Best Power Washer to buy?

AlanD · 18-04-2007 11:29am #1

May not seem relevant to cars, but it is.

I want to buy a power washer to wash my cars but I have no clue what I should be buying.

Ideally, I want to line them all up and give them all a go to see how good they are. But I can't. All I can go on is pressure measurements and water flow measurements.

So what should I buy for less than 150 euro?

B&Q have a McAllister Mac2 for 141 which looks like good value. 110 bar and 360l/min I think.....

Expeirence and knowledge required.

prospect · 18-04-2007 11:31am

In my experience, don't use a pressure washer for your cars, they can push grit at high pressure across your paintwork.

Also, there was an article in the Indo Motoring section a few weeks back warning motorists not to use pressure washers on their tyre walls.

Bradidup · 18-04-2007 11:34am

It can also lift paintwork if the car has been repaired in the past.

fletch · 18-04-2007 11:35am

I bought the Lidl one recently. Quality piece of kit. Think it was €139. 160bar pressure and has all the tools you need. Best part of all, it's on wheels, the hose comes with a winder so isn't trailing all over the ground and all the attachments have their own holder too so nothing gets lost. Would definitely recommend it.

maidhc · 18-04-2007 11:37am

Try a specialist like Euroquipe in Cork. You won't get much for €150 though.

CAT Pumps make the best of them, but they are bloody dear. It will last forever though as it is fully stainless and has an oil immersed gearbox. They can be repaired too unlike your cheapo Karchers.

I have always powerwashed my cars. Apart from stripping paint from the bumper once there has been no problems. Just remember not to go too close and/or not have the pressure too high.

AlanD · 18-04-2007 11:37am

sorry should have been more clear. I've used pressure washers for 20 years with no issues, cleaning many cars every day. So take it that I know what I'm doing.

It's advice on the washer itself I want, not whether I should use one or not. But thanks for the advice....

A

AlanD · 18-04-2007 11:44am

I remember when the Lidl one came up and thought, naaa, I'd never use it. But then I needed to borrow one from a mate to clean the driveway and it got me thinking. With what I spend on car washes, it'd save me a few bob in the long run.

I thought the Karcher ones were dear though! and in comparison with some others, they had less power too.

I know I'll be disappointed with what I can afford though cos I've always had access to an industrial washer so these dribble washer won't cut it.

I like the sound of the Lidl one. Must check buy and sell for unwanted ones.

peasant · 18-04-2007 11:44am

I'd second the Lidl one

With one proviso: When using the real high pressure "dirt lance" attachment and an extension lead or cable drum in combination, it tends to cut out (some electrical overload protection thingy) ...which is a pita when you have something really dirty a good bit away from the next socket

prospect · 18-04-2007 11:44am

AlanD wrote:

sorry should have been more clear. I've used pressure washers for 20 years with no issues, cleaning many cars every day. So take it that I know what I'm doing.

It's advice on the washer itself I want, not whether I should use one or not. But thanks for the advice....

A

No bother, just thought I'd mention it.

milltown · 18-04-2007 8:02pm

peasant wrote:

I'd second the Lidl one

With one proviso: When using the real high pressure "dirt lance" attachment and an extension lead or cable drum in combination, it tends to cut out (some electrical overload protection thingy) ...which is a pita when you have something really dirty a good bit away from the next socket

Buy a better extension lead and unwind it all the way, even if you don't need to. A coiled extension lead has a lot more electrical resistance than an unwound one.

peasant · 18-04-2007 8:31pm

milltown wrote:

Buy a better extension lead and unwind it all the way, even if you don't need to. A coiled extension lead has a lot more electrical resistance than an unwound one.

I know that and I always uncoil extensions when using powerful electrical equipment on them.
It's just that the "dirt lance" puts the compressor on full load and almost any lenght of extra cable triggers the switch sooner or later ...even if unwound.

Had no problem hosing down the deck with the dirt lance only using the lead on the unit ...as soon as I wash my car (for which I have to use an extension) the washer works on all other settings ...on the "dirt lance" it manages about a minute before it goes on a 15 min "smoking break"

DJ Hafez · 18-04-2007 8:54pm

Halfords have one for 149.99, 150bar and a few accesories. Does the job I suppose

bazz26 · 18-04-2007 9:32pm

Argos sell a few different types too.

rebel.ranter · 18-04-2007 10:47pm

I bought a KArcher one a few years ago and it's still working well, it cost me about €300 on sale. Although for the summer months I tend to use only the normal garden hose, ony using the power washer in the winter.

AlanD · 21-04-2007 12:42pm

bazz26 wrote:

Argos sell a few different types too.

just looked there and they have quite a good range. Just wondering about the Challenge Xtreme brand......avoid like the plague or good value?

They have one that gives 420L/hour which sounds pretty good. 151 euro which seems good value.

They also have some small Karcher ones for less than 100 euro. They have good power, pressure and flow measures but look so small they look like they wouldn't blow the fly squash off your number plate.

Anyone got any of them?

A

_Kaiser_ · 21-04-2007 1:20pm

I can vouch for the recent 160bar Lidl one as well. I upgraded from a Karcher one I'd paid as much for last year and it's far superior.

Just give it a few weeks. I'm sure Lidl or Aldi will have them in again as the summer gets closer.

DMC · 21-04-2007 1:37pm

I got the one 2.1kW one in Aldi 2 weeks ago for €120. Does the job for me.

Knowing Aldi and Lidl, it could take 6 months or a year before they come back into stock. Both of them have had Power Washers in store in the last couple of weeks. I'm waiting on satellite gear, its not been seen since September/October.

Esel · 21-04-2007 3:16pm

Aldi on St Margaret's Rd in Finglas had 5 or 6 on Thursday night last.

NBar · 21-04-2007 3:26pm

Aldi in Celbridge have a few also

AlanD · 21-04-2007 4:53pm

NBar wrote:

Aldi in Celbridge have a few also

seriously? I was supposed to be heading to Celbridge from Limerick tomorrow for a kayak race but I'm knocked out with virus so can't go. Crap.

Wonder if Aldi's closer to home have any left. I must get on the phone.

Alun · 21-04-2007 4:54pm

Bear in mind that if you want to add any accessories at a later date, the fittings on some power washers are different. Certainly the Karcher and Lidl washers aren't compatible in that regard, not sure about the Aldi ones.

AlanD · 21-04-2007 7:28pm

Result, local Aldi had one, so I picked one up. Hopefully it does the trick!

Do-more · 21-04-2007 7:43pm

Alun wrote:

Bear in mind that if you want to add any accessories at a later date, the fittings on some power washers are different. Certainly the Karcher and Lidl washers aren't compatible in that regard, not sure about the Aldi ones.

The Lidl one is a Lavor and the Aldi one is branded "PowerCraft" but manufactured by Karcher so all Karcher accessories will fit it!

Got the Aldi one last year, it was about half the price of the nearest comparable Karcher one in Argos.

You can get adaptor fittings to convert from one make to another, try goggling for it...

Seth Brundle · 18-10-2009 12:23pm

zombie thread locked!

Best Power Washer to buy?

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