What's new
By:
Car Wash Forum

This is a sample guest message. Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!

Anybody tried "Upper Hand" on their walls?

I.B. Washincars

I.B. Washincars

Car Washer Emeritus
A couple days ago I was leaving the wash for the day when a guy with a briefcase walked up and asked if I was the owner. My first thought was to just tell him I was the janitor and the boss just sits on his ass at home and comes by to pick up the money every few days. I fessed up and admitted being the owner.

Anyway, he had a cleaner that he wanted to show me that would clean my PVC wall panels. The first thing I asked was if it contained HF or ABF. He said it did not and proceeded to demonstrate the product on my wall. He also intentionally sprayed some on his hand to demonstrate that it did not contain any acid. I was impressed with what I saw. He squirted some on my wall, let it set for a few seconds, and lightly brushed (5 or 6 strokes) with a nylon or similar bristle brush and the spot below appeared. The panel is 2 1/2 years old and has never been cleaned.

Im000001-1.jpg


Also, here is a pic of a spot on my 6 yr. old Mark VII gantry, also never cleaned. A Scotch-Brite type pad was used on the gantry (3 or 4 seconds of circular motion) and the original color quickly reappeared.

Im000002.jpg


I was impressed enough with this product that I bought two 5 gallon pails.

The product is called "Upper Hand" and is sold by American Diversified Products in Lexington, Ky.

Anybody else used or heard of this stuff?
 
Let me get this straight; your bay walls haven't been cleaned in 2 years?

Man, I feel great about my carwash!!!!!! Thanks!:D


ps; I use a product called Braker from C.A.R. Products, Inc. on walls, wheels, whitewalls and engines.
 
I've found that most of that stuff is "simple green" and the scratchy pad is what's doing all of the work. Once, one of them came by to show me how good it was and I just happened to have the same scratchy pad laying there and I just used it with water and it did the same thing, she just walked away.
 
Here is what they state about the ingredients.

"The contents in UPPER HAND are manufactured under strict control from start to finish-assuring the highest quality product available. UPPER HAND does not have any acids, bleaches, or ammonias. UPPER HAND contains sodium silicate to protect glass surfaces including china and also machine parts, surfactants to remove soil, grease, and control foam, sodium metasilicate to boost and give added power, water softeners, conditioners, enzymes to speed up chemical reactions, anti-fog agent to defog glass and lifters to remove stains from carpet."

This could be the description of most concentrated cleaners on the market today. I agree with Bill that most of the work is being done with the scrubbing pad.
 
In our defense, I would just like to say that if the product was allowed to sit for 5-10 min it could be wiped off or pressure washed off. (using the proper dilution) It is much more cost effective than simple green!
 
UPPERHANDMAN said:
In our defense, I would just like to say that if the product was allowed to sit for 5-10 min it could be wiped off or pressure washed off. (using the proper dilution) It is much more cost effective than simple green!
Click to expand...

Also the spot to the left on the first pic was sprayed on and wiped off with only a towel. Ask him. He'll tell ya!
 

Attachments

  • lastscan1.jpg
    lastscan1.jpg
    51.1 KB · Views: 138
  • lastscan2.jpg
    lastscan2.jpg
    59.5 KB · Views: 136
UPPERHANDMAN said:
Also the spot to the left on the first pic was sprayed on and wiped off with only a towel. Ask him. He'll tell ya!
Click to expand...

He's correct, that little stripe to the left was not brushed, just rubbed with a towel.

Yeah Waxman, my wall panels have never been cleaned. That is the area under the brush head. The rest of the wash only looks somewhat crappy. Actually, from the street it looks great...as long as you're doing 70 MPH or so:D.
 
We all know that Pat H is getting a little old and sometimes senile, but we will take his word that this product is good. God help you if it isn't, you will be reading about it here.
 
FYI... if you look at the pics closer you can see the build-up running off. Keep in mind he took these pics after I left. As far as my feelings are concerned; I am not that sensitive. I have done this for 10 years. I have heard worse. lol By the way... I wish I was as good as Billy Mays and had 5% of the customers! lol
 
jshepard

Based on the MSDS displayed above this is a common product for most chem companies no matter how it is formulated. Again how much did you pay for the pails each?
 
jshepard

If the PH is 12.5 there is no bacteria alive in it. Being in the chem business we see this all the time. IF the product is good, bad or OK; it is still a common product that is being marketed by someone as the new hot cleaner and it is not. I ask again how much is 5 gals?
 
pitzerwm said:
We all know that Pat H is getting a little old and sometimes senile, but we will take his word that this product is good. God help you if it isn't, you will be reading about it here.
Click to expand...

Bill, all I know so far is what you see, Upperhandmans demo. I haven't used it yet. Hell, 6 months from now it may still be sitting where it is today. I have about 420' of 12' high wall and two gantrys to clean. I'll find plenty of excuses to not start.

It was about $100 per 5 gallons.
 
Etowah
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top