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General => Detailing => Topic started by: Guy on 17 December 2008, 14:02

Title: pressure washers
Post by: Guy on 17 December 2008, 14:02
right then boys and girs...

I am in the mood for some serious snowfoam...  :evil:  with crimbo coming up a pressure washer is on the list that I can combine with a foam lance :laugh:



tia

Guy


Title: Re: pressure washers
Post by: Rhyso on 17 December 2008, 14:26
i've got a small Karcher pressure washer - bought it from Argos

paid about £45 for it over 12 months ago

not heard of the snowfoam stripping the wax though  :undecided:  i use Elite Carcare snow foam and that seems to be fine

Mine is still beading quite well nearly 4 months after applying the last lot of Collinite  :smiley:
Title: Re: pressure washers
Post by: dan_apps on 17 December 2008, 14:35
only thing i can help with is the purrrr-chase of the washer mate...

if your looking for something that is going to last i.e. not a B&Q special for 30 quid then i can suggest my companies sister company WSS
http://www.westskelstonservices.co.uk/ (http://www.westskelstonservices.co.uk/)

they do a huge range of brand new and ex-demo stuff which is really good quality, mainly makita, honda stuff etc and cheaper than from a merchant, i can have a look what washers they have in at the mo ex-demo if your interested, let me know  :smiley:

shameless plug  kno!  :grin:

Title: Re: pressure washers
Post by: Rhyso on 17 December 2008, 14:38

if your looking for something that is going to last i.e. not a B&Q special for 30 quid then i can suggest my companies sister company WSS
http://www.westskelstonservices.co.uk/ (http://www.westskelstonservices.co.uk/)


going off topic slightly but what a small world - my old company supplied West Skelston with generators  :laugh:
Title: Re: pressure washers
Post by: dan_apps on 17 December 2008, 14:47

if your looking for something that is going to last i.e. not a B&Q special for 30 quid then i can suggest my companies sister company WSS
http://www.westskelstonservices.co.uk/ (http://www.westskelstonservices.co.uk/)


going off topic slightly but what a small world - my old company supplied West Skelston with generators  :laugh:


ha ha really? it is a small World!  :cool:
Title: Re: pressure washers
Post by: Guy on 17 December 2008, 15:21
Rhyso... was thinking about a Karcher... they seem to be the most compliant with the snowfoam systems

cookie - the site you mentioned seems to be having a revamp... how much would they be after and are they electric or fuel?
Title: Re: pressure washers
Post by: Rhyso on 17 December 2008, 15:25
something like this would do you

http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/7402010/Trail/searchtext%3EKARCHER.htm

and you get this effect  :shocked:

(http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y276/Rhyso/IMG_0588.jpg)

(http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y276/Rhyso/IMG_0589.jpg)

thats about an inch of snowfoam and warmish water  :smiley:
Title: Re: pressure washers
Post by: Mew on 17 December 2008, 15:28
Have a look in Woolworths. I'm not sure what model it is, but 2 weeks ago my sister got a Black and Decker pressure washer that was originally £140 or so for £12 :grin:
Title: Re: pressure washers
Post by: dan_apps on 17 December 2008, 15:30
they do both mate, electric cheaper and if its only the car you are washing then thats good nuff, will have a look at prices for ya tomorrow mate.

Dan
Title: Re: pressure washers
Post by: annekarob on 17 December 2008, 17:45
Hi, can somebody please explain the benefits of snowfoaming? Does it do away with the need for a bucket and a proper wash completely? Do you still need to manually 'wash' your car or is the snowfoam enough? Am interested in getting myself some decent kit like the above!
Title: Re: pressure washers
Post by: ...joe on 17 December 2008, 18:48
snowfoam is like a pre-wash soak. the foam lifts the surface dirt etc away and as the foam falls off the car it takes the crap with it, so when you come to washing the car there is less chance of there being harmfull crap on your paint. in all honesty, my old golf was very well cared for and waxed so in summer i have snowfoamed, rinsed and not much else.
i once tried snowfoaming, rinse, snowfoam then washed with the foam and bucket of water to rinse the mitt and it seemed to work. not sure if i'd do it with a very dirty car but the principle is the same as just wahsing i guess?

plus it looks cool and the neighbours are always impressed/shocked/in disbelief!
Title: Re: pressure washers
Post by: Conker on 17 December 2008, 19:45
This foam is supposed to be quite kind to wax:

http://www.valetpro.co.uk/Products/Exterior+cleaners/PH+Neutral+Snow+Foam

Title: Re: pressure washers
Post by: Dan J on 18 December 2008, 10:10
i use a stihl pressure cleaner got it when i started my business up , cost me 250+ and thats with a discount thanks to my uncle, but it had......at the time the highest output pressure of all the cold water machines and came with a foam making bottle that attaches to the lance which i must say is the nuts and does exactly the same as these new foam guns you lot are buying for 50+ squids, ive done ALOT and i mean ALOT of cars with this machine and its still going strong now, very reliable/powerfull, only thing i changed when i first got it was the hose  from the machine to the lance as with all pressure machines the standard hoses are sh!te so i got some hydrolic hose fitted and have had no probs with it. kew or Alto i think there called now make good washers but there quite expensive tho. good luck guy
Title: Re: pressure washers
Post by: T_J_G on 18 December 2008, 15:52
I'll give you one (halfords jobby) If you machine polish my car!?
Title: Re: pressure washers
Post by: Guy on 19 December 2008, 00:52
I'll give you one (halfords jobby) If you machine polish my car!?

nah - you're alright thanks!  :laugh:

thanks all for your advice

right... i is stuck between karcher and matika... have not heard of matika...

what's your thoughts?
Title: Re: pressure washers
Post by: T_J_G on 19 December 2008, 09:02
I'll give you one (halfords jobby) If you machine polish my car!?

nah - you're alright thanks!  :laugh:

thanks all for your advice

right... i is stuck between karcher and matika... have not heard of matika...

what's your thoughts?

Go with Karcher mate!
Title: Re: pressure washers
Post by: Mew on 19 December 2008, 09:20
Matika or Makita? Makita are very good for drills etc, some of my dad's are nearly as old as me i think!
Title: Re: pressure washers
Post by: Guy on 19 December 2008, 11:12
Matika or Makita? Makita are very good for drills etc, some of my dad's are nearly as old as me i think!

oops my bad - i meant makita  :embarassed:
Title: Re: pressure washers
Post by: Dan J on 19 December 2008, 13:05
aahhhh makita, no ,there not famous for making good reliable jet washers  :wink:
Title: Re: pressure washers
Post by: cabbydub on 23 December 2008, 18:17
aahhhh makita, no ,there not famous for making good reliable jet washers  :wink:
makita the power tools are good, but i used to be an service engineer for karcher, they are good until they break! parts for arent cheap!!! just remember to let the pressure out when you have finished with it! most people dont and put in back in the shed and it knackers up the interials as they parts are only plastic on the domestic equipment like the ones in halford b&q
oh and the green coloured jet washers (the cheapo ones that are near the karchers are made by karcher too but cant be repaired hence why they are cheap)
Title: Re: pressure washers
Post by: Dan J on 30 December 2008, 00:37
aahhhh makita, no ,there not famous for making good reliable jet washers  :wink:
makita the power tools are good, but i used to be an service engineer for karcher, they are good until they break! parts for arent cheap!!! just remember to let the pressure out when you have finished with it! most people dont and put in back in the shed and it knackers up the interials as they parts are only plastic on the domestic equipment like the ones in halford b&q
oh and the green coloured jet washers (the cheapo ones that are near the karchers are made by karcher too but cant be repaired hence why they are cheap)


my stihl pressure washer has never let me down, ive done hundreds of cars with it and a fair few horse box's to and ive only ever had to replace the rubber washers for the hose attatchments. its still going strong now:) karchers in my experience are good when they work but they dont work for very long so extremelly unreliable in my opinion.
Title: Re: pressure washers
Post by: Curious on 30 December 2008, 19:37
Dont just look for a name, look for flow rate.

To get the best out of snowfoam (which ever company you use) you need at least 7L Per Minute, this will produce a nice "whipped cream" type of foam.

Also find out if your in a soft or hard water area, as this too can affect the way the foam will work and how much product you need compaired to water.

If money is no object then its got to be Kranzle, expect to pay £300 plus for one, Greg at Valetpro is a man to talk to about them.

Otherwise walk into B&Q and look at the Bosch etc, also look in Machine Mart, again look at the flow rate.

As for the foam lance, Tim at Clean Your Car.

When you have the PW and Lance then its time to find out which foam works best. Look for a PH neutral product, for instance ValetPro, Espuma and of course Bilt-Hamber.

Title: Re: pressure washers
Post by: Guy on 18 January 2009, 15:07
well... i got the following karcher which was much better priced than I could find it elsewhere

http://www.musthaveit.com/products/details/karcher-k391md-pressure-washer/536/ (http://www.musthaveit.com/products/details/karcher-k391md-pressure-washer/536/)

i got the industrial foam lance and PH neutral snow foam from elite

and this was the result!

(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3394/3205869487_451b691832.jpg)

(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3414/3205863859_771848af96.jpg)

(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3458/3205874871_6ea5019785.jpg)


happy days!  :smiley:


Title: Re: pressure washers
Post by: Steve_PD on 18 January 2009, 18:13
Nice buy, I'll be getting one soon  :smiley:
Title: Re: pressure washers
Post by: JC on 22 January 2009, 20:41
mmmmmmmmmmmm 4 new tyres

or

2 tyres and a pressure washer and snowfoam  :lipsrsealed:
Title: Re: pressure washers
Post by: Guy on 22 January 2009, 22:42
mmmmmmmmmmmm 4 new tyres

or

2 tyres and a pressure washer and snowfoam  :lipsrsealed:

snowfoam! makes life so much easier and is a laugh!
Title: Re: pressure washers
Post by: T_J_G on 22 January 2009, 22:55
mmmmmmmmmmmm 4 new tyres

or

2 tyres and a pressure washer and snowfoam  :lipsrsealed:

snowfoam! makes life so much easier and is a laugh!

I think i need one...
Title: Re: pressure washers
Post by: Guy on 22 January 2009, 23:16
mmmmmmmmmmmm 4 new tyres

or

2 tyres and a pressure washer and snowfoam  :lipsrsealed:

snowfoam! makes life so much easier and is a laugh!

I think i need one...

more than you know!  :grin:
Title: Re: pressure washers
Post by: bobbarley on 22 January 2009, 23:24
something like this would do you

http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/7402010/Trail/searchtext%3EKARCHER.htm

and you get this effect  :shocked:


Rhyso, you got another link?  That one isn't working.  Was it this one?  http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/7403181/Trail/searchtext%3EKARCHER.htm

Also, is this the kind of foam lance required?  http://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/washing-and-drying/foam-lance-various-fittings/prod_371.html
Title: Re: pressure washers
Post by: Josho on 24 January 2009, 13:05
My pressure washer has this pipe that you put in cleaner, and it gives an effect just like snowfoam. Only I lost the trigger and pipe, so I was picking the pressure washer up and using it with no pipe, 'til my dad got a new one.

Helps greatly, but I'm really pissed off though. Spend hours washing and polishing our Golf, really came up nicely. Thought, picture time, then Tuesday it was filthy. It's completely grey now, the stupid salt has stuck to it. Some stupid griter or something has caused grit to go into the paintwork, taking it off.  :angry:

Title: Re: pressure washers
Post by: JC on 14 February 2009, 14:22
right then washer fans

is this any good, and more importantly compatable with a snow foam lance ???

http://www.amazon.co.uk/K%C3%84RCHER-K3-99M-Pressure-Washer-1700W/dp/B00066WGTQ

Be quick now - gotta order soon  :wink:
Title: Re: pressure washers
Post by: dan_apps on 14 February 2009, 16:05
right then washer fans

is this any good, and more importantly compatable with a snow foam lance ???

http://www.amazon.co.uk/K%C3%84RCHER-K3-99M-Pressure-Washer-1700W/dp/B00066WGTQ

Be quick now - gotta order soon  :wink:

yes if all you want to do is wash a car & the drive! go for it son!
Title: Re: pressure washers
Post by: JC on 14 February 2009, 20:59
ta dad, or these one at halfrauds, wonder if you get discount with ya trade card  :undecided: