Looking for a pressure washer.....

Posted by dean on May 20, 2007, 10:46 pm

> > chrisexv6 wrote:

> > > Wanting to buy a gas powered pressure washer. Read the myths, etc
> > > (psi isnt always the most important feature, etc). and now am picking
> > > a brand and model.
> > > Costco and Sams carry decent Karcher models,

> > Looking for a PW myself. Wal Mart sells the Karcher. I just need one
> > to clean the house siding (painted wood). Karcher 1500 PSI is $95.
> > Would this be adequate?

> Ive used a pressure washer once so far. Borrowed a 1300 psi electric
> unit. Had to clean our 17'x40' deck. It took me 12 hours of pressure
> washing to clean the wood off enough to seal. Because of that, I
> would never try an electric again. I may just be jaded, but since I
> need to buy one now, and from that one experience, Im going to buy a
> gas one and spend the money to get a decent one.
> If by "clean" the siding you mean just get rid of mold/mildew, the
> electric might work OK. If you want to remove paint, you'll probably
> be better off with a gas powered unit.
> Im thinking a pressure washer is one of those things you dont need
> until you have it, then you come up with a neverending list of things
> you can do with it.
> -Chris

HD sells the Dewalt gas washers - I just bought one after years of a
smaller gas model. This new one is 13HP GX powered commercial pump
(3500psi, 4gpm) and truly a pleasure to use, quiet, smooth, powerful,
quick connects on wand, which is a real plus when you have to move the
thing around a lot. Its $1000, though there is a smaller but similar
build Dewalt for $700.

HTH

Dean (2000 sq ft of deck)

Posted by dean on May 20, 2007, 10:54 pm

> > > chrisexv6 wrote:
> > > > Wanting to buy a gas powered pressure washer. Read the myths, etc
> > > > (psi isnt always the most important feature, etc). and now am picking
> > > > a brand and model.
> > > > Costco and Sams carry decent Karcher models,
> > > Looking for a PW myself. Wal Mart sells the Karcher. I just need one
> > > to clean the house siding (painted wood). Karcher 1500 PSI is $95.
> > > Would this be adequate?

> > Ive used a pressure washer once so far. Borrowed a 1300 psi electric
> > unit. Had to clean our 17'x40' deck. It took me 12 hours of pressure
> > washing to clean the wood off enough to seal. Because of that, I
> > would never try an electric again. I may just be jaded, but since I
> > need to buy one now, and from that one experience, Im going to buy a
> > gas one and spend the money to get a decent one.
> > If by "clean" the siding you mean just get rid of mold/mildew, the
> > electric might work OK. If you want to remove paint, you'll probably
> > be better off with a gas powered unit.
> > Im thinking a pressure washer is one of those things you dont need
> > until you have it, then you come up with a neverending list of things
> > you can do with it.
> > -Chris

> HD sells the Dewalt gas washers - I just bought one after years of a
> smaller gas model. This new one is 13HP GX powered commercial pump
> (3500psi, 4gpm) and truly a pleasure to use, quiet, smooth, powerful,
> quick connects on wand, which is a real plus when you have to move the
> thing around a lot. Its $1000, though there is a smaller but similar
> build Dewalt for $700.
> HTH
> Dean (2000 sq ft of deck)- Hide quoted text -
> - Show quoted text -

Note that you can rent that washer in HD for $1300 per month LOL!

Posted by Meat Plow on May 20, 2007, 11:03 pm

On Sun, 20 May 2007 19:54:34 -0700, dean wrote:

>> > > chrisexv6 wrote:
>> > > > Wanting to buy a gas powered pressure washer. Read the myths, etc
>> > > > (psi isnt always the most important feature, etc). and now am picking
>> > > > a brand and model.
>> > > > Costco and Sams carry decent Karcher models,
>> > > Looking for a PW myself. Wal Mart sells the Karcher. I just need one
>> > > to clean the house siding (painted wood). Karcher 1500 PSI is $95.
>> > > Would this be adequate?
>> > Ive used a pressure washer once so far. Borrowed a 1300 psi electric
>> > unit. Had to clean our 17'x40' deck. It took me 12 hours of pressure
>> > washing to clean the wood off enough to seal. Because of that, I
>> > would never try an electric again. I may just be jaded, but since I
>> > need to buy one now, and from that one experience, Im going to buy a
>> > gas one and spend the money to get a decent one.
>> > If by "clean" the siding you mean just get rid of mold/mildew, the
>> > electric might work OK. If you want to remove paint, you'll probably
>> > be better off with a gas powered unit.
>> > Im thinking a pressure washer is one of those things you dont need
>> > until you have it, then you come up with a neverending list of things
>> > you can do with it.
>> > -Chris

>> HD sells the Dewalt gas washers - I just bought one after years of a
>> smaller gas model. This new one is 13HP GX powered commercial pump
>> (3500psi, 4gpm) and truly a pleasure to use, quiet, smooth, powerful,
>> quick connects on wand, which is a real plus when you have to move the
>> thing around a lot. Its $1000, though there is a smaller but similar
>> build Dewalt for $700.
>> HTH
>> Dean (2000 sq ft of deck)- Hide quoted text -
>> - Show quoted text -

>
> Note that you can rent that washer in HD for $1300 per month LOL!

Damn I'm going to rent one tomorrow.

Posted by chrisexv6 on May 23, 2007, 9:34 pm

> On Sun, 20 May 2007 19:54:34 -0700, dean wrote:

> >> > > chrisexv6 wrote:
> >> > > > Wanting to buy a gas poweredpressurewasher. Read the myths, etc
> >> > > > (psi isnt always the most important feature, etc). and now am picking
> >> > > > a brand and model.
> >> > > > Costco and Sams carry decent Karcher models,
> >> > > Looking for a PW myself. Wal Mart sells the Karcher. I just need one
> >> > > to clean the house siding (painted wood). Karcher 1500 PSI is $95.
> >> > > Would this be adequate?
> >> > Ive used apressurewasheronce so far. Borrowed a 1300 psi electric
> >> > unit. Had to clean our 17'x40' deck. It took me 12 hours ofpressure
> >> > washing to clean the wood off enough to seal. Because of that, I
> >> > would never try an electric again. I may just be jaded, but since I
> >> > need to buy one now, and from that one experience, Im going to buy a
> >> > gas one and spend the money to get a decent one.
> >> > If by "clean" the siding you mean just get rid of mold/mildew, the
> >> > electric might work OK. If you want to remove paint, you'll probably
> >> > be better off with a gas powered unit.
> >> > Im thinking apressurewasheris one of those things you dont need
> >> > until you have it, then you come up with a neverending list of things
> >> > you can do with it.
> >> > -Chris
> >> HD sells the Dewalt gas washers - I just bought one after years of a
> >> smaller gas model. This new one is 13HP GX powered commercial pump
> >> (3500psi, 4gpm) and truly a pleasure to use, quiet, smooth, powerful,
> >> quick connects on wand, which is a real plus when you have to move the
> >> thing around a lot. Its $1000, though there is a smaller but similar
> >> build Dewalt for $700.
> >> HTH
> >> Dean (2000 sq ft of deck)- Hide quoted text -
> >> - Show quoted text -

> > Note that you can rent thatwasherin HD for $1300 per month LOL!

> Damn I'm going to rent one tomorrow.

I think Ive narrowed down the choices, each with their own pros and
cons.

1.
http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_200241274_200241274,
because it comes with a Comet pump with ceramic plungers
2.
http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product.aspx?Prodid=11205327&search=pressure%20washer&Sp=S&Mo=3&cm_re=1-_-Top_Left_Nav-_-Top_search&Nr=P_CatalogName:BC&Ns=P_Price|1||P_SignDesc1&N=0&whse=BC&Dx=mode+matchallpartial&Ntk=All&Dr=P_CatalogName:BC&Ne=4000000&D=pressure%20washer&Ntt=pressure%20washer&No=1&Ntx=mode+matchallpartial&Nty=1&topnav=&s=1
because it comes with the Costco "return it anytime forever"
warranty
3. Dewalt dp 3100, because it comes with a CAT pump and commercial
Honda engine, but the price is a real stretch. Figure 585 + tax, with
12 months 0% financing

Any opinions on the 3? I know #3 is the best, but I cant completely
justify spending so much. Id really like the Costco one, but I
*still* havent heard anything (good or bad) about Karchers current
pump models. Even tried calling some of the service centers and they
were fairly non-helpful. Northern one seems to be decent at least,
Comet seems to be a decent pump and they threw in some of the upgraded
features (like ceramic plungers and a thermal relief valve), just hate
to have to pay shipping and its "interesting" that you have to put the
whole thing together (including mounting the engine on the frame). Im
wondering if its a really nice washer in disguise, the price being
kept low because of the fact you need to assemble it, it doesnt come
with all 5 tips (just 2), etc.

Any addiotnal advice would be helpful!

-Chris

Posted by Oren on May 20, 2007, 4:50 pm

>Wanting to buy a gas powered pressure washer. Read the myths, etc
>(psi isnt always the most important feature, etc). and now am picking
>a brand and model.
>Costco and Sams carry decent Karcher models, the only thing Im unsure
>of is the pump....its built by Karcher, so its probably a couple steps
>above the HD-type models, but not as good as Cat (or maybe even AR?)
>Lowes has a decent Toro (or maybe it was Troy Bilt?), 2500 psi 2.7GPM
>with what looks to be an AR pump. Comparing that to a Karcher 3000
>psi 2.5GPM with Karcher pump, what might be the better model? The
>engines are a wash, they both come with Honda GC series. The Lowes
>model is actually a little cheaper, I assume because of the less psi
>(which may or may not be a huge deal). I might be able to use the
>extra psi, as I plan to remove stains from concrete, etc. with it, but
>Im not sure if the 500 psi is worth getting a lesser brand pump.
>So in a nutshell, how are Karcher pumps? If they are good it seems
>the Costco model might be the best fit, otherwise the Lowes one seems
>to be good.
>Thanks in advance.
>-Chris

Check the Karcher thread a couple days back.

My PW is an Ex-Cell brand with a brass CatPump. Since circa "92-'94;
when I bought it. I fixed the carb once. It runs perfectly right now.

The brand name has changed - I think.

--
Oren

"I don't have anything against work. I just figure, why deprive somebody who
really loves it."

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Looking for a pressure washer..... - Page 2