surface cleaner pressure?

pondandco

New Member
Hello everyone!

Up until recently I have only used a wand and a variety of nozzles for flat work. I just purchased my first surface cleaner (ww classic). My machine is 3500 Psi 5.5 gpm hot water. When I use a wand I usually only use between 2,000 and 2,500 Psi. When using the surface cleaner, am I still good using less pressure or should I use the full 3,500 since water has to flow between two nozzles on the classic?

Thanks! Kevin
 
Hi Kevin,

Yes, you should run your machine at full 3500 PSI, and you can either use 1503, 2503 or 4003 spray tips. (the 03 indicates the tip is rated at 3 GPM. ie. our 9 GPM machines use 2 - 1545 or 2545 tips per Hydro Tek ANT 3 spinner).
15 degree on very sturdy and well cured concrete, 25 degree on poor quality or "green" (cured less than 3 years) concrete and 40 degree tips, well we personally rarely use them, but there are a few instances where they are useful, such as spinning large asphalt areas. The new ceramic tip are well worth the cost over standard stainless steel tips.
Might take you some trail and error to learn which tip works best, your walking speeds and learning to overlap your last pass only by a fraction (to avoid striping).
If you do notice striping or "zebra stripes", check your tips, one or both might be clogged. The stainless steel tips are very inexpensive, and we usually change ours our every 8 to 10 hours of service. The ceramic tips are a big improvement, and I can't honestly tell you their life expectancy since we have 2 spinners that have had ceramics on them for probably 100 hours each and the tips are still working like brand new.
Hope that was helpful. Feel free to ask away. The PWN is a great group of professionals, all willing to help when we are able.
 

pondandco

New Member
Thanks for the advise Jim! I tried it out on my driveway today before I use it tonight on a job... I did notice a little bit of stripeing, I will definitely have to figure that out! My driveway was poured a year ago so I didn't try out the 1500 tips yet, I need to find another spot to practice!! I will post some pics of my first job with it.. I was reading that a surface cleaner can cover between 6,000 and 10,000 sqft per hour, but it took me an hour to do 1,500 lol! More practice I guess.

Thanks again, Kevin
 

New Look

Registerd User
Thanks for the advise Jim! I tried it out on my driveway today before I use it tonight on a job... I did notice a little bit of stripeing, I will definitely have to figure that out! My driveway was poured a year ago so I didn't try out the 1500 tips yet, I need to find another spot to practice!! I will post some pics of my first job with it.. I was reading that a surface cleaner can cover between 6,000 and 10,000 sqft per hour, but it took me an hour to do 1,500 lol! More practice I guess.

Thanks again, Kevin

Hey Kevin..how hot is your water and are you using any soaps??
 

pondandco

New Member
Well when I ran it today I was pushing about 220 degrees. My machine can heat up to 250 though. I did not use any chems. It seemed to get the concrete pretty clean, but I think I was moving a little too slow. Another question; I would go forward down the driveway and then walk backward going up... do you turn around? I have one job that is about 5,000 square feet but its 10 x 500 so I am trying to work it in my head the best way to cover surface? Make sense?

Thanks, Kevin
 

New Look

Registerd User
Well when I ran it today I was pushing about 220 degrees. My machine can heat up to 250 though. I did not use any chems. It seemed to get the concrete pretty clean, but I think I was moving a little too slow. Another question; I would go forward down the driveway and then walk backward going up... do you turn around? I have one job that is about 5,000 square feet but its 10 x 500 so I am trying to work it in my head the best way to cover surface? Make sense?

Thanks, Kevin

For me, I turn around...very seldmon do I walk backwards unless I in in a corner and there is no room to turn around. Your walking speed plays a significant role. Jim's post above is dead on about the tips. I use 15's on all my flatwork but I am doing alot of oil and grease cleaning vs. driveways. Play with your temps also.....again....trial and error. I seldmon get my temps over 175 but I am also using/relying on chems to help with the cleaning part.
 

barbara1taylo

New Member
Hi Kevin,

Yes, you should run your machine at full 3500 PSI, and you can either use 1503, 2503 or 4003 spray tips. (the 03 indicates the tip is rated at 3 GPM. ie. our 9 GPM machines use 2 - 1545 or 2545 tips per Hydro Tek ANT 3 spinner).
15 degree on very sturdy and well cured concrete, 25 degree on poor quality or "green" (cured less than 3 years) concrete and 40 degree tips, well we personally rarely use them, but there are a few instances where they are useful, such as spinning large asphalt areas. The new ceramic tip are well worth the cost over standard stainless steel tips.
Might take you some trail and error to learn which tip works best, your walking speeds and learning to overlap your last pass only by a fraction (to avoid striping).
If you do notice striping or "zebra stripes", check your tips, one or both might be clogged. The stainless steel tips are very inexpensive, and we usually change ours our every 8 to 10 hours of service. The ceramic tips are a big improvement, and I can't honestly tell you their life expectancy since we have 2 spinners that have had ceramics on them for probably 100 hours each and the tips are still working like brand new.
Hope that was helpful. Feel free to ask away. The PWN is a great group of professionals, all willing to help when we are able.


Yes, I agree with you, very good advice :)
 

Doug Rucker

PWN ADMIN TEAM -
Staff member
For me, I turn around...very seldmon do I walk backwards unless I in in a corner and there is no room to turn around. Your walking speed plays a significant role. Jim's post above is dead on about the tips. I use 15's on all my flatwork but I am doing alot of oil and grease cleaning vs. driveways. Play with your temps also.....again....trial and error. I seldmon get my temps over 175 but I am also using/relying on chems to help with the cleaning part.

I always walk so I am facing my equipment and can see my truck and trailer. I never want my back to my equipment.
 

CCSIgns

New Member
When using a walk around surface cleaner we seem to get good results at walking backwards and using cleaner in a figure 8 fashion on basic side walks with very heavy soil. In basic soiled concrete we move forward keeping our hose inside of us, like a lawn mower, concentrating on uniform/straight line runs.
 

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