Compact steam cleaners/hot washers

[HughF]

Does anyone have experience with the 'compact' steam cleaners from the likes of Lavor and Clarke? I'm looking for a compact unit that I can use for light degreasing tasks, mostly on small tractors and other pieces of plant (small generators, engines etc) prior to repair/working on them.

I've seen a new Lavor for around £450 that heats to 80 degrees, and remember clarke used to do the Jet King ones that were similar money.

 

[stormin]

The ones that only heat to 80 deg will not be as effective at removing oil and grease as the proper steam cleaners which heat to 140-160 degrees. These cleaners generate genuine saturated steam for the most effective cleaning. They can also generally introduce detergents at pressure whereas the cheaper cleaners rely on reducing the pressure to include detergent.
Any heated water will improve the cleaning power over a cold water washer but at 80degrees you may as well connect a cold water washer to the hot tap from your boiler it won't be much different (providing the pump is capable). The only advantage of the likes of the lavor washer is it is a lot more compact than the steam cleaners due to the smaller heating element.

£450 should see you close to a decent secondhand steam cleaner off ebay with a risk. £600+ should see a secondhand with some warranty from a dealer.

There are also stand alone hot boxes available that do the water heating job and you connect the pressure washer separately but these aren't cheap. It does however separate a couple of major components when it comes down to wear and tear and replacement.

 

[HughF]

Many thanks for that advice, I'll see what I can find online from the likes of Karcher 2nd hand.

 

[stormin]

I don't have a very high opinion of the lower end karcher models (550,600,601) etc, very cheap pumps and other components. Their higher end 700,800 series where better machines. I have a Kew Alto 1502av, very heavy duty unit for single phase, no longer made.

Other makes like Wesley Nova, (again no longer made) used off the shelf but quality pumps like Annoreverbi, and riello burners, you don't have to go to main dealer for parts for these they're commonly available. Other lesser known makes where also built from readily available components.

 

[Gareth J]

If it's not a regular use thing, I've had reasonable success running an old (but good quality) pressure washer on hot water. Some are rated for about 70C anyway but I used to to put close to 90C through it.

I say used to as eventually the seals went. Like I said, it was old and had been more or less written off anyway. Deagreased many engines and the like before it died though and very cheap.

 

[MrFluffy]

And to be the outlier, my hds500 has been good as gold for about 10 years of fairly intermittent use, and cost me 100 quid off ebay needing some tlc (broken yellow plastic covers) and a new hose/lance. I keep meaning to rebuild the pump because I've been told that it should have a bit more pressure than it has, but as it works ok, gets very hot and cleans really effectively I've just been busy feeding it diesel and using it instead of turning it into a rebuild project.
I can't comment on how well made the innards are because I've never had to delve round in them, however I believe rebuild kits are available for all the industrial models.