Category: Information

UPDATE 2015.01.29 I would order from them again…. Why not? That saved a lot of time….. Also Tim (maybe the official Uncle Nutty himself? 🙂 ) emailed and said they are send them out today! He did say they might have “fell out”? Also some crap about “digging out from Snow Storm”? WTH? LOL 🙂

UPDATE  2015.01.28  Usually I would just make a new post but I thought I would just add to this one?  I had an item not included in my first order…. I followed directions from their site 2 days ago:  “For the quickest reply, send messages to [email protected]”

So I called Uncle Nutty today @ 1-855-556-8889 and their phone system did not allow me to talk to anyone (but I did call at 3:59 central…. they might be on Eastern?  But how would I know?).

So I am guessing nutty.com is more like Lowes and Home Depot then I thought!  LOL  🙂  They only owe me $8 of product though…. I would have paid way over that and got less from the other stores.  But still Nutty support is not all it is “cracked up” to be….. get it?  Cracked up…. nuts?  No…. Yes?  🙂    I will call again I guess?  I hate wasting my time…. but then they win!  🙂

Is it just me or is it every time you go to Home Depot or Lowes and look for nuts and bolts does it take 20-30 minutes?  Every time the screw I am looking for is the catch all for crap people do not want to purchase or someone dumps random sizes in the same box!

But I tried Nutty Company this time…. nutty.com or Uncle Nutty.  I wonder how this will work?  Sure was easier ordering my product!  🙂  Was cheaper  and faster also…. plus what could possibly go wrong?  🙂 I get cheap 1/2″ stainless stuff from China….. wait a second…. wasn’t the stuff from Home Depot and Lowes from China also?  LOL  🙂  Come on!  No one tells you where the bolts and stuff come from it’s a joke!  🙂  Nutty Company probably sells just U.S.A. made bolts…. I do not know…. I know they do sell some U.S. stuff which is nice.  But the item I saw was from Chicago…. I do not support that city.  The ICA and Oprah are from Chicago.  🙂  Anyway…. just try to purchase US bolts…. I could not figure out where to purchase any? Really let me know.

I know fastenal.com sells U.S. manufactured products…. but their website just like Lowes and Home Depot’s fastener section is to difficult to find all the parts you need.

Need proof no one reads long or short spam or bulk mail?  It does not matter who it is from.  🙂  This was from the PRESIDENT of SECWA…..? Jim Rooney?

“Today’s operator flavor owns 3+ car washes and wants to add more.”  LOL  🙂

All kidding aside….  To paraphrase in my opinion what President Jim Rooney said in his State of the Industry paragraph…. All operators use to own 1-2 self-serves or full-serve washes in 2005…. now in 2015….  operators own 3+ washes and want to own more!  But the same operators are shifting to expresses with some flex-serves “on the sidelines”.

So SECWA sounds like they are converting to a flex service abandoning self-service people.  Jim also did mention self-serves converting them to gates.  Then also mentioned IBA…. but stated “IBAs converting”?  I assume to expresses?  Not sure what Jim owns?  I would assume Jim owns 3 expresses and he wants to purchase more?  LOL  🙂

So lets say you want to purchase some stuff…. then lets say at some point in a normal conversation you realize you have no clue what is going on in the conversation!  This has only happened to me twice so far!  LOL  🙂

So I wanted to purchase some stuff and the Lady says something really fast and I can not really understand her…..  I say “excuse me”.
Lady: “Are you using it for brick lintel?”
ME: “Brick Lintel?”
Lady: “brick lintel?”
Me: “Brick Lintel?”
Lady: “brick lintel?”
Me: “No I have not talked to him…. I talked to another lady.”
….Awkward silence
Lady: “No…. brick lintel?”
….Awkward silence
Me: “So is this a guy…. that works there?”
….Awkward silence
Lady: “No….” Then she tells me a little about the product….
Me: “Yes…. but” LOL 🙂

I believe she had no clue either…. but everyone who ever called her always knows! 🙂 She also put me on hold to laugh at me…. I know it! 🙂 But she surprisingly did not laugh at me on the phone! 🙂 She left and got some answers for me…. while I googled “Brick Lintel”…. Which was not a GUY! 🙂 Apparently brick lintel supports stuff and they bend the metal right there! They use 22 gauge galvanized metal and they charge $0.75 a foot.

The other time I had no clue in a conversation was ordering a cappuccino….. I when through a drive through. The guy asked “what kind of milk”…. Long pause…. My answer “yes”…. I panicked! He actually laughed at me! LOL 🙂 Only a female would know the answer to that question…. it was a trick question! Get this! My Wife told me (after the incident) they have different kinds of milk you can put in your cappuccino! Only a Woman would know that! That is what I get for trying something different anyway! 🙂 (This place was one of those fancy places with 10 different types of coffee.)

So next time I go to some gourmet coffee place with my Wife…. I am going to order a cappuccino with milk and a crouton! Are you really suppose to know what that large dried out cake thing is…. I bet it has a stupid fancy name. Like a crouton or brick lintel? 🙂

Disclaimer…. I am not claiming that I am correct!  I am just claiming I am confused!  🙂  I am also not an expert!  I have worked in this car washing field for over 10 years as an owner/operator and have a 2005 KR catalog (do you?)!  So you know I horde things and I have a little knowledge that might have rubbed off?  🙂

Someone from Kleen-Rite messaged me and wanted to know what my problem was with my KR post…. (He actually just asked what was confusing me and was really nice.)  Like it really matters though…. Who am I going to order from?  🙂

Anyway…. The first image below is from the “Issue 54” and the second image is from “2005”.  But my real frustration is the inconsistency…. this is the part that is confusing.  To be true to KR standards…. they should simplify things.  Instead they are using multiple names to describe the exact same thing…. I believe?  🙂

List of irrelevant information or inconsistent information not used throughout the catalog…. or what I believe is just confusing for no reason.

• JIC Flare, SAE Flare, Flare
• Ballseat pipe, IPT, JIC, SAE, MIP, NPTF
• Hose ID, ID Hose, Size

There are also things that make no logical sense or I am missing something…. so I assume I am not the only one.

• Why is a description “ID Hose x OD Tube”?  I have not purchased any of these flare fittings…. but they appear to be threaded not pipe.  Which is still not tube or hose?  But I am not an expert on flare fittings!
• Why under “Push Lock Barb” would you use “F” on only 2 of the fittings?  Does this imply the others are Male?  Most of the fittings are labeled at the top of that page…. but all are labeled by a picture…. I believe?  Except those 2 fittings?
• Plus under “PLF224″…. looking at the size “3/8 x 1/4″…. which is the barb and which is the male fitting?  Even if it is stated as pictured…. the other pictures on the page are all different directions.

Other pages have inconsistent data and I feel could be confusing also.  I just believe there should be a standard through out the catalog.  But I do know your pain…. I use to have a real job and worked with the public and co-workers as a programmer.  I always thought all my applications, manuals and websites had the best gui and were the most user friendly ever!  🙂  The end users seem to always question that though?  🙂

But what does IPT mean? You automatically know what “PT” means? Then after you figure out what IPT means…. you realize who cares if it means “Iron Pipe Thread”?
This site had all the info you would need.  http://pipeandhose.com/

NPT threads are also sometimes referred to as:
MIP (Male Iron Pipe), FIP (Female Iron Pipe), IPT (Iron Pipe Thread), FPT (Female Pipe Thread), MPT (Male Pipe Thread)

Usually KR is really good at making everything easy and only carries a limited useful selection needed by car wash owners. But the problem with KR’s description is they should have the exact same fittings above these on the same page? Which added to the confusion. KR seems to neglect the fitting section for easy of use…. they do not describe everything and you have to guess sometimes. I am using issue 54…. whatever that means? 🙂

UPDATE 20150102 Issue 54 page 543.  This might help!  🙂

 

Some legit brand also sells a dual vac…. I think it is the worse idea ever. Especially at the insane price of $7000…. I do not care if it is a fragrances vac, a shampooer vac and a dual normal vac…. it does not have an air machine also! JK 🙂 Plus even though it is a direct copy of a Coleman vac…. only his using a cheaper Harbor Freight compressor…. it seems silly. Customers get confused with just one vac and one person using it!

It also looks like this guy might purchase the doors directly from Coleman’s supplier? Looks like there is no protection behind the sticker? But all that really does not matter! I think this guy is great! Pretty much every car wash owner (including me) makes fun and hates certain car wash equipment. This guy just built his own stuff! Which really anyone could do…. but everyone rather cry about stuff. My only question is why on Earth does everyone charge over $4000? Just saying?

This guy also fixed or attempted to fix a major flaw with Jim Coleman vacuums. I actually wonder if the guy worked or works for Jim? Fragramatics vacs are one of the best with fixing another obvious flaw with Coleman round vacs. Coleman oval vacs I would rank as slightly better. Doyle is another brand Coleman can copy on some stuff.

Kate Carr must have run to far in her marathon?  🙂  This is the exact reason I NEVER run!  🙂  The link she gave for pictures in her SSCWN article was slate.com…. come on…. this is like saying try google.com?  🙂  I really like bay pictures…. I actually have a collect of my own.  (Not fancy style…. just showing equipment from random car washes…. you can see some here.)

But Mark Lyon’s collection or links are below:

http://www.slate.com/blogs/behold/2014/09/03/mark_lyon_bay_views_takes_a_quiet_look_at_car_washes_through_the_seasons.html

http://reframe.gizmodo.com/these-photos-show-the-lonely-interiors-of-empty-car-was-1630652309/all

http://www.marklyonphotography.com/news

I actually did not know there was a market for car wash pictures like Mark’s…. I have never seen any images like his.  I can not say Mark’s are good or bad?  But I do prefer the more artistic images of car washes on flickr if your into that sort of thing?:  https://www.flickr.com/groups/workinatthecarwash/pool/  https://www.flickr.com/groups/carwash/pool/  (Over seas) https://www.flickr.com/groups/66939429@N00/pool/

Is it just me or is this what happens every time?

WELL NOT TODAY!  🙂

I really love this grinder so far…. I have burnt out a little Dewalt grinder like this one then purchased a couple others….  But this Bosch 9 inch large angle grinder is pretty awesome…. if you want to grind through anything!

Only problem with the grinder is the length…. it is 26″ from the tip of the shield to the cord.  Almost as large as my kid.  LOL  🙂

It has more horsepower then my work car at 4hp….  The DEWALT D28499X has 5.3 horsepower….  The Dewalt is cheaper also…. I forgot why I thought the Bosch was better?  Maybe I try never to purchase Dewalt?  🙂  No…. I think Bosch just usually has better stuff in general?  I actually only purchase Dewalt products because they come/came in hard boxes…. which they look like they are getting cheap and starting to go with bags?  Like this device? DEWALT DCS355D  Which I think is one of the leading devices in that category of knock off Fein products?  Apparently Fein’s patent ran out?  I can not remember everything!  🙂

But now Dewalt has kind of a conflict of interest?  They use to have the hard cases for everything…. even multi-packs.  Then they switched to bags for multi-pack.  But it seems that Bosch and others…. came out with stuff like the lboxx.  Now Dewalt has 2 systems the tough system and the tstak….  I looked at both online.  No one sells them locally so I decided to not bother.  I like the tough system though because of the water proof aspect.  They have also gotten cheaper so they seem more appealing?

This proves the United States does not require college degrees to work at the po box place? Or High School degrees? Or the ability to read? Or a stupid test for employment…. or any pride in your work.

I have a $44 a month box by the way! That is $528 a year?  Ask yourself…. Would I really have a box that is that small for $528 a year?  Does this really pass the stupid test? Someone should be fired or written up? (I pick fire everyone who interacts with customers…. but I do not get a vote.)  (Plus I did not even make fun of the lady that forgot how to write a “3”…. or maybe it was an “8”?  See I am nice I think it was a “3” though?  $184 a month would just be stupid!  LOL 🙂 )

Yes…. I also know the people renting the PO Boxes understand what the amount is for….  A box owner I would think is a private sector business owners.  Not a well paid Federal Government employee not accountable for being nice?  Sorry I really liked my Dolomate PO Box so much better.  I liked the Post Master running the entire place….  They were always super nice…. but the Government for some reason moves them around all the time and there was always someone new?  Seems stupid…..

BTW  When I get ALL the “case quarters” I will get a $134 a month box! ($1,608 a year) Just to tell everyone I can.

(Picture above)  My 5 year old was wondering why all these letters were sticking out of all these boxes…. Well daughter “this is what happens when the government tries to run a business…. all those letters were put in the wrong boxes”.  Yeah…. It is only 7 on that row…. but people probably throw stuff away all the time for people from bad service.

20141023 Update…. apparently it is not a requirement from the government to cover up delivery of mail to the wrong box!  Well that is a relief the government is not involved in a cover up….. wait a minute.  🙂   I could have taken a picture today but it would have looked the same.  To be honest I thought they would have collected the mail and redeliver there mistakes…. silly me.  🙂  My $44 a month box is down mis-deliverer cove…. I am just kidding again…. they do not just do it on mis-deliverer cove it is everywhere do not worry.

I think I do not get Car Washing and Detailing anymore?  (Or whichever one did not go out of business. 🙂 )  I also do not get the new ICA magazine…. which I would hope would be better?  But this Kleen-Scene magazine is the best for the self-serve industry I believe.  It even has articles and more articles on how to fix crap.  This is where I will update with reasons the other magazines are worth receiving…..  Just let me know?

One note…. It would be better if Kleen-Scene discusses more current events…. Like association meetings etc.  But it is a great sales mag…. Basically like all the others but they just sell ads.

UPDATE: This is an update for Kate Carr. I found someone who really enjoys The Wash Street Journal.

Just a note…. Check out the lava arch like device he is pointing at. Even a 2 year old consultant can point this out as a desirable product! 🙂 (He also has a fee like every other consultant that worked for someone else….. His is $100 and you have to change his diaper. 🙂 )