Pressure washer at action--Advice Please

T

Tim Smith

Member
Going to auction Sat to look at a pressure washer.

Delco Clarke Versa 4200 Power Steamer / Washer
PSI 1000
GPM 2.5

Check with Delco and unit new is $3432.00


What would I be able to use this Unit for?

Cleaning engines? or what? Would it be good for grease stains on concrete? Bank Teller Lines?

Please give your input.

Thanks
 
tim

is that a gas powered unit or electric?
1000 psi and 2.5 gal per min sounds like a plug in
not a put gas in.
only thing i can think of in a commerical use would be for doing car lots if you were hand washing. detailer type degreasing motors
boat wash
in my opinion you would be better off getting a hot box if you already have a cold water unit.
 
Tim,
I wouldn't get a machine that has such little gpm's or psi. For a couple of reasons. which I will elaborate about in a minute.

As far as steam cleaning engines I would think that those #'s would be fine. Also If you plan on cleaning restaurant hoods once again those #'s may be fine. At least the gpm's because there will be less water to vacuum up when doing the cleaning. This can be answered better by someone who actually does hood cleaning.

Now for the reasons I would not buy that machine. For most cleanings you will be severely limited. The magic #'s in this Industry are 5gpm@3000psi. I have a couple of machines that are anywhere from 3.5gpm's to 5.6gpm's all at 3000psi with one bieng 4000psi(I never use that much psi) Hot water machines will also give you most of the time even more cleaning power.

With that machine being only 2.5gpm's then when dispersing chemicals it will take much longer to complete the job at hand. Which we all know in business TIME=CASH. The more time it takes to complete the job the less cash you can make in the end.

As for the 1000psi once again this is not enough pressure to handle some cleanings especially when it comes to concrete flat work cleaning.

Of course if there giving the machine away for much of nothing....
 
If the machine goes for a low price - and is in good shape - I will buy it. If not, I will not.

I just curios of what it would be good for?

Do you think it will do good on oil stains on concrete or asphalt?

Or what would it be good to use on - no real interested in doing resturant hoods.

You sure got me thinking with your comments Thanks


ps I do not know if it is elec or not - does it make a big difference?
 
The heat factor alone will be good for oil stains on concrete. The problem is the cleaning units that machine has. A decent machine will have 10,000+ cleaning units. For example a 4gpm @3000psi= 12,000 cleaning units. THis is just a formula to figure out cleaning strength. A major factor is also chemical usage but that is not the question that your asking.

That machine only has a cleaning unit strength of 2500. To me that would not be nearly high enough if you plan on doing contractor work.

If your Joe the homeowner then that machine will be OK. It will take a long time to clean with it but if its not for business then thats OK.

Are you sure that you have the correct #'s for that machine. Delco sells a hot Water PW(RK-21) that is about 5gpm's@3000psi for around $3500. This machine has a cleaning unit of 15,000.

That machine that your talking about sounds expensive for Delco to be offering it at the price that your stating. Unless of course if thats the list price which is always at least twice the price that they actually sell for.
 
PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE!!!!!

Do NOT continue the lie of Cleaning Units. Please read my post in the manufacturers' section to see why it is not only a complete fabrication; it is also useless and not indicative of performance expectations. There is ABSOLUTELY NO VALIDITY TO THE CONCEPT OF CLEANING UNITS, PERIOD!

I suggest the originator of this thread contact a local professional pressure washer dealer to help him decide exactly what he needs and the true value of the unit he is looking at.

If all you want to do is steam clean engines etcetera then setting the unit up to provide steam at 100-150 PSI and 80-90 GPH of steam will do the job very effectively. If you are planning on keeping your shop clean and time is not a huge factor the unit will work quite well as a pressure washer. Remember that it is for your own use not generating income.

If on the other hand, other things are considered then the assistance of someone with knowledge of available products will save tons of money over the long haul.
 
Michael,
I know Cleaning Units per say has no real validity to it except that it can give a person a generalized Idea about the strength of a PW.

For example if there was a machine made that can produce 40,000 psi at .25gpm that would =10,000 cleaning units this machine would be useless in this field 99% of the time.

Who would want a machine that only produces .25gpm?(I'm sure if there was a machine with those spec's there would be someone out there that could use it).

THe above is only an example to make a point.

You are right though about what your saying about cleaning units. They have no validity to them.

The point I was trying to make to Tim Smith was will that powerwasher be strong enough to do most jobs when time is always a factor then my answer would be NO.

He needs to really be more specific as far as will this machine be used for contracting work etc.

Don't you think that the original price of that machine sounds way to high unless its the list price? I'm sure you sell machines that are alot more powerfull then 2.5gpm@1000psi for a much better deal then the original price for this machine.

Of course if they are selling that machine for a great price then maybe for Tim its worth it but for me in the type of work that I do it definitely would not be. That is why to give Tim a better answer more info would be needed.
 
cleaning units

Personally I think the cleaning unit ratings were developed to market toward the homeowners that buy pressure washers at Home Depot and such stores. It makes the machines appear to be more powerful than they really are. It's like I have told people before there are $29.99 skill saws and there are $200.00 skill saws, they are not the same. Too many people look more at the pressure rating than they do the GPM rate and end up being disappointed after the purchase. The commercial companies don't try to rate their equipment that way.
 
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