Product Overview
The Hydro-Force SX-12 is a 30 cm rotary hard surface cleaning tool with a 2 inch vacuum connection. It is the current design, with a simple two-piece head and brush, adjustable vacuum relief and a low profile that fits under toe kicks.
It is the smaller of the two Hydro-Force rotary tile tools CCW stocks. The larger is the SX-15 (AW105).
SX-12 or SX-15?
| SX-12 (this tool) | SX-15 (AW105) | |
|---|---|---|
| Cleaning path | 30 cm (12 inch) | 15 inch |
| Operating pressure | 700 to 1,500 psi | 700 to 2,600 psi |
| Best suited to | Residential and mixed work, tighter spaces | Large open commercial floor, speed |
The pressure range is the real difference, not just the width. If your machine runs above 1,500 psi you need to control it at the tool for the SX-12.
How It Works
- Radial vacuum line. Air is drawn evenly around the head rather than hardest at the port, which keeps recovery consistent across the full path.
- Toe-adjustable vacuum relief. Suction is set with a foot while working instead of stopping to reach a control.
- Low profile. Fits under toe kicks, where a taller tool leaves a visible unclean band.
- Easy-access inline filter. Reachable without stripping the head.
- Two-piece head and brush. Fewer parts to separate at service time.
- Shoulder-width handles. Works with a side-to-side or a front-to-back stroke.
Specifications
| Cleaning path | 30 cm |
|---|---|
| Vacuum connection | 2 inch |
| Operating pressure | 700 to 1,500 psi |
| Handle | Stainless steel |
| Casing | Polymer |
| Vacuum relief | Toe adjustable |
| Head | Two-piece head and brush |
| Aramsco item | 1610-8235 |
Pressure in Practice
Around 1,000 psi is sufficient for tile and grout work, which sits comfortably inside this tool's range. Where a floor is not coming up, dwell time and chemistry will do more than pressure, and high pressure on grout that has already failed simply removes it.
Warranty
Hydro-Force warrants the SX-12 against defects in material and workmanship for one year on the deck and handle and 90 days on all other items, excluding normal wear items — inner shell brush, quick connects, strainer screens, spray jets, swivel seals and valve seals. Warranty service is arranged through CCW as your distributor.
Important — Two Generations of SX-12 Exist
This is the current design. An earlier SX-12 used different internals, and the brush assemblies are not interchangeable.
| Generation | Brush assembly |
|---|---|
| Current SX-12 (this tool) | SX-12 Inner Shell Base with Brush, New Style (AB50-NEW) |
| Earlier SX-12 | Brush Assembly for SX-12 (AB50) |
If you are ordering a brush for a tool you already own, check which generation it is first. Tell us and we will confirm before you order.
Spare Parts CCW Stocks
- Inner Shell Base with Brush, New Style (AB50-NEW)
- Stainless Steel 10 Inch Tee Bar with Elbows (NX102)
- Vacuum Relief Ring (NM4086)
- Vacuum Hose 2.5 cm x 23 cm (NM4083)
- Solution Hose 3/16 Inch x 48 Inch (NM4089)
- Brass Strainer Adapter (NA0804) and Mesh Strainer (NA0803)
- Brass 45 Degree Street Elbow (BR272)
Operating Advice
- Check the brush and the vacuum relief ring before each job. Both wear, and both cost recovery quietly rather than failing outright.
- Clear the inline filter regularly — it is easy to reach, which is exactly why it gets forgotten.
- Set the relief so the tool glides rather than gripping the floor.
- A round spinner cannot finish an edge or a corner. Follow up with a corner tool such as the Gekko Edge, Corner & Coving Tool (AR51C) or a handheld grout brush.
Frequently Asked Questions
What pressure does it need?
Between 700 and 1,500 psi. Around 1,000 psi is sufficient for tile and grout work.
Can I run it at truckmount pressure?
Only if that pressure is within 1,500 psi at the tool. Above that you need to control it — the SX-12 is rated lower than the SX-15.
Which brush does it take?
The current tool takes AB50-NEW. The earlier generation takes AB50. They are not interchangeable.
What is the vacuum connection?
2 inch.
SX-12 or SX-15?
SX-12 for residential and mixed work and tighter spaces. SX-15 (AW105) for open commercial floor, where the wider path and higher pressure ceiling pay off.
How do I clean the edges?
Not with this. A spinner cannot reach a corner — use a corner tool or a grout brush to finish.
Documents
Current generation
- Operator's Manual — SX-12, current design, revised 2020 (PDF)
- Parts List — SX-12, current design (PDF)
Earlier generation — superseded, for owners of the older tool
- Product Sheet — SX-12, earlier generation (PDF)
- Parts List — SX-12, earlier generation (PDF)
- Spec Sheet — SX-12, earlier generation (PDF)
The earlier documents are kept here for operators still running the older tool. Do not order parts from the earlier parts list for a current-generation SX-12 — the numbers differ.
What We See in the Field
The brush and the vacuum relief ring decide how an SX-12 performs, and neither announces itself when it is worn. A tool that is "not what it used to be" has usually had neither replaced since it was bought.
The generation question is the other one worth asking before ordering anything. Two SX-12s can look alike across a workshop floor and take different internals.
