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FYI The Tool & Implement Thread

"J"

Git Off My Lawn
Supporting Member
56,761
274
North Carolina
Started weed whacking on the driveway, wanted too get about 300’done on both sides before I started a home project we’ve been wanting too get done. Made it about 50’ and the head stripped out. Looked at the replacement, $80. Replacement with a 40v remanufactured $118 with charger and 4mh battery…. I’m thinking I may just pull the trigger on it….
 
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giles

Cull buck specialist
Supporting Member
So....power washers...

I've got a big gas one that'll wear your arm out on a good day. But my wife picked up an electric one a couple of years ago and we haven't used the gas one since. It finally ended up the dumpster after some pretty good abuse from use and the previous owner. I should replace it as it is much more handy for her to use. What do yall have?
 

jagermeister

Dignitary Member
Supporting Member
18,061
223
Ohio
I’ve got a nice electric Karcher that came with the house when we bought it. Chem/soap tank and a diesel-fired heat exchanger on it. Works well but only generates about 1500-1800 psi. The electric operation is convenient, but I’d like to have some 3000+ psi capability of a gas powerwasher. Harbor Freight usually runs a sale on some of their Predator units.
 

Jackalope

Dignitary Member
Staff member
38,841
260
Recently picked up this little sod plunger that works fantastic. It has removable rings for 2, 4 & 6 inch depths. It could also be used for removing dandelion and planning bbulbs etc Not often something works just as advertised. Out grass can't be seeded so that only leaves sod. I had some spots where the topsoil washed off the lawn leaving sand. I put down topsoil and plugged it. Pro plugger. https://amzn.to/3TrF9Wz

At first I was like that things going to clog. But its actually tapered and the bottom has a slightbstar pattern. You sink it down and twist a touch to break the plug free at the bottom. It'll hold about 15 plugs. Turn it upside down and they all slide right out.

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Here is where I pulled the plug from

20230318_091706.jpg
 
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giles

Cull buck specialist
Supporting Member
Electric. I think ours is from Lowes and 2,800 psi. The 2,200 ones do just about the same. I would suggest a turbo head for tougher jobs.

Storage is important. If you are on well water, that is another issue with power washers if they sit.

If electric isn't an option. I have had great luck with my Dewalt gas powered 3800 unit. It is a bit much on power though. I wouldn't suggest it for normal household cleaning. It would work great for cleaning farm equipment or in a experienced person hands. But not for a kid or wife to clean off a porch. It'll blow holes in screens and stripe things up pretty quick.
 

Hedgelj

Senior Member
Supporting Member
7,145
178
Mohicanish
Electric. I think ours is from Lowes and 2,800 psi. The 2,200 ones do just about the same. I would suggest a turbo head for tougher jobs.

Storage is important. If you are on well water, that is another issue with power washers if they sit.

If electric isn't an option. I have had great luck with my Dewalt gas powered 3800 unit. It is a bit much on power though. I wouldn't suggest it for normal household cleaning. It would work great for cleaning farm equipment or in a experienced person hands. But not for a kid or wife to clean off a porch. It'll blow holes in screens and stripe things up pretty quick.
We are on well water
 

Jamie

Senior Member
5,691
177
Ohio
As a painting contractor, I have owned several pressure washers over the years. Imo, an electric pressure washer isn’t very useful if you have any tough cleaning to do, but if you are washing your car and boat once in a while, they will work.

The smaller more compact washers are of the direct drive variety. They offer high psi, but marginal gpm for effective cleaning. The best cold water washers are belt driven, gas powered with a Honda engine. The one I have now, which will likely be the last one I ever buy is belt driven with a 13 HP Honda motor. It has a Cat pump. It is rated for a max of 4000psi and 4 gallons per minute. The flow rate in gpm is the best measure of how effectively it will clean, not the psi. Imagine the difference in the amount of water thrown by a garden hose and fire hose at the same psi, theoretically speaking.

My washer is considered commercial quality, but would not be overkill for someone who washes farm equipment or other machinery, house/buildings, concrete driveways, etc. regularly.

The washer I have now was custom fabricated to my specifications in 2006. It has nearly 1000 hours on it, and the only thing I have ever done to maintain it is put oil and gasoline in it, keep it warm in the winter. Water in the pump could freeze and destroy the pump. This is the kind of longevity that is possible with a quality belt-driven washer. I paid $2000 for it 17 years ago. Some of the best money I ever spent on equipment like this.
Bottom line is that you will get what you pay for. Buy a little more than you think you will need in a pressure washer and you will never regret it.
 

Jamie

Senior Member
5,691
177
Ohio
Also, better quality washers will have adjustable pressure, which matters quite a lot depending on what you are cleaning. Using the proper size and style of tip on the lance matters, too. Oscillating tips are rather gimmicky and mostly do more harm than good in the hand of laymen. I don’t even own one, and I use my washer every other week all summer long.
 

Mike

Dignitary Member
Supporting Member
15,840
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Up Nort
Also, better quality washers will have adjustable pressure, which matters quite a lot depending on what you are cleaning. Using the proper size and style of tip on the lance matters, too. Oscillating tips are rather gimmicky and mostly do more harm than good in the hand of laymen. I don’t even own one, and I use my washer every other week all summer long.
The oscillating tip makes short work of cooked deer flesh on a skull. :D
 

giles

Cull buck specialist
Supporting Member
What about tree trimming? I have the pole saw, but I am not wanting to take the entire branch. Just lope off the end to keep the branches off the camper and truck. I see many different types as I looked at harbor freight, Lowes and home depot. We have lived here 10 years and this will be the first time I've needed to do this. So I am not wanting to spend $200 on a one time use. (Knowing someone will borrow them and junk them before I been them again.) I am not totally against taking the entire branch, but would prefer to just take what is in the way. I could probably bring a bucket truck home too...hmmm. I'm not one for borrowing things though.
 

Jamie

Senior Member
5,691
177
Ohio
Get a manual pole pruner if you don't want to spend a bunch of money. My Fiskars manual pole pruner has a saw blade that I can attach if I need to lop of something that I cannot cut with pruner. I have had it for 20 years and it still works fine. I did take it apart to sharpen the pruner once. Now that I'm old and lazier than ever, I also have Stihl battery pole saw for more/bigger branches. We use it a few times a year here, and I use it regularly when putting up tree stands.
Amazon.com : Fiskars 7.9'-12' Extendable Tree Pruning Stik Pruner - Rotating Sharp Precision-Ground Steel Blade for Cutting up to 1.25" Diameter : Hand Pruners : Patio, Lawn & Garden