Power Washers?

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AjNavo61490

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Im kinda looking at getting an electric pressure washer sometime in the near future. How much PSI would yall suggest? I see 1700 PSI pressure washers for like $70-80 shipped on ebay... are those good or junk? How much will i get a decent one at a near-by Lowe's or Home Depot?

Input would be great. Thanks
 
I bought a Karcher at Lowe's for $160ish I believe. It's the 1800 psi model. I really like it, it'd be nice to have a little more oomph from time to time but not bad at all. I'd be wary of any pressure washer that was that cheap, you get what you pay for!
 
AjNavo61490 said:
Im kinda looking at getting an electric pressure washer sometime in the near future. How much PSI would yall suggest? I see 1700 PSI pressure washers for like $70-80 shipped on ebay... are those good or junk? How much will i get a decent one at a near-by Lowe's or Home Depot?

Input would be great. Thanks
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what brand pressure washer are you seeing at that price?
 
I bought a Karcher several years ago thats 2000psi. Karcher seems to be one of the big names in power washers and mine still works fine after at least
five years. Caution should be used when using on a car, high pressure can
do damage paint real easy and when doing wheel wells be careful by brake lines etc. . Good luck with your hunt for a washer and like was said before
cheap isn't always good.
 
I have been thinking about buying a electric pressure washer as well. What PSI would be safe to use on a car? My car usually only needs the dust washed off so I thought a pressure washer might be a big help to kind of wisk away the dust/light dirt before washing.
 
If you put 1,700+ psi right up to the paint and hold it there for 1 second, it will take the paint right off.
 
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If your not carefull with one of these things, you can kiss your paint goodbye
sadwavey.gif
 
well that one is 1500 PSI... and im not planning to hold it right up to the paint for an extended period of time. So, i think its pretty safe ;)
 
I've heard that a PW can scratch the paint by "dragging" dirt across the paint at that pressure.
 
Fly bye said:
If you put 1,700+ psi right up to the paint and hold it there for 1 second, it will take the paint right off.
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Dude I think the nozzle has a lot to do with doing any damage to the paint on a car. I have a 3000 psi gas powered pressure washer that I use but with the nozzle I have I can hold it right to the paint for minutes on end and do absolutely no damage to the paint. Now if I use one of my other nozzles on the wand yes I would be able to peel paint right off. Certain nozzles diffuse the spray pattern in different ways making a 3000 psi pressure perfectly safe on a vehicle. My pressure washer came with 4 different nozzles and I use the most delicate one for my cars. Don't be afraid to use a PW on your car if you use the correct nozzle.
 
wolfpacker92 said:
I have a 3000 psi gas powered pressure washer that I use but with the nozzle I have I can hold it right to the paint for minutes on end and do absolutely no damage to the paint.
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Care to show a demonstration on video?



wolfpacker92 said:
Certain nozzles diffuse the spray pattern in different ways making a 3000 psi pressure perfectly safe on a vehicle.
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No matter how ya slice it, 3000 psi is 3000 psi no matter what the spray pattern. If you place a 3000 psi nozzle right up to the paint for more than several seconds, the paint will come off.

The nozzle that you are using, due to the spray pattern, does not have 3000 psi coming out of it.
 
lethalxls1 said:
Ok-I think I will stick with my garden hose and fire nozzel!
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If you keep the high pressure spray a minimum of 2 feet away, and keep the spray moving slowly at least, it won't hurt a thing.
 
Fly bye said:
If you keep the high pressure spray a minimum of 2 feet away, and keep the spray moving slowly at least, it won't hurt a thing.
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Yeah-I mean how much pressure does a do it yourself car wash have? (estimated) I have used those for many years with no issues. I think I am going to get one after the holidays.
 
Fly bye said:
The nozzle that you are using, due to the spray pattern, does not have 3000 psi coming out of it.
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EXACTLY, just because you have a 3000 psi pressure washer does not mean that you ALWAYS CONSTANTLY have 3000 pounds of pressure per square inch coming out of the wand. There are tons and I mean tons of detailers on here who use a pressure washer and I haven't seen nor heard of an instance yet where one peeled the paint off a car. Just because your pressure washer is rated a certain psi does not mean that's all it will do. And if it will give you a warm fuzzy feeling I'll get a video this weekend and upload it for ya.
 
:iagree: with Wolfpacker. You've got enough control over a powerful pressure washer if you use common sense, the proper nozzle, safe distance.
 
wolfpacker92 said:
EXACTLY, just because you have a 3000 psi pressure washer does not mean that you ALWAYS CONSTANTLY have 3000 pounds of pressure per square inch coming out of the wand. There are tons and I mean tons of detailers on here who use a pressure washer and I haven't seen nor heard of an instance yet where one peeled the paint off a car. Just because your pressure washer is rated a certain psi does not mean that's all it will do. And if it will give you a warm fuzzy feeling I'll get a video this weekend and upload it for ya.
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:iagree::whs::iagree::whs:

just cause your rotary has a 3000rpm setting do you use it? i hope not. you use lower settings. it is the same thing with PW's i cant believe i am gonna say this but here it goes. just cause you got all that power dont mean you have to always use it. the p.s.i. ratings on PW's are their max. not their only p.s.i. they will do but the max they will do.



p.s. if he gets a warm fuzzy feeling from a video of someone using a pressure washer he is on the WRONG forum.
 
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