Hi all, I need advice a steam cleaner. I had a bissell steam shot which did great for the $35 I paid for it, but it broke and now I'm looking for something more powerful. I'm hoping to spend somewhere around $100 and currently considering the Wagner 915 and the McCulloch MC-1275. Can anyone recommend either of these two over the other, or have a suggestion for a different machine? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!
Budget Steamer
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HateSwirls
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- Jun 24, 2013
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I've had my McCulloch steamer now going on three years now I guess and not once did it fail me.
Bought it at HF for $125.00 if my memory is correct.
Bought it at HF for $125.00 if my memory is correct.
ABHernandez
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- Nov 27, 2013
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Look into the Steamfast SF-274. I believe it is made by the same people as McCulloch. I got it on Amazon for about $80 last week. Done two interiors with it so far and I was pleased with the results.
pointillistic_practitioner
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- Jul 12, 2011
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Have the MC. Takes awhile to heat up. I use it for glass cleaning only bc that attachment works well (and it really does do a good job of that...no streaks) but otherwise, you may be dissatisfied with the steam output...tends to get too cold and steam isn't powerful enough for my liking when you have any attachment on it. If I could do it again, I would've saved my $100 and waited awhile longer to invest in a vx5000 or comparable machine, and done without the steamer for the time being. Just my opinion.
Legacykid
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- Sep 4, 2013
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I was about to post this last night, glad others have cheaper ones that work. i tried a cheap 30 buck one i use on my shirts it worked wonders.
only problem is its about 3 oz of water so im refilling all the time and since the water part is connected it had to be full in order to use it on horizontal surfaces
whats everyones take on a pin tip and a flat tip? i used mine which is flat and it was very easy. seems easier than with a pin tip.
only problem is its about 3 oz of water so im refilling all the time and since the water part is connected it had to be full in order to use it on horizontal surfaces
whats everyones take on a pin tip and a flat tip? i used mine which is flat and it was very easy. seems easier than with a pin tip.
I have had the McCulloch one for maybe 2ish years.
Love it for what it is: I don't do this for a living so it's perfect for me and would imagine you would want to save your money for a 'pro'-commercial grade one if you work on a lot of cars monthly.
I use it around the house a ton as well.
Love it for what it is: I don't do this for a living so it's perfect for me and would imagine you would want to save your money for a 'pro'-commercial grade one if you work on a lot of cars monthly.
I use it around the house a ton as well.
Andr3wilson
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- May 16, 2012
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Vapamore is a great buy!
AutowerxDetailing
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- Apr 10, 2012
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I've had several of the cheaper ones and initially thought they were great. In fact I still have a McCulloch version that I use on almost every interior job.
The problem with the cheaper ones from Steamfast and McCulloch is that if ANYTHING breaks you can't repair it. They simply DON'T OFFER ANY REPLACEMENT PARTS other than the nozzles and extra attachments. Most recently the "trigger button" and "wand holder snap button" on the handheld wand broke to where they will no longer close (so steam is constantly coming out of the tip). I contacted Steamfast and they do not sell these parts. You simply have to purchase a new unit. These pieces are relatively flimsy ones you take it apart to see how they're constructed. Needless to say as soon as my current steamer goes out I'm upgrading to a pro-grade model with parts you can actually replace.
The problem with the cheaper ones from Steamfast and McCulloch is that if ANYTHING breaks you can't repair it. They simply DON'T OFFER ANY REPLACEMENT PARTS other than the nozzles and extra attachments. Most recently the "trigger button" and "wand holder snap button" on the handheld wand broke to where they will no longer close (so steam is constantly coming out of the tip). I contacted Steamfast and they do not sell these parts. You simply have to purchase a new unit. These pieces are relatively flimsy ones you take it apart to see how they're constructed. Needless to say as soon as my current steamer goes out I'm upgrading to a pro-grade model with parts you can actually replace.
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rattlerskin
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- Oct 25, 2013
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All of these posts raise great points. I have had a McCulloch 1275 for about three years and although it's not a pro model, it does what I need it to do. I use it on nearly every interior job I do, which has been about one every two months. I do this on the side, so it's perfect for what I need and it only cost me $75 on Amazon. I find it perfect for removing cigarette smells; I'll wrap a MF towel over the large triangle attachment, spray stuff down with some Multistar and go to town. I love it, but just remember the fact that it's not pro-grade by any stretch of the imagination.
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Sent from my DROID RAZR HD using Tapatalk
pointillistic_practitioner
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- Jul 12, 2011
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On a sidenote:
1) even with low steam output, it is useful for door, trunk and engine jambs,
2) The MC can sort of be used as a replacement for an air compressor for blowing out crumbs (provided they're not sticky/melty in which case the steamer would melt them into your/owner's carpeting),
3) I used mine to remove old, peeling window tint from an 80something jeep renegade. I don't know what I would've done had I not had the steamer...sprayed some windex under the tint, let it sit, and used the steamer from the center outwards. Worked wonders.
4) Can help in the breaking up/agitation of spots in carpeting
5) thought it would be good for alloy wheels....alas, not.
Overall, for me, a Type A personality, the steamer takes far too long to heat up, sputters sometimes leaving annoying wet marks (even tho I use distilled water) and is more cumbersome to carry around the car with extra wires etc (I have gravel driveway tho) Add that it't not too powerful and my feelings towards it are lukewarm. HOWEVER, that being said, for $100, from a "bang-for-buck" rather than wholly qualitative standpoint, the MC is a pretty good deal, if you're willing to compromise a bit, and can be useful. Whether or not the +s outweigh the -s for the cost is a personal call! P.S. - Look for Harbor Freight 20% off coupons online/in car magazines too. Hope this helps.
