In the market for a steam cleaner.. I think itd be pretty neat to knock out messy jobs fairly easy but just wondering how well do they work and which ones do y'all have experience with? I'm looking for cheap but good or atleast decent to get the feel for the machines.

Thanks for the knowledge gained in advance

 

I am going to go out on a limb here and guess you have not priced them.

IIRC just the add on water heater's start at around $750-800.

Here is some to check out:

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/too...essure-washers

I would watch CL or the like for a used unit. You really want one that will make 250* water to really cut the grime. It's on my wish list as well.

The bonus of a true steam cleaner is, the parts are so hot when you are done washing them, that they will dry before they have a chance to rust.

 

Ya those are the big boy toys! No way I could spend that anytime soon. I'd rather get injectors or something!

I was just looking at the portable looking ones for like 100 bucks. I wonder if their even worth trying. They claim to go up to 225 degrees.

 

I have a Karcher Steam Cleaner/ Pressure Washer it will put out live superheated steam or the temperature can be turned down to use as a pressure washer, this is an older model and it only puts out 2000 PSI boiling water, it is diesel fueled and looks like a small yellow coffin with wheels on it.

When the burner fires up it has a rumble like a jet engine,
I have used it on my truck chassis and transmission a couple of times and a few times on my engine but you need to be really careful because the high pressure will slice through the wiring and hoses like a hot knife through butter and peel off all of the insulation leaving bare wires, it will also strip the paint right off the engine leaving only bare metal, for this live steam is better.

Also after you steam clean the engine or a chassis part you can watch a film of rust form right in front of your eyes.

Mine was a commercial unit I bought from a rental yard that was going out of business for $200.00, cost around $3000.00 new

Jim