Can one weld a Steel Hot Pressure Washer Coil?

[Industrial Toys]

Still waiting for a quote on the coil.

Some pics of the machine for context.





5HP, 240 Volt 1PH motor.

I don't have a lot of things on my "WANT" list, but this was one, so I just may go ahead with this.

 

[Industrial Toys]

Still waiting for a quote on the coil.

Some pics of the machine for context.

View attachment 629598

View attachment 629599 Anybody have any ideas what the lower yellow knob is for. It was suggested an unloader but playing with the thing and turning it this way or that had no effect.

View attachment 629600 5HP, 240 Volt 1PH motor.

I don't have a lot of things on my "WANT" list, but this was one, so I just may go ahead with this.

 

[Tractor Seabee]

View attachment 629283

View attachment 629284

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Maybe I shouldn't have gone nuts with the zip disk. But it seemed like I would not get that can off there without destroying it. At first I was sure the coils ended where the can began, but they go right to the end. It got to a point, where I just wanted to get it open to find the big hole!

If you are inclined to fix it you will need to get the inner coil pot of the way for inspection. Do that and pressurize the coils and put in a water bath. Ala there is the leak. From seeing where the cur off disc nicked the coil it looks like schd 40 pipe and it is in excellent condition on the interior. Your leak is undoubtedly from freezing. I doubt it has seen much use seeing the coil interior.

If I had gone as far as you have I would go the rst of the way and try to fix it.

Ron

 

[fried1765]

Can you weld it? Probably. Will it hold? That's questionable. Steam and pressure may have taken their toll over the years. You also have the potential for additional freeze damage. You may have sufficient safety guards in place but there is the time factor on how many times you want to tear this thing apart to fix it.

I can't figure out why so many here repeatedly refer to....... "steam and pressure"
There is ABSOLUTELY no steam, or steam pressure associated with a hot water washer.

 

[fried1765]

Still waiting for a quote on the coil.

Some pics of the machine for context.

View attachment 629598

View attachment 629599

View attachment 629600 5HP, 240 Volt 1PH motor.

I don't have a lot of things on my "WANT" list, but this was one, so I just may go ahead with this.

You will not be sorry.
That looks like a quality built machine.
I usually use my old "Hotsy" washer only once a year, but NOTHING else does the job as well....not even close!

 

[zzvyb6]

My first thought was "Buy a new one" until I saw what these coils cost. My next thought was to figure out if some other substitute heating coil could be made or found made out of thick ni-chrome wire..

Farley's Coilshop | WAP Coils

 

[Industrial Toys]

I just spend another good part of the day on it. Actually took the pump off and cleaned it. But more issues! There is no way, I can winterize this with RV antifreeze. There are a bunch of lines that see only pressure but no flow. The antifreeze will not get up these lines.

I have one heated storage room. But it's tiny and on the second floor in my barn. Getting this thing in there and finding room for it would be difficult at best. On the OTHER side of the coin. It would make more sense to heat that room if this machine was in there. I was going to keep my regular electric pressure washer in there until I realized how easy it was to protect it by simply running it and blowing compressed air thorugh it.

Building an insulated box with thermostat and low wattage heater would be an on-going expense. AND, I'd have to alarm it in case something failed. A lot of effort for something that might be great, but won't see a lot of use.

I do regret buggering up the old coil.

I like how some people call any hot water carpet cleaner a "STEAM" cleaner, lol

 

[zzvyb6]

So, run the washer using RV anti-freeze for a few minutes without the heater on. Or, put a Schrader valve on it and blow it out with air.

 

[Industrial Toys]

Can't. There are two bottles of solution with a selector switch and non of that can be purged easily. There is a line that goes to a pressure gauge on the panel. And there are just parts of the pump manifold, that get wet internally but have no flow.

 

[fried1765]

Agree with all that. I haven't found anything steel and weldable yet that I couldn't do a decent job on with an oxy-acetylene torch and a fine tip. With the flame I can taper the welded area and anneal around the edges in a way that TIG can't do. Having the right torch tip is critical. Here is one that I use a lot. It's basically a piece of thick wall copper tubing silver brazed into a welding tip. That gives me a nice size flame for material from less than 1/16" up to 1/8" thick and puts the flame right out where I can see it well.

Still, if I absolutely had to patch it, I'd probably weld it up and then spend some time making a patch that fit very exactly so that I could add a patch silver-brazed right on top of the welded area. Even if it all went right, that's a lot of unknown and delicate work for $700.

Bottom line is that for $700 after 30 years service I'd just buy a new one, if available.
rScotty

"I'd just buy a new one if available"

Easy-Clean, electric motor, 4000psi., only $3299....and free shipping!
Simpson, 4000psi., gas powered (Honda GX390) only $8199 ....and free shipping.