Residential machines can be up to 30 inches wide. Ninety percent of guys are in residential work, said Adamczyk, and that is where there is the widest choice in machines. While few contractors actually clean their machines everyday as recommended by manufacturers, when they do clean them they want to do it quickly and easily. I prefer brands that clean up in less than 10 minutes, said Turner. Some gear-driven machines are so difficult to clean that you practically need a car wash to clean out a heavy clear or clay, he said.
Removable rollers clean more easily than fixed ones.
You ll find it easier to drain adhesive from the machine if there is a drain plug in the bottom of the tub rather than having to tip the machine over to empty it. If you re using prepasted wallcoverings with a dry powdered activator, cleanup is not a factor, said Turner, because the 0.5 percent solids content of DPA is almost nothing. If you re using an activator with a 5 or 6 percent solids content, he said, you have to concern yourself with cleaning the machine. A simple draw-through machine with a single roller is all you need if you re hanging prepasted wallcoverings with an activator. Jansen is a residential contractor working only for individuals.