I'm one of those people that probably have two many irons in the fire. Besides making signs and lettering vehicals on the side, I also own and operate another business in a totally different industry.
However, it's through my other business that I have been introduced to a product that I believe many shop owners could immediately benefit from if they were only made aware of.
My other business that I operate is a carpet cleaning business. And the biggest health risk to home owners and businesses alike is due to poor indoor air quality. You know the dust mites, pollens, cigarette smoke, chemicals, pet dander, mold/bacteria and dust (actually dead skin). It's enough to make you sick. And it does!! In a big way. Migrains, allergies, asthma, breathing dissorders, sleeplesness, fatigue. All because of the air we are breathing indoors.
Now stay with me. No I'm not trying to clean your carpet. I would rather letter a vehical. But... I've been in many sign shops as well and the odors that many consider the norm are pretty scary. Fumes from solvents, paints, and cleaners, that's nasty stuff.
Anyway, I was introduced to a product about 5 years ago that I still get amazed to what it does for an indoor environment. What I'm talking about is a air purifier about the size of a large shoe box. It's not a filter. But it electronically cleanes the inside air the very same way nature does outdoors. In fact, many of my customers have told me that after placing these machines in their homes or business it was if all their windows were all wide open. It leaves a fresh thunderstorm smell.
It's unlike anything I've ever seen and it has become my biggest seller in my business.
Chemical odors in factories are all gone in a matter of hours. Smoke, dust, fumes dissappear shortly afer placing the unit. In fact I placed a unit is a fellow sign painers shop a year or two ago. He had terrible fumes in his small shop. We went to lunch and when we came back, you literally had to stick you nose in a paint can to smell any paint! All the odors were gone. I went home that night not smelling like a solvent rag.
I'm thinking about offering this product to the sign industry. Most likery through trade journals or even this website as a merchant.
No I'm not trying to sell anything now. But would like your input regarding the need in our shops. Do you think this is a product that would be widely received? What if you had a full 30 days to try it or send it back for a full refund? Prices range from $375.00 to $1,500.00.
Your thoughts are much appreciated.
Thanks!
-------------------- Great White Signs Logan, Ohio
"All signs now come with new and improved vinyl." jimw@1067wwtl.com
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i sell and use the alpine as well. have 1 in my shop as well as home
-------------------- Jimmy Chatham Chatham Signs 468 stark st Commerce, Ga 30529 Posts: 1766 | From: Commerce, GA, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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We are indeed talking about the same product. However they have since changed the name of their company.
Do you use it in your shop? I'm curious. I've sold many to various types of busineses. Factories, day cares, bingo halls, salons, tire shops, paint stores, and yes a sign shop!
I love them too!
Jimmy,
Have you heard about the new product they are preparing to release?
It's called the windtree. It will power your whole house on 10mph winds. I'm not sure when it will be in production.
[ January 11, 2002: Message edited by: Jim Walz ]
-------------------- Great White Signs Logan, Ohio
"All signs now come with new and improved vinyl." jimw@1067wwtl.com Posts: 53 | From: Logan, Ohio | Registered: Jan 2002
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And here I thought it was the consumption of alcohol that caused my headaches!
If this thing will remove all those nasty beer fumes and odors and, therefore, alleviate the headaches the next day...I'd buy one!!!
Just jestin!
-------------------- Dave Grundy retired in Chelem,Yucatan,Mexico/Hensall,Ontario,Canada 1-519-262-3651 Canada 011-52-1-999-102-2923 Mexico cell 1-226-785-8957 Canada/Mexico home
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C'mon...that's the only way I get through the day is sniffing a little turp here and there. Now you want to take all my fun away. I have two purebreed Boxers with pretty bad gas problems. If this machine could take them on...well sign me up!!!
-------------------- Rob Larkham Rob Larkham Signs & Lettering 21 Middlefield Road Chester, MA. 01011
413-354-0287 Posts: 517 | From: Chester, MA | Registered: May 2001
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I use a Living Air 'Bora' unit and though mine is relatively small, its cleans the air just fine. Its only 5" x 7" but does the job effortlessly in my castle and doesn't take up any room when its hung in the motorhome. Both Alpine and Living Air makes units for all applications including your vehicle with cigar lighter plus-ins.
I never leave home without it, for the past fifteen years.
-------------------- HotLines Joey Madden - pinstriping since 1952 'Perfection, its what I look for and what I live for'
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I have a 120" x 96" garage door and one of those 36" chrome fans that sounds like a Lycoming turbo prop starting up. Considering I rarely do much work in the garage shop with smelly sign paint, I really do not have a problem, although when I do, it sure is nice to blow all of the floor dirt into the next county at the same time. Guess I would not be one of your targeted buyers.
-------------------- Preston McCall 10305 Eby st. Overland Park, KS 66212 text: 5056607370 Posts: 1562 | From: Overland Park, KS | Registered: Nov 1998
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Sounds like a great product for home use or if you just have a couple open cans of one-shot around... but... doesn't sound like a substitue for proper air circulation.
Might add a false sense of security. I work in a world of "if you can smell it, it's killing you" ... if it doesn't smell so bad is it not killing me as fast, so I wouldn't need to take same precautions?
-------------------- Compulsive, Neurotic, Anti-social and Paranoid ... but basically Happy
Posts: 2677 | From: Rochester, NY, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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These devices are OZONE generators. They not only clean the air and make it smell like freshly laundered air after a thunderstorm (that's exactly what it is, actually) but boat owners have used them for years to eliminate mildew...not just the odor of mildew, but the actual spores. Alergy sufferers will benefit immenseley from having a unit around. Those signmakers who are into the electrical end of the industry have the essential parts available already to make a very powerful ozone generator. In fact, it's almost impossible NOT to make ozone when working with voltages high enough to create corona discharge. Most designers try to eliminate corona as much as possible...but that's what make the stuff. I can tell you how to make one if anyone's interested. Howard
-------------------- Howard Keiper Independent Contractor Benicia, Ca. thekeip@comcast.net
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Does Hanes or Fruit Of The Loom make one in a young man's medium??
-------------------- Pierre St.Marie Stmariegraphics Kalispell,Mt www.stmariegraphics.com ------------------ Plan on knowing everything before I die and time's running out! Posts: 4223 | From: Kalispell,Mt 59903 | Registered: Mar 2000
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My dad has an ozone generator in his house. Amazing machine! I believe his was around $800. Don't know what brand but it completely removes odors from cooking etc.. Mfg. claims it will kill both mold and mildew spores.
-------------------- Dave Johnson Saltsburg, PA
724-459-7240 Posts: 228 | From: Saltsburg, PA | Registered: Dec 2001
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Hope this post helps direct some to a practical solution that may suffer from bothersome allergies due to all the chemicals, paints, and solvents in your shop.
-------------------- Great White Signs Logan, Ohio
"All signs now come with new and improved vinyl." jimw@1067wwtl.com