…I bought this afternoon –
sold a sprayer I don’t use and want to turn it into a pressure washer and an overhaul kit for a tractor – –
went to the local TSC and bought their B&S 7 hp 2900 lb 2.5 gal pressure washer – $459 – “Americas Best Value”, said so right on the sign – –
the good one is $800 – ouch – 9 hp yada, yada – – pump twice the size (physically) adjustable pressure, 50′ of better hose instead of 25′ of lesser –
I’m not in the business, just want to keep the equipment clean(er) – I don’t even want to tackle that overhaul without blasting the top layers off – not sure what else I’ll use it for, but I’ll bet there are plenty of things that will come up –
Oh Wizards of Breaktime: am I gonna be happy with “Americas best value”? or do I need to ‘invest’ in the better unit?
not gonna take it out of the truck tonight while I consider…but want to use a pressure washer tomorrow…
Replies
Well I dont know that unit specifically, but you have enough punch to do any residential work, even if you were in the business. The 3000 range gets you into washing commercial buildings.
Sometimes to much pressure can be a bad thing, although the other unit you can turn down. I dont know that springing for the other would be worth it.
-zen
you will probably find that a 25' hose is a little short,can't hardly get around a car.it will probably be ok, but tsc is really good about if you don't like it they will exchange or even refund.so start cleaning!eveybody always looks at pressure ratings ,the gal per minute is just as important. larry
hand me the chainsaw, i need to trim the casing just a hair.
I think you're gonna find that 2900PSI is too much power for most jobs you encounter. Unless you're tryin' to bore holes in concrete anyway. And it sounds like this unit isn't adjustable either.
Most powerful pressure washer I own is 1500 PSI 4 G/M Honda gas engine and it works fine for cleaning goo off machinery and is controllable with the right nozzle (15 - 25 degree) for deck cleaning too.
I've rented 2500 and 3500 units a few times. Too destructive for most jobs and fatiguing also. More is not always better I learned.
I guess I'd personally see if they have something in that 1500 range cause I think it would serve you better regarding the various jobs you'd face in the future. 2900 is too much for decks, etc.
Spray a couple cans of engine degreaser (or even dishwashing detergent) on your overhaul if it's really groady, let soak for a half hour and then have at it.
Just my two cents.
Knowledge is power, but only if applied in a timely fashion.
Edited 4/19/2005 11:42 pm ET by GOLDHILLER
The power range is always adjustable with a gas powered unit, Just lower the throttle.
I have a unit with roughly the same specs except with a 5.5 HP Honda. Gotta love those Honda engines... Other than that, in contrast to the previous poster, I find it marginally adequate. I'm happy with it but not thrilled. Does most things OK - too much pressure - just hold the nosil a little further from the surface being cleaned. Start cleaning several hundred sq ft of concrete, and more power is better though - unless you have about a half a day to "invest". I'm not "in the business" but have taken it to work a few times to spruce up a house or a deck and the like... Other than that, use it for cleaning my own house, concrete, pool areas, occasionally on the cars... Gotta be careful when using them around wood - it's easy to cause damage.
One thing anyone has gotta understand about a pressure washer - it is never gonna completely replace a brush and some good old fashion elbow grease. For example, I think most of has been to a self service spray-off car wash with the wand, or "touchless" (automatic spray-off) car wash and noticed that a dirty film was still left on the car.
Edited 4/20/2005 6:03 am ET by DIRISHINME
thanks guys, - - 'bout what I expected - 'nother $350 for capability (hose length) and versatility (pressure adjustment) - - the Briggs and Stratton doesn't scare me much - looked at Northern Equipment and a couple of other places and there is little $ to be saved over what is offered locally at the various specifcation levels -
gotta wonder about the specs - - kinda reminds me of the shop vac numbers - thinking there may be only modest corrolation to reality...
"there's enough for everyone"
re read posts and keep what you have
you ca buy more hose and you should
pressure ( you have plenty ) adjusted by proximity to object spraying and degrees of tip
elbow grease an ingredient of any cleaning and soap helps at times
"gotta wonder about the specs - - kinda reminds me of the shop vac numbers - thinking there may be only modest corrolation to reality..."You just said a mouthful there. I've used several PW units rated as 1200 psi that couldn't have possibly produced more than 400. A joke really. All of those were "off-brand" stuff purchased at a big box or similar and I used 'em when they were virtually or actually new. Take 'em back and get your money was my advice to the not so happy new owners of same.Knowledge is power, but only if applied in a timely fashion.
more is better... JMHO belt drive pump... (cat pump/honda motor) 9hp min... i prefer 11-13hp... if it's belt drive chances are it will be ok.... if it won't take ur skin off ... u don't need it... what good is a tool that won't hurt you? if you get a good one (honda power red honda not black honda) you'll love it forever and thats how long it'll last
pony
Yeah, when I need a pressure washer I go down and rent the 11hp 3000psi(?) red honda, it's sure a good one, but would prob cost an arm and a leg to buy.
Thanks for starting this thread David.
I'm looking to buy one too...I can't imagine too much power but I can imagine to short a hose.
I know from the ones I've rented all you need to do is use the right nozzle and stand closer or further back....right?
Be blasted : )
a...The secret of Zen in two words is, "Not always so"!
When we meet, we say, Namaste'..it means..
I honor the place in you where the entire universe resides,
I honor the place in you of love, of light, of truth, of peace.
I honor the place within you where if you are in that place in you
and I am in that place in me, there is only one of us.
Buyer's remorse is such a terrible disease.
Here's the cure -
Use it
Step back and admire the clean.
BTW, I know nothing about these things other than not to use them for paint prep, but nine horses sounds like a lot. I doubt my house well pump could keep up with that.
Welcome to the
Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime.
where ...
Excellence is its own reward!
Cleaning power is a combination of psi and gpm Depends on how much and how long you will use it. Smaller less exp models dont hold up all that well if you are going to run them for hours at a time.
A 1500 psi 3.5 gpm has more power than a 2000 2.5.
Chk out http://www.paintstore.com and seach for articles
OK, well... after consecrating rele hard, I took 'America's Greatest Value' back and bought the 9 horse - - just decided the best was none too good (and of course this one is not 'the best', been looking at $3-5K online...) -
built a little box pallet for it so I can move it around with the forklifts - ran thru the checklists - engine information is in 10 different languages, originally in Swahili, then babblefished to the others, but don't worry, there's pictures (drawings) - wasn't too bad, except for fuel shutoff instructions - almost got mad...set up three pieces of equipment and blasted the hell out of them - thinking that things like wheel bearing seals are not gonna keep this water out - - I looked like the soggy 'salt and pepper' man when I quit - medium sized hunks of grease and whatever all over me -
took all the cush out of the budget, gotta get that tractor overhaul underway before I spend the rest of the $ on inconsequentials - like property taxes and things like that...
thanks to everyone
"there's enough for everyone"
If you're looking to clean any kind of heavy equipment it will be much too small. Pressure is only half the equation. Water volume is just as important. 10,000 PSI at 1 gallon a minute won't remove much dirt. 1,000 PSI and 10 gallons a minute will wash the bricks off your wall. You can't get more than about 3,000 PSI from a 10 horse engine and you'll usually get about 5 gallons of water a minute. A machine that size is about the minimum for easy cleaning of heavy equipment and it's going to cost you about $1,000.00. Get a Honda engine. Don't let the pressure scare you. The 3000 PSI is only at the tip, move out 1 foot and the pressure drops to about 1,000. If you want to really get the job done quickly you'll have to move up to a commercial unit and have a water source that will supply it with 10 to 15 gallons a minute.