[macmac]

I'm thinking of getting a pressure washer for both personal use & with a view to add on services i.e. drives/patios & maybe adding a lance for higher work.
The problem is i know nothing about them, i'm looking at the 300 quid mark & have a few questions-

1. petrol or electric?

2. i would like one that can pull water from a tank & not have to have a mains feed to it, what would describe this? as i did see one but it specificaly said in it's desription that it could not do this.

3. any other things i should know or look out for?

4. anyone recommend a specific one?

Any response would be appreciated.

Thanks

Tony

[karygate]

evryone says honda is best. if youre on a budget like i was 6 months ago i got a 13hp chinese one from ebay for about 350 quid. you then need a turbo nozzle about 30 quid (which means you do not need a fsc then) .
it has to be petrol or deisel because electric will just not cut it when you see the difference. i also got an extendable lance which is about 90 quid but needs practising with . i do driveways, paths etc and have already made my money back . hope this helps. 99% of my work has been through existing window customers.

[macmac]

evryone says honda is best. if youre on a budget like i was 6 months ago i got a 13hp chinese one from ebay for about 350 quid. you then need a turbo nozzle about 30 quid (which means you do not need a fsc then) .
it has to be petrol or deisel because electric will just not cut it when you see the difference. i also got an extendable lance which is about 90 quid but needs practising with . i do driveways, paths etc and have already made my money back . hope this helps. 99% of my work has been through existing window customers.

Thanks gary

regarding the tubo nozzle- what is a fsc?

Tony

[clinton]

Its a flat surface cleaner  rather like a floor type buffer cleaners..The fsc will be great on larger areas and wont leave streaks..IT atatches to the pressure washer itself..

[poleman]

its very season service which can start around Feb & end in June, It’s a very dirty job and your need PPE! A good set of Safety Spectacles, as your eyes can NOT be replaced! Your need water proof clothing and boots! then you need cones if you’re working in a public place! The area your working on will need to be cordon off so you don’t have small children walking into the area, then your need a water supply ! Which you won’t get at every job! (water butt) your need a commercial pressure washer! and not one for domestic use or you will Invalidate your warranty! and it will not be man enough for the job in hand and if used for commercial use then it will last about a week!

[Alex Wingrove]

to be honest tony, your not gonna get alot for 300 quid,

maybe to do you own patio etc etc, but if its a customer you will be there all day for that amount,

you gonna need to have about £1200-1500 to get a decent brand new started kit

or £700-900 for a decent second hand kit,

with that you will fly through the dirt, and wont spend all day going backwards and forwards with zebra stripes everywhere

[alanwilson]

I have a hot diesel pressure washer, 3500psi, 21lpm - bought it second hand from a guy on ebay who was packing up his pressure washing business.

came with 30m hose, 2 fsc (both whirlaway) and a turbo nozzle lance.

Got the lot for £1200

you really do need to spend the money if you want anything decent.

[poleman]

They do say Honda engines are bullet proof! I have one and it’s very true!   

[karygate]

the pressure washer i bought may not last forever but it has got me started and
it is 4500 psi/13hp and have done block paving , graffiti etc . it only cost 320 pounds and is great . the only thing i had to do was to change the connectors on the hose which a specialist by us did for about 20 quid . the work i have done so far willmore than pay for a honda when this goes .

[macmac]

http ://www.screwfix.com/prods/78833/Cleaning/Cleaning-Machinery/Erbauer-Petrol-Hobby-Pressure-Washer-2000PSI

Shows how much i know, i was thinking of something like this one!

Tony

[michael papworth]

You can always hire machines to begin with.

This is what I've done.  One job more than pays for a week's hire, then any other jobs you put into that week are pure profit.

Lessons I've learned:

* Find out what the machine is in advance. Go to the hire shop and see it. Then you'll know what fittings it takes so you can buy your own.

* Buy your own lance and nozzles (You'll get a hose with it, so you don't need that. The lance you'll get is probably knackered and may even have the wrong nozzles fitted.)

* Makes sure that the nozzles are the right size for the pressure and flow rate of the machine you're hiring.

This is important for good performance. The twits in the hire shops think that a nozzle is a nozzle and as long as there's one there, it must be OK. This is WRONG. The nozzle must be the right size for the pressure/flow rate of the machine.

* Consider buying a turbo nozzle - again, of the right pressure rating and flow rate. Everyone else swears by them. I haven't used one, so can't comment.

When the time comes to buy, you've already got all the accessories you'll need.

I didn't do any of these things and my life was MUCH harder than it should have been - but I will next time.

[macmac]

Thanks for the replies, i'll have to look into it further as i know even less than i realised.

Tony