Pressure washers: What do you use them for?

[DonMTV]

I am just wondering how a pressure washer can be used in detailing. I have used the two bucket method, and recently bought the foam gun and began using that when I wash my car.

I would like to know if using a "pressure washer" could be harmful? I know a lot of people use it to clean the wheel wells and cleaning the undercarriage, but what about the velocity of the water against dirt and the paint?

Using a regular hose allows for sheeting when rinsing so it will decrease the water spots drying.

Any feedback on this subject would be great.

Don

[ziggo99]

It could blast the dirt into the paint, embedding it into the clearcoat, if you're unfortunate enough, it could catch some loose paint and blast it off. It also depends on which tip you use, what the PSI on the PW is, how far away you are.

[Impressions]

I use a PW on every vehicle I detail to clean engine bay, wheels, wheelwells and rocker panels B4 washing vehicle. I also do all the plastic trim around the car like mirrors, mirror surrounds, window trim(wipes), wipers and cowl, bumpers, headlamps and fog lamps
you wouldn't think PW water without any cleaner would work on plastic but IMO it takes off the oxidation on these parts and leaves a good base for trim enhancers

As far as on the paint, I don't get too close, use a wide nozzle pattern and hold PW at an a 45 not 90 degree

[CEE DOG]

I have a PW but have never used it on my car. We have thick stainless steel plates cut using water jet so I am careful with water under pressure. Water under enough pressure or over enough time can do some serious damage! I know I'm just being OCD and under the right conditions used properly the PW is a tremendous tool. But for me it's too powerfull a tool to use on my car. I see Grand Canyon and S.S. plate being cut!

Merry Christmas!

[loudog2]

Like stated above. I do wheels, wheel wells, bugs and some underbody. Cuts down on the time I spend claying. It is also great at getting polish residue/dust out of the cracks and gaps after polishing.

[DARK HORSE]

I have a PW but have never used it on my car. We have thick stainless steel plates cut using water jet so I am careful with water under pressure. Water under enough pressure or over enough time can do some serious damage! I know I'm just being OCD and under the right conditions used properly the PW is a tremendous tool. But for me it's too powerfull a tool to use on my car. I see Grand Canyon and S.S. plate being cut!

Merry Christmas!

+1 :props:

[loudog2]

I have a PW but have never used it on my car. We have thick stainless steel plates cut using water jet so I am careful with water under pressure. Water under enough pressure or over enough time can do some serious damage! I know I'm just being OCD and under the right conditions used properly the PW is a tremendous tool. But for me it's too powerfull a tool to use on my car. I see Grand Canyon and S.S. plate being cut!

Merry Christmas!
If you are careless? Yes you will do damage. They make different spray heads for this reason. I use the gentle "automobile" labeled spray head.

[DonMTV]

I was thinking that a power washer would be a nice tool to have around for the undercarriage, and wheel wells. Plus, this time of year in Massachusetts it might be a good way to clean off the salt residue prior to using ONR or the DP RW&G in a garage to clean the car.

[supercharged]

Pressure washer with a foam cannon and a snow foam is a MUST! Check this out -
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3c_ExTabPA]YouTube - Snow Foaming The ST with karcher lance[/video]
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E7MUNSS6y7o]YouTube - Snow foam time![/video]
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_8NbVP3Y100]YouTube - honda civic type r snow foam[/video]
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tFzurUJ4YMA]YouTube - Refined Details presents Snow Foam[/video]
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKnVtUIOPuc]YouTube - GTI_SS Snow Foam (test 1)[/video]
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RIppGipTkoQ]YouTube - snow foam my bmw x5[/video]

[AeroCleanse]

I was about to buy a PW, then I found ONR and haven't had the need to buy one since. Most of my customers don't off road so I don't deal with caked on mud.

[frosty]

Can get more done and conserve water. As has been mentioned, just pick the correct tip fo the job.

[sullysdetailing]

I had a Husky 1550 PSI it had an adjustable nozzle so I would put it near the most power fully for the rims exhaust and wheel wells and I would put it on the least powerful for the paint. On the glass I would put it somewhere in the middle to get the bugs off as well as the front bomber

[Bunky]

I had a Husky 1550 PSI it had an adjustable nozzle so I would put it near the most power fully for the rims exhaust and wheel wells and I would put it on the least powerful for the paint. On the glass I would put it somewhere in the middle to get the bugs off as well as the front bomber

The specs say it uses 1.6 GPM.

I have a gas powered one that consumes a lot of water...far more than our well will put out. I can either get a new well pump/larger holding tank or get something that uses less water.

I have others needs than just the car such as cleaning vinyl siding.

[Finemess]

The specs say it uses 1.6 GPM.

I have a gas powered one that consumes a lot of water...far more than our well will put out. I can either get a new well pump/larger holding tank or get something that uses less water.

I have others needs than just the car such as cleaning vinyl siding.
Bunky, could you use one of those kiddie swimming pools as a holding tank,fill it then let the hose keep filling. May give you more volume to use the PW. Would not work to good for doing the house tho, have to drag that pool around.

[frosty]

[QUOTE=Bunky;279007]The specs say it uses 1.6 GPM.
QUOTE]

What does your well output? 1.6 gpm isn't a lot. That's what a typical toilet uses when you flush it. Does it takes more than a minute to fill back up in your situation?

Plus if you read a guide for finding a pump, something like this would say a pump should put out 12 gpm for a modest sized house while ranging from 7 gpm up to 17gpm.

http://www.watersystemscouncil.org/VAiWebDocs/WSCDocs/2567958WSC_INST_20.pdf

I grew up on a well and raced motocross and never ran into a well pump that couldn't run our pressure washers. Electric or gas.

If it still doesn't work, look at like a 30 gallon tank you can mount on a wagon or some sort of trailer you can manuever around. Some of the mobile detailers can give you an idea of where to get a good deal on something.