Pressure washing

[KNotMe]

For pressure washing, will an air compressor with 5.7cfm at 90psi with the Thundergun Power Washer do as good a job as a pressure washer rated at 2400psi and 2.3 gpm?

 

[Mrwurm]

I had a thundergun and it was pretty good for rinsing off loose mud and light cleaning. It has very wide fan spray and is not adjustable. I sold mine and bought a power washer, there is no comparison.

2400 psi X 2.3gpm = 5,520 impact force
90 psi X 8gpm = 720 impact force
(8gpm is guess of house flow rate)

 

[GerardC]

Pressure washer OR power washer? What's the difference /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif? I'd like to buy one for general use, so help me if you can. Thanks. G

 

[TresCrows]

Let me just clue you in on something I have learned about pressure washers. Good ones are expensive. Get the biggest size you can. Get a Honda engine. Get a CAT pump. I don't want to hear how Briggs are just as good. I have years of Briggs experience and I am telling you--get the Honda. You need at least 6-7 horses, preferably 8 horses for general cleaning etc.
Take care of it, put the antifreeze in before winter etc and it will serve you well. The engines on those things work really hard--all the time. If you buy a cheap one you will be buying another very soon. J

 

[Mrwurm]

Ok, a couple points in response to Trescrows. Honda makes great engines, I have one on my power washer, but it should be noted that Honda has jumped on the bandwagon and now makes light duty engines to compete with Brigs and Tecumseh. Honda may be best, but the best Brigs is better than the light duty (Home Depot) Honda.

Also, I've heard that General and Cat pumps are the best, but I can only attest to the fact that my Comet pump is strong and works well. I remove four bolts and take my pump indoors during the winter. I used to spend a half hour fiddling with anti-freeze, now I spend 3 minutes taking out bolts.

For my recommendation.... For car washing, cleaning siding, rinsing the drive way... Get a home duty model (5hp 2 gpm).
For cleaning mower decks, removing stain from decks.... Try a 3000 psi model with at least 8 hp.

 

[EastTexFrank]

This is interesting because I was just starting to look into pressure washers. I've used an electric Karcher power washer for years and it's always met my needs but now, with more heavy duty cleaning to do, I need a bigger one. I was looking in the Northern Tool catalogue at one with 2.5 gpm at 2600 psi, Comet pump and Honda 5 hp GC engine. I wouldn't be using it a whole lot but when I do, I need more cleaning power than I have a present. Are you guys saying that I wouldn't be happy with it and that I need to look at something even bigger with at least the 8 hp Honda GX engine remembering that it would be approximately twice the cost? Sorry I can't be more explicit but I'll be using it for general cleaning around the place and that I don't have any need to etch concrete or decking.

Sorry KNotMe, I didn't mean to highjack your thread but I'm asking the same questions and looking for the same answers.

 

[OkeeDon]

I think mine has a comet pump because it looks like yours, but I don't really know -- maybe they all look alike. Mine is around 4,000 psi, 3.5 gpm, or else it's 3,500 psi, 4 gpm -- it's been a while, and I'm having a Senior Moment. It has a 13HP Honda. I used it to power a wet sand blaster, which is pretty neat. At full power, it will strip paint. It can be throttled back and be as gentle as you like. Bigger is better.

Your calculation is correct -- the effective rating of any power washer is determined by multiplying the psi times the gpm. So, even though I can't remember which combination of numbers is correct for my washer, the rating is 14,000 either way.

 

[Ole_Hickory]

That sounds a lot like my pressure washer it has a comet pump and is belt driven,did you buy yours in Florida?Thats where mine came from.

USA Pressure Systems INC.

 

[TresCrows]

My washer has the 6.5 horse Briggs Inteck Pro with a General Pump. It is 2500 PSI at 3 GPM. You can increase GPM by reducing the pressure with the output valve. I run mine at about 1500 PSI which I figure puts out about 5 GPM.
I take good care of it and put the anti-freeze in it and bla-bla. The pump exploded this Spring. I bought another, now the engine is knocking /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif. Now I got a new pump and a busted engine. So out I go to get another engine since this one is full of chunks of metal. So now I got a new Briggs and a new General pump. For this I could have gotten a nice Honda with the industrial engine and CAT pump. General and Comet pumps in the top line units are better than what you will find in a 5 horse 2 GPM unit. Believe me or not--it is your money.
If you are cleaning tractors, muddy trucks, bikes, driveways etc you will find you need a strong washer with a good flow rate. You will also find you need to run it for long periods of time. Those things work hard--real hard.
Good luck with the cheapie, oh, the unit I have was not a cheapie, but for another 100 dollars I could have gotten a much better unit /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif. Sometimes the cheapest deal is not the best deal, some people take a lifetime to learn that and will go to any expense to save a dollar. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif. J

 

[polecat]

ok okeedon!!!

but u r sposed to b one of the leaders round here!!!how bout some pics so that we'll know what yer s looks like!!!!

git the hona engine!!!!if buying new of course!!!! i'll show u guys a pic of my beater!!! very old...and have literally put 1000's of hours on her 3500psi body...needs to b rebuilt!!the engind that is and will show u how to do that 2!!!!!!
the frame is literally shaken apart!!!!engine startde knockin bad when doing our fall cleanup...the wool throw rugs and all!!!so will have to rebuild her but fortunately is an old steel 11hp /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gifsleeved engine!!!