Replies

1. 
   CAGIV | May 22, 2003 06:23am | #1

   Any comments are welcome.

   Boy, you left yourself wide open

   First the pressure washer you rent for $50 is not the same kind your going to get for $125, but the $125 dollar unit will probably get the job done with less chance of damaging the wood. 

   The cheap electric ones typically have about 1500 psi, the unit you would probably get when you rent is going to be gas and can have upwards of 2500 psi which can damage the wood.

   If you do pressure wash make sure to leave adequate time for the deck to dry out from the water you just shot into it before you seal.

   Second, there is some debate as to wether or not you should P.W. a deck, personally I wouldn't do it especially if it is just one deck and your not looking for production. 

   A good scrub brush and a bucket can be had for about 10 bucks

   Never be afraid to try something new. Remember, amateurs built the ark, Professional build the Titanic.

2. 
   pm22 | May 22, 2003 08:34am | #2

   Once upon a time, I worked in a Hunt's cannery and we used these steam pressure hoses to blast away stuff during breaks. It was about a 1 1/4" yellow hose with a 1/4" nozzle. First the water supply was turned on and it went out about 7 feet. Then we turned on the steam valve and then it shoot out 60~70 feet. I'm not sure of the plumbing but maybe you could rig up something similar - replacing the steam with the air compressor.

   But I'm not a fan of pressure washers. What are you trying to blast off your poor deck? The hardware stores sell blaster nozzles - sort of like miniature firehose nozzles - for less than $10.

   If you need more power than that, then you can resort to the .50 caliber machine gun!

   ~Peter

   Never be afraid to try something new. Remember, amateurs built the ark, Professionals built the Titanic. [Grammer corrected.][Hint to CAG]

   View Image
1. 
   CAGIV | May 22, 2003 08:55am | #3

   Damn thats what I get from copying someone elses stuff, I got that in a list of other quotes, no one to give credit.

   Thanks.

   Never be afraid to try something new. Remember, amateurs built the ark, Professionals build the Titanic.

   Edited 5/22/2003 1:55:51 AM ET by CAG

1. 
   FrankB89 | May 22, 2003 04:30pm | #6

   One must be careful here about mispellings, plagiarism, poor diction and the like:  You could become the Jason Blair of Breaktime!   

1. 
   CAGIV | May 23, 2003 01:04am | #9

   I would hope most of you would be smart enough to realize I isn't brite enough too come up with that one on me own :)Never be afraid to try something new. Remember, amateurs built the ark, Professionals build the Titanic.

2. 
   IMERC | May 22, 2003 09:32am | #4

   20 mike or better. He'll need it.

   Pressure washing is going to impregnate the deck with all kinds of crud. Living and dead. Steven can you spell petrie dish?

   After a bit he can use the heavey stuff to tear it out so he can put in a new one and the go the stone age bucket and brush route there after.

3. 
   bill_1010 | May 22, 2003 03:49pm | #5

   yes there are wants that let you hook up your compressor to a hose.  Craftsman probably sells one for $75 bucks maybe more maybe less.

   Do yourself a favor and buy a dedicated power washer even if its a basic electric 1500PSI.  Youll end up realizing that you can do so much with one.

   If you cant fathom buying rent. 

   While it logically makes sense to get power wand in reality they jst fall short.

1. 
   CAGIV | May 23, 2003 01:06am | #10

   Even with an attachment a pancake isn't going to have the capacity to run the washer.

   But like PM said, why Pressure Wash the deck, sure it's faster but more likely you will take more life away from the deck then you will give it.Never be afraid to try something new. Remember, amateurs built the ark, Professionals build the Titanic.

4. 
   mike4244 | May 22, 2003 05:20pm | #7

   Stephen, I just bought an electric power washer from home depot. This is the small model, 1300psi I think. $89.00 and tax, works great. I washed siding, deck, etc. For most of the cleaning I did not need to use soap dispenser. I practiced on various things as I never used one before. 1300 psi can do damage if you use a pencil spray, I etched my name on a junk piece of 4x4 with this little pressure washer.This is all you probably need .

   Mike

1. 
   ProBozo | May 22, 2003 06:57pm | #8

   The air compressor powered "pressure" washers really don't work that well, for anything other than degunking a block, where they work fairly well.  (not a motor, just a block).  It will take more air, though, than a pancake.