mfletch

Hello everyone, 1st post here. First off a little background. I'm a GC that does my own interior and exterior painting and staining on new construction. All of the homes in my area are stained so there is alot of work in the restaining business which I've decided to pursue. Now to my questions. I've got 9 hp, 3500 psi, 3.5 gpm pressure washer. So I'm covered on that part for now. What is not clear to me is the application of chemicals. I just finished a job using a pump sprayer to apply percarb and oxalic acid. That is alot of work. I've been reading up on the different ways to apply chemicals. Uploading, downstreaming (are they the same thing), 12 volt pressure pump, and a gas powered chemical applicator. My guestion is what is the best approach. I'm leaning toward the gas powered machine. I know this is alot of money but I'm in this for the long haul, and besides I'm a tool guy and a gearhead so I like anything with an engine on it. I just want to make sure I get the right tool for the job. I'll leave it at that for know. I'm I will have alot more questions. Thanks in advance to all of you that take the time to share your knowledge.

Matt, thanks for that reply. I've been away from the computer for the last week, got a new baby girl that just arrived. Its been a little hectic around here. It has been 16 yrs since I last did this. Anyway back to your setup, that is an awesome setup. Could you tell me where I might be able to purchase equipment like that, possibly online. Also I had another question. I was thinking about your air compressor set up and was wondering how it would work using a compressor to pressurize a tank and move fluids this way. I thought this is similiar to using a pump up sprayer. I guessing that this isn't practical since I've not heard of anyone using such a setup, but was wondering. Thanks

Thanks for the replies. I just read thru the xjet vs. ds thread and still trying to figure out what is best for applying chemicals ( oxalic acid and percarb). One of the things that I was wondering, is there different way of looking at this depending on what you are trying to do ( house wash vs. stain prep) the stain prep is what I'm trying to do. I like the idea of the ds in that you just have one hose out. But it seems like it is not that easy to figure out the chemical ratios. The xjet seems like a good idea but I don't like the idea of lugging around buckets of chemical. And then there is the pressure thing. Its seems to me that it is best to apply chemicals at a very low pressure, like that of a pump up. So I guess I'm leaning towards the 12 volt pump or a gas powered chemical pump. I would like to keep my equipment in the trailer and just roll out the hose so I'm not sure if the 12 volt pump provides enough pressure for 200' of hose. The other thing I'm still wondering about is the use of an extension wand. I have gathered that most high rinse from the ground by using a higher pressure and or a small degree tip. All the houses that I will work on are stained redwood of red cedar. I've been doing alot of research on preping and staining of cedar and redwood and there are some that express alot of caution when it comes to using a pw to prep siding or wood decks. The spraying at an upward angle against lap siding concerns me. Siding is designed to shed water that comes at it at a downward angle. This concern led me to adapt my 6' airless ext. pole onto my pressure washer wand. At the end of the 6' ext to head can be swiveled to anle the spray at a downward angle. It works great for getting the spray at a downward angel but is a bit cumbersome. Does anyone out there use an ext. wand? I again apprieciate any input.

Thanks for the reply Adrian. I added a signature info and somemore info about me in my profile. You are right about a pump sprayer. I sprayed an entire house and the decks using one and don't want to do the next one that way. So is the use of an xjet considered downstreaming? This would be when you draw the chemicals out of a bucket at the spray wand? I have a tube coming off the pump to draw chemicals. Is this considered uploading? It seems a little complicated on how you would meter the chemical ratio using the device at the pump. Alot of the houses in my area are 2 to 3 stories or more if on a steep hillside, so I'm looking for a way to apply chemical and wash from the ground as much as possible. Are extension wands practical for this situation. I use an airless sprayer for applying stain and tried an telescoping extentsion pole. They are too flimsy and hard to control so I use a 6' extension on my gun and work with ladders. The constant moving of ladders is hard work not mention potentially dangerous, so I'm trying to minimize the ladder use while washing. Thanks again