Do-it-yourself high pressure washer gun. DIY high pressure washer

Washing your car with a rag and a bucket is fine, but it's somewhat outdated. Have you ever seen such an old-fashioned way to clean cars at car washes? If so, then don't go back there. They obviously save on quality and neglect their employees. So, in this article we will talk about how to do a car wash with your own hands. The piece is very interesting and useful.

High Pressure Car Wash Features

We can say that such equipment is not a luxury. Today it is already a necessity. The fact is that this is the only way to qualitatively wash the engine compartment, the bottom and the body of the car. But most importantly, it does not require almost any effort. All you need is 20 minutes of attention.

The main components of a car wash

Although we will assemble the equipment ourselves, that is, in our workshop, we will need purchased parts, which, unfortunately, are often not possible to find in our garage. The first thing we need is a high performance pump. It must create a pressure of 100 to 200 bar. Such equipment will be quite productive and perfect for the implementation of our goals. When choosing a pump, you need to pay attention to what material it is made of. For example, the piston group is metal or ceramic alloy, and the block heads are brass. Of course, you can go the other way and use a compressor instead of a high pressure pump. It will be cheaper, but the system will be less productive.

Motor selection

We can not do without a good engine. It makes sense to stop at a single-phase motor of low power. By the way, you can find it in your garage or remove it from an old washing machine or similar equipment. In general, the power of 200-300 watts is quite enough. A single-phase motor is an order of magnitude safer than a three-phase one in terms of connection and somewhat more economical, so we will focus on it. But whether a condenser and a gearbox will be provided in your car wash is up to you. Such equipment can extend the life of the system, but significantly complicate the design. In addition, these elements are not mandatory at all, everything will work fine without them. In any case, do-it-yourself car wash is not so difficult. Let's move on to the practical part.

DIY high pressure car wash

Before proceeding directly to the assembly, it is necessary to acquire additional elements. We need a coupling to connect the pump and the electric motor together. It is best to take the so-called soft coupling, which will compensate for the slight misalignment of the shafts.

Another important element is the water tank. In this case, the ideal solution would be a plastic tank. It is easier to carry than metal, and in terms of durability it is not inferior to the latter. It must be connected to the water supply network so that there is always water in our container. At the outlet of the tank, we install a fine mesh that acts as a filter. It will protect the pump from damage by foreign bodies. Well, now let's see how a do-it-yourself high-pressure car wash is assembled.

Construction assembly

In general, there is nothing complicated here. By the way, it is desirable to install a performance regulator. This element is optional. The fact is that an automatic unloading valve is supplied with it, which, in which case, relieves pressure and relieves the load from the pump. The regulator is necessary in order to change the pressure in the system. Therefore, you can set it to the maximum - and the jet will be very powerful - and to the minimum - in a weak mode of operation.

A metal frame is used as a single base for all assembled parts and assemblies. An electric motor, a pump and a gun with a nozzle are fixed on it. All this is interconnected with the help of high pressure hoses. Pay attention to the quality of the connections, as they will be subjected to serious stress during operation. After the structure is assembled, the mini-car wash is ready to go. Check it out. If everything is in order, then you can use it. In case of insufficient pressure, we check the tightness of the connections and the operation of the pump.

Homemade car wash and its features

We have already figured out that it will be much cheaper to buy all the parts and assemble them yourself and get the finished equipment. But I would like to note that a homemade car wash has a number of features. Firstly, its repair is greatly simplified. In particular, we are talking about the replacement of failed nodes. Secondly, you can use any nozzle. If you need to get a concentrated jet, one type will do, if a scattered one, another.

Many people make mistakes at the stage of connecting the sink to the central water supply. The fact is that the length of the hose should not exceed 7 meters. This will eliminate possible pressure surges. If you neglect this requirement, then nothing good will happen. In the case when the mini-car wash is powered by a tank, you need to carefully choose its volume. It is advisable to take a container of at least 30 liters and equip it with a check valve so that during operation it is possible to build up pressure. If you often wash a heavily soiled car at low temperatures, you will need a homemade car wash foamer. The price of purchased equipment is about 5-9 thousand rubles. Agree, the amount is rather big. It can be made from a conventional plastic sprayer, which is then connected to the sink.

Need to take into account

In general, we figured out how to make a car wash. There is nothing complicated, as you can see. But there are a few simple rules that will help extend the life of such equipment. Periodically it is necessary to check the reliability of connections, including threaded ones. If they are loose, don't forget to tighten them up. Since the tank has a filter element in the form of a mesh, it will gradually become clogged. If it is not cleaned, then in the end the permeability of water to the pump will decrease. Do not forget to periodically inspect the filter, if necessary, change or clean. Well, when assembling the structure, use the popular drawings of car washes, one of which you can find in this article. They will help you navigate what's what, and carry out the installation correctly.

Conclusion

Do-it-yourself car wash is easy. How much longer can you sit and think: “Why don’t I do the sink myself?” If in the end you take it and start, then the assembly work will end in a few hours. In any case, it makes sense to remember that the paintwork of your car is not eternal and needs to be carefully monitored. By the way, many car enthusiasts do not recommend using car washes with a pump that creates a pressure of more than 200 bar. If such equipment is used at full capacity, then there is a chance of damaging the paintwork of the car. And the loads on the engine and working bodies of the units increase significantly. Even if it becomes necessary to create a high pressure, use it in short-term modes. In principle, this is all that can be said about how to build a car wash.

The household goods market is replenished every day with new products that are designed to make life easier for a person. And here, far from the last place is occupied by a high-pressure washer, which makes it possible to significantly facilitate the process of washing a car, paths, shop windows and much more. A powerful jet of water is able to clean dirt even in the most inaccessible places, to cope with old dirt on any surface.

But at the same time, it is worth noting the fact that, due to the high cost, not everyone can purchase a device of this type, and therefore some craftsmen make it on their own. But how can you do a high-pressure washer with your own hands, we'll talk in this article.

How to make your own pressure washer

Pump and electrical network. For any water supply device, the pump is the basis. And in our case, it should also be powerful enough (from 150 atmospheres).

When choosing a pump, special attention should be paid to the working units, that is, the material from which these products were made.

If possible, we choose a product with a high-strength metal or ceramic piston. In this case, the block head is recommended to be selected from brass or bronze alloys. This design can last much longer. The resource between repairs is quite high.

A speed of 15 l/min will be sufficient for the pump.

It is recommended to choose an electric motor with a voltage of 220 V. An additional capacitor unit can provide a reliable start. Higher speeds also ensure greater productivity. But at the same time, a pump that is too fast at maximum operating speed is subject to intense wear.

The best option is a consumer of 2-3 kW and rotation up to 2000 rpm.

A home-made high-pressure washer, in order to preserve important nodes in the chain, must also have safety elements. This link is the coupling connecting the pump to the engine.

If possible, we install such a coupling that could compensate for small axial misalignments between the shafts.

You can also install a single stage belt drive, which will balance the speed and load between the motor and the pump.

The subordinate number is selected based on the required parameters for the frequency of rotation.

Reservoir and performance regulator. The minisink also needs a water tank. In this case, you can use a simple tank, which, if necessary, can also be powered from a permanent source of water (well or water tap).

To exclude the possibility of various debris entering, it is recommended to install coarse and medium filters at the inlet to the tank.

We also add shampoo or other approved auto cosmetics to the main water tank. In this case, the washing process will be more efficient.

As a rule, the pump has a capacity regulator combined with an unloading autovalve that redirects unused pressure back to the tank, reducing the load on the pump.

External elements. We mount all elements on a frame, which can be made of profile or round curved pipes. For the convenience of transporting the unit, a pair of wheels can also be attached to the down pipes. In addition, we also install stops for fixing and a handle.

How such a mini sink will look like can be seen in the photo.

For a high pressure hose, you can use a plastic or rubberized reinforced hose. Be sure to ensure the tightness of the connections using high-quality clamps or hydraulic seals.

The fittings and valves used must be made of low-corrosion alloys: brass or bronze.

Water will be supplied through the gun from the nozzle installed in it. Visually, it looks like a pistol from a gas station. A jet of water will be formed after pressing the key, which in turn will also save the working fluid with consumable additives. You can buy a pistol of this type in almost any hardware store.

1. Periodically inspect the connecting units, and, if necessary, tighten the threaded connections with a wrench.
2. In order not to reduce the throughput of a home-made mini sink, before each connection we inspect the filters installed in the device.
3. To avoid accidents during operation, it is mandatory to ground the electrical part. Therefore, the plug used must be with a grounding terminal, and the cable must be copper, three-core.

How to make a foam generator with your own hands?

You can make a foam generator at home. Of course, in terms of functionality, such a device will lag behind its counterpart, but in everyday life it is difficult to overestimate its benefits.

Of the tools we need:

• Set of wrenches;
• Roulette;
• Bulgarian;
• pliers;

1) .We use an inch pipe with a length of about a meter. We hammer the front part of the product with a plastic washcloth, the purpose of which will be the formation of foam.

2) . For one of the edges of the pipe we make a plug, we also screw a special tee here. After that, we connect a tap to the foam generator to the inlet hole.

3) . On the other side of the pipe, we install a valve through which compressed air will be supplied from the automobile compressor.

4) . We combine the second pipe outlet through a special fitting with a foam hose. To prevent the washcloth from getting into the tube, we also install a special filter. In this case, the filter element may have large sections.

A diagram of a foam generator of this type is presented below.

Please note that the density of the produced foam depends on the length of the tube and the density of its stuffing with a washcloth.

Any container that can withstand the pressure of the compressor is suitable as a liquid tank.

How to properly wash a car with a car wash?

Hand washing is the so-called easy option for cleaning a car from dirt. But as practice shows, in this way it is possible to partially clean the surface of dirt. Another thing is the use of special technical means - car washes that supply detergent and water under high pressure.

Thus, it is possible not only to clean the dirt, but also a layer of oxides and synthetic resins, which, while driving, are deeply “rubbed” into the paintwork.

1. From the car wash sprayer, use a jet of water in different directions to knock off the dirt.
2. Under low pressure, apply a weak foam concentrate to the surface of the body, which will effectively wash off the first two layers of dirt.
3. Rinse the car surface with plenty of water.
4. Apply the main detergent under high pressure, and this must be done from the bottom up. Leave the applied product for 3-5 minutes. At this time, you can wash the rims, suspension elements, bottom.
5. Rinse the surface of the car with plenty of water. Remove its remnants with a squeegee and special napkins. Wipe the car dry, without ignoring the internal surfaces (thresholds, doorways).

1. It is not recommended to wash the car until its body has cooled down. . The consequence of the contact of water with a hot body may be the occurrence of a corrosion process.
2. If the surface of the car has ever been repaired using putty, do not wash the car with too high pressure.
3. It is recommended to wash the car with special detergents no more than 1-2 times a month, as such products contain substances that can adversely affect the paintwork.
4. If possible, use the manufacturer's recommended cleaners, as they will work best on the vehicle's paintwork.

Today, car washing is no longer a long and laborious task. A pressure washer helps you get the job done much faster and more efficiently. In addition, these devices can be used to clean windows, doors and walls of houses, barbecues - in a word, items that are not easy to clean with a brush and (or) rag. Water, which is supplied under strong pressure, does an excellent job of these tasks and helps save time. But such a device is not cheap. A good car wash costs from $150. That is, the possibilities of budget models are very limited. The way out is a do-it-yourself high-pressure washer. It is very useful to have such a device in the country.

Structure:

• The main part of the device is an electric motor that creates a pressure of water. For this purpose, a pump is suitable, not necessarily a new one.
• The motor is inserted into the body of the device and connected to the power supply.
• The body must be made of durable material. For example, metal or thick-walled plastic.

Important! Even in this case, there is a limit on the time of continuous use of the sink. Do not use it for more than 3 consecutive hours. The sink will fail in the shortest possible time.

• If you buy several brush heads, you can turn your own hand-made device into a multifunctional device. In particular, by equipping the structure with a water heater, you can use it as a steam mop or steam cleaner. The turbo cutter helps to wash tires, clean even the most difficult areas from dirt.

Internal pressure

The higher the pressure inside the housing, the more powerful the water jet from the hose. And this means that pollution is washed better. But the pressure must be set carefully, because water under pressure can simply break the car glass or leave dents on the body:

• Pressure on industrial devices is 150-170 bar.
• For a do-it-yourself sink, 100 bar is quite enough.
• When using a turbo cutter, more pressure is required - about 160 bar.

Electric pump pump

The correct choice of the pump determines how well your self-assembled high-pressure washer will work. The material of manufacture of the pump determines its wear resistance:

• The most budgetary and unsuccessful option is a plastic construction. The time of continuous operation of the sink in this case does not exceed 20 minutes.
• More expensive, but reliable pumps are brass. They are not afraid of corrosion.

Rules for the safe operation of mini-sinks:

• Before starting operation, check the device for operability.
• After each use of the device, clean the filter thoroughly.
• If power outages occur frequently, equip the appliance with a battery.
• Do not allow children to use the car wash.
• If you notice that some part is out of order, do not hesitate to repair. Replace it with a valid one as soon as possible.
• Avoid fluctuations in air temperature in the room in which the device is located.

Self-made mini-sink

In order to make a car wash with your own hands, prepare in advance:

• Pump.
• Canister with lid.
• Hose for watering with a "pistol".
• Union.
• Coupling.
• Rubber gasket.

These are parts for a future car wash. Of the consumables, you will need drills and sealant.

Important! Before you make a high pressure washer, the question arises: what volume canister to choose? Practice shows that for an ordinary passenger car, a 5-liter canister is enough. For washing the car, this is quite enough, and in the trunk such a unit will fit easily.

A few tips for choosing accessories:

• There are two requirements for an irrigation hose: strength and flexibility. The best option is nylon braided products. Multi-layer hoses are more durable and reliable. You should not save on them.
• The pump can be used by foot or automatic. The latter option is much more convenient, since you do not have to carry the pump from place to place and at the same time wield your foot. The limiting factor is cost: an automatic pump costs three times as much.
• There are no special requirements for the fitting and coupling. The main thing is that they are firmly in contact with each other.

Important! It is desirable that they are made of the same material - plastic or metal.

• To connect the device to the water supply, you will need a long (5-7 m) hose. This is enough to smooth out the pressure. If the water source is a container of at least 30 liters, it is recommended to use a hose with a non-return valve in order to increase the working pressure.

Hull preparation:

• Drill a hole in the housing (canister) that fits the coupling in size.
• Insert the socket with the fitting into the hole.

Important! Do not forget to secure the coupling with sealant. This is necessary so that high pressure is maintained inside the canister, and the coupling does not pop out during operation of the device.

• Now it's time to do the lid. The lid will need a hard and durable material. Fasten a rubber gasket to its bottom. Make a hole in it and mount the fungus from the tubeless tire.

Final build:

1. Attach the cord from the pump to the “fungus”.
2. Attach the free end of the hose with the fitting to the hole previously made in the body.

The sink is ready! The principle of action is as follows. The pump pumps water and air into the canister (no need to fill to the brim!). You press the handle of the “pistol”, and a jet of water beats under pressure.

Important! If you are going to use the car wash in cold weather, it is advisable to equip it with a water heater.

(20 ratings, average: 4,13 out of 5)

Many car enthusiasts today prefer high-pressure washers when washing their car with a regular rag. The fact is that the sink provides a more gentle cleaning of the paintwork. There is no need to wash the car with a sponge or cloth. A directed jet of water allows not only to knock dust off the body, but also to eliminate fairly strong pollution. Taking into account the fact that there is plenty of dirt on our roads at any time of the year, we can safely talk about cost savings in the operation of such devices.

Unfortunately, good sinks are not cheap. Not all motorists can afford to buy them. Therefore, creating a high-pressure washer with your own seems to be quite an interesting option.

How to choose a minisink?

All mini-washers should be divided into 2 groups: professional and household.

Professional sinks

Professional devices are characterized by increased reliability and excellent performance. But they are not available to everyone, as they are very expensive. And there is no need to talk about their compactness. The average weight of such devices is close to 100 kg. Despite the fact that they are mounted on wheels, they are not at all easy to move. The main advantage of professional AEDs lies in their characteristics:

Professional sinks can work without interruption for a long time.

Despite the attractive functionality, such devices are a specific product, and ordinary motorists almost never buy them. Ordinary people have enough household mini-sinks.

Household AEDs

Household mini-sinks can be used not only for washing the car body, but also for solving the following tasks:

• Cleaning clogged drains.
• Cleaning garden tools.
• Cleaning the local area from construction debris.
• Cleaning garden paths.
• Cleaning of walls, facades of houses and fences.

All household high-pressure car washes are divided into subgroups according to the following criteria: water temperature, type of power supply, power.

Household mini-sinks can receive heated water from the outside or heat it up themselves. Non-heated units are slightly cheaper than heated units.

By type of power, household high-pressure car washes are gasoline and electric.

Appliances with petrol engines are considered close to professional car washes. Therefore, they cost accordingly. The cheapest car wash with a gasoline engine will cost the buyer $600. The most expensive one sells for $5,000. No wonder they are not popular in our country.

High pressure household car washes with electric motor choice of a simple car enthusiast. By power, such devices can be divided into 3 groups:

Minisink selection

Choosing a household AED, the following parameters should be taken into account:

1. Performance.
2. Pressure.
3. pump material.

Plastic pumps do not last long and are installed in inexpensive, low-performance machines that can be used to wash a bicycle, motorcycle or garden cart. Not enough to wash the car. Rather, with the help of such a sink, you can wash the car, but it will take a long time due to low productivity.

The car can be easily washed with HPS with brass or silumin pump. These are middle class appliances. Their performance and pressure is enough to wash any car. In fact, it is the best choice for home use.

Of course, if a car enthusiast has extra money, then he can buy a top-class high-pressure household car wash, but for an ordinary car enthusiast, this is a luxury.

If there is no money to buy an AED or there is simply no desire to part with a large amount, then you can make a high-pressure car wash with your own hands.

First you need to prepare the necessary details. First of all, choose a pump. It must meet the following requirements:

To fix the pump in the housing of a homemade AED, you will need a coupling. It is best to choose a soft model, as it will compensate for the misalignment of the shafts along the axes.

Let's not forget about water tanks. It can be a large canister or barrel. It is desirable that the container was fed from the water supply. Be sure to install a filter at the outlet of the tank. It will protect the pump from sand and other contaminants.

High pressure hose with a gun equipped with a nozzle that creates a working jet.

We hide the pump in a separate container and connect it through fittings to the main water tank and a hose with a gun. At the outlet of the pump, we install a regulator with a closed By - pass.

Water tank and pump container can be installed on a frame made of lightweight hollow pipes. The frame itself can be placed on support wheels for ease of use.

It remains only to supply power to the pump, which will begin to pump water from the main tank through a hose with a gun.

Assembling a minisink with your own hands, do not forget to ground the device. Before starting, make sure that all electrical components of the washer are properly isolated from water.

When operating a home-made AED device, you should regularly check the reliability of all fasteners and tighten them if necessary. Try not to load the device to the maximum, as this will lead to rapid wear of the pump. In addition, excessive pressure can easily damage the paintwork of the body.

As you can see, making a homemade karcher is easy. But such a device, although it will be mobile, can still be used only where there is an electrical network of 220 volts. What if you need to wash your car on the road? To do this, you can make a mini Karcher powered by a cigarette lighter.

To create it, we need:

We make a hole in the lid of the canister and insert the fungus from the wheel into it. We securely seal the entire structure.

We also make a hole in the bottom of the canister, and install a fitting, to which we attach a hose with a gun at the end. We connect the hose from the compressor to the fungus in the lid.

The simplest sink is ready to use. It remains to pour water into the canister, close the lid and turn on the compressor. It will provide the necessary pressure of the water jet at the outlet of the gun.

Of course, this mini karcher cannot boast of high pressure, but it is quite enough to knock off road dust or wash detergent from the car body while parking.

A modern driver does not have to worry about the need to deal with dirt that has clogged in the corners or stains that have firmly ingrained into the surface of the car. New models of car washes are released annually, and their scope is not limited to car washing. It can also be cleaning windows, washing barbecues, doors and walls, and other objects that cannot be brought into a tidy state with a regular brush or rag. Such tasks are within the power of powerful water pressure, but the cost of a decent apparatus starts from 10 thousand rubles, so a do-it-yourself high-pressure washer has become in demand.

The design of any washing machine is represented by the following functional units:

1. The engine is an indispensable basis, thanks to which it is possible to achieve stable operation of the pump. The electric version is more common, but stand-alone units can also be found. In the latter case, the engine can run on diesel or gasoline.
2. The key purpose of the pump is to pump water from an appropriate reservoir or centralized network. To use the latter, you will need additional hoses.
3. The pump is responsible for pressurizing the liquid, the wear resistance of which directly depends on the material used in its manufacture. Plastic options are the last thing that should attract your attention, since prolonged use of it (more than 20 minutes per session) will quickly disable it. Brass is the most reliable material due to the lack of tendency to corrosive processes. Purchased sinks are rarely equipped with this option, so you have every chance to make a unique and ultra-efficient device yourself.
4. The engine fuse is responsible for monitoring the operation of the unit. When a critical mark of water pressure is identified, the rotation of the engine is blocked. An example of this kind of situation is the accumulation of liquid inside due to a blocked hose during the washing operation.
5. Filters are the main protective elements that protect the device from mechanical damage due to the ingress of sand and other large foreign particles.

Do-it-yourself washing

Consider how to make a high-pressure washer with your own hands and what factors to consider before buying the components. Acquisition of construction details is the first step.

The pump will take the largest amount from your budget, but it is difficult to overestimate the importance of this element. Focus on high performance options. Optimal is the development of pressure up to 100-200 bar. Ceramics or other durable materials should be used for the manufacture of pistons, brass for the head of the blocks, they must be made by casting. An extensive area of ​​support should fall on the liners of the crank mechanism.

Do-it-yourself car wash from a compressor is an option that allows you to save money.

Its self-production is simpler, the compressor is a successful and efficient alternative to a water pump.

Motor selection

It is better to choose a single-phase electric motor when it comes to domestic use. Connecting to a 220 V network allows you to protect yourself from unnecessary problems and keep finances intact.

Reducer and capacitors

A single stage gearbox and capacitors can be used to improve ease of operation. The mentioned components of the design are not mandatory, but they can increase the resource of the device.

Do not forget to buy a coupling that will be used to connect the engine to the pump. The soft coupling is what should get your attention, since its function is to compensate for possible mismatches. It is also an alternative to a fuse if there is a problem with the pump or gearbox.

Water tank

A specific volume of water ensures that the pump operates in a uniform mode, and an appropriate container is needed for water. This can be a canister or a tank for which it is necessary to provide a connection to the water supply network. At the outlet, do not forget to place a filter mesh, its functions will be limited to filtering the incoming water.

Adding active detergent substances to the tank will significantly increase the washing efficiency.

Regulator

The regulator responsible for the performance of the pump is often equipped with an automatic unloading valve that directs the water in the return path when circumstances arise that are dangerous to the operation of the pump.

Other details

Use a frame as a base. Also useful is a gun with a nozzle fixed on a hose and sleeves designed for high pressure.

The assembly of the car wash is limited to fixing the listed elements on the frame and connecting them to each other.

Design options

Knowing the features of the technological process of assembly and configuration, it is worth thinking about the design features of the future device:

1. Consider in advance what kind of power source will be acceptable to you. When choosing fuel, you can not worry about the possibilities of transporting and moving the device. Preferring electricity, provide uninterrupted access to the source. The free movement of the unit is unlikely to be possible, but spending on expensive gasoline will be excluded from the list of problems.
2. Before starting work, decide on operational goals. Compact machine with a long hose - ideal for washing car wheels and windows at home. If you are aiming for use on an industrial scale, the ability of the device to move will not be so important, so the sink can be immediately made stationary and connected to the water supply.
3. If you intend to save money, set up automatic water supply. You can afford to skimp on water, but don't skimp on structural elements.

Operation and maintenance

A proper washing service directly depends on the following recommendations:

• after each use of the sink, change the filter to maintain throughput at an optimal level;
• before activating the unit, make sure that it is working;
• prevent children from accessing such equipment;
• purchase a battery if the source of electricity is unstable;
• elements that are out of order, change immediately;
• ground the electrical part using a cable with three copper wires;
• the plug must have a grounding terminal;
• do not use the device for more than 3 hours in a row, even if you made it from the most durable materials;
• do not fix the jet in one zone on the surface of the car for too long, otherwise you risk damaging the paintwork;
• despite the pressure inside the case of 150-170 bar in the case of store options, with self-production, 100 bar will be enough;
• if stains are not removed under a pressure of 100 bar, it is better to get additional brushes or a turbo cutter in the form of a hose nozzle.

findings

There is nothing complicated in the independent manufacture of a car wash. Study the device and the principle of operation, turn on your imagination, plan the necessary purchases and start assembling. Remember to periodically check the fasteners and tighten them if necessary, as they can loosen during use.