What`s with the short pressure washer setup

M

mobiledynamics

New member
Over at a Utubers site and another auto detailing vendor, there seems to be a movement for a short pressure washer handle setup.

My current rig is pressure washer gun, 18 inch (I think ) flexible extension and then whatever tip I use.
When I foam the car, yes, I plug the cannon directly onto the gun, just due to weight and balance.

Even at 18 inches, it`s plenty close for me, as I tend to get close to the paint with the nozzle, and more often than not, depending on the position I am standing in, I will use the flex portion of the extension to tweak the angle I am spraying.


Unless you are working in a corridor of tight quarters, I don`t see any reason to use a gun with nozzle tip direct. Way too close, and talk about overspray.

For winter washing, on the initial rinse, I`ll even use the longer extension wand as I hate breathing in the salt water....
What am I missing. Is there a benefit on running your rig super short
 
For me it’s just a comfort issue. Could I use the regular wand? Sure. But the bottle being closer to my hand is just more comfortable.
 
Correct on the foam lance. I`m referring to the so called short setup being pithched/marketed.

As per the OP, it`s more balanced for a foam cannon. Well, to each its own. I suppose someone with a ford 150, etc might want to use a extension and then the lance in front.

On the pitch for the utuber and auto detailing supplier, it`s it kit they sell - which is nothing new - I suppose for residential grade pressure washer owners that use the built in hose/wand combo, it may, but standard 3/8 pressure wash hookups, etc are all pretty standard .
 
I like my shorty setup for foam cannon and for the door jambs and engine. So i just end up using it short for the rinse phase of a wash too. I dunno whats so wrong with a short set up?
 
The rather long wand on my AR makes it poorly suited to the undercarriage even though I`m usually working with plenty of room (jacking up sedans, high clearance under the Tahoe), so I can see a big benefit for that specific area.
 
mobiledynamics said:
Over at a Utubers site and another auto detailing vendor, there seems to be a movement for a short pressure washer handle setup.

My current rig is pressure washer gun, 18 inch (I think ) flexible extension and then whatever tip I use.
When I foam the car, yes, I plug the cannon directly onto the gun, just due to weight and balance.

Even at 18 inches, it`s plenty close for me, as I tend to get close to the paint with the nozzle, and more often than not, depending on the position I am standing in, I will use the flex portion of the extension to tweak the angle I am spraying.


Unless you are working in a corridor of tight quarters, I don`t see any reason to use a gun with nozzle tip direct. Way too close, and talk about overspray.

For winter washing, on the initial rinse, I`ll even use the longer extension wand as I hate breathing in the salt water....
What am I missing. Is there a benefit on running your rig super short
Click to expand...
You say a flexible lance ? Not the MTM one ?
Flexible.
0612e0da4afb1503acd42c486de9bd33.jpg


This 18" rigid one
2321213f9763d870d07039b7e9f78b51.jpg
 
I had a flex nozzle for my Karchers (still have it somewhere, but no more Karchers..) and it was really handy! Wish I could find one for my AR..
 
Indeed Mary. The flex is my go to.
I will do straight off the gun for the lance or door jambs

Primary - Is flex, similar to how Mary has posted.
Secondary is a 8 inch that is pure flex to shape- I use that for undarriage. I bend it to a big U and get the under the sills/WW.
Third - various length lances. I rarely use anything longer than the flex, except for a 16 incher for wheel cleaning duties and I want to be a bit more further back

Edit - Correction.
I will use the opt for the 24+ inch lance for the rinse on a salty car. A bit more distance but breathing in that overspray is like taking a deep dive at the beach.
 
Accumulator said:
The rather long wand on my AR makes it poorly suited to the undercarriage even though I`m usually working with plenty of room (jacking up sedans, high clearance under the Tahoe), so I can see a big benefit for that specific area.
Click to expand...

The flex nozzle - you should be able to find at your local supply shop or online, aka, like the one in Mary`s pic.
Standard 3/8 disconnects and couplers.

https://suttner.com/products/lances/
 
mobiledynamics- Thanks for that link. I figure that yeah, I oughta be able to adapt most anything to my ARs if I figure out just how to do it, haven`t invested the time/effort though :o The Karchers and the AR are sure different, but that`s all I`ve figured out so far.
 
I`ll have to watch said utuber video/link to the eshop and or a reputable detailer/vendor as well just to confirm my POV.

I just recall seeing the video and then the convenient trigger setup on the ecommerce site and I just said to myself, what is all this marketing nonsense. This is not new. A gun and nozzle is standard in a pressure washer setup ! The only denominating factor I felt, was like it was a upsell, for many who have a residential setup that has a hose with a M22 threaded collar gun.
 
Accumulator -

My *ultimate* setup = flex lance, ceramic tips - 15 degrees and 25, both on Quick Disconnects with Rubber Hoody Shrouds.
Heh, I know you`re a dog guy. The rubber hoody shrouds look like the head protective collar rings for dogs, but it`s for nozzle tips.
 
My pressure washer wand is about 18" long as well and has the flexible attachment and quick connects. I find it the perfect length but it`s really a user preference thing.

 
Rasky -

If you decide to upgrade to a longer hose if you find it not long enough, I say skip the M22 and go with standard 3/8 disconnects/coupers
That`s a stock 25-35 footer ?

50 seems to be the sweet spot ?. Long enough to not need to move the machine as you work around all 4 corners of the car
 
I found this set. Last years MTM gun with 18" wand. For a good price, even after some QC attachments from gun to wand.
Will be using an angle QC. for nozzles.

Eventually I think both wands, will be the best for me.
66ffcc1b25e60a10ed05a01acff1faef.jpg
4ae170f9928f1161682335e11eef4310.jpg
 
I just use the MTM short gun with either the foam cannon or spray tip right off the nozzle, no extensions...just easier for me that way. Safer too as with anything longer than a foot in my hands I tend to knock it into things when not paying attention so I sure don`t miss the length of the stock long gun or extension.
 
mobiledynamics- Heh heh, that was a good analogy regarding the shrouds for nozzle tips. I might look into those if I get a, uhm...real pw with the standard tips.

Though every time I think about upgrading, I think how this [crappy] little AR has outlasted all my pricey ones and that *FOR THE VEHICLES* it`s plenty.
 
The Quick Disconnects - even with the extra ball bearing retention does get tight from time2time. I have to fight with it sometimes in order to quick connect/disconnect. As a rule of thumb, whenever I change a tip, I always shoot downwards towards the floor as a test shot with the gun. Aka, the cheap ones might be easier to operate as the ones that have like 8-10 balls per coupler, somethings I find you literally have to take a step back, breath, and then try to release the damm thing. It`s not so KWIK sometimes...

-_- I can say with fault, at least a couple of times, I did not engage the tip into the disconnect 100% even though I thought I did - I only know as when I press the trigger, the tip comes flying out. If this was paint, this is where the hoody would be the saving grace.
 
Yeah, "When Quick-Connects Attack". I`ve had a worn-out one release a foamgun at times, and that`s not even under great pressure.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top