Rigging a high pressure washer to a bucket

[Space Pope]

Guys,
I remember a little way back seeing that some guys in Sydney were able to use high pressure washers for washing their cars IF it was fed from a container and not from a tap.

I've searched today and can't seem to find it. :(

Anyone able to find the link or at least give me 'the 9 1 1' on how to set one up as I am sick of using the laser wash (crap products and methods used) - I want to polish my car so I need a nice clean fresh surface prepped and ready to go.

I really would appreciate any help regarding this.....I don't want my paint to go 'off' because I couldn't take good enough care of it.

[chops]

May have been in general and got "pruned".
I can't find it either.

[VX2VESS]

been a couple of threads been deleted i guess, although still good info during these restrictions.

I use

20 litre bucket, should be higher than your pump for gravity feed starts. hose to pump but first suck on the pump end to get the flow started, then connect.

I've been using thi since the restrictions started last year, jeese getting up to a year of restrictions soon.

be careful i heard on the radio a bloke got busted doing this, sucker.

I still have the email printed out from sydney water last year saying i could do it, provided it wasn't connected to the tap. just in case they come around.

the knobs next door to me wash their car on the drive with a hose, used fixed sprinklers in the back yeard and hose the paths down. shits me when i do the right thing.

So info on pressure washer, they use 20 -30 litres max to hose down, soap and rinse. by open bucket = 150 litres, by hose = about 60 litres

more fiddly to get started and pack up again than a hose but it works.

the theory behind sydney restrictions are ppl will give up and not bother. like me, to water my whole yard properly juest once a week takes 7 hours total, one hour per section, given up on that now, its dying.

[Space Pope]

been a couple of threads been deleted i guess, although still good info during these restrictions.

I use

20 litre bucket, should be higher than your pump for gravity feed starts. hose to pump but first suck on the pump end to get the flow started, then connect.

I've been using thi since the restrictions started last year, jeese getting up to a year of restrictions soon.

be careful i heard on the radio a bloke got busted doing this, sucker.

I still have the email printed out from sydney water last year saying i could do it, provided it wasn't connected to the tap. just in case they come around.

the knobs next door to me wash their car on the drive with a hose, used fixed sprinklers in the back yeard and hose the paths down. shits me when i do the right thing.

So info on pressure washer, they use 20 -30 litres max to hose down, soap and rinse. by open bucket = 150 litres, by hose = about 60 litres

Thanks mate...saved me :)

Nice and easy that ...just put the container on a chair or something for gravity feed (just to get her started I guess).

I sent an email off to wyong council asking for a determination on this idea...hopefully they will see the sense it it)

I swear I use bugger all water using a hose with a trigger. only use a strong flow to get the loose stuff off. Then use a weak flow to rinse. I would need 10 -15 buckets to get the same effect and even then it would be crap.

The only problem with a pressure cleaner is the blasting effect when you initially hose down ...could act as a sandblaster if the car is grungy enough. I'll have to be mindful of that.

[VX2VESS]

Thanks mate...saved me :)

Nice and easy that ...just put the container on a chair or something for gravity feed (just to get her started I guess).

I sent an email off to wyong council asking for a determination on this idea...hopefully they will see the sense it it)

I swear I use bugger all water using a hose with a trigger. only use a strong flow to get the loose stuff off. Then use a weak flow to rinse. I would need 10 -15 buckets to get the same effect and even then it would be crap.

The only problem with a pressure cleaner is the blasting effect when you initially hose down ...could act as a sandblaster if the car is grungy enough. I'll have to be mindful of that.

correct i tested the buckets last year took 15 x 10 litres buckets. wasted the most on the wheels trying to rinse. on the roof you get soaked, side your shoes get soaked.

pressure washer easier than a hose except setup.

yep i have a trigger hose too.

pressure washers use vey little as no volumn of water just pressure via a little tiny hole. actual takes a bit longer than a hose to rinse soap off as no much volume of water

ps i did work out the amount by hose last year based on time to fill a bucket, to the time washing the car.

[Space Pope]

correct i tested the buckets last year took 15 x 10 litres buckets. wasted the most on the wheels trying to rinse. on the roof you get soaked, side your shoes get soaked.

pressure washer easier than a hose except setup.

yep i have a trigger hose too.

pressure washers use vey little as no volumn of water just pressure via a little tiny hole. actual takes a bit longer than a hose to rinse soap off as no much volume of water

ps i did work out the amount by hose last year based on time to fill a bucket, to the time washing the car.

Well....the Wyong council thinks this is a bloody good idea and they wish more folks would do something like this. I shouldn't have any hassles with inspectors but will send me an exemption form just to be safe. I'm off to bunnings me thinks...any suggestion which unit to buy and how much hose to use? Do they have a nice big bucket I can buy to feed the beast?

[Space Pope]

Ok...

1 Karcher 'Cic' pressure washer : check
1 20 litre 'Handy Pail' : check
1 12mm x 15M length of hose - needs cutting down : check
(ultra cheap and nasty brand)

I'll do a trial setup tomorrow and see how she goes. How much hose should I use?

[chook]

Well....the Wyong council thinks this is a bloody good idea and they wish more folks would do something like this. I shouldn't have any hassles with inspectors but will send me an exemption form just to be safe. I'm off to bunnings me thinks...any suggestion which unit to buy and how much hose to use? Do they have a nice big bucket I can buy to feed the beast?

Space Pope, you have mail

[VX2VESS]

Well....the Wyong council thinks this is a bloody good idea and they wish more folks would do something like this. I shouldn't have any hassles with inspectors but will send me an exemption form just to be safe. I'm off to bunnings me thinks...any suggestion which unit to buy and how much hose to use? Do they have a nice big bucket I can buy to feed the beast?

i got a gmc they are cheap just for that <$100, the pressure hose is a bit too short however. get anything with a long pressure hose to make it easier than carting the machine close by you.

don't need much hose just enough to go from the bucket around the car. i just pinch the garden hose while washing.

bucket not sure i had a 20 ltr plastic bucket already at home, probably left over from plaster or paint.

[Space Pope]

Space Pope, who did you contact regarding this, I called Gosford Council the other day and suggested this and they told me that I was still breaking the law however I should contact some joint council department (Gosford & Wyong, can't remember exactly) if I can get a name perhaps I can get an exemption too

cheers

Graeme (aka chook)

Sorry Greame...didn't get a name, just asked one of the customer servoce people where they look after the water. They are sending an exemption form to fill in ...doesn't mean I have one. they just thought it was a responsible way to wash a car. My neighbours are pretty cool so once I explain the idea to them, I don't see any problems. The Customer Service person said I shouldn't have any dramas with the inspectors once they see what steps I've taken. I Also sent an email to Wyong Council to get a determination.

Tell you what....I'll go guinea pig for this and I'll let you know the outcome. At this stage I am quietly confident there won't be any dramas. :)

[vh-holden]

i have thought of another alternative. Get one of those translucent 40litre drums with the hole at the bottom for a tap. saves you having to get a syphon going.

[ROGUE]

Guys,
I remember a little way back seeing that some guys in Sydney were able to use high pressure washers for washing their cars IF it was fed from a container and not from a tap.

I've searched today and can't seem to find it. :(

Anyone able to find the link or at least give me 'the 9 1 1' on how to set one up...

hey spacey, it's actually the " 4 1 1 ", which is the information number in the USA, same as our 12456... :D

[Wazza]

i have thought of another alternative. Get one of those translucent 40litre drums with the hole at the bottom for a tap. saves you having to get a syphon going.

Once i stop being lazy, ill be doing this (to my 20L bucket). Will be going on the side near the bottom so it can still sit flat though :D Not gonna bother with a full on tap, just a connector thing, and when im filling the bucket up i'll just run the short hose (that would otherwise connect the bucket to sprayer) back into the top of the bucket so it doesnt all leak out :)

[Space Pope]

hey spacey, it's actually the " 4 1 1 ", which is the information number in the USA, same as our 12456... :D

Just quoting an American phrase, 'your Rougueness' ;)

[vh-holden]

Once i stop being lazy, ill be doing this (to my 20L bucket). Will be going on the side near the bottom so it can still sit flat though :D Not gonna bother with a full on tap, just a connector thing, and when im filling the bucket up i'll just run the short hose (that would otherwise connect the bucket to sprayer) back into the top of the bucket so it doesnt all leak out :)

can you run them off a rainwater tank? jsut refill a tank with the hose.....

[Capt Hollywood]

Water restrictions, you poor buggers! No such problems here in the NT, can wash my car every day and leave the hose running to make pretty waterfalls down my driveway if I like. :booty: :booty:

[VX2VESS]

if i didn't live at the top of a hill i would put in a bore and use as much as i like when i like.

[vh-holden]

if i didn't live at the top of a hill i would put in a bore and use as much as i like when i like.

salty chemical saturated waterr? no thanks

[Wazza]

can you run them off a rainwater tank? jsut refill a tank with the hose.....

As long as theres pressure from the tank itself (I assume rainwater tanks would have like a tap on the side) then theres no probs with that... You could, if you really wanted to be dodgy, have a hose running into the 20L Bucket filling it up as you go, but water restrictions patrol are more likely to be pricks to you if you do that :D

[Space Pope]

Tried the bucket with the the Karcher and used 25-30 litres max...pretty good going and HEAPS less than using the 'bucket brigade' method. Once you get the distance from panels right and get a sweeping flow happening, it's the best ever. :thumbsup: That lil Karcher 'Cip' unit worked really well.

The councils need to start encouraging people to try this...it really does save water...and lots of it.

No 'blowouts' from the neighbours either, they though it was a very clever setup.

I now have my car washed in decent carwash to my standards and got a quick cleaner wax job done as well...way happy with the result.
:D

I will not have to resort to 'Car Haters' again...niceeeee :)

[Space Pope]

Just a note for the Mods....


Please try and preserve this thread...it will help others...trust me.

[VX2VESS]

so the council controls the water up your way.

bloody sydney water have no idea what saves water. in vic when they had stage 2 restrictions they had to use a pressure washer they could see the benefit. sydney water is run by some dopy greenies i think.

no sprinkers systems with sydney water. sprinkler systems save loads of water over hand watering and used once per week would keep the gardem alive more than hand watering 3 times a week. the idea is to save water by pissing everyone off with pia methods

[vh-holden]

another hint - with the karcher washers, you can turn the tip of the high pressure jet to go from a high pressure fan to a low pressure fan, good for washing without risk of damage

[LSX-438]

the frustrating thing is we all know a regular trigger hose would save buckets of water too. they are playing on our lazyness.

[Space Pope]

another hint - with the karcher washers, you can turn the tip of the high pressure jet to go from a high pressure fan to a low pressure fan, good for washing without risk of damage

Yep...got that sussed ;)

[Space Pope]

Well...got my exemption letter today and a sign to place on display when the washer is in operation. Authorises me to use a pressure washer fed from a bucket (NOT a tap).

Just goes to show that Local Government make can responsible decisions now and again.

Stoked...now I can work on perfecting the technique :D

[VX2VESS]

Well...got my exemption letter today and a sign to place on display when the washer is in operation. Authorises me to use a pressure washer fed from a bucket (NOT a tap).

Just goes to show that Local Government make can responsible decisions now and again.

Stoked...now I can work on perfecting the technique :D

that took a while, but it good you got it.

A sign :) man washing car beware ? :lol:

My sign would say i have permission so F off and stop looking this way :booty: ;)

i've gone from weekly washes to 3 or 4 weeks now, getting sick of setting it up. once setup it is quick however, then got to pack it up. :rolleyes:

[VX2VESS]

update i don't suck anymore ;)

have a home brew 20 litre bucket with a tap on it, and a lid to keep dirt out.

and no i don't use beer to wash it