I'm after a new pressure washer. Around 200 square metres of block
paving (not all in one session!), plus engine bays, car undersides, lawn
mower deck, conservatory roof, and anything else I can think of to
justify a new toy.

The only must-have is an induction motor, and I don't want any machine
that even the makers describe as being for "light, occasional use", like
the Karcher K2 series. I don't want to be faced with throwing it away
in a couple of years for want of spares backup - it's got to see me out.

The favourites at the moment are a K5.600, at around 275gbp, a Nilfisk
E130 for 200gbp at Screwfix, or the more powerful Nilfisk 9150 from
Argos at around 320gbp, all including the necessary patio head. Karcher
are now giving a 5-year guarantee on their water-cooled models,
presumably indicating some confidence - or desperation to overcome all
the bad publicity about their crappy cheap ones.

Any experience of these to relate, please? Or suggestions of alternatives?


--
Kevin Poole

On May 1, 10:27*pm, Kevin Poole
wrote:
I'm after a new pressure washer. *Around 200 square metres of block
paving (not all in one session!), plus engine bays, car undersides, lawn
mower deck, conservatory roof, and anything else I can think of to
justify a new toy.

The only must-have is an induction motor, and I don't want any machine
that even the makers describe as being for "light, occasional use", like
the Karcher K2 series. *I don't want to be faced with throwing it away
in a couple of years for want of spares backup - it's got to see me out.

The favourites at the moment are a K5.600, at around 275gbp, a Nilfisk
E130 for 200gbp at Screwfix, or the more powerful Nilfisk 9150 from
Argos at around 320gbp, all including the necessary patio head. Karcher
are now giving a 5-year guarantee on their water-cooled models,
presumably indicating some confidence - or desperation to overcome all
the bad publicity about their crappy cheap ones.

Any experience of these to relate, please? *Or suggestions of alternatives?

--
Kevin Poole

The Nilfisk machines are well specced and do perform well, however I
found after frequent use, triggers broke, hoses split etc. The hose is
a very cheaply made thermoplastic one, I got a 15m one made up by a
local hydraulic supplier which is much better.

The 9150 is meant to be better as it already comes with a good quality
hose and uses a different lance/trigger to the E range.

From what I have heard, the Karcher domestic models are best avoided,
the HD models are meant to be much better, no direct experience
though!

There is a good offer on he

http://www.tooled-up.com/Product.asp...ferrer=froogle

I'm sure a good pressure washer dealer will be able to make some sort
of an adapter so you can use a patio attachment of some sort.

On 01/05/2011 22:27, Kevin Poole wrote:
I'm after a new pressure washer. Around 200 square metres of block
paving (not all in one session!), plus engine bays, car undersides, lawn
mower deck, conservatory roof, and anything else I can think of to
justify a new toy.

The only must-have is an induction motor, and I don't want any machine
that even the makers describe as being for "light, occasional use", like
the Karcher K2 series. I don't want to be faced with throwing it away in
a couple of years for want of spares backup - it's got to see me out.

Dead right about the induction motor.


The favourites at the moment are a K5.600, at around 275gbp, a Nilfisk
E130 for 200gbp at Screwfix, or the more powerful Nilfisk 9150 from
Argos at around 320gbp, all including the necessary patio head. Karcher
are now giving a 5-year guarantee on their water-cooled models,
presumably indicating some confidence - or desperation to overcome all
the bad publicity about their crappy cheap ones.

Any experience of these to relate, please? Or suggestions of alternatives?

Difficult to choose between them TBH. Karcher are the brand leader and
have been around for yonks, still owned mainly by the Karcher family.
They acquired WAP who made the Sthil machines.

Nilfisk Alto are possibly as big, but mainly by acquisition.

Gerni were the first Danish manufacturer, KEW was started by an ex Gerni
guy, both companies were acquired by Alto, who were acquired by Nilfisk.

Both quality brands, both make good machines, both have good parts backup.

On balance - I'd prolly go for the Karcher.

You might find some info here
http://wiki.diyfaq.org.uk/index.php?...ure_washer_FAQ

--
Dave - The Medway Handyman www.medwayhandyman.co.uk

On 02/05/2011 01:07, The Medway Handyman wrote:
On 01/05/2011 22:27, Kevin Poole wrote:
I'm after a new pressure washer. Around 200 square metres of block
paving (not all in one session!), plus engine bays, car undersides, lawn
mower deck, conservatory roof, and anything else I can think of to
justify a new toy.

The only must-have is an induction motor, and I don't want any machine
that even the makers describe as being for "light, occasional use", like
the Karcher K2 series. I don't want to be faced with throwing it away in
a couple of years for want of spares backup - it's got to see me out.

Dead right about the induction motor.


The favourites at the moment are a K5.600, at around 275gbp, a Nilfisk
E130 for 200gbp at Screwfix, or the more powerful Nilfisk 9150 from
Argos at around 320gbp, all including the necessary patio head. Karcher
are now giving a 5-year guarantee on their water-cooled models,
presumably indicating some confidence - or desperation to overcome all
the bad publicity about their crappy cheap ones.

Any experience of these to relate, please? Or suggestions of
alternatives?

Difficult to choose between them TBH. Karcher are the brand leader and
have been around for yonks, still owned mainly by the Karcher family.
They acquired WAP who made the Sthil machines.

Nilfisk Alto are possibly as big, but mainly by acquisition.

Gerni were the first Danish manufacturer, KEW was started by an ex Gerni
guy, both companies were acquired by Alto, who were acquired by Nilfisk.

Both quality brands, both make good machines, both have good parts backup.

On balance - I'd prolly go for the Karcher.

You might find some info here
http://wiki.diyfaq.org.uk/index.php?...ure_washer_FAQ

I purchased the Wicks one. Use it quite a lot and it is fine. I got
the recommendation from here some time ago.

--
Residing on low ground in North Staffordshire

On 01/05/2011 23:46, VAG_dude wrote:
On May 1, 10:27 pm, Kevin
wrote:
I'm after a new pressure washer.
...


The favourites at the moment are a K5.600, at around 275gbp, a Nilfisk
E130 for 200gbp at Screwfix, or the more powerful Nilfisk 9150 from
Argos at around 320gbp,

...

The Nilfisk machines are well specced and do perform well, however I
found after frequent use, triggers broke, hoses split etc. The hose is
a very cheaply made thermoplastic one, I got a 15m one made up by a
local hydraulic supplier which is much better.

I fear this may be a disadvantage of machines with built-in hose reels:
I can't see proper rubber hose fitting on a flimsy little reel.


The 9150 is meant to be better as it already comes with a good quality
hose and uses a different lance/trigger to the E range.

The 9150 seems unique to Argos. I wonder if it's the same as a P150.1 etc?

From what I have heard, the Karcher domestic models are best avoided,
the HD models are meant to be much better, no direct experience
though!


Because Karcher class them as commercial, they only give a one year
warranty, as against 5 years for the top-end domestics, and several
attachments do seem much dearer. 5 years does have some attraction,
though I imagine that by the end it will turn into an argument about
wear and tear and accessories not being covered.


I'm sure a good pressure washer dealer will be able to make some sort
of an adapter so you can use a patio attachment of some sort.

This raises another possibility: I have a very elderly Kew 1500 - a real
beast of a machine, with a massive 3hp motor but a knackered hose. It
has a Gerni gun, so it might be better to buy a new hose (40 quid-ish),
and either a Karcher gun, lance, and accessories, or a bsp to Karcher or
Nilfisk adapter to use downstream of the gun. But the boss says "just
buy a new one".

Detergent dispensing: Nilfisk C and E ranges use a separate nozzle with
a bottle attached, whereas Karcher build in a dispenser. Pros and cons?

Thanks also for the other comments - I'd read the faq (useful), and
looked at Wickes, but they're a) out of stock and b) rather expensive by
the time you've bought the extras.

Still wavering...


--
Kevin Poole

On Mon, 02 May 2011 19:15:53 +0100, Kevin Poole wrote:

The 9150 is meant to be better as it already comes with a good
quality
hose and uses a different lance/trigger to the E range.

The 9150 seems unique to Argos.

May well be, normal for many of these big stores to have models
unique to them. Means they don't have to pay out on their refund
"110% of the difference price" policies. Such policies insist on same
make and model available elsewhere.

Detergent dispensing: Nilfisk C and E ranges use a separate nozzle with
a bottle attached, whereas Karcher build in a dispenser. Pros and cons?

Personally I'd avoid something withe the detergent container free
standing or otherwise not attached to the PW itself. It'll either get
knocked over or just make moving the machine harder than it needs to
be.

--
Cheers
Dave.

On 02/05/2011 19:15, Kevin Poole wrote:
On 01/05/2011 23:46, VAG_dude wrote:
On May 1, 10:27 pm, Kevin
wrote:
I'm after a new pressure washer.
...


The favourites at the moment are a K5.600, at around 275gbp, a Nilfisk
E130 for 200gbp at Screwfix, or the more powerful Nilfisk 9150 from
Argos at around 320gbp,

...

The Nilfisk machines are well specced and do perform well, however I
found after frequent use, triggers broke, hoses split etc. The hose is
a very cheaply made thermoplastic one, I got a 15m one made up by a
local hydraulic supplier which is much better.

I fear this may be a disadvantage of machines with built-in hose reels:
I can't see proper rubber hose fitting on a flimsy little reel.

They tend to make the machine top heavy & prone to falling over.


The 9150 is meant to be better as it already comes with a good quality
hose and uses a different lance/trigger to the E range.

The 9150 seems unique to Argos. I wonder if it's the same as a P150.1 etc?

Probably. As Dave said, price promise thing.

From what I have heard, the Karcher domestic models are best avoided,
the HD models are meant to be much better, no direct experience
though!


Because Karcher class them as commercial, they only give a one year
warranty, as against 5 years for the top-end domestics, and several
attachments do seem much dearer. 5 years does have some attraction,
though I imagine that by the end it will turn into an argument about
wear and tear and accessories not being covered.

Karcher machines are either 'K' prefix - domestic (Konsumer?) or HD -
which doesn't mean heavy duty - it stands for Hock Druck or something -
High Pressure.


I'm sure a good pressure washer dealer will be able to make some sort
of an adapter so you can use a patio attachment of some sort.

This raises another possibility: I have a very elderly Kew 1500 - a real
beast of a machine, with a massive 3hp motor but a knackered hose. It
has a Gerni gun, so it might be better to buy a new hose (40 quid-ish),
and either a Karcher gun, lance, and accessories, or a bsp to Karcher or
Nilfisk adapter to use downstream of the gun. But the boss says "just
buy a new one".

Try http://www.gspen.co.uk/ (seems to be down at the moment).


Detergent dispensing: Nilfisk C and E ranges use a separate nozzle with
a bottle attached, whereas Karcher build in a dispenser. Pros and cons?

Thanks also for the other comments - I'd read the faq (useful), and
looked at Wickes, but they're a) out of stock and b) rather expensive by
the time you've bought the extras.

Still wavering...




--
Dave - The Medway Handyman www.medwayhandyman.co.uk

On 01/05/2011 22:27, Kevin Poole wrote:
I'm after a new pressure washer. Around 200 square metres of block
paving (not all in one session!), plus engine bays, car undersides, lawn
mower deck, conservatory roof, and anything else I can think of to
justify a new toy.

The only must-have is an induction motor, and I don't want any machine
that even the makers describe as being for "light, occasional use", like
the Karcher K2 series. I don't want to be faced with throwing it away in
a couple of years for want of spares backup - it's got to see me out.

The favourites at the moment are a K5.600, at around 275gbp, a Nilfisk
E130 for 200gbp at Screwfix, or the more powerful Nilfisk 9150 from
Argos at around 320gbp, all including the necessary patio head. Karcher
are now giving a 5-year guarantee on their water-cooled models,
presumably indicating some confidence - or desperation to overcome all
the bad publicity about their crappy cheap ones.

Any experience of these to relate, please? Or suggestions of alternatives?


I bought a Ryobi B&S engine powered one after my B&Q 'Performance Power'
electric one died.
Although noisy it has *loads* more power, and no trailing cable.
2 years in and plenty of use later it's still as good as new.

Personally I'd not buy another electric one again.