Pressure Washer

[SilverSheep]

Looking to pick up a pressure washer here sometime soon. I am mainly going to be using it for washing our cars.

Any recommendations? Gas vs Electric?

 

[kd3pc]

Overkill for car washing, even the little electric ones. It will be hard on finishes and can push water in to places you don't want.

The father in law took the gel coat off his bed top in a fraction of a second, almost new Leonard top...

we use them to take marine growth off boat bottoms, but still need to be careful to not take the good stuff with it.

 

[KBATN]

i bought this guy last month

https://www.menards.com/main/tools-...38720927858976189&ipos=10&bargainStoreId=3123

Works great!, you can adjust the pressure setting and not worry about hurting your finish. Just use common sense. I washed 3 cars in one afternoon with it and use it for washing mud off my atv after a long day of hard trail riding.

 

[theoldwizard1]

I agree that a PW is overkill for car washing. The small, cheap, electric one have a short life (many get left out side over winter and break from ice).

I have heard about these "foam canon" attachments, but I have no idea how well they work.

For "general" home owner use, you need one that can output >2.0 GPM at >2000PSI.

 

[fatfillup]

Hmmmmmmmmm, been selling washers for 34 years to wash most anything that you can get wet and don't have issues IF USED PROPERLY

Won't remove paint that is adhering properly unless you really get close and stay there or use a zero degree nozzle.

Most folks don't use proper soap or don't give it proper dwell time and try to blast off the road film.

Biggest question is what is your budget?

Anything under $750 or so is normally not designed to be repairable.

 

[dacan23]

I started out using a small electric one for car washes and light duty tasks. Moved up to a 3500psi generac with a triplex servicable pump. I try to avoid disposable things, all the electric ones and cheaper gas ones are like that as mentioned. Now I use a foam cannon which makes washing easier. Depends on your budget, there are good ones $200-350, but if something breaks is pretty much garbage. Mine was about $600 and came with pro nozzle, gun, and hose.

 

[Rory Bellows]

When you buy a power washer get a foam cannon off amazon. I bought one for under $20 and it works great! Even used it to wash the siding on the house.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01CE78VO8/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[SilverSheep]

Budget is around 300 bucks. Plan is to use one of those foam cannons honestly.

Sent from my SM-T210R using Tapatalk

 

[Git]

I just got a foam cannon last month and I have to say it worked great

$16 for the cannon and $28 for a gallon of a soap. (1 1/2 ounces was more than enough to do two cars)

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00WPKHFA6/?tag=atomicindus08-20

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009OTW646/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[Big_John]

I bought one of these just for car washing. It works great for that purpose.
https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00PSQ4XUE/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I also bought a foam cannon. https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00WPKHFA6/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[thatguysb]

bought a karcher k2, 1600psi for a great price in my local big box store, def a good unit, had some terrible experiences with earlier models but now it seems like their game stepped up a bit. bought the foam cannon from them also, works great even tho i didnt properly mixed the forumula. Im using some voodoo product

 

[bry@n]

Sunjoe 4000 s at BJ's for 125. Bought one specifically to wash cars.

Electric is best for this.

 

[Showkey]

Hmmmmmmmmm, been selling washers for 34 years to wash most anything that you can get wet and don't have issues IF USED PROPERLY
.[/QUOTE


Proper use !!!!!! That's the problem.......seen house brick destroy facing knocked off the brick) , siding and decking damaged beyond repair, water pushed behind the siding on homes, asphalt or wood roofing ( granules knocked off) bearings on ATV and motorcycle destroyed by rust caused by direct high pressure spray passing by the seals, boat gel coat damaged , auto bumper paint, water in automotive electrical connectors ......the list goes on and on.

A novice with 2000-5000 psi can destroy **** in a hurry......

 

[fatfillup]

^^^^^^^^^Yep, proper use

Keeping the spray directed at something too long is where the problems start and are compounded with using the wrong nozzle. Zero degree nozzles will tear things up quickly.

You mention 5000 psi. I have sold a few but they are not common for general cleaning.

The other factor to consider when destroying things is the volume of water. Pressure is only half the equation. The volume of water comes into play also. Think of 1.5 gpm as a tack hammer and 10 gpm as a sledge hammer. Both can be 1500 psi but one will damage quickly and the other not so much. The weight of the water comes into play.


Now I have heard about water being pushed past seals on motorcylces and atv's. My experience has been in general cleaning and keeping the wand moving, no problems. It does make me wonder about the difference in seals on a M/C verses a truck motor or piece of heavy equipment. The latter are the markets I serve most and folks blast the **** out of them and I have never heard of a problem with anything getting past a seal. Not saying it couldn't happen but I haven't seen it.