Campbell Hausfeld...any good?

[Lippyp]

I'm watching a used pressure washer on ebay, its a gas powered Campbell-hausfeld which I understand is a US company. Are they any good? It looks to be a well made unit with 1750psi. I've not really come across them as a brand here before but from google it seems they make industrial stuff like compressors etc and are owned by Warren Buffett.

My little electric Karcher has died and a gas one would be more useful to me but as usual the budget isn't huge. This is looking like its gonna go for a reasonable price so the choice would be this or a cheap chinese job and I've heard lots of bad things about the chinese ones dying very quickly. Its just for washing my cars/4x4's and I have lots of stone flagstones around the house that get nasty,green and slippy in the winter.

 

[sberry]

I am not sure but I would have my reservations especially with a used one. It takes about 800$ to get a good one.

 

[TAMPAGT07]

I bought mine at Sam's club. It was the last one (display model) for $275. Powered by Honda.

 

[m4ff3w]

My local Sam's has a gas powered (I don't recall the brand) pressure washer for $199.

 

[sixball]

I've seen that brand at WalMart, they have welders also. I've never used any of there stuff, but an old neighbor of mine had a little 110 welder, and he used it quite abit, never gave him any problems. Also had a pressure washer and a compressor by them, I didn't see him use them that often, but he never complained about them

 

[bucs012]

bought my little Campbell Hausfeld air comressor at Northern Took about 13 years ago. Don't use it a lot, but it is still running today.

You can see it in the middle/lower part of this picture.

 

[Jazz]

I have that same compressor. I've never had problems with it but its also time to upgrade to some bigger. I don't think they are the best equipment but usually seems to be good and should handle light or medium duty workload.

 

[GT_Rich]

My experience, as well as a co-workers experience (we are both mech engineers) with Campbell Hausfeld has been very good. I have a 60 gallon single stage compressor and he has a 80 gallon two-stage compressor - neither of us have had any problems (knock on wood). I called customer service for replacement filters and they were very helpful and reasonably priced.

My co-worker also obtained a CH pressure washer from a brother in-law b/c it "stopped working." He called their customer service and found out it had quite a long warranty, and they sent him a new one, no questions asked. He kept the old one, turned out to be something simple, so now he has two.

 

[rwhite692]

Regardless of brand, spare yourself the pain, and don't buy a used pressure washer with an unknown history. That thing is up on Ebay for a reason.

 

[knucklebusted]

Can't say what they are like now but I grew up in Leitchfield, KY where they made a lot of air compressors. Some buddies where welders and others were assemblers. It used to be pretty good stuff. If they are still in business and it is American made, they must be doing something right.

 

[stewart]

I own some of their products. Air grinder, compressor and spray gun. It does say USA on it, it all works but it's really is ****. The Binks gun is used for autos and the Cambell for closet doors. While the spray gun casting is exactly like a Binks gun the needles rust on the Cambell, and the threads are rough, but not on the Binks. The Cambell die grinder looks just like an IR but the exhaust will ice up and while it still works the spindle bearings a little loose and growley. Yeah Warren Buffet Knows how to make money, but I'll bet he couldn't work a screwdriver. Then again he doesn't have to.

 

[Lhorn]

My take on CH is that they make a full line of products. They make commerical quality things, but a lot of what they make is aimed at the low price homeowner market. The homeowner stuff is good for that price range but don't expect it to hold up to heavy use. I have a few airtools that are OK. I've got a 26 gallon compressor that's nearly 20 years old and going strong. I've got cheap electic powered power washer that's good for washing cars etc, but not heavy duty by any means. CH is OK by me, but I wouldn't buy their low end stuff used unless it's a steal or you know it's history.