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AR Blue vs Briggs & Stratton Electric Pressure Washer?

DucFanDan

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Aug 18, 2012
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Klickitat County, WA
AR Blue vs Briggs vs Northern Tool Electric Pressure Washer?

Hello all,

I am in need of a pressure washer for light duty household cleaning and car washing. Looking for the cleanliness and simplicity of electric. I don't need the power of gas, and I *really* don't need another small engine to maintain.

Looking for specific feedback on the following two. I have spent some time searching and did not see any posts about these... the search utility is giving me a bunch of unrelated tool threads for some reason. If you know of a thread where either gets reviewed, I'd be happy to read it.

AR Blue Clean 2050psi 2-N-1:
http://www.arblueclean.com/products/ar-blue-clean-2in1-2050-psi-electric-pressure-washer-1190.cfm
It’s also available on PressureWashersDirect for a bit less. And I can get it for $199 shipped to my local hardware store in Goldendale via DoItBest Hardware.

Not a whole lot of reviews on it, but it gets solid marks on the reviews I can find.

Then there is this newer Briggs & Stratton electric:
https://www.pressurewashersdirect.com/Briggs-and-Stratton-20667-Pressure-Washer/p73253.html

More reviews on the Briggs, particularly on Amazon, and most of the complaints seem to be people who needed the power of a gas rig and cheaped out. I don't need a gas rig, but I want a quality tool that works and that the connections aren't a joke.

I bought a residential AR Blue from my local farm & ranch store a few years ago, one of the stand-up ones, and the plastic connections were so frustrating I took it back. Both of these I linked are listed as using standard size connectors, not proprietary, and appear to be metal connections.

I like the fact both of them can be laid down for a low CG. I have a gravel driveway so stand-up vertical-only models are a nonstarter.

What say the Garage Journal? Is either of these a reasonable "pro-sumer" grade electric that will "just work" when called on? 90% used for car washing and hosing mud off the compact utility tractor (a 90's-era John Deere 1070). 10% for water-sweeping the front and back porch, plus cleaning bird **** off the handrails and fencing. Don't need heat, cold water cleaning only.

Other suggestions of pressure washers in this price range welcome. Sub $300 please, unless you know of a contractor-grade electric that stays under $500 shipped.

Thanks in advance!
--Dan
 
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DucFanDan

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Okay, going to jack my own thread... as with any tool purchase, I need the features to be minimal... just the necessities. But I want rock solid reliability and longevity. So I started looking at the entry level “industrial” electrics. It’s a bit of a stretch, but I had been saving for some other garage equipment that can wait if it means I get a reliable and long lasting PW. I really hate flaky consumer grade tools. More widgets that break are my pet peeve. Give me just the basic functions, and I expect them to work when called upon.

First option would be jumping up to the AR Blue Clean AR620:
1900psi, 2.1GPM, AR Triplex pump (serviceable)
Would need to order a cart to the tune of $79.
Product page: http://www.arblueclean.com/products/1900-psi-power-washer-91.cfm
PressureWashersDirect: https://www.pressurewashersdirect.com/AR-AR620-Pressure-Washer/p2745.html
Total ends up being $679 for the pump + cart.

Northern Tool offers the Northstar. Leeson Motor, Cat Triplex Ceramic pump (serviceable),
2000psi, 1.5gpm
Product page: https://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200350515_200350515

Comes on a nice cart with hooks for spooling hoses and cord. All in $679.99. So you’re talking the exact same price as the AR620 with the add-on cart.

Or... I keep the spend lower, get the AR2-N-1, which gets very good homeowner reviews. I am not using this commercially. I have cars, a pickup, and a tractor to wash. Implements to hose the mud off. Two smooth concrete patios that don’t need a lot of pressure for deep cleaning, just a water sweep to blow off the surface. Wood handrails that collect bird **** in springtime. I am not on city water, so no chlorine to degrade the pump internals. Our well is on the hard side of moderate, but not so bad to leave major spots on things. Keeping water spots off our vehicles has been a breeze, it’s not bad at all. I will be buying a prefilter to go on the hydrant to keep **** out of the PW.

Again, not getting a gas unit. I don’t need that much power and don’t need another small engine to maintain. I would like a quality electric, with universal/nonproprietary metal fittings, with enough power to clean cars/truck/tractor, sweep the patios, and knock bird **** off wood railings seasonally. Looking for rugged, simple, reliable, long-lived.

Thanks all,
—Dan
 
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DucFanDan

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Messages
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Location
Klickitat County, WA
Apparently can step up to the AR630, which has a brass pump housing, same specs as the 620 otherwise... but it’s $590 shipped from toolbarn.

https://www.toolbarn.com/arblueclean-ar630.html/

Thinking about carts, I can get an inexpensive dolly cart from Harbor Freight to lug it around, just put a strap or couple bungees strategically... or if the feet have a way to mount it I can easily whip up a mounting plate to secure it to. Less money than AR’s $80 specialty cart. So I would save a little scratch vs the Northern Tool unit.

The question is, are the AR620 or AR630 decent PWs, and where do they fall (better worse same) compared to the Northern Tool 2000psi/1.5gpm with Cat pump?
 
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DucFanDan

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Mods (@bmwpower, @Ryan), would it be possible to have you update the thread title to reflect the new scope?

“AR Blue vs Briggs vs Northern Tool Electric Pressure Washers”

Thanks in advance!
 

zendriver

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AR Blue vs Briggs & Stratton Electric Pressure Washer?

I have a small handheld AR ( I think it's discontinued) that rocks it will take paint off, if I want it to.

I would not hesitate to look at one again, if this one ever gives up. IMO The model you're looking at should do fine for what you wanted to do.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
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DucFanDan

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Messages
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Location
Klickitat County, WA
Re: AR Blue vs Briggs & Stratton Electric Pressure Washer?

I have a small handheld AR ( I think it's discontinued) that rocks it will take paint off, if I want it to.

I would not hesitate to look at one again, if this one ever gives up. IMO The model you're looking at should do fine for what you wanted to do.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Are you talking about the AR620 or AR630 handhelds, I presume? The $199 AR2-N-1 is the consumer grade one that comes on a cart... though it seems to have enough oomph that the average homeowner likes it. 4+ star reviews everywhere it’s sold. I just don’t know how solid or long term reliable it would be compared to the better pumps on the “light commercial” electric AR620 and 630. Is it really worth triple the price, is the question.
 
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