the Scunci steam cleaner

I had great hopes for this hand-held steam cleaner. I tried it out on my
bike yesterday, focussing on the snowflake rims and other parts of the
motor.

Does it steam? Yes, like a baby dragon. How effective is it? Well,
imagine if an airbrush had a steam attachment. The target area is very,
very small, like 1/4" in diameter. It would take a long time to clean
anything very large, like a motorcycle. The brush attachment seems to
help some, but its diameter makes it hard to get to those "hard to
reach" spots. Plus, it only holds 9 oz. of water, which limits its
efficiency even more. I think it will work fine for parrot cages, but my
experiment only made me realize how dirty my bike is.

Today I'll try it together with some degreaser. The whole idea was to
avoid the degreaser, but that isn't an option. It's more of a toy than
anything else.

barbz

 

It's more of a toy than
anything else.[/QUOTE]

So you won't be having any bike cleaning parties anytime soon then.
Nothing like a sprayer full of simple green and a brush I say.

--
muddy

Testing the limits of gravity since 1947.

icq - 219328929

 

Yes, a REAL steam cleaner generates steam temps in excess of 300 deg F
and pressures upward of 100psi. These units are not cheap, usually running
in the thousands of dollars, hence the poplarity of pressure washers. About
the cheapest route would to be to use a pressure washer sucking water right
out of your hot water heater.

nb

 

So you won't be having any bike cleaning parties anytime soon then.
Nothing like a sprayer full of simple green and a brush I say.
[/QUOTE]

I'm with ya there! Soylent...errrr, simple green is pretty
environmentally friendly. And elbow grease hasn't been proven to do any
environmental damage!

barbz

 

I'm with ya there! Soylent...errrr, simple green is pretty
environmentally friendly. And elbow grease hasn't been proven to do any
environmental damage! [/QUOTE]

Its the banging the knuckles in the pointy bits tho that gets me. I
guess I need a longer handle.

--
muddy

Testing the limits of gravity since 1947.

icq - 219328929

 

I was at REI (Saratoga) the other day, and in the bicycle accessory
section on the way to the registers, was very nice looking long handled
long stiff bristled brush called a 'Toothbrush' with a wry comment "Not
for Oral Use" Presumably its for cleaning bicycle sprockets, but it
struck me later that it would be quite handy for cleaning nooks and
crannies on a motorcycle engine...

 

Cool, I have a look next time I'm there.

--
muddy

Testing the limits of gravity since 1947.

icq - 219328929

 

I don't doubt you'd find something similar in a well stocked bicycle
shop...

 

I'm a frequent REI shopper.

--
muddy

Testing the limits of gravity since 1947.

icq - 219328929

 

Umm, I use a toothbrush, a real for oral use toothbrush, to keep my dirt
bikes clean. One for "dirty dirt" like chains, sprockets, swingarm chain
guides, and another for "clean dirt" like plastics, frame parts and engine
that are just muddy or dusty.

I'll be happy to sell you both a couple of mine for much less than REI.
Tell me what colors you want.

 

heh
I have a Scooby Doo and a Harry Potter tooth brush I have been using on
the SV. I keep banging my hands up on the pointy bits tho, hence my need
for something with a longer handle.

--
muddy

Testing the limits of gravity since 1947.

icq - 219328929

 

Dang! Harry Potter!! Mine are just dentist giveaways.