I have been looking for a preassure washer for ages.

The ones that i would like are a good couple of £££.

The problem is that i am not sure what i should go for.

Karcher is the brand that comes first in my mind. But which one?


Should i be looking at the PSI generated? the amount of water they need? The wattage of the motor?

Is there a golden rule for these things?



Idealy, it will be mainly to washing the car. I thought that minimum should be 120bar. (My car gets really dirty)

So, what should i look for?

I know people like uber fancy pressure washers but......

I bought an el cheapo one from screwfix (I think, might have even been Argos) and it does the washing of the car and the de-algae-ing of the paving slabs very nicely. Can't think one anyone would want to pay extra!

The funnest bit was shooting it directly in the air and seeing how long it took to come back down again. Well it was summer. And the answer was quite some time!

Ive got a £30 karcher bought on specical from focus which is very nice for what is it, small and light and cheap and used for quick jobs, however its a plastic impellor pump, has a very light gauge hose to the gun which kinks if abused, and a whirly end to compensate for the low flowrate which means if you doing large jobs its either takes stupily long or you get whirly marks! So good for a qucik flash round, but not doing the patio. Think its a K2.1 or something, about 1300w

The other is also a karcher, about 20years old now (right at the start of domest washers) and its got a ali three ram pump standard wand nosal and much greater flow. About 2500w and a very useful tool.

We also hire one to do the underside of the narrowboat, cheaper end industrial brand (forget the name) which is about 3200w and that really does take the dirty of, and any loose paint, and cuts unto wood and wellies etc. Steel from handle to jet, arm aches after about 3hours but by then you have cleaned a hell of a lot of stuff!


Daniel

As we are talking pressure washers, I have a Karcher and when you stop the water flow the pump hunts all the time, anybody got any idea what is up? Cheers Ray

yes but where do you draw the line?

psi, wattage, water supply?

you see variations between brands etc.

eg.

110 bar 1300 watt 300 l/h
120 bar 1400 watt 360 l/h
115 bar 1500 watt 400 l/h

so, i keep getting confuced and cannot make my mind up.

Hi,

Karcher have a refurbished section on their website where you can pick up some bargains:

http://www.karcheroutlet.co.uk/products/subcat.asp?mID=Pressure-Washer&sID=Sale

I'd suggest the K3.80M or K3.500 would be a good bet. Good prices too.

Cheers,
Craig.

quote:

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Originally posted by craig1410
Hi,

Karcher have a refurbished section on their website where you can pick up some bargains:

http://www.karcheroutlet.co.uk/products/subcat.asp?mID=Pressure-Washer&sID=Sale

I'd suggest the K3.80M or K3.500 would be a good bet. Good prices too.

Cheers,
Craig.

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Round at the bike shop they used to buy expensive ones on the theory that they would last longer. They were used most days and lasted two years at most. They tried a cheap one when the £200 machine broke down and were surprised that it lasted just the same for a quarter of the price so now they keep a cheap one to use and one in stock for when it breaks. The best was a £29.99 from Asda which lasted nearly 4 years.

I think i have decided against Karcher and probably go for a Nilfisk one as the have alu impeller as opposed to the plastic ones Karcher have.

[Edited on 3/1/12 by l0rd]Nilfisk Alto C115.3-6 PCA X-tra Cold Water Pressure Washer

What do you think?


It is only 115bar unfortunately, I would like 120min but have loads of extra components and all these at £100. Now, time to convince the wife.

[Edited on 3/1/12 by l0rd]

quote:

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Originally posted by l0rd
I think i have decided against Karcher and probably go for a Nilfisk one as the have alu impeller as opposed to the plastic ones Karcher have.

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Wouldn't go for a really powerful one just for car washing no matter how dirty it gets. You may take the paint off!

In my experience they all do basic jobs ok and come back broken if the neighbours borrow them.

Right ladies and gentlemen

I got the Nilfisk 120.3 pressure washer. Just assembled this and is ready for the first test. Been asking my wife about dirt in the water and she is telling me that sometimes there are loads of stones specialy after water maintenance on the water supply.

Before i do start it and c0*k it up, i am looking for a in line water hose filter.

What are you using, what would do the job. I do not need something that will make the water better to drink, just something that will keep the dirt away.