Benefits:
The Media Stake is an important element of the Trash Can Hopper Pressure Washer Blast System. It attaches directly to the Media Carburetor and is designed to fit standard sized 20 / 32 Gallon trash cans. A hose connects the bent end of the media stake to the venturi driven blast head.
Made from light weight aluminum tubing, two pipes are welded together. One pipe functions as a stabilizer rod that is used to position the media input above the blower hole in the media carburetor. The other pipe functions as the media draw tube that delivers the air / media mix into the hose connected to the venturi driven blast unit.
The stabilizer rod also acts as an air inlet tube when the media carburetor is not hooked up to an air blower.
Includes:
- (1) media stake for 20 / 32 Gallon trash cans
- 32€ or 25″
- Fits ½€ hose or vinyl tubing (ID)
How it works:
The media funnel and media carburetor work together to create a strong push €“ pull suction on the media which is lifted out of the trash can hopper and into the media hose where it is mixed with the pressure washer€™s jet stream. The venturi driven brass lance attachment pulls the media from the bucket while the ShopVac blower drives air into the media carburetor. The result is an air / media mixture that is blown up and into the sand stake and media hose. This push €“pull suction creates a powerful, smooth, and controllable flow of media into the pressure washer€™s jet stream allowing the user to clean, strip, and degrease pool tile, fountains, concrete, stone, and other surfaces.
NOTE: Pressure Washer (3500psi/3.5GPM minimum) and Vacuum/Blower are not included.
Trash Can Hopper
Pressure Washer Blast Systems
Clean * Strip * Degrease
POOLS FOUNTAINS CONCRETE STONE METAL
The Trash Can Hopper is compact, light weight, and very cost effective. It eliminates the need for heavy and expensive air compressors while solving the media flow problems associated with bulky and expensive gravity fed hoppers. Use your pressure washer to clean, strip, and degrease pool tile, fountains, concrete, stone, and metal.
BENEFITS:
- Lightweight and compact.
- Better media flow & control
- Convert your trash can or bucket into a media hopper
- 3500 psi / 3.5 GPM min. pressure washers required
Compatible with many types of media:
- Kieserite MaxxStrip
- Natrium Soda
- Armex Soda
- Sand
- Glass Bead
- Walnut Shells
- And more€¦
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
Where do you put the media carburetor?
The media carburetor is designed to be positioned at the center of the bottom of a 5 Gallon bucket or trash can (20 Gal / 32 Gal). The media funnel is then placed over the funnel seat. The weight of the media is driven to the center of the bucket, creating a concentrated media source where the media carburetor is positioned to assist the venturi with an upward lift of flow that drives the air / media mixture into the sand stake. The weight of the media also spreads the funnel against the walls of the bucket while holding the media carburetor in the center of the bucket.
How does the sand stake attach to the media carburetor?
The sand stake is recessed into the top and held in place with a bolt that screws in from the bottom. The sand stake rests approximately one inch above the base. When air is supplied to the carburetor hose barb from a vacuum/blower, the air is redirected through the media carburetor and is free to exit through an orifice that is positioned directly under the sand stake. The forced air / media mix assists the venturi driven brass blast head.
Do I need to use the blower with the media carburetor?
No. The media carburetor can also be used without the air input and used only as a stabilizing base. In this case, the air supply needed to assist the venture blast head is delivered directly through the pipe welded onto the sand stake.
Can I clean out the air input or media output orifices if they get clogged?
Yes. A clean out hole located on the side of the media carburetor can be used to clean out the air inlet and media output orifices. Use the brush to clean out the orificies.
NOTE: The holes are usually not clogged during normal operation. The clogging occurs when you leave the media in the bucket while the media carburetor is immersed with media. Moisture can coagulate the media granules and cause them to stick. If this occurs just rinse them out or clean them out with a brush.
How much air do I need?
The adjustment of the amount of air flowing into the carburetor is achieved by using the in-line valve connected to the blower. Depending upon the strength of the blower, the valve can be used to tune the air / media mixture. The more air pumped into the carburetor, the faster it exits the carburetor. The air stream is then pushed up and into the sand stake. If too much air is being pumped too quickly into the stake that is positioned one inch above the media carburetor surface, not enough media will be sucked into the air stream. It will be all air. If too little air is pumped up and into the tube, then the venture is acting alone and the traditional problems will occur €“ inconsistent media flow, air pockets, too little media, etc. Adjust the air input as needed.
Does the type of media affect how much air I will need?
Yes. Light media such as soda will not require as much air to assist the venture. However, heavier media such as the MaxxStrip PT2 will require more air flow.
Will the degree of hard water stains affect the amount of air flow needed?
Yes. Heavier stains require a heavier media to be used such as MaxxStrip PT2. For heavier medias, the venture has a harder time pulling the media out of the bucket and through the hose. The media carburetor can help lift the heaver media out of the bucket while delivering a smoother and more controllable media flow.
How large of a pressure washer do I need?
The pressure washer serves two functions. First, it is used to create the venturi vacuum that sucks the media from the bucket, through the hose, and delivers it into the brass blast valve. Second, the pressure washer€™s water jet stream drives the water / media mix to the surface where it can clean, strip, or degrease.
The key questions is, €œDo I have enough pressure to lift the media from the bucket?€. You must have a minimum 3000 psi / 3.0GPM pressure washer to create enough vacuum in the blast head to draw the media out of the bucket and through the hose. The hose creates friction on the media making it difficult to draw, especially if the media gets wet.
The pressure isn€™t necessarily needed to clean the surface. That€™s the media€™s job. Isn€™t that the point of the whole system and the media itself? The media is what is cleaning, stripping, and degreasing. The pressure washer is merely a delivery device needed to actuate the venture and carry the media forcefully to the surface.
The media carburetor was designed to help the pressure washer. It can enable you to use less pressure and lighter duty pressure washers because it is forcing an air / media mixture into the sand stake and hose.
Do I use the media wet or dry?
Dry.
What happens if the media gets wet?
When wet, the media can become very heavy and difficult to lift. It also becomes very sticky and is difficult to pull through the hose. It will delay the entire job until the media is removed and the hose is dried out. Most types of media such as MaxxStrip Kieserite can not be re-used after it is wet.
Can I dry out the hose if it gets wet?
Yes. If the media becomes wet and stuck in the hose near the brass blast head, simply cut out that piece of hose. Or, you can use an air compressor to dry out the hose.
NOTE: Do not use the pressure washer€™s jet stream and point the nozzle into the hose and drive the wet media through the hose. You can cut your fingers and damage your eyes with the high pressure water jet stream. ALWAYS FOLLOW OSHA APRROVED SAFETY RULES AND WEAR OSHA APPROVED SAFETY GEAR WHEN OPERATING PRESSURE WASHERS.
What causes the media to get wet?
The media can become wet either through prolonged storage, condensation, and water dribbling back into the inlet tube during operation. If the media is getting wet during operation, then the brass blast attachment is likely being held upside down. The media inlet should always be on top. Another cause for wet media during operation is incorrectly setting down the lance. If the lance nozzle is set down with the nozzle higher than the handle, then water can run back into the inlet hose and create wet media which clogs the hose.
NOTE: When not in operation, shutting the media inlet valve on the brass attachment will help to prevent water dribbling back into the media hose.
Do I need to use the media funnel?
Yes. Without the media funnel, the media is not directed towards the center of the bucket and the sand stake is unable to collect the media that lies at the perimeter of the bucket or trash can. The sand stake requires frequent resetting. The funnel also concentrates the media at the very point where it is driven into the sand stake. The media distribution is dense at the funnel base. The funnel€™s sloped sides direct the media to the air stream created by the media carburetor. Without the media funnel, the media suction becomes erratic and filled with air pockets.
What is the correct hose length for media?
It€™s recommended to use a 10 ft. hose length for hose media. The blast kits include a barbed hose connector that can be used to connect two 10 ft pieces if a larger length is needed. The hose length adds friction to the media and creates additional demand on the venturi. A smaller powered pressure washer will not be able to create the suction needed to move the media through a long piece of hose. The media carburetor can help to overcome the vernturi€™s lack of suction power. For longer hose lengths, use the media carburetor and increase the air flow into the sand stake.
What is the correct hose length for air?
The hose length for air is not as critical for air as it is for media. The ½€ hose diameter provides sufficient air flow to power the media carburetor. In fact, in most cases, an air valve is necessary to reduce the air flow created by the blower. However, the longer the air hose, the greater the air pressure needed to force the air through the hose. So, if a long air hose is required, use a larger vacuum/blower and open the air valve to allow sufficient air flow to overcome the hose length friction.
MEDIA DISTRIBUTORS:
Professionals can use their Pool Tile Cleaning License to buy the media from local suppliers. Home owners generally need a contractors license to buy from local suppliers. This can restrict their access to the media. Mr. Hard Water does sell to home owners. However, shipping costs apply to all media sales.
CLEAN UP:
Media types dissolve at different rates when mixed with water. Media types also differ in pH. When the pH is different from 7.0, it can affect of plants health. pH-neutral media is recommended around vegetation. Media types also vary according to hardness and break down during impact. For example, sand is very hard and does not disintegrate upon impact whereas other media types (such as Kieserite) will. As a result, cleaning effectiveness, pitting, stripping, and other features associated with blasting are determined by the type of media used.
For pools, the media must be extracted from the pool using a portable pump because most medias (including Kieserite) do not dissolve quickly enough to avoid leaving deposits in the pump and filtration system. When Kieserite dries, it creates a dried mud-like material that can clog pipes and filters. Soda avoids this problem but is generally not strong enough to remove tough calcium stains from pool tile.
For fountains, signage, and other features, it€™s best to capture the undissolved media using a tarp and then dispose of it.
Mr. Hard Water POOL TILE SEALER:
Smooth pool tile surfaces such as glazed tiles and glass block can benefit from a pool tile sealer. This hydrophobic (water repelling) sealer is easy to apply and safe to use. The sealer fills microscopic voids and creates a teflon like surface that repels calcium (Ca ) and hard water. When the calcium stains return after cleaning, the molecules simply rest on the coated surface and do not bond as firmly as they would to untread stone. This makes subsequent cleaning easier.
The coverage rates are very high for this polymer coating. One coat is generally sufficient provided it is applied smoothly and evenly. Use any foam sponge or sealer applicator to spread the sealer onto the stone.
FEATURES:
- Easy to Apply. Spread sealer onto tile with applicator. Let dry 3-5 minutes.
- Non-Toxic Formula.
- Will not discolor, crack, chip, or peel.
- Bonds well to smooth surfaces.
- Adds a brightness to dull tile.
- Durable. Resists UV breakdown.
- Compatible with grout, stone, and other surfaces.
- Can also be used on metals, glass, plastics, and stainless steel.
- Causes water to bead off. Calcium adheres to the sealer’s teflon like surface.
- 8 oz. covers approximately 150 linear ft.
Apply with a Sealer Applicator (SEAL – 300), microfiber towel (SEAL – 340), or sponge (SEAL – 331).
Application: 1. Clean and dry the surface. 2. Spread and buff the sealant evenly across the surface using a soft cloth, sponge, microfiber towel, or sealant applicator taking care not to miss any spots. Apply two coats if necessary. 3. Let the sealer dry for three to five minutes until a haze appears. 4. Buff off the remaining haze by rinsing with a wet towel. Watch the water bead off! 5. Use a squeegee or dry cloth to remove the remaining water from the glass surface. 6. Re-apply as needed.