We are often asked what a Picote Miller can really do compared to Jetting. In reality, Millers and Jetters are a great compliment to each other in your trenchless tool kit

Picote Millers can be used in plastic, clay, concrete, cast iron, steel and copper pipes from DN32 to DN300. Numerous industries use them to remove a wide range of substances; scale and tuberculation from water and wastewater pipes, nuclear facility pipe waste, waste and effluent build-up from food processing plants and chemical processing by-products to name a few. Our Millers have been used everywhere from domestic swimming pools to off-shore oil rigs.

The main advantage of Picote Millers is the high-speed rotation of the shaft for powerful cleaning. At speeds of between 500 and 2900 RPM they are seriously fast! This provides the ability to efficiently clean pipe without additional water. In some countries, Millers are referred to as “waterless” machines.

There are safety considerations in all industries, but the risks of injury to an operator experienced during water jetting, or when using traditional mechanical cleaning machines is significantly reduced when using a Picote-designed-and-built Miller instead. Every genuine Picote Miller is fitted with a safety clutch, covered foot switch and the rotating steel shaft is encased in a strong protective outer casing. Operator safety and ease-of-use is always a top priority and integral to every single Picote design. Additionally, all Picote Millers are individually tested before leaving the factory to ensure the highest standards.

When used with the correct tools, Picote Millers have multiple uses. Some of these objectives can be achieved with jetting, but all can be achieved with Picote:

• Clearing blocked pipes
• Removing mass tree roots
• Descaling cast iron pipes
• Cutting through metallic objects like rebar or metal fence posts
• Removing Fats, Oil & Grease (FOGs)
• Trimming back plastic and clay intruding connections or overshot CIPP linings
• Removing concrete, grout and slurries
• Cutting and grinding through extremely hard silicate deposits (which can withstand even Ultra High Pressure Water Jetting)
• Re-opening / reinstating lateral connections (access via lateral pipe)
• Removing all types of failed CIPP linings
• Cleaning through pipes where part of the pipe is missing
  

Picote Millers are considerably lighter than jetting rigs, ranging from 27Kg up to 130Kg (see Table 1) and have a much smaller worksite footprint; they can be carried in a small van or even the boot of an estate car. When compared to jetting machines which are generally installed in 3.5 Ton vehicles, choosing Picote reduces running costs & emissions.

The majority of the Picote Millers are either 110 volt (UK machines) or 240 volt machines. The Picote Maxi Miller Power+ which is designed to be used in DN150 to DN300 pipes requires a 415 volt power supply (3-phase).

The only real limitation of Millers is the reach. While the Maxi Miller will clean up to 40m, some jetters can go further, depending on model and size. In certain cases extensions can increase the reach. With a wide range of tooling available for all Miller sizes, these machines give fantastic versatility. 

Battery-powered Millers are another convenient option. The Picote Super Mini Miller which has an 8mm shaft is suitable for use in DN50 to DN150 pipes. It has working length of 16 metres and you can attach an additional 10 metre extension. The battery has a 3-hour working time (under constant load). The controls on the model are very easy to reach too. Feedback from the field tells us that it only needs charging once or twice a week under normal use. It’s also available with a CCTV camera system (+C model) which has a 30 metre reach allowing the operator to capture CCTV footage or still images. Of course, being battery-powered means that you don’t need to find a power supply and layout electrical cables and extensions therefore reducing the risk of trips and falls.

In summary the Picote Millers are high quality "workhorse" machines designed to be used day-in and day-out, for high-speed cleaning, descaling, root removal and more. When teamed with the correct tools they form part of the everyday carry for many contractors across the world, an essential powerhouse with huge business-growth potential.