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Pressure washers. What is you preference.

Posted: Thu Nov 16, 2017 8:23 am
by 17thAirborne
In restoring MV's i see how having access to a pressure washer is a big help. i have a friend (yes i know its hard to believe) who works for an industrial company and they give him access to the industrial steam pressure washer. it really gets things clean before disassembly, but hauling things 30 minutes away is not practical.

i have seen several small 2000ish psi units for a reasonable price and that seems more practical to do things at home, but i cannot imagine a sub-$200 unit would work very well.

what do you own, and what do you recommend, model, price, psi, features etc?

tanks

Re: Pressure washers. What is you preference.

Posted: Fri Nov 17, 2017 5:25 am
by Wolfman
I run across a lot of pressure washers. Mostly gas models because the engine don't run.
All seem to be OK.
Factors to consider,
How much will you use it ?
Like most things. If it sets a lot, it will go down.
If only occasional and lite use, electric might be better. No worry about bad gas and stopped up carbs.
What do you plan to clean ?
Just wash off your jeep. Lower pressure would be better. 1100 PSI. Get the dirt. Leave the paint. And again electric would do.
Heavier cleaning. Packed dirt and grease. 2200 to 2500 PSI and gas. This will also get some loose paint.
The really heavy cleaning needs heat. Steam is the ultimate. 3500 PSI and up. Also the most expensive.
I would stay with name brand engines. Briggs & Stratton, Honda, etc. The Chinese models are hard to get parts for and like anything mechanical, sooner or later, you will need more than just a spark plug.

Re: Pressure washers. What is you preference.

Posted: Fri Nov 17, 2017 5:44 am
by W. Winget
Good Summary Mike:
I went in 50/50 with a fellow collector buying a 3200PSI Gasser, it's worked well when not over at his place for porches, siding, etc.
Usually when I need it...So if I were to purchase another just for general use I would go with an electric. Less noise, no fuel to get to operate it, and if your teathered to a garden hose you have electrical somewhere within 100' of the unit. Adding solvent like degreaser to the project before hand and letting it do it's job would likely make a fine result with electric, but the steam washer has no peer, we used them in the army to clean tracks as we returned from the field or prepped for maint. (and a fire hose for mud)
Anything Higher pressure will strip paint with the proper nozzle, and forget about sand blasting adapters for water blasting, they are really crap as the sand (typically slightly moist anywhere near a water powered pressure washer...) needs pressure to flow, not mere vacuum. Or you can get a second person to move the suction pickup around maybe getting some blasting done.

NOTE: A right angle adapter on a longer extension handle makes the units handy for letting the head rest on the ground and shooting up under a chassis VS laying down to try and shoot upwards.
V/R W Winget

Re: Pressure washers. What is you preference.

Posted: Fri Nov 17, 2017 7:18 am
by 17thAirborne
Guys, thanks much for the wisdom on the washers. Cost has almost ruled out the high pressure gas models, and I was thinking one would be good for the initial phase of de griming a restoration project. Your point about a big investment for low use is taken well and I have to contrast this with the inability of the lower pressure electric models to remove the really bad caked on mess. At least the electric models would be handy for all of the other jobs, and perhaps a plastic putty knife to get the big bits, some degreaser and then the electric model would be a good option