pressure washer alternatives

[xcentric]

After doing a lot of reading here and elsewhere, I have two options:

Nilfisk E150-2.9

or

Krangle 1050 TST

One is about £250, and plastic with aluminium motor, the other is about £500 with brass motor. Clearly the Krangle is more solidly built and generally better made. Water flow specs are similar on each.

Is there a view from those that have had either/both on here as to which to get? Essentially, will the Krangle last twice as long as the Nilfisk, or am I better of being less environmentally friendly and buying 2 Nilfisks over the course of time?

Usage - cars probably twice a week in the summer, plus an about to be built large patio and existing small patio areas, plus bikes, etc. So not professional by any means, but not just once a month either....

[QuickQuack]

I got sick of the electric pressure washers dying and bought this a few weeks ago:

https://www.parkerbrand.co.uk/petrol-pressure-jet-...

It comes with 4 nozzles including a foam one but I also got the snow foam attachment anyway:

https://www.parkerbrand.co.uk/snow-foam-pressure-w...

Proper petrol engine, looks and feels a thousand times sturdier than the Kärchers or any of the electric pressure washers I've ever seen or owned. At 214 bar/3100 psi, it's much more powerful too. It's already has some abuse from my sons and so far, it's looking good.

[xcentric]

looked at that - a few q's - I assume it's pretty noisy? Isn't that high a pressure a bit much for car paintwork, not to mention bearings etc if you're getting into nooks and crannies - it's enough to blast out all the grease packing etc.....

[paintman]

Used at point blank range they can strip lacquer - usually by exploiting a stone chip.

Again, at point blank range they can force water into bearings - Leicestershire Police discovered this years ago with the front wheel bearings on the BMW bikes they were using at the time. Most seals are intended to keep out normal stuff, not high pressure water jets.

Bear in mind that high pressure water jets with abrasives are used to cut steel & concrete!

[markcoznottz]

Anything based on a wobble plate pump is compromised tbh. This is the system that nilfisk uses, most commercial upright sprayers etc. The pump and motor arrangement that the hand car wash guys use is a step up. The pump uses a crank and piston arrangement to get much more torque, more volume of water. But at the expense of packaging, they are bulky. You can even go 3 phase, so powerful you really have to respect the kit. You can get pump and motors on a trolley, 240v really good machines. This company make thier own, bought out by nilfisk some years ago but been making them donkeys years. If I was in the market, I’d buy one. Future proofed, indestructible and rebuildable forever. Good price second hand as well.

https://www.flowjet.co.uk/dte-400cm-cold-pressure-...