The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Tool Chest Pressure Washer?

I'm wanting a p-washer like everyone else. Can't seem to come up with the $ needed for what I want. I want Gas, at least 2500 psi. I have an import store near me that has "serviced" units quite often. They look new and mostly are, but had a problem that factory supposedly repaired/replaced. They have a Karcher model now on sale for $269 that is a 6.5 hp Briggs and 2300 psi/2.5gals/hr and looks real good. Nice big wheels on cart (air tires) heavy metal wand with replaceable tips, and external brass pump. What worries me is a block diecast "gear" box? or something on engine shaft before the pump. It looks like a right angle drive or something. Are Karcher's generally a good brand? What you think the "box" is? Anyone have luck with "factory serviced" stuff or is it just junk and trouble?
I know Harbor and Northern have a lot of units, just not as cheap and then shipping too. Ideas?
I have used my buddies plastic "cheapie" washer some, and it's OK, just not big enough power for stuff I usually do.

Bought mind at COSTCO which had the best price around, a 2400 psi it's a Karche with a Honda 5.0 engine. Will knock the snot off anything. I bought it last summer to power wash the deck (about 2400 sq.ft.) but I haven't used it much. I unpacked it, set it up and the wife wanted to try it...the next day the deck was finished and looked like new !!! I've power washed a couple of engines and was very pleased with the results. This year, I'm looking to get her a John Deere lawn mower. Nothing but the best for the wife . Good luck.

I found that works for me too. Put-off long enuf and the wife gets mad and gets out the tools and finishes the job I didn't want to be messing with in first place. She Hates me, I Love her!

She even helps with truck pushing, holding, pressing brakes and such even though she SAYS she hates it!

If you REALLY want to strip old paint/grease/rust off, I'd get a Hotsy if I were you. They heat up a mildly caustic solution and spray it on under pressure. It's practically the origination of the phrase "Steam Cleaner". You can rent these units too. They clean much better than those cheap pressure washers. You have to wear protective gear when using them, because they do a pretty good job removing flesh also.

If you want to use hot water with the power washer, hook up a garden hose to a water heater and connect the other end to your p-washer. Suppost to work real good. I've never tried it myself, but would if needed to.

Good idea!

I'll be putting in an extra tap for the hot water heater in the garage, now that I've read this...

-Boyo

I have a Colman with a 6.5 horse Honda motor 2500 psi. It was about 400 bucks at Sam's. (Wal-Mart discount club). We have used it over and over with no problems. We now have two restaurants we go over eveerything in the kitchens with it every weekend gets all that grease off with no problem.

And i got excited about the one i seen on t.v. the other day.They marketed it as a household appliance and were using it in the kitchen.Cleaning the oven and steaming veggies at the same time. Only 3 easy payments of $39.95 and it was mine.

My uncle has a hotsy on his farm- oil burner, 220 electric motor, will strip paint if you are not careful. You can't leave the burner on too long or you will just get steam.

BOYO-ijust hook my garden hose up to the spigot on the bottom of my water heater.

Here is one for you . . . I have a buddy that just got a huge order to build pressure washers that force water through a flash freezer and combine with air pressure for making an ice blaster! They use this to clean up transmission gears right after machining at FQRD rather than using solvents and dealing with all the environmental issues. He has orders for over 100 units! Who sez you can't make it big if you have a good idea!

Well, today I bought the unit I told about in first post here. Haven't read up on it or got out of box yet. Just "Havin'" it is good enough for me for awhile! Anyway on way home wife asks about cleaner for it and mentions the deck and siding and .....Where's she gettin' THOSE ideas? This is for Truck/garage use, Sheesh! :rolleyes:

Ran washer yesterday! It worked fine for 3 minutes, then the pressure dropped off bad. Then I messed with it some and it came back and never bothered again. Has 3 position tip. One for slow app of cleaner/solvent, one for medium wider blast that is pretty strong as is, and one for direct/high press blast, only cleans about 1/2" spot though! :rolleyes: Most stuff will use the wider spray. Sure has a "kick" to it. Wife had to try it too and almost dropped wand first time she used high press setting. Was Funny!...to ME anyway! Maybe she won't want to use it so much now!

a poor mans method---and a very old one, is those blowgun type sprayers that hook to the water hose and air lines. certainly not as fast, but for alot of things will work---cheap. with the hot water----------hmmmmmm, i wonder