I need a pressure washer...

[cdogg44]

I'm looking for a good gasoline powered pressure washer.

Who's got experience with them and can point me in the right direction (size, brand, ...)?

I will be doing a lot of concrete washing (I'm in the construction business), but will probably end up washing cars, 4 wheelers, and any thing else you'd take a hose to.

Also, I know that hot water is better, but I can't justify the need due to the price.

Portability is a big issue as well. I also would like to find one with a self contained soap holder, so I won't have to run a hose into a bucket of soap.

Thanks

P.S. I've got $500 max.

[Old Scout]

Your budget is too low for a quality machine.

[nevadayj]

I think for the money, the Karcher at Costco is a great value. I think they are around $299. Plus with Costco you can always return it if it breaks :D

I have on that is nearly 4 years old and it is great. Honda powered to boot!

Good luck!
Doug

[sschevytrucks]

http://www.samsclub.com/eclub/main_shopping.jsp?n=0&oidPath=0%3a-23542%3a-32122%3a-32125%3a-32147%3a841118&coe=0&BV_SessionID=_SC_1225318430.1092600111_CS_&BV_EngineID=ccckadcmejfhdlecfkfcfkjdgoodfkh.0

[cdogg44]

Are none of the machines at Lowe's, Home Depot, or Sears any good? Most of them fall under the $500 limit. I don't need a super duty exteme industrial unit. Just a good reliable unit that gets the job done. I know I can get one of them for less than $500.

No Costco's in Arkansas (a hell of a lot of Sam's Clubs though).

I do think I want a Honda engine.

[James_Fendley]

Got this one at Home Depot on 7/4, 100.00 off and 1 year no interest. 599.00
6.5 hp honda, 2800 psi, Cat pump.

James

http://img56.exs.cx/img56/2192/Dsc00544.jpg

[sschevytrucks]

The model directly under the model I linked to you is only 308.00 at sams club. It just doesn't have the hot water like the one i linked above...says it is medium duty instead of super duty, but same brand etc... and 250.00 less! I'd go with that one before I got one at home depot or lowes.

[cdogg44]

I wasn't aware that the Karcher HD3101 was hot water. I don't think it is.

Is Karcher a good brand? I've never heard of it, but then again I've never heard of the other brands either. Except I do know that a Honda engine is better than most.

Thanks

[jeepnmatt]

go to Northern Tools and buy the most expensive, Honda Industrial Engined, pressure washer that you can afford. you WILL NOT regret it.

i have a 5.5 Hp that i absolutely love. their components are all top quality. i've had mine for over 5 years and not one single problem.

[Old Scout]

I wasn't aware that the Karcher HD3101 was hot water. I don't think it is.

Is Karcher a good brand? I've never heard of it, but then again I've never heard of the other brands either. Except I do know that a Honda engine is better than most.

Thanks
Karcher is a good brand , but parts can be tricky. I'm a factory distributor for these guys:http://www.pscclean.com/.
No pimp on my part, since there HD industrial models and out of your price range! :flipoff2:

A washer is actuality a simple machine. The pump is the first thing to consider. Best pump made right now is GP ( General Pump), second choice would be a Cat. Don't fall for the super high pressure gimick. 1800-2000 psi is more than enough and spend your money on FLOW! Large GPM is expensive but well worth it!

[ChiScouter]

Karcher is a good brand , but parts can be tricky. I'm a factory distributor for these guys:http://www.pscclean.com/.
No pimp on my part, since there HD industrial models and out of your price range! :flipoff2:

A washer is actuality a simple machine. The pump is the first thing to consider. Best pump made right now is GP ( General Pump), second choice would be a Cat. Don't fall for the super high pressure gimick. 1800-2000 psi is more than enough and spend your money on FLOW! Large GPM is expensive but well worth it!


I have only used washers in the 1200 to 2000lb range and found the higher pressure models to be much more effective. The lower pressure mods were electric and the higher press units were gas. As a result of my experiences I have been scrounging for a 3000 to 4000 unit on the cheap. I will use only infrequently, but figured for blasting away crud on boat hulls and grease on axles and engines that psi would be more important than flow. I always figured on more delicate objects I could always hold the wand further from the object being blasted to avoid damage. Im not doubting you OS, but could you elaborate more on the why flow is better.

[Sub-versive]

The pump is a very important thing to consider. I had a Coleman 2200 PSI "Industrial", the pump crapped out, prematurely, in my opinion. So personally I'm moving up to a 3600 PSI+ with a 13HP Honda with a Cat pump, they sell for around $1000. Check ebay! :flipoff2:

[Old Scout]

I have only used washers in the 1200 to 2000lb range and found the higher pressure models to be much more effective. The lower pressure mods were electric and the higher press units were gas. As a result of my experiences I have been scrounging for a 3000 to 4000 unit on the cheap. I will use only infrequently, but figured for blasting away crud on boat hulls and grease on axles and engines that psi would be more important than flow. I always figured on more delicate objects I could always hold the wand further from the object being blasted to avoid damage. Im not doubting you OS, but could you elaborate more on the why flow is better.

Here has been my experience. A long time good customer replaced his 1000psi/10 GPM machine with a 3000 psi/6 GPM. There were all sorts of problems with paint failing ,blown gaskets/grease seals, and bad electrical connections due to water intrusions just after he bought it. There fleet is 200 semis that run all over Cali/Oregon/Nevada The two kids in the wash bay are not able to keep up there productivey. It's just taking to long with a low flow 6 GPM machine. The customer threw out his 3000 PSI machine and bought a 1800 psi @ 12 GPM machine and all the problems went away.

The customer has a fleet of 200 Stainless tankers that haul bulk food.

[FullsizeYota]

i have a landa...... its pretty heavy 250+ lbs.... so its a pain to load in the truck.... cant remember the specs right off hand but its tough and has a soap mix hose included..... it's a commercial unit..... i dig

[TLCObsession]

I have an 11HP Honda industrila powered Cat pump. I have looked at rebuild kits, and I think I can get a replacement GP pump for less than the rebuild on the Cat. Its a relatively HP unit (I think 4000 psi at 4 GPM). I would never use it on a nice finish car - I do use it blow all the mud off after wheeling. At full pressure with a narrow nozzle, it will cut the tires...

The rotating head nozzles are really great for concrete cleanup and paint stripping - the good ones start at around $70 and for my machine they were about $100 - but it can save you a ton of time.

An extra hose is nice to have too. I have over 100 feet which means I rarely have to move mine, adn can get up on the roof of a 2 story house.

Jim

[MOGXJ44]

Bringing back this old thread for some more advice. I need a machine that can strip paint of engine tins. I started looking for an air compressor and sand blast cabinet, but the cost of an appropriate setup is prohibitive. With a pressure washer capable of stripping paint I could tone it down and use it for lots of other things as well. What psi, gpm, hp, and brand/features do you suggest?
Travis

[fj40guy]

I need a machine that can strip paint of engine tins. Travis


What is an "engine tin"?

I have a 3000 psi 4gpm pressure washer... uh, it will strip paint off anything that wasn't prep'd correctly! :laughing:

Great for preping stuff prior to rebuild (really wish I had hot water for grease removal), but great general purpose machine (Honda Engine).

Fawked up when I moved into the new place, didn't "winterize" the pump, which was toast after sitting out without use.

Tom :usa:

[MOGXJ44]

I've got a brand new long block sitting on my engine stand. Reuses all my original stuff like exhaust manifold, intake, and tins (all the metal covers). It's ashame to put the ugly used stuff back on a brand new engine so I wanted to clean them up and paint them. Quick and easy seemed to be a sand blaster, but I don't own a compressor powerful enough to run the blaster. I thought a pressure washer would be more useful around the house anyway. I've heard that 4000 psi and 4 gpm would be enough to strip paint. Does anyone think I could get away with a little less? There is a large price difference between just under 3000 psi/3gpm and 4000 psi/4gpm.
Thanks,
Travis

[ROLLIN33S]

What ever you get make sure it has an Honda engine on it. I've had several no problems yet. Got mine from northern tools.

[singham]

Hi Guys,

We have found in our shop that by far the best unit is a hot water pressure washer. The PSI is much less important if you are pumping out hot water. Our cleaning/degreasing times have dropped by 60% when we went to a hot water setup. A unit with a boiler is going to be above the budget discussed here, but a unit that can accept hot water from your homes hot water tank can be had for less than $500.

We picked our unit up from a shipyard in Richmond, CA. The boiler wasn't working properly and they decided to toss it in the scrap pile. Spent about $700 on a complete pump/boiler rebuild and could not be happier. We can steam up to 350 degrees with no problem. Unit operates at about 2000 PSI.

Cheers,

Scott
Expedition Imports Corp.

[kyle_22r]

What ever you get make sure it has an Honda engine on it. I've had several no problems yet. Got mine from northern tools.
honda parts are outrageously expensive compared to just about anybody else. good engines, yes, parts suck though.

i'm a briggs mechanic by trade, i hate having to take off the fucking fuel tank to replace a governer spring on a honda :rolleyes:

[MOGXJ44]

I've got a Honda HRX lawnmower and have yet to have a problem with it. I'll opt for the 13 HP GX engine.
Travis