Hi i have a GP 18inch hammerhead surface cleaner. It works ok. I love it on roofs, but on driveways it seems to leave straight lines where it has been. I will walk so slow its like i am not moving and it still dose it. Then on the next driveway it is fine and i can walk fast and no lines. I clean the nozzles before every use and no change. Also i had to put a ball valve on it because it slowly leaks water out of the nozzles. (without the handle being held in). This surface cleaner is only a few months old and i want to get one i wont have these problems with. Could the lines be a water flow issue i was running 4000 psi unit at 4gpm. I just picked up another unit and will now be using 4000psi at 8gpm. I want a surface cleaner at least 22inch. What do you guys think is the best one out there?
Whats The Best Surface Cleaner for the money???
- Thread starter llclrdr
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Pat Norman
New member
I'm partial to the smooth operation of the whisper wash brand because of the fixed angle solid bar. I have the Big Guy. I did replace the trigger gun and small hose with a ball valve and 3/8 hose and rebuilt the handle after I crashed it going through a drive thru. When the swivel finally wore out I put a mosmatic 4 bearing swivel on it. So I really don't know what brand I have now but I like the bar design from whisper wash.
Christopher
Moderator
Steel Eagle, Mosmatic and Whisper Wash are great surface cleaners and will last you a long time.
There are advantages and dis-advantages of all brands so it comes down to personal preference.
I had some of the other brands but they did not hold up to commercial use.
Steel Eagle has their 24" surface cleaner, I would not go above that size with only 8gpm, been there and done that.
Mosmatic makes a nice 21" surface cleaner.
Whisper wash makes the Classic 19" and the 24" in both a hover and castor wheel version. I really like the classic with 5.6gpm but have run 8gpm through it with the larger nozzles, depending on your pressure it might leave the ground and fly but you can put a weight on it to hold it down if needed like Nick does.
You could get the Big Guy 28" inch surface cleaner which is a great surface cleaner, especially when you are running 8gpm or more.
Another option is the Little Big Guy where they make a 24" version of the Big Guy with the same handle, tires, etc.... just a little bit smaller so you don't have to hold up the handle like the classic, just push it with one hand.
Many, many options for you.
There are advantages and dis-advantages of all brands so it comes down to personal preference.
I had some of the other brands but they did not hold up to commercial use.
Steel Eagle has their 24" surface cleaner, I would not go above that size with only 8gpm, been there and done that.
Mosmatic makes a nice 21" surface cleaner.
Whisper wash makes the Classic 19" and the 24" in both a hover and castor wheel version. I really like the classic with 5.6gpm but have run 8gpm through it with the larger nozzles, depending on your pressure it might leave the ground and fly but you can put a weight on it to hold it down if needed like Nick does.
You could get the Big Guy 28" inch surface cleaner which is a great surface cleaner, especially when you are running 8gpm or more.
Another option is the Little Big Guy where they make a 24" version of the Big Guy with the same handle, tires, etc.... just a little bit smaller so you don't have to hold up the handle like the classic, just push it with one hand.
Many, many options for you.
Kory
Member
So many factors come into play with the "lines". The tip angles, bar balance, unloader, tips being warn out, pressure , flow, concrete quality. Whisper has a balanced bar from the factory.
outdoorprowash
Member
I just ordered a 3 bar for my 24 inch steel eagle. Can't wait to try it out. I have heard great things about the wisperwash and you can get em' from powerwashstore too.
Larry Millette
Member
Whisper washer classic here for me. So far is been the smoothest and most reliable hands down.
Doug Rucker
Roundtable Host 2009
We have the whisper wash classic and 2 of the 4 nozzle Big Guy's. The 4 nozzle big guys ended the striping for us.
palm beach
New member
I can tell you how to help those mysterious lines that show up. But this has been covered so my first recommendation is every morning and night read every thread you can on this forum and you will light years ahead of where you are now.
First. . Surface cleaner on roof. .. why would you ever want to clean like that, that's a huge step backwards if that's your go to roof cleaning process. Your in lucie right around the corner from where I am and I've washed there before. Good market. . Don't screw it up by damaging the roofs up there. Ask questions, go see paul at pressure washers usa in person.he can set you up right away with a soft wash system thats cheap and effective and your more than welcome to come out with us to see how to clean a 3000ft2 roof in an hour and not break a sweat.
Second. We live in Florida. You need a mildewcide/algecide/fungicide on just about everything around here when y9u clean if not your destroying your companies image leaving lines and have crap grow back a month after you leave. PRE TREAT THE CONCRETE WITH SOMETHING I DONT CARE WHAT.. JUST NOT MURATIC. HOVER IT..NO NEED TO CRAWL MOVE FAST ENOUGH WHERE YOU DONT LEAVE SWIRLS DONT WORRY ABOUT THE OVER LAP MARKS. RINSE EVERY THING REAL GOOD. WHILE ItS STILL WET SPRAY WITH A PUMP UP OR YOUR NEW ROOF CLEANING SPRAY SET UP A GOOD COAT OF ROOF GRADE MIX. NO NEED TO FlOOD IT JUST LET IT COAT THE CRETE. DON'T WALK IN THE GRASS AFTER YOU SPRAY YOUR BOOTS AND DON'T GET THE GRASS AT THE EDGE TO MUCH ALTHOUGH IF IT SNEEZES ON THERE NO BIG DEAL BECAUSE YOU JUST RINSED EVERYTHING REAL GOOD BEFORE YOU SPRAYED. ROLL UP YOUR HOSES WASH YOUR HANDS GET YOUR PAPERWORK AND AS YOUR WALKING UP TO THE FRONT DOOR YOU WILL NOTICE HOW THE STRIPES HAVE MAGICALLY DISAPPEARED.
Theres nothing wrong with that 18 on your 4gpm. For your 8 I would recommend at least 24 inch a 20 or 22 would help you fly. .with 4000psi I would run 2550 tips in that for residential...just me though
Good luck up there seasons already started buckle up and hold on..make sure you charge accordingly.
First. . Surface cleaner on roof. .. why would you ever want to clean like that, that's a huge step backwards if that's your go to roof cleaning process. Your in lucie right around the corner from where I am and I've washed there before. Good market. . Don't screw it up by damaging the roofs up there. Ask questions, go see paul at pressure washers usa in person.he can set you up right away with a soft wash system thats cheap and effective and your more than welcome to come out with us to see how to clean a 3000ft2 roof in an hour and not break a sweat.
Second. We live in Florida. You need a mildewcide/algecide/fungicide on just about everything around here when y9u clean if not your destroying your companies image leaving lines and have crap grow back a month after you leave. PRE TREAT THE CONCRETE WITH SOMETHING I DONT CARE WHAT.. JUST NOT MURATIC. HOVER IT..NO NEED TO CRAWL MOVE FAST ENOUGH WHERE YOU DONT LEAVE SWIRLS DONT WORRY ABOUT THE OVER LAP MARKS. RINSE EVERY THING REAL GOOD. WHILE ItS STILL WET SPRAY WITH A PUMP UP OR YOUR NEW ROOF CLEANING SPRAY SET UP A GOOD COAT OF ROOF GRADE MIX. NO NEED TO FlOOD IT JUST LET IT COAT THE CRETE. DON'T WALK IN THE GRASS AFTER YOU SPRAY YOUR BOOTS AND DON'T GET THE GRASS AT THE EDGE TO MUCH ALTHOUGH IF IT SNEEZES ON THERE NO BIG DEAL BECAUSE YOU JUST RINSED EVERYTHING REAL GOOD BEFORE YOU SPRAYED. ROLL UP YOUR HOSES WASH YOUR HANDS GET YOUR PAPERWORK AND AS YOUR WALKING UP TO THE FRONT DOOR YOU WILL NOTICE HOW THE STRIPES HAVE MAGICALLY DISAPPEARED.
Theres nothing wrong with that 18 on your 4gpm. For your 8 I would recommend at least 24 inch a 20 or 22 would help you fly. .with 4000psi I would run 2550 tips in that for residential...just me though
Good luck up there seasons already started buckle up and hold on..make sure you charge accordingly.
Christopher
Moderator
I had one of those and sold it to a friend at a reduced price as the swivel with the grease fitting did not last long. Even the new swivel (greased it before each use) did not last a week. My friend put a different brand of swivel into it and used it for over a year then got out of the business.
I don't like that brand or the hammerhead surface cleaners (seen a couple not last a full working day, they were new) I did not have good luck with them and know some guys that did not have good luck with them either and have read posts where other guys had trouble with their swivels also.
I like to stay with Steel Eagle, Mosmatic and Whisper Wash, they hold up great for years and years.
palm beach
New member
Nope crap..any of those BE's arent gonna hold up like a whisoer wash..thats y they are half price..I like to have a be or psi laying around for the new guys though just like the new guy the surface cleaner is cheap you can throw it away and easily replace it..lol
JDhomeservices
New member
Not true. For the money, BE is one of the best bang for your buck. Mine is about 5 years old, still going strong. And it washes fast! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=49qxuMzdZ_4&feature=youtube_gdata_player Mine is a 21" though, not 24".
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JDhomeservices
New member
Doug Rucker
Roundtable Host 2009
Got two BE's I have had for years that I inherited from companies I have bought, other than changing nozzles,never had a problem and they clean just like any other.
junker1
Roundtable Host 2009
see how to clean a 3000ft2 roof in an hour and not break a sweat. Am I to assume that you are just applying the mix and leaving it for the rain to clean it off?
palm beach
New member
We will rinse the bottom 1/4 -1/3 of the roof when we are cleaning the fascia/drip edge/bottom tile butt. We rinse with a activator/neutralizer for ones with no gutters. 99% of ours are tile roofs that we walk. .I use 2-3 guys..if you can't spray that roof in an hour you loose alot of business around here. We can only charge at most 300.00 for the roof that size. Some guys adv3rtise 169.00 for everything. .so im happy for what we are getting..we will do 5 a day in season. Welcome to florida..lol
I wish I had a better experience with be..but ive bought 3 of the platic floaters and that one stainless one..they come from the factory with so much slop in the bearing its like a 1/2-3/4 swing on the bar. The plastic of the deck as well becomes sooo brittle it cracks veryyy easy not like whisper. I dont own a whisper anymore..but I do use there swivels..I still have a be but like I say its for the new guys who always break my crap. The swivels in the be have such a small oriface its counter productive to all the plumbing I have done to try and keep 8gpm on the concrete..thats why I like whisper you can drop a pencil down that swivel..you could barely thread a 10 gauge wire through be.
I wish I had a better experience with be..but ive bought 3 of the platic floaters and that one stainless one..they come from the factory with so much slop in the bearing its like a 1/2-3/4 swing on the bar. The plastic of the deck as well becomes sooo brittle it cracks veryyy easy not like whisper. I dont own a whisper anymore..but I do use there swivels..I still have a be but like I say its for the new guys who always break my crap. The swivels in the be have such a small oriface its counter productive to all the plumbing I have done to try and keep 8gpm on the concrete..thats why I like whisper you can drop a pencil down that swivel..you could barely thread a 10 gauge wire through be.
JDhomeservices
New member
Wait... when did this become about roof cleaning?
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