surfaces of the products they install?  And yes why don't we as window cleaners do more to first educate our customers about scratch sensitive glass?  Also why don't we as window cleaners make it much more of a practice to inspect the surfaces we clean before we use a razor or anything else to remove paint, etc?  Why don't we explore different products and techniques to remove debris from scratch sensitive glass surfaces?  Lastly why don't we as window cleaners have an all inclusive waiver signed by the owner and or general contractor we are working for?

When an insurance agency is approached by their client/window cleaning contractor over a specific building that had their windows scratched they have some detective work to do.  Simply because the insurance company that they use will likely deny the claim.  Leaving everyone without an answer.  Questions like are the windows scratch sensitive?  Did the window cleaner know about this ahead of time?  Does the window cleaner even know what scratch sensitivity is.  Was there a waiver put in place before the job began?  Was the insurance company asked about whether they would pay for a scratched glass lawsuit when the policy was purchased?  These are the questions that need to be answered to determine what percentage of the shared responsibility the window cleaner has.  But again I need to emphasize that this is a shared responsibility.

It is also necessary to learn whether the scratches were present before the cleaning.  Because they could have been created when the glass was moved, when the windows were put into storage, or when they were installed.  They might have been created by someone else such as a painter.  Then covered over by dirt.  And revealed when the windows were cleaned.  Since the window cleaner is the last contractor to work on the windows they will always be blamed for the scratches.  I have experienced this myself and believe that many thousands of window cleaners have also.

The bottom line here is that legal man must be called in to determine what the shared liability is with the help of the expert witness/glass consultant.  

Written by Henry Grover Jr.
henrygroverjr@gmail.com

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Stain Removal; Polishes Not Acids

Once window glass has become stained by hard water/mineral deposits it has been damaged.  Simply put there has been an exchange of atoms between the glass surface, water, and the minerals/salts in the water.  One way to effectively and completely remove all of the mineral deposits is with a super abrasive polish.  These polishes are usually based on a cerium oxide, silica, zirconium oxide, or diamond.   The application of these polishes are done by hand or with a machine and a variety of different pads.  The restoration professionals out there such as Marc Tanner focus on polishes.  I have had many conversations with Marc over the years.  He always tells me that every job is different.  So the most effective technique requires trial and error.  In my opinion "precision" stain removal can only be accomplished in the field with a technique based on a super abrasive polish.  Not with an acid.  There are many problems with acids that can very easily and very quickly cause damage to the glass that cannot be easily repaired.  So even though acids such as hydrofluoric, sulfuric, and ammonium bifluoride will quickly remove mineral deposits, they do react with the glass every time, and can do damage to the window that can bring in a lawsuit.

Written By Henry Grover Jr.
henrygroverjr@gmail.com

Wiljers Xlite Scrubber Sleeve

There was a time when I scraped everything!  But times have changed.  No I never was sued for scratching a million in glass.  But I have read stories.  I also have scratched my share of glass.  With metal razors, plastic scrappers, and even 0000 steel wool.  These days I am VERY careful.  The first thing I do when starting a new job is to check the surface of the glass.  Is it defective and does it have any kind of a metallic high tech coating?  Surface analysis is an absolute must these days.  However even then it becomes necessary to adopt safer techniques then metal razors.  Yes there are times when razors are perfectly safe and absolutely necessary.  I still do use them myself.  But I am becoming more familiar with alternate techniques.  Such as the new Xlite from Wiljer Specialty Cleaning Products.  Here are a couple of pictures of my own personal Xlite Sleeve.

It was a snowy day and these pictures were taken on the trunk of my pretty blue Civic.  You can see the darker yellow fibers in the fabric.  These are hard and course.  Much harder then the other fibers.  Just on one side of the sleeve so you can flip it if you want.  They are great for scrubbing light dirt that you might want to blade.  So now you don't have to.  Just one more technique to make cleaning glass more safe.

The Xlite is definitely lighter than other sleeves.  But it does hold enough water for most larger windows.  I have been working with this sleeve for about two months now and have been rather satisfied with it.  If you would like to give it a go just give Richie a call and pick one up.

Wiljer Specialty Cleaning Products
34 Front Street - Box266
Indian Orchard MA 01151
Phone 413-543-5333
EMail wiljer@yahoo.com
www.wiljer.com

Written by Henry Grover Jr.
henrygroverjr@gmail.com

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Lets Work Together

If you have any special problem jobs that you need to do or price send me an email.  We can talk.

henrygroverjr@gmail.com

I am finally starting to work with people all around the world.  With the technology that we have today so many things are possible.  There really are no limits.  So I don't have to travel there.  But will be doing some travel over here on the east coast.  Just for the enjoyment of it.  I have been consulting with companies for 25 years.  Have visited many different states and looked at some very famous buildings.  It has been a tremendous amount of fun.  But all of this is nothing compared to what I can do now with the communications technology of the day.

This blog will start to include some of the stories of these different companies including pictures and videos that they send me.  Which I am already receiving.  This is actually VERY exciting!  And I am really looking forward to sharing with my readers.

Henry

Written by Henry Grover Jr.
henrygroverjr@gmail.com

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Smart Products for Coated Glass

The coatings industry is driving the glass industry.  This includes soft and hard low e coats, low maintenance glass, first surface reflective coatings, AR coated solar glass, and other high tech products.  This technology will continue.  Window cleaners have to deal with such surfaces.  What is of concern to us is the ignorance of the subcontractors that work around these windows.  When these windows are covered by paint, wood stain, concrete, hard water spots, silane and siloxane sealant rundown, and other contaminants they are according to GANA and the IWCA;... wasted.  The very first thing that you absolutely must do when you are introduced to such a building is make absolutely certain that the general contractor, maintenance company, and owner are aware of this fact.  Then if they want you to attempt to remove any of these contaminants, make sure you have a waiver in place signed and dated.

I don't believe any manufacturer has developed products for these surfaces.  No sealants, no restoration products.  It is just too niche.  Also many window cleaners have used acids, alkalies, and crude abrasives that have done damage that could not be corrected.  The windows have needed to be replaced.  This usually ends up in very large lawsuits.  One of the worst acids is hydrofluoric.  The only products that can be used for these surfaces are usually custom.  The best thing that a window cleaning company can do when they encounter a building with damaged coated glass is just walk away.

This blog is all about products.  Ones that others have developed.  And certain custom products.  I test out the commercial products and demonstrate such on the Glass Smart Product Development Youtube Channel.  Also I demonstrate the custom products that I have developed myself on my YT Channel.  My consulting work involves a blend of these two types of products along with an understanding of how to identify coated surfaces, defective glass surfaces, and more.  

Much of this however must happen on the job.  So when I can I like to travel to the job site so I can do my own testing and carry all of the custom and commercial products with me.  Although there are times because of distance that I must rely on the phone, pictures, videos and sending out different products, or having the window cleaners I work with order samples of different products direct from the manufacturers.  Which samples are usually free.

If you have any situations going on right now or planned, don't hesitate to send me an email so we can talk about it.

Henry Grover Jr.
henrygroverjr@gmail.com


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

The 55 Inch Super Soaper Wand

The Super Soaper was created with much help from Wiljer Specialty Cleaning Products who provided this beautiful white sleeve.  It has just the right amount of pile to hold onto just the right amount of water.  They truly do make the very best sleeves for the window cleaning industry.  More importantly however is that the owner is willing to work with us in developing different technologies.  I developed the Super Soaper as an ultra niche product.  Hoping it would get attention.

Wiljer Specialty Cleaning Products
34 Front Street - Box266
Indian Orchard MA 01151
Phone 413-543-5333
EMail wiljer@yahoo.com
www.wiljer.com

The other part of this invention of course is the Super Soaper Siphon.  It fits on the bottom of a two inch PVC pipe.  The water can come in but can't get out.  So it becomes displaced by the wand on the downward motion and wets the sleeve.  The upward motion of the wand draws water up from the bucket into the tube.  With this tube I can easily soap up a 55 inch wand from a one gallon bucket.  I will be doing a video showing how I built my Super Soaper System.  There will be continual updates and improvements.

This invention is NOT practical for just a few large windows.  Definitely NOT for smaller windows.  A "small" 22 inch is much easier to use.  It becomes practical ONLY when doing about twenty or more very large windows.  Such as at a dealership.  Certain commercial jobs have many very large plates that take a great deal of time to wet.  Soren created the Sorbo line of squeegees to deal with these large windows.  For  decades now this design has proven itself.  I see the Super Soaper wand as an addition to the very large squeegee.  It will likely not be picked up by any manufacturer as they will see it as too much of a niche product.  Ultra niche products are usually passed over by large manufacturers.  There simply is not enough money in them

Wiljer would be willing to make sleeves as big as 55 inches.  I am thinking that there are more people out there that would want a 36, 42, or a 48 inch wand.  Any of these sizes are easy to make.  I bought a very small swivel wetter handle from Sorbo and unscrewed the handle which is held on by two screws.  Then I took a long metal handle from a broom.  Removed the broom and plastic ends.  Then screwed on the Sorbo swivel handle.  I did have to drill a couple holes in the handle with a drillpress.  That was the most difficult part.  Once done I just slipped on the sleeve and snapped it secure.

Improvements will be shortening the wetting time to five seconds, and learning what the percentage of time reduction is over a 22 inch wand on the same large window.  I need to demonstrate this improvement in a video.  As we all know time is king.  Commercial window cleaning is all about time.  Which is why I am very surprised there are not more videos out there demonstrating the super channel squeegees.  Instead we see many very small squeegees with wetting pads that flip over.  These are great for small or average size windows.  But when you have fifty windows that are twelve feet high and six feet wide give me a super channel any day of the week.  That is all I have to say right now!

Written By Henry Grover Jr.
henrygroverjr@gmail.com

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Glass Surface Chemistry

In pure water chemistry one out of every 10,000,000 water molecules is dissociated into a hydroxide 'and' a hydronium ion.  Hence the water maintains a neutral pH.  It is neither acidic or alkaline.  If there are more hydronium ions (H3O) than hydroxide ions the pH is below 7 and the "pure water" is acid.  If there are more hydroxide ions then hydronium ions the pH will be above 7 and the water will be alkaline or a base.  Cleaning solutions use alkaline chemistries because most films and dirt on glass are hydrocarbon in nature.  Which are acidic.  Hence the two chemistries neutralize and cleaning happens.  However it is the hydronium ions that swap places with the sodium atoms in the near surface of soda lime/window glass.  The hydronium ions and sodium atoms inter-diffuse.   Which is the reason why Dr Paul Duffer says that glass is "alive".  It is very easy to change the chemistry of a glass surface with pure water if it is acidic.  And especially if the ambient temperature is raised.  An other way of saying this is that glass surfaces are very reactive.  This is demonstrated in our work every day.

Any window cleaner that has been working for ten years or more knows that not all surfaces are the same.  If you doubt this just start checking clean dry surfaces with a penny.  Then feel and listen.  They can pop and fizz as in the video here.  Or just be very rough.  They can also be perfectly smooth.  Not rough with no sound.

Everything I have been describing is what happens naturally.  We also change glass surfaces by polishing with microcrystalline super-abrasives such as cerium oxide.  Certain acids such as hydrofluoric, sulfuric, and ammoniumbifluoride do the same thing in a matter of thirty seconds.  Whenever hard water spots are removed with polishing slurries the glass becomes rough, very easy to scratch, and a stain sponge.  For all intents and purposes the surface is now DEFECTIVE!  This is an issue that no one in the window cleaning industry has recognized.  

I remember a building that Marc Tanner told me about that he restored.  It was four stories.  The first three stories released the stain with ease.  But the fourth floor was a total bear.  Come to find out an etchant/acid had been used before to remove the stains from just the fourth floor.  Then the stain reformed.  

It is also true that stains come off reflective metallic surfaces much easier than clear transparent glass.  Which releases stains much easier than dark tinted glass.  Dark glass can be an absolute bear.  Especially if it has been polished or "restored" with an acid such as HF.  Usually etchants will destroy dark glass.  They will leave an orange peal effect, or discolor.

The days of simply cleaning windows with a buck, mop, and a squeegee are long gone.  When we take on a store front we take on the maintenance and protection of the windows we clean.  This is true for window cleaners and auto detailers who work on vehicular glass. 

Vision glass that has been restored by having water stains removed should absolutely be sealed with a hydrophobic sealant.  This protects the window surface from scratches and more stains.  Here is a demonstration by Marc Tanner showing off  Nanovations NG1010.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=17&v=-9-QQPwqW9Q

Written by Henry Grover Jr.
henrygroverjr@gmail.com

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