buttedetail
New member
- Oct 6, 2016
- 3
- 0
Hey everyone! I don't post in forums very often, but I do spend a lot of time here and I've learned tons from everyone here. I though its time for me to contribute a bit and maybe help someone who may find this information helpful.
This is my second year as a part-time mobile detailer. I detail mostly daily drivers and some of the interiors have been seriously nasty! After quite a bit of research here and based on my personal experience, I decided to pick up a Bissell Proheat portable extractor. I really wasn't impressed with it. The hose was way too short; the heater really didn't heat beyond lukewarm temperatures; it left the carpet soaking wet with its weak water lifting capacity; and it broke where the tool and the hose connected after using it on about five jobs. Good riddance.
So I needed a replacement. I wanted something to give me professional results, which led me to look at the heated Mytee extractors. The cheapest Mytee that met my requirements was the Mytee Lite III, which is an $1,100.00 machine. I really couldn't justify spending that kind of money. Extractors are really simple machines, so I decided to build my own.
After way too much online research, I found only one other person who built something similar to what I wanted. His was a cold water extractor that was built into his mobile rig. I wanted hot water and portability. I seriously doubt I'm the only person who has done this, but I guess I'm the first to actually post it up online.
Here are the main components that I ended up using with their approximate prices:
Power-Flite PF51 wet/dry vac ($150). This vac had the best water-lifting capacity I could find at 100". I've used it on a few jobs so far and its a beast and worth every penny!
Shureflo 8000-812-288 pump ($125). This is a replacement pump for extractors like the the Mytee Lite and with 100 PSI/1.3 GPM rating.
Allied Precision 742G bucket heater ($45). This is supposed to heat water to 185 degrees. I was only able to get about 175 out of it.
8 gallon wheeled water container ($35)
Transparent extractor wand ($90)
25' solution hose ($30)
Quick-release connectors ($25)
Water-resistance toggle switches ($10)
Velcro straps to tie the solution hose and vac hose together ($8)
Various hardware ($30)
Total around $550
I tested the bucket heater in 30 minute intervals.
Starting with 70 degree tapwater in a 5-gallon bucket.
View attachment 58249
30 minutes later it was up to about 100 degrees.
View attachment 58250
Another 30 minutes and it was up to about 140 degrees.
View attachment 58251
30 minutes later and another 40 degrees for about 160 degrees.
View attachment 58252
It got up to about 175 degrees after a total of 2hrs of heating, where it held steady.
My plan is to start with water from my hot water heater at home and plug the heater in as soon as I get to the job site. It heats much faster this way, but I didn't do any actual tests. The water is close to a simmer within about an hour, which gives me plenty of time to detail the exterior or do other things while the water heats.
Here are some pics from the assembly process. It's not exactly pretty, but it works.
View attachment 58253View attachment 58254View attachment 58255View attachment 58256View attachment 58257View attachment 58258View attachment 58259View attachment 58260
I tested it on the next nasty car that came along. This is a single pass on a floor mat after treating it with folex, Meguairs super degreaser and some agitation.
View attachment 58261
The customer took his dog everywhere with him and the backseat area was literally coated with dog hair. The vacuum and extractor cleaned up the interior nicely!
View attachment 58262View attachment 58263View attachment 58264
Overall, I'm pretty happy with my DYI extractor. For the amount of money I put into it, I could have bought a nice cold water extractor or one of those Chinese heated extractors that are everywhere. But, judging by the specs, my extractor blows those out of the water and comes close to a Mytee Lite in performance at half the price. I can also replace any single component easily as well as use to vac for both extraction and dry vacuuming duties. To be honest, if I were detailing daily or had the money to spend, I'd probably just buy a Mytee Lite, but then I couldn't share this with all you guys. I plan to refine the extractor as I use it and my mobile setup evolves. I'll post updates!
This is my second year as a part-time mobile detailer. I detail mostly daily drivers and some of the interiors have been seriously nasty! After quite a bit of research here and based on my personal experience, I decided to pick up a Bissell Proheat portable extractor. I really wasn't impressed with it. The hose was way too short; the heater really didn't heat beyond lukewarm temperatures; it left the carpet soaking wet with its weak water lifting capacity; and it broke where the tool and the hose connected after using it on about five jobs. Good riddance.
So I needed a replacement. I wanted something to give me professional results, which led me to look at the heated Mytee extractors. The cheapest Mytee that met my requirements was the Mytee Lite III, which is an $1,100.00 machine. I really couldn't justify spending that kind of money. Extractors are really simple machines, so I decided to build my own.
After way too much online research, I found only one other person who built something similar to what I wanted. His was a cold water extractor that was built into his mobile rig. I wanted hot water and portability. I seriously doubt I'm the only person who has done this, but I guess I'm the first to actually post it up online.
Here are the main components that I ended up using with their approximate prices:
Power-Flite PF51 wet/dry vac ($150). This vac had the best water-lifting capacity I could find at 100". I've used it on a few jobs so far and its a beast and worth every penny!
Shureflo 8000-812-288 pump ($125). This is a replacement pump for extractors like the the Mytee Lite and with 100 PSI/1.3 GPM rating.
Allied Precision 742G bucket heater ($45). This is supposed to heat water to 185 degrees. I was only able to get about 175 out of it.
8 gallon wheeled water container ($35)
Transparent extractor wand ($90)
25' solution hose ($30)
Quick-release connectors ($25)
Water-resistance toggle switches ($10)
Velcro straps to tie the solution hose and vac hose together ($8)
Various hardware ($30)
Total around $550
I tested the bucket heater in 30 minute intervals.
Starting with 70 degree tapwater in a 5-gallon bucket.
View attachment 58249
30 minutes later it was up to about 100 degrees.
View attachment 58250
Another 30 minutes and it was up to about 140 degrees.
View attachment 58251
30 minutes later and another 40 degrees for about 160 degrees.
View attachment 58252
It got up to about 175 degrees after a total of 2hrs of heating, where it held steady.
My plan is to start with water from my hot water heater at home and plug the heater in as soon as I get to the job site. It heats much faster this way, but I didn't do any actual tests. The water is close to a simmer within about an hour, which gives me plenty of time to detail the exterior or do other things while the water heats.
Here are some pics from the assembly process. It's not exactly pretty, but it works.
View attachment 58253View attachment 58254View attachment 58255View attachment 58256View attachment 58257View attachment 58258View attachment 58259View attachment 58260
I tested it on the next nasty car that came along. This is a single pass on a floor mat after treating it with folex, Meguairs super degreaser and some agitation.
View attachment 58261
The customer took his dog everywhere with him and the backseat area was literally coated with dog hair. The vacuum and extractor cleaned up the interior nicely!
View attachment 58262View attachment 58263View attachment 58264
Overall, I'm pretty happy with my DYI extractor. For the amount of money I put into it, I could have bought a nice cold water extractor or one of those Chinese heated extractors that are everywhere. But, judging by the specs, my extractor blows those out of the water and comes close to a Mytee Lite in performance at half the price. I can also replace any single component easily as well as use to vac for both extraction and dry vacuuming duties. To be honest, if I were detailing daily or had the money to spend, I'd probably just buy a Mytee Lite, but then I couldn't share this with all you guys. I plan to refine the extractor as I use it and my mobile setup evolves. I'll post updates!
