Is making a pressure washer as simple as it seems?

[Strouty]

I have been looking at gas pressure washers, I am playing around with the idea of using one to media blast. Most of the kits want 4 GPM or more and the prices go up quick in that range. I see home depot has $1000 units, but the pumps are AAA and I was always told you want a cat pump. Anyways, is it really as simple as connecting a belt to from the motor to the pump and hooking up a garden hose and the sprayer or is there some magic I am missing?

 

[DougWil]

I too would like to know.

I want a 3hp-5hp electric pressure washer.... don't see too many of those around.
If it is a simple as lovejoy connecting a motor (I have a candidate) a pump, connecters, hose and wand, maybe I should build?

 

[sberry]

You need an unloader too. Giant makes a good pump too. Go to pressure washer direct, Northern has good units also,,, need pressure relief valve as well. I have built some, this is a piece I would seriously consider buying. Rip the cord and go to work.
I built half a dozen in trucks for oilfield, a couple 11 gpm can run 2 wands and also used for injection work. I just build one a couple years ago from scrap parts but it is a hot unit and still have a couple issues need to be worked out with unloader sizing. It is an old obsolete size pump etc but the cost is way different as it is hot.
First pic is my shop unit, 5 hp electric, 2 and 3 are the salvaged engine drive goes in insulated truck with 500 gallons of water tank.
Water sand blast works well and do not need hot for it. A pressure washer if you have any real work for it is a good thing to spend up on, the reliability and the power make a good one so well worth it. GPM really gives it the cleaning power.
I know someone has a Northern electric diesel hot, want to try it sometime to see how well it works. You can do a lot of things with a pressure washer, heat makes it a different tool again especially in a cold climate or dealing with grease. Even washing bugs off a car, even during a simple rinse I often heat it up while coming around the front for windshield and headlights/grill.
If I had to replace my shop unit would go LP, if I was young would get a model 1 size larger yet but it is a factory deal and works so super well. I live on 2 miles of dirt road, wash a car most days, nothing like being able to flip switches to do it.

 

[MoonRise]

Motor to spin the ...

pump, to pressurize the water.

Way to connect pump to motor, handling the appropriate rpm-to-rpm match if needed, as well as the physical connection.

Pressure unloader, if not within the pump itself.

Pressure relief valve, again if not within the pump itself.

Frame to hold everything together in the right position and alignment.

Wheels and a handle so you can move it all.

Possible tank for solutions to go into the fluid stream.

Inlet filter.

High pressure spray hose and wand and nozzles.

I think that's most of the major 'chunks'.

 

[sberry]

I had my portable on a job a while back, we hauled some pine logs were fresh and drenched the truck deck in sap. It really heats hot but it was so worth it to clean it off like new, took about 15 minutes but couldn't tell it happened and it was a real mess. Was on checker plate, not sure how a guy could have cleaned it but scraping and solvent other wise.

 

[Strouty]

I have an electric pressure washer that uses diesel or Kerosine for the heater. I like it, just fine, but it is only 3 GPM. I am probably just going to buy the media blasting kit and try it out, if it doesn't work, then I either need to buy or build a new one. I am not interested in another hot water unit, I want something easier to move and deal with.

 

[sberry]

If you already have hot you don't need another one, 3 gpm would blast some, 4 would be way better. Its a difference you can feel. Hot doesn't help sandblast.

 

[Clik]

I used to buy units and parts from a company called Water Cannon. They were reasonably priced and easy to deal with.

Two things to consider: 1. Many pumps require water to be fed to them by water pressure typical of city water systems via garden hose (about 50PSI). Not all will run from a tank. 2. You may need a thermo bypass that keeps your pump from overheating. http://www.watercannon.com/seesearc...ng 145 Degree By Pass Hose-Brass-Thermo Valve

 

[jboehm]

I built a small direct drive unit last year. Basically a motor with pump bolted directly to it with a hose mounted to a platform dolly. Attach your sprayer and add water. When doing the belt drive just be sure to choose the correct pulleys to get the proper rpm for the pump. Most small pumps have the unloaders built in.

 

[dogdog]

I think I have seen those wash down motors those are made for these things, I think they used those in the car wash pressure washers as well. Saw them used and new sometimes on Ebay for good price.... good name brand ones.

 

[6PTsocket]

I have been looking at gas pressure washers, I am playing around with the idea of using one to media blast. Most of the kits want 4 GPM or more and the prices go up quick in that range. I see home depot has $1000 units, but the pumps are AAA and I was always told you want a cat pump. Anyways, is it really as simple as connecting a belt to from the motor to the pump and hooking up a garden hose and the sprayer or is there some magic I am missing?

The better ones are belt driven but many are direct drive. HD was clearing out some deVilbis washers for something more cheaply made and I made out very well. The pump is a CAT and the motor is a Honda 6.5 hp GX series, the comercial grade motor. DeVilbis just put them together on their cart.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

 

[Showkey]

A couple of things:

There are professional or commercial pressure washers and the home owner or DIY grade. Both are pressure washers but there is no comparison to power and longevity. So the price comparison is also not comparable. It really depends on your intended use both on amount of dirt and amount of time used. For the DIY guy weeks end clean up it is really hard to beat the $259 Costco unit with a Subaru engine but it's not 4 GPM.

Like computers you can build one but the cost of the components might exceed the whole unit cost.......as the manufacturer is buying at huge volume discounts. Same goes for pressure washers. That said, I built one 25 years ago witha Honda engine and commercial grade CAT pump and it's a great unit. Just rebuilt the pump a month ago.

Maybe another comparison is trying to build a trailer at home..........it's another case where many the material purchase is going to kill you on a one off project.......but.......you will have what you needed when your done. If you engineered, planned and constructed the trailer from the start to the finish.