Undercarriage Washer Attachment!!!

Accumulator said:
IF I ever figure out some "curtain" arrangement for my wash area and get a pressure washer, I'll be giving some thought to just which approach is right for me :think:



But that's a big "if"; my need for a curtain to control overspray is a bit of a challenge, in part because of the shop's cathedral ceiling.
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I was looking into these after seeing them at SEMA a few years ago. I'm not sure if they have what your looking for, but it might give you some ideas to think about.



Wash Bay Curtains | Curtain Walls | Goff's Curtain Walls







JuneBug said:
Call me lazy, but why not just go to the touchless wash and drive slow over their under car wash thing when you drive in? It's 5 bucks and cleans the snot outta your car and is a decent prep for polishing. I do this whenever we get that S word in the forecast and NC DOT sprays salt brine on every road, then it rains (surprise surprise!) so you get salty water up your car's butt all the way home.
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In my area, a lot of the automatic washes are required to recycle their water. I'm assuming they don't have a way to filter out all the salt from all the cars prior to me going in, so I would guess that everyone gets a high pressure salt rinse?



I'm not an expert on automatic washes, but it is just a concern that I have.



Randy
 
Just buy a floor scrubber attachment for a power washer for $50. Turn it upside down and throw some wheels on it. I just saved you $600 bucks :)
 
Highrev1 said:
Just buy a floor scrubber attachment for a power washer for $50. Turn it upside down and throw some wheels on it. I just saved you $600 bucks :)
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The spray nozzle angle isn't always right, even when the wheels will mount that way. I've tried flipping over (garden hose-fed) water brooms and it didn't work out.



ZimRandy said:
I was looking into these after seeing them at SEMA a few years ago. I'm not sure if they have what your looking for, but it might give you some ideas to think about...
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Thanks for posting that, I appreciate it.



Yeah, that kindof thing is one of the options I looked into the last time I was thinking about doing this. I sorta need a less-is-more approach though, so it doesn't become a, uhm...significant/permanent feature of the shop. I'm actually thinking that a "cheap, half-@$$ed version of that" is more what I'm after, something with the curtain on a cable, that could be taken down if desired :think:



I'm gonna look over your link more carefully when I have time, maybe they do have something that'll work, or at least give me more food for thought. Thanks again.
 
Ubryaj said:
I'd like one of these for a regular hose too. But $400 is tough to swallow for the Waterbroom...
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Yeah, makes you think of stuff like...PVC piping, spray nozzles (maybe some replacement parts from American Water Broom, hint hint), a set of casters, and figuring out how to DIY it, huh?



OTOH, when I think back to twenty-some years' worth of use, the $400 amortizes pretty well. Just used it again yesterday!



But I guess that's easy to say if you have the $400 to start with, tough to justify if you don't.
 
ZimRandy said:
In my area, a lot of the automatic washes are required to recycle their water. I'm assuming they don't have a way to filter out all the salt from all the cars prior to me going in, so I would guess that everyone gets a high pressure salt rinse?



I'm not an expert on automatic washes, but it is just a concern that I have.



Randy
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Valid concern, but I'm pretty sure that recycled water is only used in the pre-wash/wash steps of car washes. They only use 100% clean/new for the rinsing duties.



Here's some info on car wash reclaim systems:

Water Reclaim Systems Overview
 
Looks like the PRI cleaner is the best choice for power washer use. I'm planning to make the switch to a power washer and foam cannon for washing so it may make sense to get one. Still wish we could find a cheaper alternative for use with a regular hose.
 
I'm new to detailing and in the learning process. However, I currently do pressure washing so have some resources there... here's one of them that fit this thread: http://www.envirospec.com/ecatalog/POLY-DECKS.htm#POLY-DECKS&P-SWEEPS and here's a picture (uh, after I tell you it is $59)... Okay, now here is the picture:... well, shoot, I don't know how to upload a picture to this post. There's a picture on the page above. Tell them Davy Crockett sent you (John, the owner will get a kick out of it). Also, listen to the hold music (talking) if you call - it's really funny.
 
DCOutdoors- Welcome to Autopia!





Hmm...wonder how that undercar wand compared with the one David Fermani linked to back on page one of this thread :think:



Isn't it something how the ones for a pressure washer are so much cheaper than the ones for a garden hose?!?
 
Accumulator said:
DCOutdoors- Welcome to Autopia!





Hmm...wonder how that undercar wand compared with the one David Fermani linked to back on page one of this thread :think:



Isn't it something how the ones for a pressure washer are so much cheaper than the ones for a garden hose?!?
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I guess they figure you spent all of your money on the pressure washer! I haven't used this but figure once I know what the heck I am doing, I will see if there is a logical fit. I already have the pressure washer so I might as well. I do know the quality of EnviroSpec so would trust them completely (I actually got my pressure washer from them along with chemicals and other stuff) ("stuff"... a technical term in the industry).
 
Accumulator said:
DCOutdoors- Welcome to Autopia!





Hmm...wonder how that undercar wand compared with the one David Fermani linked to back on page one of this thread :think:



Isn't it something how the ones for a pressure washer are so much cheaper than the ones for a garden hose?!?
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Seems like the same one. Good to know that there is more then 1 options for these tools. I think every detailers should have one!
 
David Fermani said:
..I think every detailers should have one!
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Yeah, if everybody put as much importance in the condition of their undercarriages as they do the paint on their hoods....



Just the other day I spotted a *tiny* coolant leak on the beater-Tahoe. Had things not been tidy down there I never would've noticed until it was leaving puddles or worse (like a hundred miles from home). Previous undercar discovery was the first sign of a bad pinion seal on one of the Audis; same thing, only noticed it because everything's spotless.
 
Good point. Anyone offering engine cleaning should also have one of these tools in their arsenal as well. It could be a very powerful marketing tool as you'd be guaranteed to be the only one offering both an upper and lower engine flush option. I can see it now......we're gonna start seeing detailers posting shots of these undercarriage washers in their Click N Brags....:)
 
Along those lines, they have some very good degreasers and soaps as well that will go nicely through the undercarriage broom. I guess if they can clean over-the-road trucks they can clean a car's underside! Ha, I sound like a commercial for EnviroSpec... I don't work for them; I promise!
 
David Fermani said:
I can see it now......we're gonna start seeing detailers posting shots of these undercarriage washers in their Click N Brags....:)
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Well, I did just have a guy ask me about applying Opti-Coat to the undercarriage of his BRZ.... :fear:
 
C. Charles Hahn said:
Well, I did just have a guy ask me about applying Opti-Coat to the undercarriage of his BRZ....
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I'd thought about doing that, but I got stumped by the "how to redo it after a while"-issue. Noting that I LSp the undersides of certain vehicles, I ended up deciding that coating stuff down there just wasn't gonna make my life better.



Maybe the BRZ guy isn't gonna keep the car forever...I'm thinking very long-term and I like products that simply "die off cleanly", which I'm not sure OptiCoat would do. Spraying it on inaccessible areas worries me....
 
I cant imagine having to go back to that, David :-(. I used to run hot water through the hose to rinse se everything off when I lived back north and more often than not had to contend with a driveway suitable for ice skating as a result, LOL.



That tool has got to be a godsend for brutal winters.
 
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