I need a low PSI power washer that will hold up

TrueDetailer said:
Why are you cleaning your wheels with a brush or whatnot when you have a pressure washer? The whole point of owning one is to make things easier.
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I clean inside the wheel with a long brush that a pressure washer can't get too (I tried with mine). Also, I like to get in all the nooks and crannies of wheel wells and other spots that require agitation.

I don't own wheel acid and I'm not about speed. I use the PW to knock off crud that a hose can't and to use less water.
 
Using a high-end pump such as an UDOR Model #PNL 2.5/20-T, mated to a 5.0hp motor, rpm's can be dialed down to achieve the desired volume. And if combined with a down-loader similar to the one mentioned above (one that back feeds into the water tank), delivering <2gpm at <1500psi is obtainable.
 
dr_detail said:
Using a high-end pump such as an UDOR Model #PNL 2.5/20-T, mated to a 5.0hp motor, rpm's can be dialed down to achieve the desired volume. And if combined with a down-loader similar to the one mentioned above (one that back feeds into the water tank), delivering <2gpm at <1500psi is obtainable.
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Realistically, how much am I looking at spending? I don't want to get too crazy, as I have already done so on what seems like everything else. I might end up with just an electric water pump for now if I can't get a PW for a decent price. :(
 
A friend of mine has a KEW-Alto (Scorpion) and it seems to be very reliable. I have used it myself a few times and it is fantastic...IMO. He has used it daily for 3 years without any problems. This company also manufactures smaller - cold water only - portable electric units. Several models to choose from. I have not been able to swing one yet for myself, but am saving towards it. I believe they are only sold thru a distributor, so you can do a search for KEW-Alto to find a location near you. The company website has all the info on the various units, but the units of measure will need to be converted for easier reading:)

Dave
 
Maxima Lover said:
Realistically, how much am I looking at spending? I don't want to get too crazy, as I have already done so on what seems like everything else. I might end up with just an electric water pump for now if I can't get a PW for a decent price. :(
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For high end, piston pumps (those with ceramic plungers, heat treated cranks, stainless valves & piston guides) mated to a Honda GX motor, be prepared to spend $800-1000+. There are less expensive units designed for lighter (home) duty. For me though, this is literally the heart of the operation -- this is one area where reliability & longevity is of the utmost concern (my last pump lasted 14+ years without any problems until it was stolen).

If your plan, however, calls for short term gains, an inexpensive electric unit will probably be better suited.
 
dr_detail said:
For high end, piston pumps (those with ceramic plungers, heat treated cranks, stainless valves & piston guides) mated to a Honda GX motor, be prepared to spend $800-1000+. There are less expensive units designed for lighter (home) duty. For me though, this is literally the heart of the operation -- this is one area where reliability & longevity is of the utmost concern (my last pump lasted 14+ years without any problems until it was stolen).

If your plan, however, calls for short term gains, an inexpensive electric unit will probably be better suited.
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I know I should do it the right way, but I'm a college student, so this won't determine if I eat or not. This business is more or less an investment to turn the money I have for college into more money for college. That's why I can't get to crazy with it.

I think I'm going to go take a look at the Craftsman Clean N Carry that Spilchy mentioned. That should be enough to get me going and if I make enough, I'll upgrade. Spilchy, on the Sears website it says it's on sale for $239, not $209. Am I missing something?
 
Maxima Lover said:
I know I should do it the right way, but I'm a college student, so this won't determine if I eat or not. This business is more or less an investment to turn the money I have for college into more money for college...
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One other thing to keep in mind is image -- I'm not sure how saturated your area is with detailers, but around here, image plays a big part. How others see us is a huge part of our sucess. Ask yourself; if I had an $80K+ vehicle would I be willing to entrust it to this person using off the shelf items?? Would you entrust your vehicle to that mechanic with the Husky tool box or the one with the Snap-On roll-away? I guess I might try to save a buck or three here or there and go with that lower priced person.

I also appoligize if I sound a little harsh here, but for me being single with kids my working does determine whether or not we eat!! It also pays things like the mortgage, utilities, and all the other costs involved with running a business -- like insurance, payroll & taxes. I'll add that I've been pushing towels around vehicles just shy of twenty years now and can see the oppertunity you have laid out in front of you and it somewhat rips me apart to see it shrugged off as ho-hum. If this location is as you described, there is no reason it couldn't easily do $10K per month. And, with a little dilligance over a couple of years be duplicated into other structures, or sold for a healthy profit. Just my 2¢ though -- take what you like, leave the rest :)
 
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Whatever model you end up getting, make sure to keep the receipt! I had to return the 1400psi karcher I got twice. The first time, because it wouldn't even turn on, and the second time because it had less pressure than my hose puts out with the fireman's nozzle.
 
Maxima Lover said:
I know I should do it the right way, but I'm a college student, so this won't determine if I eat or not. This business is more or less an investment to turn the money I have for college into more money for college. That's why I can't get to crazy with it.

I think I'm going to go take a look at the Craftsman Clean N Carry that Spilchy mentioned. That should be enough to get me going and if I make enough, I'll upgrade. Spilchy, on the Sears website it says it's on sale for $239, not $209. Am I missing something?
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Whatever one you get, you shoudl still get the valve to by pass it back to the tank..
 
dr_detail said:
I also appoligize if I sound a little harsh here, but for me being single with kids my working does determine whether or not we eat!! It also pays things like the mortgage, utilities, and all the other costs involved with running a business -- like insurance, payroll & taxes.
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I understand. I wasn't trying to imply anything about eating or not. I was just telling you the situation I was in. I do realize that there are people (such as yourself) where spending high dollar for a PW that will last 14+ years makes sense and is a necessity. I do hope to build up to that point, that's just not right now though.

dr_detail said:
I'll add that I've been pushing towels around vehicles just shy of twenty years now and can see the oppertunity you have laid out in front of you and it somewhat rips me apart to see it shrugged off as ho-hum.
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What exactly do you mean by this?

dr_detail said:
If this location is as you described, there is no reason it couldn't easily do $10K per month. And, with a little dilligance over a couple of years be duplicated into other structures, or sold for a healthy profit. Just my 2¢ though -- take what you like, leave the rest[/i] :)
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Are you referring to my other thread about the office complex? The only way I see doing $10,000 per month is if I worked 7 days a week at 12 hours per day. And that's with perfect weather and assuming I could get everything scheduled flawlessly.
 
I just picked up the Craftsman Clean N' Carry (4.0 Briggs and Stratton engine, 2050PSI, 1.9G/M) today. I just went to look what they had. They had one that had been returned without the box and had it marked down. Everything was rapped up and included. Regular price on it was $269 and I got this one for $180. I then got $15 off for opening a Sears credit card. So that pretty much took care of the taxes.

Got it home and it was raining, but I still had to try it out a little. Here is a picture from our deck that has never been cleaned or sealed since it was built 19 years ago. I had the 15 degree tip on when I did this. I'm happy enough for now.

p70600237he.jpg
 
TrueDetailer said:
Whatever one you get, you shoudl still get the valve to by pass it back to the tank..
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True, the one I got says it has an "Automatic Cool Down System (Thermal Relief)". It explains it as, "If you run the engine on your pressure washer for 3-5 minutes without pressing the trigger on the spray gun, circulating water in the pump can reach temperatures above 125 degrees F. The system engages to cool the pump by discharging the warm water onto the ground."

Do I still need the vavle you are talking about, or could I just run a hose from where it discharges back to the tank?
 
Maxima Lover said:
True, the one I got says it has an "Automatic Cool Down System (Thermal Relief)". It explains it as, "If you run the engine on your pressure washer for 3-5 minutes without pressing the trigger on the spray gun, circulating water in the pump can reach temperatures above 125 degrees F. The system engages to cool the pump by discharging the warm water onto the ground."

Do I still need the vavle you are talking about, or could I just run a hose from where it discharges back to the tank?
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I've never worked with a pressure washer that has a automatic cool down system. I wouldn't trust it to much by what you said it does.

3-5 minutes is way to much time IMO to let a pump run without pulling the trigger even if it releases a small amout of water. I can leave my pressure washer running for hours at a time if i wanted. It is constantly recirculating the water back into the tank, Not just when the pump heats up. I can only guess that after a few times of it heating up and discarging that it will burn up. If it were me i would play it safe and get the parts needed to bypass it back to the tank.

What kind of pump does it have anyways? If i recall correctly the craftsman PW don't run Cat pumps. Which might make it hard to bypass the water. Not all downloaders are the same and it can cost alot more to do. You should post a few pics of it.
 
Here is a picture of the bottom.
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Apparently the time doesn't matter, it just discharges once it reaches 125-155 degrees. It says, "This system prevents internal pump damage."
 
Maxima Lover said:
... I do hope to build up to that point, that's just not right now though.
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I hope you do too and I wish you the best of luck.

Maxima Lover said:
What exactly do you mean by this?
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Exactly what it says -- for close to twenty years now I have been pushing towels around vehicles; some laden with polish, others glazes, some waxes, some cleaners. I've also seen many a people come and go.

Maxima Lover said:
Are you referring to my other thread about the office complex? The only way I see doing $10,000 per month is if I worked 7 days a week at 12 hours per day. And that's with perfect weather and assuming I could get everything scheduled flawlessly.
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I don't know the traffic or size of this structure you are toying with. I do know however, from experience, that in a captive place (such as a parking structure) 10-15 washes per day on a 5 day week is not a difficult task (would that be <1% of daily traffic?). Add too these up-sale items (like waxing and interiors) one can easily see how the #'s will add up. Of course working smarter not harder will become your best asset, and a well laid out plan will ensure focus. I also know funding can be an issue, but a contract from the property management/owner certainly will ease the process.

Once again, good luck and keep us all posted as to what transpires -- there are many here willing to help :)
 
Maxima Lover said:
I just picked up the Craftsman Clean N' Carry (4.0 Briggs and Stratton engine, 2050PSI, 1.9G/M) today.
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Congrats! That's the one I was thinking about getting this weekend when I mentioned it in my previous posting! How funny you got it because I e-mailed Briggs about the issue we have been dicussing - pressure buildup from not depressing the trigger every 30 seconds. I'll post the response.

Glad you got. Your experience will be the judge of whether I get it for weekend use.

How easy is it to carry around at 40 pounds? I was thinking of putting it on a dolly to wheel around the car.
 
I Have A 4000 Psi With A Chmeral Pump, You Guys May Think I Am Carzy. But On My Washer Can Regulate My Pruresure.the Reson I Got Something That Powrful Is That When Iam Slow By Chance I Can Do Driveways,and Houses.so If You Get A High Psi Unit Just Make Sure Yuo Can Regulate The Machine,gives You More Oppurtintys Do More With It
 
Spilchy said:
Congrats! That's the one I was thinking about getting this weekend when I mentioned it in my previous posting! How funny you got it because I e-mailed Briggs about the issue we have been dicussing - pressure buildup from not depressing the trigger every 30 seconds. I'll post the response.

Glad you got. Your experience will be the judge of whether I get it for weekend use.

How easy is it to carry around at 40 pounds? I was thinking of putting it on a dolly to wheel around the car.
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Great, please let me know how they respond.

It definitly isn't the easiest thing to carry because when carrying it at your side, trying not to let it smack your knee, it puts a lot of weight away from your body. I found this out after carrying it out of the Sears store, through the mall, and to the back of the mall parking lot. Mine is going to be mounted, so I didn't want a cart for it to take up a lot of room.

When moving it around your yard (at least mine) there are spots that a cart wouldn't fit through (cars in the driveway and such). In cases like these, if you had a cart you would have to roll around the object and run out of hose quickly. So overall I think as long as it's not going a long distance, you could just carry it. I have 50' of pressure washer hose, so that will help.

One thing I didn't expect is how quick it went through gas, but I'm sure all gas pressure washers are like this. I filled the gas tank up about half way and I was out in about 15 minutes. It could have been longer and I was just having to much fun to really knowtice. I'll time it today though.

I'm going out right now to use it on some stuff around the house.
 
Thanks for the observations.

What are you doing about storing the 50' of hose? Is there a way to mount a hose reel to the carrying handle??

Did you experience the blow off of built up pressure yet from the relief valve?

I think I'm going to buy it and put it on a dolly where I can mount a hose reel so I have this portable little pressure washer to push around my driveway. I have plenty of room for storage and maneuvarability.

Here is the dolly (general idea, they make them larger). Maybe I'll put on a coat of polyurethane or two: http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_18574_18574

My father felt bad about my electric PW kicking out (my birthday present) so he said he'd give me a $100 towards the little Crafstman.
 
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