Safest possible way to wash & dry a car???

David Fermani- OK, I suspect that the potencyof the PW might be the big factor here. I asked about the "filthy vehicle.." thing as, well....I just wonder why it's so [darn] challenging for me! Every now and then I find an isolated scratch (fortunately they've been on the old Audi, unfortunately that one's paint can't be corrected any more) and I wonder just how the [flip] that could've possibly happened.

I've posted how I got a *really* cheap PW for Christmas, and it's working out great for me. BUT...the same lack of power that allows me to use it on fragile areas and to avoid getting misty overspray all over the shop does limit how effective it is. Or at least that's my perception; I'm still afraid that if I slack off I'll get marring so I've resigned myself to just staying in the deep end. Man, I get gritty dirt seeping out of certain panel gaps for a long, long time.

Heh heh, I mean...I'm just *so* careful about this stuff, but now and then I still get that isolated scratch. Frustrating...but eh, I can't really obsess over it as most of our vehicles just get used *as vehicles*; dogs, kids, elderly friends, autox cones...well, [stuff] happens.
 
David,

Do you pressure wash inside the garage? If so, what is your method of avoiding overspray on walls and such.
 
David Fermani- Yeah...I can see I need to clarify:

Just this winter I started using a (*cheap* and weak) pressure washer for the pre-rinse before the BHB/foamgun, and yeah it does make a huge difference.

Works much better (or is at least a lot more convenient) than what I used before- a siphon-feed sprayer that hooks up to the air compressor.

With the moderate output of this pw, I can avoid the misty overspray issue pretty well if I go about it right (watch where you aim that thing!), but right now the shop's not too crowded what with the Jag being off at my pal's shop. Add another car to the place and, well....we'll see.
 
You might also want to consider an upgrade in the future? A more powerful electric that offers an adjustable pressure regulator. Then, a sprayer gun with a very short wand with a wide spray bar. It might help contain the overspray better.
 
David Fermani- Yeah, I do sometimes miss having a potent pw, but maybe not enough to spend four figures, and the more affordable ones never lasted long for me. Some of my Karcher attachments *were* very handy, no question...might cobble up some adaptors some time.

This cheapie works *so* well for what I'm doing with it that for now I'm satisfied. Less risk of marring, and I might've even shaved a few minutes off the whole thing. And the ability to merely DI-rinse the FK1000Ped vehicles (when that'll suffice) is just great.

Heh heh, this PW and the IUDJ are two tweaks to my wash regimen within 12 months; first significant changes since forever, but further evidence that it pays to keep thinking about how to improve.
 
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