Sirocco Jerry
Active member
We are constantly asked "what's the best combination,
of pressure, volume, and tempeature," for cleaning concrete equipment.
Well, how about a simplified, and direct answer..
..an answer based on "affordability"..
..how fast one man will move (day-in, and day-out)..
..the "quality of clean achieveable," compared to equipment cost,
including our ability to keep it reliable, and Long-term-Low-cost.
Let's hammer-out a "sustainable relationship" here,
between you, the jobsite, and your "ability to afford equipment"..
3000 psi "barely" cleans concrete "kinda-fast".
4000 psi cleans "as good as most of your customers expect" fairly quickly,
..and with less water than 3000psi.
5000 psi is sometimes "really impressive" without even using heat.
(Hmmm.. chew on that !) ..Just be aware there's a big cost-jump going over 4000psi.
170 degrees cleans greasy stuff O.K.
..you can charge for your work, but you'll loose the job to someone with WorkSpeed.
200 degrees cleans REAL well, depending on the surface temp you are cleaning.
230 degrees will kick-butt in WorkSpeed.. gum goes flying at this temp, with 3500 psi or better.
4 gpm is all a beginner can be trusted with,
5 to 6 gpm can get clean to go fast, and with 4000psi will "put shoulders on you".
7 to 8 gpm will piss-off an employee at the end of the day, making him quit,
..unless you supply a good surface cleaner.. (21 to 28" dia. max).
A "tough guy" will get the 7gpm, clean like hell, doing it all himself,
..and take quiet, but frequent vactions.. because he is profitable, and his customers like his work.
So, let's add this up..
6gpm at 4000psi only costs 23 to 25 hp.
but 7gpm at 5000 psi is "unstoppable" with 31 to 35hp..
it costs 50% more, but "Studly-Dude" makes 25 to 50% more per hour in workspeed,
and pays off his loan 3 times faster.
Yes, he has to pay 50% more in maintenance costs,
but that's only about an extra $50. per month.
IF you ask youself..
"how cheep a 5 at 3500" I can get, or..
"what does the average user use" ?
..You are NOT a very "Studly Man"
and you will loose a contract to someone that is,
Or, you have employees you do not trust.
The best value, in my eyes,
..knowing "long-term-cost to own,"
..knowing which customers make more money..
is a 7 gpm 4000 psi multi-functinal system,
capable of 240 degrees at 5 gpm,
in the hands of a properly trained user,
with preventative maintenace skills.
..And a dual wand system..
12 to 14gpm at 4000, or 10 gpm to 5000psi with dual heaters.
Once you "get over' the price of a diesel engine system..
you will enjoy MUCH longer-term-lower-cost,
AND ALWAYS do a "compelling demo"
Whatever you buy,
demand that it have serviceability,
and safety controls that actually protect the lifespan of the system.
If you don't know what that means, get educated.
of pressure, volume, and tempeature," for cleaning concrete equipment.
Well, how about a simplified, and direct answer..
..an answer based on "affordability"..
..how fast one man will move (day-in, and day-out)..
..the "quality of clean achieveable," compared to equipment cost,
including our ability to keep it reliable, and Long-term-Low-cost.
Let's hammer-out a "sustainable relationship" here,
between you, the jobsite, and your "ability to afford equipment"..
3000 psi "barely" cleans concrete "kinda-fast".
4000 psi cleans "as good as most of your customers expect" fairly quickly,
..and with less water than 3000psi.
5000 psi is sometimes "really impressive" without even using heat.
(Hmmm.. chew on that !) ..Just be aware there's a big cost-jump going over 4000psi.
170 degrees cleans greasy stuff O.K.
..you can charge for your work, but you'll loose the job to someone with WorkSpeed.
200 degrees cleans REAL well, depending on the surface temp you are cleaning.
230 degrees will kick-butt in WorkSpeed.. gum goes flying at this temp, with 3500 psi or better.
4 gpm is all a beginner can be trusted with,
5 to 6 gpm can get clean to go fast, and with 4000psi will "put shoulders on you".
7 to 8 gpm will piss-off an employee at the end of the day, making him quit,
..unless you supply a good surface cleaner.. (21 to 28" dia. max).
A "tough guy" will get the 7gpm, clean like hell, doing it all himself,
..and take quiet, but frequent vactions.. because he is profitable, and his customers like his work.
So, let's add this up..
6gpm at 4000psi only costs 23 to 25 hp.
but 7gpm at 5000 psi is "unstoppable" with 31 to 35hp..
it costs 50% more, but "Studly-Dude" makes 25 to 50% more per hour in workspeed,
and pays off his loan 3 times faster.
Yes, he has to pay 50% more in maintenance costs,
but that's only about an extra $50. per month.
IF you ask youself..
"how cheep a 5 at 3500" I can get, or..
"what does the average user use" ?
..You are NOT a very "Studly Man"
and you will loose a contract to someone that is,
Or, you have employees you do not trust.
The best value, in my eyes,
..knowing "long-term-cost to own,"
..knowing which customers make more money..
is a 7 gpm 4000 psi multi-functinal system,
capable of 240 degrees at 5 gpm,
in the hands of a properly trained user,
with preventative maintenace skills.
..And a dual wand system..
12 to 14gpm at 4000, or 10 gpm to 5000psi with dual heaters.
Once you "get over' the price of a diesel engine system..
you will enjoy MUCH longer-term-lower-cost,
AND ALWAYS do a "compelling demo"
Whatever you buy,
demand that it have serviceability,
and safety controls that actually protect the lifespan of the system.
If you don't know what that means, get educated.