reman
Well-known member
Have any of you guys ever built a pressure washer from scratch? I am thinking the wand from from an old unit connected directly to the garden hose and propelled by air at a constant 100psi . Any thoughts on this idea? Thanks
Pressure washer
- Thread starter reman
- Start date
theoldwizard1
Well-known member
Volume of water is what does the job. That is why those cheapie electrics don't work for ****.
Your idea won't get much water out of the nozzle !
Your idea won't get much water out of the nozzle !
Um no. Have you seen the ID of pressure washer hose? Pressure produces the high velocity which is what does the work.
His idea won't work because 100psi isn't ****. Most homes are in the 50psi range already.
Sounds like what you will make is an atomizer like a air brush.
You CAN build a pressure washer, but it is so not economical unless you are trying to build one super special or have the parts sitting around. By the time you buy a good cat pump or the like, the appropriate controls circuit, fittings, coupling and motor, you might as well go by a small pre built unit.
And yes flow rate is what gets things done quicker, but you have to have a high pressure, hence the "pressure" washer. Say you have 2 pressure washers one 2kpsi, 2gpm, other 2kpsi, 3.5gpm. They will both get the job done, the 3.5gpm one will just get you there faster.
You CAN build a pressure washer, but it is so not economical unless you are trying to build one super special or have the parts sitting around. By the time you buy a good cat pump or the like, the appropriate controls circuit, fittings, coupling and motor, you might as well go by a small pre built unit.
And yes flow rate is what gets things done quicker, but you have to have a high pressure, hence the "pressure" washer. Say you have 2 pressure washers one 2kpsi, 2gpm, other 2kpsi, 3.5gpm. They will both get the job done, the 3.5gpm one will just get you there faster.
sberry
Banned
As we can tell,,, the learning curve would be too high to make it work. I have built a half a dozen that went in trucks. I should have robbed up some old parts and tossed together a portable, just never did and because of oil field are really easy to hire in a spot where its needed.
But, if I was doing this again in a new setup today would have LP fired burner and one size bigger.
But, if I was doing this again in a new setup today would have LP fired burner and one size bigger.
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rburke65
Well-known member
I don't think it's the volume of the water that does the job.....otherwise you would use a fire hose. But, as always, just my opinion.
Train
Well-known member
It's pressure not volume that does the work. We wash our machinery while it's sitting on packed dirt. Very little water laying on the ground when done.
sberry
Banned
You need volume. There is a formula for cleaning units somewhere, temp helps too. Yes they do use fire hose for cleaning. Can clean way more with that than a garden hose. Yes some hose is small but you don't need much hose to shove only 1.8 gallons down 25 ft at 1200 psi.
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sberry
Banned
Yes, almost twice as fast.
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sberry
Banned
I would like to try the premium electric unit that Northern has. I remotely know a couple guys that got them but never used one. I think they list it at close to 4 gpm. Mine is 5 at 1500. I started in obsessive fashion with 2 pieces of hose etc and a hanger and finally like things should be with 100 ft of 3/8 on a big reel.
You can put 135 ft of 1/2 on it that reel but you got to level wind it. I lose a fuzz, about a % or so running a little extra hose on but its so simple, it runs water thru it faster. I tried a lot of stuff and even boom mounted outside the door which didn't work bad but the reel with plenty hose on it is the ticket. Originally I had a flap, it finally rusted out and I should make a new vent. You can see where someone put a cardboard box over it one brutal cold winter night and forgot to take it off.
I wash a car on most days, I am a pressure wash pro. We got a guy at a club who means well and does the washing and he was in the biz, says it was too hard, well duh. Some of the best ones I see were as lazy as you can get, they were not stupid but washing well enough so everyone thinks you do a great job as fast as possible is the key.
You need to train a lot of people like you really need to train a welder. Very similar to a spray painter.
I can clean a car well, bugs on windshield /front end in about 4 minutes and no stripes or missed spots. It takes a lot more energy to speed it up to 3.5 minutes, about like running a mile.
It is partially limited by the machine but the operator has a huge thing to do with fuel efficiency and time.
You can put 135 ft of 1/2 on it that reel but you got to level wind it. I lose a fuzz, about a % or so running a little extra hose on but its so simple, it runs water thru it faster. I tried a lot of stuff and even boom mounted outside the door which didn't work bad but the reel with plenty hose on it is the ticket. Originally I had a flap, it finally rusted out and I should make a new vent. You can see where someone put a cardboard box over it one brutal cold winter night and forgot to take it off.
I wash a car on most days, I am a pressure wash pro. We got a guy at a club who means well and does the washing and he was in the biz, says it was too hard, well duh. Some of the best ones I see were as lazy as you can get, they were not stupid but washing well enough so everyone thinks you do a great job as fast as possible is the key.
You need to train a lot of people like you really need to train a welder. Very similar to a spray painter.
I can clean a car well, bugs on windshield /front end in about 4 minutes and no stripes or missed spots. It takes a lot more energy to speed it up to 3.5 minutes, about like running a mile.
It is partially limited by the machine but the operator has a huge thing to do with fuel efficiency and time.
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sberry
Banned
A person really should have 2 soaps. Some pressure wash as well as that industrial purple. I dilute it some in the sprayer most of the time but straight will ruin automotive paint. I havnt sand blasted my tank project yet, should simply purple it and wash with hot water, would last 99& as long as blasting minus dirty work.
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rburke65
Well-known member
I had an electric pressure washer for a number of years. Only usedvit in a residential setting.... No commercial. It performed fine for me.....washing the tractor of mud and jobs such as that. And, no trouble ever starting.