Tornado or Steamer

Mike Burke

Mike Burke

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I need some advice on buying a new tool for interior cleaning.

I am thinking about getting something that will help me with interior cleaning ....dash's
door panels..... door jambs, cup holders.....seats....etc

Not real concerned about carpet cleaning right now...I spot clean and shop vac right now but...if one of these tools could be used for carpet that would be a plus.

I have a small air compressor that I think would run a Tornado..have read that a lot of guys use them and love them. I have been looking at the Black one. They claim they use less air to run..

I have a budget of about $200 .....so I can't get big fancy steamer. Would there be a steamer in that price range that would be worth buying and would do the areas I'm looking at ?

just not sure what would be a more useful tool to get ??

Any suggestions ??

Thanks
 
I have a tornado and I love it bought durning the 12 days of x-mas, with this you need an air compressor I have the PC 5 gallon 150 psi AC. Which does a good job they retail for 150.00 I paid 90.00 at a pawn shop, it was brand new couldn't go wrong there.

I also have used a steamer I had a shark until is died also did a wonderful job.

what I like about the tornado is it get's in the cracks and blows all the debris out with your solution flip the level then you can dry that area.

IMO they are both good tools. I dont have the black but I will one day. there are you tube video's on both units the white and black tornado's.

hope this helps.
 
I use a steamer for years on of the best tool I have I use a Dupray steamer. I use it for everything worth the money.
 
Thanks...I just checked my compressor. Its a 1hp 7.5 tank & 135 max psi Sanborn.

Im leaning towards the Tornado....
 
With the tornador you need at least 5 scfm @ 90 psi. My 6 gallon 2 HP wouldn't work for longer than a minute between filling again.

I now have a 4 HP 30 gallon, and it s perfect. It never dips under 90 psi even when used continuously for 20 minutes.

I haven't used a steamer, but I do know the tornador will clean almost anything.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I777 using AG Online
 
I also didn't realize how much better the tornador actually worked when able to use full pressure consistently. I thought it did nice with my small Compressor, but once I got my bigger one realized the true potential of the tool.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I777 using AG Online
 
So it looks like small compressor isn't going to run it very well ?
Even if I had to get a larger compressor (used one) it would be cheaper that getting a $800 steamer.
 
I traded my 6 gallon for a 30 gallon on Craigslist. There are always good deals if you can wait for it. I poked around for 3 weeks before seeing that deal.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I777 using AG Online
 
I am very tempted to pull the trigger on getting a Tornador....
 
I bought one during the "free shipping" + the AG bucks ($20 off for $150... since I had other purchases) and I was a little skeptical until I had to use it on a dirty, dirty, dirty driver side carpet.

My son had pre-treated, scrubbed and used the carpet shampooer (small green machine) at least 10 times and had extracted everything he could. The carpet was looking better but I was still not really satisfied. I was on the verge of telling him to powerwash the darn thing again and extract one more time when I got my Tornador.

I diluted some APC (carpet strength) and hit the carpet with it, and stopped 5 minutes later and my arm (which was holding the carpet down) was literally caked with small grit and "junk". The carpet looked much much better, but instead of dirtying my micro to scrub the surface stuff I decided to use the green machine one more time. To be honest, the extracted water was as dirty as the first time we hit that dirty, dirty, dirty carpet. Funny thing is we rotated the carpet 90 degrees (to hit a different angle) and the water was almost 100% clear. Once the carpet dried it looked almost brand new (except for the worn carpet pile where the heel sits).

In retrospect I wish I had taken pictures and did a review because I am that impressed with it.

I now use it to clean the door jams, the gaskets, the gas cap area, body molding crevasses, the wheel lug areas, the emblems, the gaps between the winshield and the body, I pre-treat my tires (before scrub and wash) and wheel wells, I clean my leathers, spot treat stains, blow the nooks and crannies etc....

Used it on 4 cars so far and am very impressed. I will say that I have a 6.5 HP 30 gallon compressor and the constant flow helps tremendously.
 
I pulled the trigger and bought one. Got the Black one.
I can't wait to use it...I just have a couple questions...........

#1 Whats a good cleaner to use ?? I'm afraid that a APC will leave a sticky residue
behind, maybe it won't.

#2 When you mix the cleaner is it best to use distilled water ??

#3 Are your 4 hp & 6.5 hp 30 gal tank comp. running " 5 scfm @ 90 psi." ? # 4 Isthe tank size or the cfm's of a compressor the most important factor for getting the tornador to preform at their best ?
 
Mike Burke said:
I pulled the trigger and bought one. Got the Black one.
I can't wait to use it...I just have a couple questions...........

#1 Whats a good cleaner to use ?? I'm afraid that a APC will leave a sticky residue
behind, maybe it won't.

#2 When you mix the cleaner is it best to use distilled water ??

#3 Are your 4 hp & 6.5 hp 30 gal tank comp. running " 5 scfm @ 90 psi." ? # 4 Isthe tank size or the cfm's of a compressor the most important factor for getting the tornador to preform at their best ?
Click to expand...

I am currently using the Sonus APC I bought during the last BOGO and I have had no issues (advertised for everything and anything).

I use regular water to mix as I have a whole house water treatment and reverse osmosis.

If you are able to maintain the cfm and psi it doesn't really matter the size of the tank. If you are planning on continuous use you will need a large tank. If not, then you will have to do small runs, or deal with an underpowered tornador.
 
I use Meg's APC and Blackfire APC mostley with distilled water at 20-1. I have not had any problems so far and the cleaning power of the Black is amazing. For the carpet I use CG at 20-1 also. Sometimes a little stronger if needed. You will be amazed at the way it cleans and glad that you bought one.
 
I think if you have a compressor to run it and with the 15% sale and free shipping It's a real good deal on one...
 
I am tempted to get this but I would need a larger compressor, which I could use anyway with my hvlp sprayer.
What would be better to get: tornador black or the vapamore steamer?
The steamer is $100 more but might have more uses around the car and house.
 
I used both today at Mike's detailing boot camp. I liked the steam cleaner better because there wasn't any product being blasted and misted into the air that you then had to inhale. The steam cleaner did an equal job without any products and is a sanitizer. They both clean very well, I just wasn't a fan of inhaling the APC.
 
ZerboAutoWorks said:
I am on the rocks weither I should buy a vapor steamer or tornado. What do you guys think I should purchase?


www.zerboautoworks.com
Click to expand...

Big, that's a tough one. If you have the compressor to run it, the Tornador is a great tool and not all that expensive as far as detailing tools go. A good steamer will do a lot of different things including a few that are tough for the Tornador. But, a good vapor steamer will run you a lot more money than the Tornador. You want go wrong with either tool and if you are going to do serious detailing, you will eventually want both. If you are close enough or can swing it, Mike's Boot Camp is an incredible way to try out the various tools in a real life situation. Good luck with your decision.
 
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