[Stuart Wright]

Need a pressure washer to blast out the red mite from our chicken coop. While I'm buying one, I may as well get one 'for life'. I.e. get one which will last years and do every job required. Won't be using it on the car, but cleaning the drive, patio furniture, patio, anything which needs a good blast.
I thought Karcher washers were good but I have seen come bad reviews of the current models saying they are plastic and flimsy and don't last long.
B&Q also had some 'MAC Alaster' washers which I have never heard of or know anything about.
I see Tesco do a Black and Decker 1800w one for £130.
What advice can you give please?
TIA.

[Dony]

Check this thread, a bit more expensive than you are talking though..

HERE

[signs]

The last one i got for our works has lasted us four years and was ............£16 from B&Q it's used once a week at least in the "screen printing" process ,IE blasting screen's clean

[Accylad]

We have a Karcher and it blasts it's way through whatever we ask of it and has done so for many years

[Suave]

Hi,

Karcher have usually always led the field and set the standard...

Suave!

[Adam Shaw]

Another vote for karcher

Costco have some good deals on, and Amazon generally have a good price, just dont get the cheapest in the range.

[signs]

Stuart ,have a look here

http://www.doug-tolson.co.uk/

I do a lot of work for these people and i should be able to get you some discount

[johntheexpat]

To get rid of red mites, you may be better getting one of the garden 'weed wands' that run off a 330ml canister of butane. The heat of the flame will kill off eggs and pupae too. Then I would advise dusting the hen house (and the chickens) with a mite killing powder. You can't be too mean to those nasty, blood sucking little pests.
As for a pressure washer, a lot depends on the quality of the detergent you use with it. I do believe that you can get some models that actually use very fine sand as the abrasive, which is hugely effective.

[signs]

Originally Posted by johntheexpat

To get rid of red mites, you may be better getting one of the garden 'weed wands' that run off a 330ml canister of butane. The heat of the flame will kill off eggs and pupae too. Then I would advise dusting the hen house (and the chickens) with a mite killing powder. You can't be too mean to those nasty, blood sucking little pests.
As for a pressure washer, a lot depends on the quality of the detergent you use with it. I do believe that you can get some models that actually use very fine sand as the abrasive, which is hugely effective.

In that case i also do all the graphics for these people so should be able to get you a good deal here also

http://www.quillplc.com/quillfalcon/home.html

[biggles1958]

Originally Posted by Stuart Wright

Need a pressure washer to blast out the red mite from our chicken coop. While I'm buying one, I may as well get one 'for life'. I.e. get one which will last years and do every job required. Won't be using it on the car, but cleaning the drive, patio furniture, patio, anything which needs a good blast.
I thought Karcher washers were good but I have seen come bad reviews of the current models saying they are plastic and flimsy and don't last long.
B&Q also had some 'MAC Alaster' washers which I have never heard of or know anything about.
I see Tesco do a Black and Decker 1800w one for £130.
What advice can you give please?
TIA.

i've now had the Karcher 7.85 (shown in the link by another poster) for a while and can thoroughly recommended it

its top of the range before the 'pro machines' and built like a brick outhouse and quite heavy

a plus point for your 'mites' might be the twin tanks which would allow you to use a disinfectant - plus its ability to accept water to 60 degrees

i'm told Costco have them at a good price inc 3 year warranty?

not sure what the Screwfix price is at the moment?

one question - why not on the car?

thats the principal reason i bought mine - for car cleaning!

[PJTX100]

Ah, pressure washers.

I got a pretty expensive Bosch one a few years ago.

I've only used it a couple of times.

Great for cleaning concrete flags etc of course, if your world revolves around pristine concrete. I prefer the more natural look and the use of one of these mandates you end up with patchy cleanliness, or you bite the bullet and have to do the whole lot!

Originally Posted by biggles1958

one question - why not on the car?

I used it to was the car once too, but found you had to do a sponge wash anyway to get a good result.

I'm sure there are a few specialist applications where these washers come in very useful, but generally I find a normal hose does the job perfectly OK for most things.

But, of course, they are a gadget. which is why guys like buying 'em.

PS don't spray your toes with one.

[signs]

Tell you what it Say's something when you ..post links ,,offer a discount and you still get ****all back ..don't know why i bother

[Dony]

Originally Posted by signs

Tell you what it Say's something when you ..post links ,,offer a discount and you still get ****all back ..don't know why i bother

maybe the OP doesn't come on often???

[signs]

Originally Posted by Dony

maybe the OP doesn't come on often???

or can't be arsed

[Stuart Wright]

Don't be like that - I've been busy blasting red mite!
Thanks for the offer, but based on early replies I bought an £80 Karcher which is actually functionally a good choice.
The detergent bottle contains 1.5 litres which only works when you remove the lance, providing a soft, wide spray. So I used that to spray the mite killing disinfectant after I had blasted away 2 years of crap. It is powerful enough as it will lift the ply of the plywood if I get too close.
Although in the mean time I have heard that creosoting the entire coop would probably be the best way to kill most mites, so I will be buying a huge tin tomorrow.

I don't clean the car as there is a local firm who will hand wash (twice with jet) and dry and use tyre clean in ten minutes for a fiver.

Thanks for the advice everyone.

[JohnG]

Can you get attachments for cleaning decking ? I'd need something that can clean it without using detergents as there are ponds right next to it.

[biggles1958]

Originally Posted by JohnG

Can you get attachments for cleaning decking ? I'd need something that can clean it without using detergents as there are ponds right next to it.

John

seeing as your in Mansfield i can lend you my Karcher with all attachments

just pm me

actually i'm used to the machine and will bring it over and do the job for you - free of charge

[JohnG]

I think I'll take you up on that kind offer mate, thank Are you in this area as well then ?

[biggles1958]

Originally Posted by JohnG

I think I'll take you up on that kind offer mate, thank Are you in this area as well then ?

pm on its way