Anyone debate buying vs renting a pressure washer?

[sixdogs]

Checking back in on this, I'm the OP and have used that pressure washer I bought about 10 times. I love the extra pressure but you have to be careful because you can blow decals right off. I since learned how to turn down the pressure. I cleaned concrete in minutes rather than longer, cleaned the shed siding in moments and blew most all of the loose paint and scale on an implement I was prepping for paint. A use I never intended is now one that I do the most. Point is buy a pressure washer and as the man says pony up with a Honda commercial motor and AT pump, preferably with a bypass hose. Then, never ever lend it out.

 

[sixdogs]

Uhhh, additional update here. You have to be careful with high pressure in the 3000 to 4000 range. Even with a wider tip you can blow the decals clean off an implement or tractor. So turn the pressure down or get a different tip when you are doing sensitive things that can be damaged. Not only did I blow off a couple of important decals, I can't even find them.

 

[Wagtail]

Uhhh, additional update here. You have to be careful with high pressure in the 3000 to 4000 range. Even with a wider tip you can blow the decals clean off an implement or tractor. So turn the pressure down or get a different tip when you are doing sensitive things that can be damaged. Not only did I blow off a couple of important decals, I can't even find them.

:laughing: Sounds like an episode of Tool Time from "Home Improvements".

More POWER!

 

[hslogger]

I have used big powerful pressure washers, and to tell ya the truth it is hard to use them if you don't wanna tear the hide off of what ever the surface is. I do pretty well with one of those semi disposable low pressure units. I don't tear the paint off the house, I can still clean concrete, and I can clean up what ever implements I have with out worry of just flooding the joints and bearings.

 

[MossRoad]

:laughing: Sounds like an episode of Tool Time from "Home Improvements".

More POWER!

 

[Code54]

They do a heck of a job - most the larger ones have a regulator on them that allows you to cut the pressure back, or you can move to a wider tip so you can clean a wider swipe at a lower pressure. Helps make cleaning decks, cars, lower pressure items, quickly. Glad to hear you are liking the new unit!

 

[sixdogs]

They do a heck of a job - most the larger ones have a regulator on them that allows you to cut the pressure back, or you can move to a wider tip so you can clean a wider swipe at a lower pressure. Helps make cleaning decks, cars, lower pressure items, quickly. Glad to hear you are liking the new unit!

Love the new unit and love the 4000 PSI now that I learned to dial it back. Cleaning the birdbath now takes 0.0005 seconds and the shed, that used to take 20 minutes takes maybe two minutes if I take a break. On the downside, I had to learn how to dial the pressure down. The small plastic water bucket for the dog went 50 feet at 4000 PSI.

Not sure if I posted it or not, but here's a plastic chair from many years in the barn that I was getting ready to toss out because I couldn't clean. Well, high PSI does. Just hang onto it and dial back a bit. Here's half done.







At the start I figured I would use a pressure washer once a year. Now I use it more than once a month and have a list of projects.

 

[Gary Fowler]

I dragged out my old 2001 model 2600 PSI pressure washer that I haven't started in a couple of years so I could clean my patio in prep of a new coating of waterseal. First though I decided to clean up my muddy lawnmower deck top and bottom which worked pretty good. I always store the pressure washer with the tank and carb dry and after filling the tank with gas, it started on the first pull. Many folks don't agree with storing a carb dry but this one is a good testament as to how to store gasoline engines.

I do wish I had 3600 or so PSI especially when cleaning concrete but it gets the job done, just slowly since I have to get close and only about an inch width at a time. I do like the wand which has an infinitely adjustable spray. I don't see those on the new models which require a tip change. All I have to do is twist the nozzle end to go from jet stream to fan spray.

I wouldn't recommend one of the cheap 1800 or so PSI electric ones to anyone. I had one and it quit working after a year or so, my brother in law has been thru 3 of them in the last 4 or 5 years and he doesn't use them that much. Yesterday one just blew up while in use. It was about 1 year old or less, I think she said it was under warranty.

I guess I will stick to my Simonize brand till it quits working.

 

[zin01]

I didn't read through all the posts but did anyone mention a PTO driven pressure washer? I have a good pressure washer but am looking at getting a gear attachment to take the 540 rpm rear to around 3600 rpm to match what the gas motor turns now.