DucFanDan
Member
Hi all,
I know, another pressure washer thread. I've searched and read many threads on here, end to end. Lots of good info. Has helped me narrow the search considerably, but I'd like input on some specific usage questions, and a few specific makes/models.
I tried the homeowner-grade AR Blue Clean and that was a joke. Returned it after the second use. Thankfully Coastal Farm & Ranch has a good return policy. Reading on here, I picked up really quick to stay away from big-box store PWs. Also picked up that I should stay away from axial pumps.
So now that we've narrowed things down a little:
1) Commercial or at least "pro-sumer" grade
2) Serviceable triplex pump from a name brand
3) Not a big-box store unit
Usage:
I have a 10,000 sqft cedar-sided (batt and board) "barn" to look after. Has a 24'x96' garage, and 3000-odd sqft of living space. Front patio is roughly 24'x24', plus another covered concrete pad roughly 8'x48', plus a 12'x24' garage apron.
Driveway is gravel... so only the patios/apron and building to look after.
I also need something to knock the mud off the tractor... spring chores get messy.
Last but not least, I will use the PW to aid with car washing, particularly on days where I line them up and need to tackle 2-3 at a time. I'd like a real foam cannon, because the "foam gun" used with the garden hose is a joke.
Options:
I found some commercial-grade electrics. They're not cheap, and the pressure/GPM ratings are not super high, but the convenience of not having another gas engine to deal with and being able to easily shut the unit off between car wash phases is very appealing. I found some very similar units from Water Cannon and Pressure-Pro, then a couple from NorthStar. This is the Pressure-Pro; the Water Cannon has nearly identical specs:
https://www.pressurewashersdirect.com/Pressure-Pro-EE2015G/p1539.html
The NorthStar:
http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200350515_200350515
NorthStar also offers a higher-spec electric unit:
http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200347872_200347872
Then we get into gas. With acreage and a big structure to look after, the portability and not needing to have 20-amp service in multiple places is appealing. Right now I only have 20-amp service in the garage. Would either need to get a very large-gage extension cord to do the patio by the front door, or an electric unit might as well be a wall-mount by the garage door.
This Pressure-Pro has a Honda GX engine and a CAT pump:
https://www.pressurewashersdirect.com/Pressure-Pro-PPS2533HCI-50UPS/p68781.html
There is also the DeWalt (Simpson) with a Honda GX and CAT pump: https://www.pressurewashersdirect.com/DeWalt-DXPW60603/p14779.html
I know big-box stores are generally bad, but HD does have a decent price on this DeWalt with the Honda GX engine. It uses a AAA pump. Are these okay for large-homeowner/property manager purposes, or is AAA a brand to be avoided? Advantages are price and I can pick this up locally:
http://www.homedepot.com/p/DEWALT-H...-5-GPM-Gas-Pressure-Washer-DXPW3425/204663857
So those are the primary examples I am looking at. Looking for feedback, especially if anyone has FHE with any of these items listed and can say definitely "go for it" or "stay away".
I like equipment that works and works well. If that means spending more, well, obviously I'm already looking at $800 units after trying a $300 electric that would be more useful as target practice. I'm wondering whether it's worth the hassle of care and feeding for another gas engine to get the portability. The on/off switch ease of a commercial-grade electric is *very* appealing. I think I'd rather run power to the far side of the barn than deal with gas every winter. I just had to jerk around with that again after this winter. Not in the mood to add another gas rig to care for... but will I really hate the mobility limit of an electric?
I'm also curious how much of a pain the start/stop cycle is with gas PWs when car washing. I know it shouldn't idle without the gun being opened for more than 1-2 minutes. That means I'll be prepping and firing it up, blasting the cars, then soaking them with the foam cannon, then shutting it off. Go over cars with mitts and 2-bucket method. Fire PW back up to re-foam then rinse. If I am assembly-lining multiple cars that afternoon, we're talking starting it at least 4 times. Is the Honda GX really that reliable and one-pull easy to start? If not, I want electric. I don't want to be mid-wash and standing there jerking around with a cantankerous gas engine that doesn't restart quickly.
Added bonus to a 20A electric PW: nobody will want to borrow it, because none of my friends or family have the right electric service to run it.
Related tangent: The Water Cannon and Pressure-Pro units look *very* similar. Are these brands actually owned or made by the same company? They do a good job on their websites of making them look separately owned, but the similarities between models are hard to ignore.
Anyway... input appreciated! Thanks in advance!
I know, another pressure washer thread. I've searched and read many threads on here, end to end. Lots of good info. Has helped me narrow the search considerably, but I'd like input on some specific usage questions, and a few specific makes/models.
I tried the homeowner-grade AR Blue Clean and that was a joke. Returned it after the second use. Thankfully Coastal Farm & Ranch has a good return policy. Reading on here, I picked up really quick to stay away from big-box store PWs. Also picked up that I should stay away from axial pumps.
So now that we've narrowed things down a little:
1) Commercial or at least "pro-sumer" grade
2) Serviceable triplex pump from a name brand
3) Not a big-box store unit
Usage:
I have a 10,000 sqft cedar-sided (batt and board) "barn" to look after. Has a 24'x96' garage, and 3000-odd sqft of living space. Front patio is roughly 24'x24', plus another covered concrete pad roughly 8'x48', plus a 12'x24' garage apron.
Driveway is gravel... so only the patios/apron and building to look after.
I also need something to knock the mud off the tractor... spring chores get messy.
Last but not least, I will use the PW to aid with car washing, particularly on days where I line them up and need to tackle 2-3 at a time. I'd like a real foam cannon, because the "foam gun" used with the garden hose is a joke.
Options:
I found some commercial-grade electrics. They're not cheap, and the pressure/GPM ratings are not super high, but the convenience of not having another gas engine to deal with and being able to easily shut the unit off between car wash phases is very appealing. I found some very similar units from Water Cannon and Pressure-Pro, then a couple from NorthStar. This is the Pressure-Pro; the Water Cannon has nearly identical specs:
https://www.pressurewashersdirect.com/Pressure-Pro-EE2015G/p1539.html
The NorthStar:
http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200350515_200350515
NorthStar also offers a higher-spec electric unit:
http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200347872_200347872
Then we get into gas. With acreage and a big structure to look after, the portability and not needing to have 20-amp service in multiple places is appealing. Right now I only have 20-amp service in the garage. Would either need to get a very large-gage extension cord to do the patio by the front door, or an electric unit might as well be a wall-mount by the garage door.
This Pressure-Pro has a Honda GX engine and a CAT pump:
https://www.pressurewashersdirect.com/Pressure-Pro-PPS2533HCI-50UPS/p68781.html
There is also the DeWalt (Simpson) with a Honda GX and CAT pump: https://www.pressurewashersdirect.com/DeWalt-DXPW60603/p14779.html
I know big-box stores are generally bad, but HD does have a decent price on this DeWalt with the Honda GX engine. It uses a AAA pump. Are these okay for large-homeowner/property manager purposes, or is AAA a brand to be avoided? Advantages are price and I can pick this up locally:
http://www.homedepot.com/p/DEWALT-H...-5-GPM-Gas-Pressure-Washer-DXPW3425/204663857
So those are the primary examples I am looking at. Looking for feedback, especially if anyone has FHE with any of these items listed and can say definitely "go for it" or "stay away".
I like equipment that works and works well. If that means spending more, well, obviously I'm already looking at $800 units after trying a $300 electric that would be more useful as target practice. I'm wondering whether it's worth the hassle of care and feeding for another gas engine to get the portability. The on/off switch ease of a commercial-grade electric is *very* appealing. I think I'd rather run power to the far side of the barn than deal with gas every winter. I just had to jerk around with that again after this winter. Not in the mood to add another gas rig to care for... but will I really hate the mobility limit of an electric?
I'm also curious how much of a pain the start/stop cycle is with gas PWs when car washing. I know it shouldn't idle without the gun being opened for more than 1-2 minutes. That means I'll be prepping and firing it up, blasting the cars, then soaking them with the foam cannon, then shutting it off. Go over cars with mitts and 2-bucket method. Fire PW back up to re-foam then rinse. If I am assembly-lining multiple cars that afternoon, we're talking starting it at least 4 times. Is the Honda GX really that reliable and one-pull easy to start? If not, I want electric. I don't want to be mid-wash and standing there jerking around with a cantankerous gas engine that doesn't restart quickly.
Added bonus to a 20A electric PW: nobody will want to borrow it, because none of my friends or family have the right electric service to run it.
Related tangent: The Water Cannon and Pressure-Pro units look *very* similar. Are these brands actually owned or made by the same company? They do a good job on their websites of making them look separately owned, but the similarities between models are hard to ignore.
Anyway... input appreciated! Thanks in advance!