[Adam P]

I'm looking at £4k for everything, and happy to spend less.

Pressure washer machine, fsc, buffer, hoses, attachments, chemicals, x jet or some equivalent, brushes, buckets, it all adds up

[Yada Yada Yada - www.m-clean.uk]

Are you going to be putting into one of your 'Mayer' vans on the website, or a separate vehicle?

If using one of your existing vehicles what size tank are you getting because you won't get a large tank in one of those, on top of kit already in there, plus hoses and other pressure washing stuff.

You have been given great advice but what is the vehicle you're working from, what tank do you expect to get in there and what else in that vehicle is 'heavy' kit up against?

Overanalysing PSI against LPM is less important detail, bar pressure and lower flow rate will give you the same end product with less water, possibly.

21LPM is just right for domestic and small commercial but too big to run off a tap (shouldn't be using a direct feed anyway, unless you're getting a yellow Karcher) a buffer tank is required.

Not seen any of this mentioned.

There's probably 750 kilos of kit in the back of my van, then fuel and then water.

If you're taking the machine in and out of the van, by hand, on a ramp, storage for everything?

I tip up on site, doors are flung open, water fill hose (hydrant) attached, HP hose pulled to works and machine switched on, start working away, whether on the ground or elevated, cleaning cladding, whatever - the amount of times people have come up to me, at the back of the van and said, 'any jobs, that looks easy,I could do that'.

It looks easy because of nearly 2 decades of experience, because the set up is nearly perfect  and because the kit gives me the best end result.

Clients expect to see dirty & then clean and if done properly it is always impressive, if done badly it looks worse.

The done properly doesn't happen overnight - the shiny machine will not give you the result, the user will.

This is not an easy add on,

Whatever machine you buy there's a bit more than the 'shiny' kit bit.

[Yada Yada Yada - www.m-clean.uk]

Re-reading this I'm not sure if it comes across as a bit heavy.

It is meant to be informative and to try and show anyone looking at this as an add on that it isn't just 'get a machine'.

I'm the extreme end of works on here, no domestic, no small commercial, all my jobs are hefty and days on end to finish but I had to get to where I am.

I'm certainly not saying that's better than anyone else and for a lot of reasons it isn't.

I've gone through the set ups and different machines and it can be over analysed, cost being the main factor and getting the best machine for the money.

I've only ever bought secondhand machines until the hotbox this year (there was a new Thor in there at one point a long time ago) and they've served me well.

I've done the analysing from a different perspective.

If your'e doing it the way I have or the new machine way you need to be good on the spanners or have service people that can put the machine right, when it goes wrong, because it will and that will be when you don't want it to.

Part of my RAMS shows the service history of the machine in use and because of the clients I have that is  done around 6 monthly.

The two I've got are both diesel and less thirsty than petrol ones (if I don't turn them up to full flow), again - is this a consideration?

I've run them both against the Honda 13 HP 21 LPM and they are quieter , even with bigger engines - my works can be out of hours, can be in front of trading supermarkets, commercial premises but diesel are much more expensive and harder to get, certainly out of the 4K price range, unless it's a Hilta/Yanmar 15LPM, that can be picked up for a couple of grand but don't have the capability to get the job done.

Like this post, it can be overanalysed and then you start scratching your head.

Steve Knight has a machine for sale in the 'for sale section'.  Steve's a carpet cleaner I believe and would have looked after it so maybe worth a message.

Whatever you decide, this can be a very lucrative add on or as people on here have done, made into a full time business.

There's a lot of dirty premises out there.

All the best.

[Smudger]

Good post 👍

[Stoots]

Ive only done a handfull of jobs after getting my machine a few weeks ago.

But what i would definitely recommend is get a van mounted machine.

It doesnt seem much but dragging than machine out with the wheelie bin and all the other gear to get setup and packaway easily adds 30 mins to the job. A van mount would be much easier and quicker for smaller jobs imo. I think i will van mount mine and then maybe get a smaller machine maybe second hand as backup/portbale option just in case i come across somewhere i cant reach.  Machine is heavy and ramps can be a little slippy, i was close to dropping mine today.

Imagine just pulling up and just pluggin hose reel to your buffer tank in the van, pulling a reel out with lance on and away you go...

[Adam P]

thanks again all for the replies.

one question i have is regarding the way everything connects. I understand quick release is the way to go, however seeing there's more than one type. i assume it's the midi quicck release most equipment uses? rather than the 'large quick release'?

regarding chemicals, it seems the basics required are hypo, surfactant, biocide, oil stain remover, rust remover. does this cover most requirements? do people tend to buy all these solutions from different suppliers or all from one place? with carpet cleaning it seems most suppliers do some sort of variety of every product required which makes it nice and easy. is that the same for jet washing solutions?

[Adam P]

with regards to buffer tanks, is 120L a bit on the small side?

[Smudger]

Yes 120 is far to small - your drawing at 21 litres per minute - if flow is poor you have as little as 6 minutes run time
most places seem to have reasonable flow of 15 but thats still a deficit of 7 litres a min which gives you 25 minutes maybe ? before your empty

Chemicals:

Hypo
TFR
Graffiti cleaner
Brick cleaning
Oil Stain Remover
oxalic acid
plus several other chemicals as you come across various works

I use different places as some products are better than others

[Adam P]

thanks. ill go with the 240L tank in that case.

i see many peple recommend suttner nozzles. i have googled but struggled to find a difinitive 'this is a suttner nozzle'

eca cleaning appear to do them, linked below for instance, but there  is no mention on this specific page of it being suttner, and then also, a huge variety of spray angles and nozzle sizes to select from.  how would you know?

https://www.ecacleaning.co.uk/products/quick-release-high-pressure-nozzle-zinc-plated-mini-various-sizes?variant=44599583506645

[Smudger]

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/186183609327?itmmeta=01HYNK7G0F0XEDSWTHQT5QHCTQ&hash=item2b59686bef:g:S0EAAOSwF0Flip6~&itmprp=enc%3AAQAJAAAA8NV8TLHHVGshfTUazt8RLvS%2BONzQYfveTSZgyS%2Fak6g7cUxmTAJngNMiBtMjflg9ROfSeFRTelAS6gQVRgtpiScQgx7mD%2BOvndA7JzlE7S%2BEUnnLkXEwLPlM8vX%2BJtljgKCt56HT65K%2BgF2t5drxTyYSpyFNl6cJxcRvDw1p8ejN0wDNm%2FlVC63id%2FXCx4DebYKvqIvO7NXR0uxIBJ7TfRwT%2FrTrZBfjurw%2FmMJYLVtjMgGphs0kkf78rlr3XPgpGbDWJzifeMTsXJgZf2aumS%2FR1BHPbnTMABzSwRu976ygzzsjiuG%2FU4vhdjlKfNxRNQ%3D%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR7CAnrP1Yw

for standard 15 degree nozzle I use whatever make my local supplier has - turbo needs to be a good quality and they last

[Adam P]

thanks but even that link it has 9 different option for the nozzle size. how would you know the one you're after for your machine?

i also see that the end is attached by being screwed on. do people buy attachments to make them quick release? is it midi or large quick release?

[Smudger]

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/281147951739?itmmeta=01HYNMKQ8ZRZXEP2CVVBZQ4Y44&hash=item4175b94a7b:g:xW4AAOSws5FcrHtr&itmprp=enc%3AAQAJAAAA0AyzyyvbUyFrP0nOq3Exf9neiP1Ntrjx1jaBNHBEl%2FZoN8COfNSjyToT0p97B7dXcy0IduXZxm6s4ws541TrpZqxX%2B3E02O4rOJHxh6576eFoTkjXjf5PtfqIDdLHtOkIX3vfqa%2Bcr7laKWrhMjCdUVSQf%2BPu%2BrEuhvzxt0lSmgqPCN6UdTZKPUg%2BMGgvnZtJInzkgRZHv9W%2FmfIczKNd%2BcMJdJJAJaIuw3NqHM%2F7TEx1%2BhK2gpiuwrNYAkXobgxTpf2zHUjRTfHd9v0sgZTvSg%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR-r0zrT1Yw

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/281147903336?itmmeta=01HYNMP8F0EAPG49P56SFNS1AG&hash=item4175b88d68:g:eJYAAOSwIq9crH-d&itmprp=enc%3AAQAJAAABAIOUUPTOWjwhEu7lfrzg6ZUDPtX7aAiiIx6IuoHtFYEIsbiYvS3xUCTLI%2F5jOzsJCGrmCJtFLUpLuHyN1MrA3RMXHogrKdnAkt3nGJx6TtzMRzUuDVPhPLA5ULOKBXl57ADTWN6RrUx5owQIAeVMl933W%2B6Hm81dZ1pWPC9r5NVcR7JQd5vHDhTgjYzyB4sclvl2HyfFjp0c8kJJ%2F3tJ7EwOAXOdAkCf5Er78HkXMEQDFeUCT2EQF6aHyAAlvLySqs566rBK4ZGN5TJnf9FFtxJ763wiQeJFs8%2Fzw6tkpqAZk4eCE%2FCsoGc99Dbirh6rOCIGbDYlfm%2F8Bt%2BlHw9fwWo%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR8iH2bT1Yw

Using these you can change nozzle on the lance - turbo to 15 degree - hi/low - foamer etc..

nozzle size is dependant on pressure and flow - 21 Ltr 200 Bar would be an 065

here's a chart
https://www.flowjet.co.uk/pressure-washer-nozzle-chart

[Adam P]

Thanks. So it's midi quick release that everyone uses?

[the king]

has any one used qwashers ? i was looking at there washers and they have twin inlet !! not shore what the benifit if this is ?

i run a 15 lpm 250 bar and it hammers through drives runs a 16inch fsc no issues  if i was to up grade i would get 21lpm but at 250 bar not 200 just my opinion for what its worth 

[Smudger]

My first set up was from them over 10 years ago - decent people to deal with and back then couldn't be beaten on price.

All pumps are twin feed ( or could be ) the theory is that the pump has 2 sources of input flow and would work to full capacity -
main problem with this is the second inlet has a 90 degree turn causing cavitation in the water that slows the whole thing down.

Higher water flow = quicker and easier movement of the slurry - hire one for a day you will see how much better its is over large works (if your doing drives and patios then the difference may not the noticeable)

[Adam P]

got some more questions.

does everyone generally use a hose reel? are these attached to the machine, on a trolley? or just placed on the ground near your machine?

what do you do if you don't have access to the rear garden from the outside? e.g. a midterrace property. do you run all your hoses through the house? or do you lob it over the roof perhaps

[Smudger]

I think the answer depends on your work - if its small stuff then a reel on the m/c or trolley would be convienient
My vans have bolted down m/c's and reels in the van we carry as standard 2 x 100 h/p hose
and 200 meters of 3/4 water feed hose

never had to go through a house yet - there is usually an alley at the rear for access

[Adam P]

200m of water feed! That is quite some length, especially when added with 200m of pressure hose out the other end.

I see America side they all seem to upgrade their hose to either uber flex or the flexihose. Is that less common here?

[Stoots]

Ive just ordered a reel and will be van mounting my pressure washer in a few weeks. Setup and pack away with a portable machine and a bin adds quite a bit of time and faff that doesnt need to be there. As for poor rear access, same as windows just dont do it.

[Adam P]

i can get a 1 year old 'Vanguard 23HP Mazzoni Gearbox Drive 30LPM @ 250 Bar' from someone i know who doesn't want this machine any more, so near enough the same price at the 21LPM version. it's tempting to go with this as it's a more powerful machine for little more. it's the one linked below:

https://www.rutlandpumps.com/briggs-23hp-mazzoni-30lpm-250-bar-wheelbarrow.html

forgetting it being second hand as it's barely been used and looks like new, what are the downsides to the machine over the same companies 21LPM version? Is fuel efficiency an issue? i understand all machines can be run at reduced revs, so i could under use the engine to make the machine only use 21LPM? does this cause issues for the engine?

how frequent is water draingage an issue? i've seen videos on youtube where guys have to vac the excess water and they have 21LPM machines. is this a common problem?