
	Friday Fax A Weekly Summary of Polywater^® News of Incredible Importance

Issue #462

HydraSol^® versus ...

Last week we introduced new SqueekyKleen^™ Communications Cleaner and explained how well it removes pik from fiber cables in splicing preparation, eliminating the need for alcohol in that step. We explained that alcohol wipes are still needed to clean the bare glass fibers, so SqueekyKleen won't limit Type FO^™ sales. The next logical question is: Does SqueekyKleen replace HydraSol? No! SqueekyKleen is an alternative to HydraSol, not a replacement. Just as APC produces dozens of lube formulas to satisfy a wide range of customers, we now offer more than one option for telcom cleaning. The key to recommending the right one is understanding their differences. But first know that HydraSol is an excellent product that we in no way intend to disparage or displace. Strategically, SqueekyKleen should be used to attack D'gel^™ customers, not HydraSol customers. Leave happy HydraSol customers--and your steady flow of commissions--alone. A detailed summary of the differences between HydraSol and SqueekyKleen won't fit here (contact Steve Scudder for that), but for the basics, read on.

... SqueekyKleen^™

Both HydraSol^® (catalog prefix HS) and SqueekyKleen^™ (catalog prefix TC) are excellent at dissolving piks and cable gels. They also have similar flash points, odor, and price. They both beat D'gel^™ (PT Technologies), but in different ways:

Water-based HS is much easier on the hands and has lower vapor content in enclosed spaces. The most common complaint about D'gel is that it's too harsh; it removes oils from the skin, leaving splicer's hands red and raw. Despite HS's mild nature, it still manages to out-clean D'gel. For proof see the Solvency Power Charts comparing HS to D'gel. Generally, warm weather users (HS will freeze) concerned about skin sensitivity--and who don't mind shaking a bottle to reactivate the solvent (not an issue for towelettes)--will prefer HS.

Solvent-based TC "fans" or separates the individual fiber strands better for easy prep work--its main performance advantage. It really excels on ribbon and loose tube fibers. TC also evaporates faster than D'gel. TC leaves no residue, while D'gel contains a surfactant, a chemical residue that must be removed with alcohol for fanning. TC has low vapor content, while D'gel (combined with required alcohol use) can quickly exceed TLV vapor limits in enclosed work spaces. Any users in cold climes or who want their fibers fanned fast without alcohol and/or need the solvent to evaporate quickly will prefer TC, but the RBOCs (big D'gel consumers) are your primary target.

The Friday Fax Editor's Joke of the Week

The Joke

Art Thief. Recently a guy in Paris nearly got away with stealing several paintings from the Louvre. However, after planning the crime and getting in and out past security, he was captured only two blocks away when his Econoline ran out of gas. When asked how he could mastermind such a crime and then make such an obvious error, he replied: "I had no Monet to buy Degas to make the Van Gogh."

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American Polywater Corporation -- The world's leading manufacturer of cable pulling lubricants, cable cleaners, and MRO & construction chemicals.
P.O. Box 53 | Stillwater, MN 55082 USA
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