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NEED HELP FINDING THE CORRECT PART?

Brush & Squeegee Buyers Guide

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Finding The Right Brush or Squeegee For Your Sweeper or Scrubber

Cardinal Brush gives you a wide choice of grit and material options designed to match your floor finish and cleaning need. How do you know which will be best for you?

Have More Questions?

We can get you answers from cleaning industry experts.

Contact Modern Central Parts: 1-800-219-9773

By Email: themodernshop@moderngroup.com

No Worry Returns!

If your Cardinal Brush purchase doesn't meet your expectations we will take it back with an exchange or refund.


Brush Fill Material

Proex

This material is highly efficient as an all-purpose filament for indoor and outdoor sweeping applications, including damp or humid environments. It is not recommended for high-temperature sweeping applications. Proex is polypropylene and derives its name from the X-shape of the bristle. A mixture of Proex and Crimped Wire is the most versatile and widely used filament combination. Our standard Proex is a mixture of three diameters, .015″/.025″/.035″. We also offer stiffer options in .035″/.055″ and .055″.

Nylon

This highly productive filament has an excellent brush life in dry sweeping conditions. Nylon performs well on rough surfaces and in high-temperature environments because of its durability and high melting point. As a more flexible material, Nylon is longer lasting in scrubbing applications. Performance is less when conditions are wet or humid. Our standard Nylon for sweeping is a .030″ diameter and for scrubbing, .018″ and .025″. We offer other diameters ranging from .010″ to .060″ and in grades 6.0, 6.6 and 6.12.

Poly

The most popular filament in scrubbing applications, Poly is efficient for use with most soils and surfaces. Although Poly is more economical than Nylon, it is not recommended for sweeping high-temperature debris. The most popular diameter in our cylindrical brushes is .025″ but we also offer a stiffer version in .036″ and a softer version in .016″.

Polyester

Polyester has similar characteristics to Nylon. It has a high bend recovery and very good abrasion resistance for sweeping. In scrubbing applications, it offers excellent resistance to water and chemicals.

Natural Fiber

Union is a natural fiber comprised of a mixture of Tampico and Bassine fibers. It is highly efficient for dust control and sweeping fine debris. It has a relatively shorter wear life versus other synthetic materials. For sweeping, Union is normally mixed with wire to provide more stiffness. Tampico can be used alone as a natural fiber for scrubbing as it offers exceptional water retention and superior heat and chemical resistance.

Crimped Wire

Wire is used in applications needing extra cutting action for heavy duty sweeping of compacted dirt or debris. It is normally mixed with Proex or Union filaments. Recommended for low dust sweeping on unsealed surfaces when used alone.

 

Grit

This Nylon filament is impregnated with silicon carbide grit particles. Our grit filaments are offered in .070″/46, .050″/80, .040″/120, .035″/180, .022″/120, and .018″/500. The two numbers designate the filament diameter and the grit particle size. The first number is the diameter and the larger the diameter, the stiffer the bristle. The second number is the particle size and, like sandpaper, the smaller the number, the more aggressive the scrubbing.

 

Cylindrical Brush Patterns

DOUBLE ROW

Because of its versatility, the double row (DR) fill pattern is the most popular pattern for sweeping applications. This design allows the space between each row to trap bulky items while the bristles are working to pick up the finer debris such as dust and sand.

SINGLE ROW

The single row (SR) pattern is ideal for sweeping applications in dusty and/or sandy conditions. It is also referred to as the full-fill or high-density pattern. This pattern is designed to pick up fine debris, but not bulky litter.

PATROL BRUSH

A patrol brush has a V-pattern and is designed primarily for high-speed sweeping in large areas. Designed with fewer rows with more tufts per row, there is more space between rows. This enables the brush to effectively pick up medium to large debris such as cans, paper, and leaves at faster speeds.

HERRINGBONE

The design of the Herringbone also utilizes a V-arrangement but only in the double row (DR) pattern. At normal sweeping speeds, light to medium litter is directed closer to the center of the hopper and loaded more effectively.

 

CHEVRON/
DOUBLE CHEVRON

Designed for use on cylindrical scrub brushes, our chevron patterns keep the solution in the middle of the scrubbing path as the bristles agitate the debris loose from the ground. The full-fill (single row) design keeps bristles on the surface at all times. The filament length on this brush designates it as a scrubber since the short bristle cannot flick or sweep the debris off the ground.

Rotary Brushes

Side Broom

The purpose of a side broom is to throw debris out in front of the sweeper so that the main broom can pick it up. With a nearly indestructible plastic block, our side brooms are some of the most durable on the market and are designed to meet or exceed tough OEM specifications. The highest quality Poly, Nylon, and Flat Wire filaments are used to ensure longevity and durability.

Rotary Brush

The rotary (disk) brush is designed to spin and agitate debris loose from the ground. With features such as depressed shower-feed holes and a solution containment edge, our blocks have been engineered for optimal performance. Depending on the application, choose from many different options of Grit, Poly, Nylon, Wire or Natural filaments to best meet the needs of your customer. Call with a make and model and we can build a brush to fit nearly any machine.

Hardware

Our disk (rotary) brushes can be used on various models of machines just by changing the hardware that drives them. Whether it’s a Gimbal, Clutch Plate or Lugs, we offer the hardware to fit any scrubber. Above are some of our more popular ones.

 

Squeegees Blades

Gum Rubber Squeegee Blades

A man-made synthetic that is typically beige or tan, Gum Rubber squeegees offer maximum water collection on indoor floors that are smooth and even. Gum Rubber is not recommended for use in oily environments as it absorbs oil, which changes its structural integrity and dramatically reduces its effectiveness. Gum Rubber squeegees will wear faster than any of the other types of squeegee blades but are usually the least expensive.

 

Ideal environment: General purpose. Smooth, even floors with light traffic. Indoors.

Genuine PREMATEK™ Rubber Squeegee Blades

Engineered from Natural Rubber using advanced technology to perform as good as or better than Linatex®. Excellent tear resistance.

 

Ideal environment: Excellent results in many conditions, especially uneven and abrasive surfaces.

Red Gum Rubber Squeegee Blades

A man-made synthetic engineered to perform like Linard®. Excellent tear resistance. This is a harder material than Premium Red that helps reduce squeegee noise. Primarily specified for front squeegees.

 

Ideal environment: Excellent results in many conditions.

Uretek™ Polyurethane (Urethane) Squeegee Blades

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Uretek™ squeegees are engineered to perform as good as or better than OEM blades!

They are extremely chemical-resistant and perform well in environments where oil or chemicals are present. Urethane squeegees are the best for use on rough surfaces and on old or uneven floors. They are typically the most expensive blades, but due to their excellent wear life, offer a great value.

Ideal environment: Applications that require oil and chemical resistance. Rough surfaces.

 

Neoprene Squeegee Blades

Neoprene was the first material introduced specifically for use in oily environments but has been replaced in many cases by Urethane. It is still a very cost-effective material for oil resistant applications.

 

Ideal environment: Applications that require oil and chemical resistance but where price is a factor.

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