Power washer for hard pack

[A_Sly1_U]

Has anyone ever tried mounting a powerwasher on their dredge and using it to break up hard pack and blow out cracks? It seems like blaster nozzles just don't have the umph sometimes.

 

[russau]

i hook my blaster hose to my venturi. i have MORE than enough PSI to blast out anything! you must be going right off the 3/4 hose bib on the pump. i use it ONLY for cleaning out the sluice and washing the matts.

 

[Oakview2]

Russau how about a pic. Love to see how you plumbed it.

 

[omnicron]

Hmm. I'm also using the hose connection on the pump and when I'm running at production speed, I can blast hardpack from 3' away underwater. If I lift the hose out of the water, I can spray over 35'. Maybe if you guys are using a "Y" fitting you need to buy the zero loss style. Also the size of the hose matters.

 

[Hoser John]

Go to 5/8" non kink hose,biggest hole in control valve you can find and mini firemens nozzle or tiny lawn sweeper nozzle-Harbor freight carries all for under $10 total-except hose as OSH no kink rocks--and don't get 50 foot hose either,15-20' more better-John

 

[russau]

my venturi is a Dave Frank PVC venturi.Dave uses these on his Vortexrex device.it has a PVC chamber around my 4 inch line and it has 4 ventruis drill into it aimed with the direction of flow and its drilled at 11 degrees. my blaster hose openings are drilled into that chamber. i have 3 blaster hose openings for my choice to use! a 3/4",a 1", and a 1 1/4" the 1 and the 1 1/4 have camlock fittings.these blaster hoses are in my trailer and are different lengths.like John says i have nozzels that are reduced down like small firemans nozzels.ya just cant beat it when a plan comes together!

 

[Jason in Enid]

I use the built in hose bib but I set up my blaster nozzle the same way Hoser described. The only thing it won't tear apart is cemented hardpack, but that takes a sledge and chisel to break apart.

 

[bill-costa rica]

my blaster is a 1-1/2 hose like russ is plumbed into my can around my jets, runs at 35 psi necked down to a 1/2 fire nozzle . you need to be planted well and braced when you turn the blaster on. it pushes hard , buy will break up hard pack and clean up cracks. a power washers force would be deminished by being in the water. lots of pressure but no volume.

 

[bill-costa rica]

my blaster is a 1-1/2 hose like russ is plumbed into my can around my jets, runs at 35 psi necked down to a 1/2 fire nozzle . you need to be planted well and braced when you turn the blaster on. it pushes hard , buy will break up hard pack and clean up cracks. a power washers force would be deminished by being in the water. lots of pressure but no volume.

bill/cr

 

[russau]

and ill bet Bills blaster hose will chase away them croc-a-gators when they get nosey!

 

[Jason in Enid]

and ill bet Bills blaster hose will chase away them croc-a-gators when they get nosey!

Bills blaster could put out a house fire!

 

[Hoser John]

Them caymen in CR are some pretty tough charactors and a little water don't think so-John

 

[bill-costa rica]

the blaster also works great on greenies in kyaks yelling at you, telling you not to dredge. they go away real quick.

bill/cr

 

[Hoser John]

I used a 8' multipronged fish harpoon for them in the Rucky chuckies Bill. They'd splash dredge,hit with paddles and then sink in the rapids due to bottom punctures in the rapids due to tree limbs so sad as they went down hahahaha. As ye sow---so shall ye reap ya enviro freaks-John

 

[G1sammons]

Well I tried the presure washer thing!

It does work but its massive over kill and very hard to control it will blow you all over the place almost impossible to. Keep it in front of the nozzel...
Kinda felt like a jack leg after not listening to the opinions of so many on here
After working with it trying to get it under control I finally gave up and went to a blaster nozzel
While it is slower on breaking up hard pack. At least your not flying everywhere under water with the blaster nozzel