steam cleaner

[blt2go]

i have had this steam cleaner for a long time. was always going to use it, but recently had to switch to propane so i will never get to. i would still like to know as much about it as possible. anyone use one? is there a way to convert to propane? thanks in advance. also i am the second owner (first owner never hooked it up either) and it was originally purchased in 1956.

 

[930dreamer]

That's a cool steam cleaner, what powers it normally? Quick Charge is still in OKC but it's a battery charger business. Might give them a call and see if they use to sell steam cleaners.

 

[blt2go]

thanks 930 i will look them up tomorrow. it is natural gas fired and uses hydrant water pressure to move the steam to the wand then it is boosted by compressed air. at least this is how i understand it from the connnections and what is left of the manual.

 

[Danglerb]

Keep in mind that steam is dangerous, and large containers of boiling water are worse. Boiler accidents used to mess up a lot of people every year until some serious safety standards and general usage dropped.

Natural gas and propane may have different mix ratios with air, but sorting that out I suspect would be the least of your worries with using it.

 

[blt2go]

danglerb, thanks for your insight. this unit does not appear to use a boiler tank. it has a coil like my diesel fired electric power washer. the unused water bypasses into the open tank on the front of the unit to be reheated and sent back to the wand when needed. according to directions you can add detergent or chemical to that tank and apply with the steam. the steam seems to be enhanced by the addition of compressed air at the wand. again not 100% sure on this and would like more feedback. thanks again danglerb that is good information to have. i'm not one to experiment with gas, but if i could find out if the company made an LP version or conversion i would be very interested.

 

[metal1313]

you'd need a different regulator and jets, but im not sure what else to convert it to lp

 

[Art From De Leon]

How did it come to have never been used? I would have loved to have a genuine steam cleaner, even a hot water washer, but there is really nothing that can compare with a 'Steam Jennie'.

 

[blt2go]

my neighbor bought it new for his diesel repair business. business was good so he was always too busy to install it. i bought it at his estate sale and have been fortunate also in the fact i'm always too busy to install it. i had to switch the shop to propane and i'm wanting to convert and install it now, or get rid of it to some one that will use it. (or at least use the good fortune of steady business it seems to bring) ha ha.

 

[Underdog]

I have a Steam Jenny I bought some 30 years ago. I can't bring myself to get rid of it but I won't use it either. Have a new 13hp pressure washer that does all the cleaning now. I have probably hundreds of hours behind using the "Jenny" and still remember what a horrible job it was. Steam is hot and dangerous and then you have to deal with the problem of not being able to see what you are cleaning because you are surrounded by this steam cloud. Never got burned bad but always imagined how bad you could. Before someone says to wear the right protective clothing, thats hard to do down here in 85 to 90 degree temps along with the steam also.

 

[LEVE]

When I was a kid I was mowing the front lawn. My dad had a trailer mounted steam cleaner for his trucking business. His business partner had started it up. I looked up just in time to see Harry leaning over the assembly cusssin' that something wasn't quite right. At that second it exploded.

He died of scalding burns 12 hours later.

Since then... I've never wanted a steam cleaner anywhere near me, or my family.