Recent content by Jim Caudill

You need to insert something alongside the interior pail so as to prevent a seal. Maybe a piece of electrical wire with some insulation on it. Really just about anything, strip of cardboard, metal, wood, etc.

continued answer contd.... Finally, there is the cost of the investment in the equipment. How did you pay for that automatic wash? If it is financed, then you have the interest cost. If you paid outright, then you have to look at what other ways you could have invested that money. After all...

No that seems way too low. Back to your original question. I think what you are looking for is fixed and variable expenses. Some items are one or the other. Many things can be both. For example, electricity is both. If I do not wash even 1 car, I will still pay for electricity that is used for...

My Re-verber-Ray heater requires electricity for the fan and the ignition system as well as the thermostat.

I have used "Fonic Wash" for my high-pressure wash soap for many years and I really like it. I use JBS's "Red Storm" for my low-pressure presoak, although it may be usually though of as an "automatic" pre-soak. I used to use it in my auto, and thought "why am I using 2 different pre-soaks". I am...

I realize the OP was looking for input regarding winter boots, but not wishing to start another thread about footwear, I'll simply say that for most of the year I wear "Shoes for Crews". Almost all the restaurant folks require them for their "slip resistant" quality. I like them because they...

We've all had various degrees of mudding calamities; 2 of the hardest to deal with for me have been someone cleaning there "pull behind" BBQ/smoker. The strings of grease, fat, meat, & tissue were very hard to get off the walls and floor. 2 of my bays are still stained from these guys. The...

As I reflect on the changing nature of the car wash business and even this forum, I remember some of the comments that were made when I and a few other posters were accused of "talking us into a recession" and in general being a "wet blanket". Here's an interesting link from a Newsweek Magazine...

I have been using a warm air circulator for quite a few years. I'm sure I wrote about it in the past. Just like "cantbreak80" says, the air in the equipment room is warmest at the ceiling, so that becomes the heat source. First step is to make the trough "air circulation" friendly. To do that...

I charge $1.50 to start, and that buys you 4 minutes. I used to harp on folks updating their information to show their location, but have grown weary of trying to get folks to understand that if they want meaningful feedback, they need to supply the proper input. Simply stated, your question is...

No one else can tell you what is the best way to operate your wash. I'm guessing that you have not owned/operated this wash for very long. If that's the case, it can be an expensive learning curve because you don't have a revenue history to know your potential business. I used to operate 24/7...

The short answer is yes. My Colt 380 Government Pocketlite is chambered and cocked with the safety "On". All I have to do is drop the safety and pull the trigger. Longer answer, I don't leave it this way. When I leave, I actually unload and decock - when I arrive, I insert the magazine and...

If he has an ice cube relay, then the timer is only supplying the small amount of current necessary to close the coil inside the relay. Regardless of any other "faults" with the switch, solenoids, or other relays; the power is coming from another fused circuit - NOT from the timer! Look at your...

Since I am unfamiliar with your specific timer and wiring, I have to ask. Does your timer output go thru an "ice cube" relay to provide power for the switch functions or is the timer output wired direct? In my system, the timer simply activates the "pull down" or control coil in an ice cube...

I'm not sure you will get a representative cross-section on the board. I think there are many operators who have experienced a major downturn in business, that just don't frequent the board as much as they used to. I'm not sure when the board started, but I believe I was here in either 1999 or...