Washing your car with a rag and a bucket is fine, but it's somewhat outdated.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 tank. 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 eventually the water flow 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.
A pressure washer is a handy device that allows you to easily wash your car, as well as other surfaces in everyday life. thanks to the strong pressure of water, such devices are able to clean even heavily soiled surfaces without the use of detergents.
Such devices are usually installed at car washes and cost a lot of money. The Karcher pressure washer deservedly gained popularity, but not everyone can buy it. Therefore, for use at home, you can make a car wash with your own hands. - a great alternative to professional ones, which you can assemble yourself from improvised means.
To make a Karcher pressure washer, you need to find the right materials. You can use improvised items or purchase new ones in the store. So, to create a minisink you will need:
The principle of operation of the device
Will work on the principle of conventional car washes. Water in it is supplied through a rubberized hose under high pressure. Air is pumped into the water tank by a car pump, which creates excess pressure in the tank. Water under pressure is supplied to the outside and is supplied when the trigger of the watering gun is pressed. Thanks to the strong pressure of water, with the help of a car wash, you can clean any surface.
In this case, the pump is used exclusively for pumping air into the tank. Replace the constant use of the pump, you can install a pump that allows you to manually raise the pressure. Also, plunger pumps are an alternative to automobile pumps.
Plunger pumps are modern devices that belong to hydraulic dosing devices. The plunger pump independently mixes water and detergents in selected proportions and delivers the mixture under high pressure. The disadvantage of installing such a pump is the excessive final weight of the car wash.
How to assemble a car wash with your own hands
Initially, you need to prepare a water tank. To do this, using a sharp knife in the lid of the canister, it is necessary to cut a hole that will be narrower than the nipple in diameter. After that, a nipple is threaded through the inside of the lid.
Advice : If the hole is larger than required, the gaps must be additionally sealed.
Through the nipple in the lid, the pump will pump air into the tank, and water and detergents will also be filled.
Next, you need to prepare a system for connecting the canister to the watering gun. To do this, in the lower part of the canister, you need to cut a hole close in diameter to the coupling. The clutch is attached from the inside of the canister, you can start it with a piece of wire. After threading the hose connector, sealant must be applied around the circumference. A fitting is also attached to the coupling.
After the sealant has dried, you can begin to prepare the sink for work. To do this, plugging the fitting with your finger, you need to pour water into the canister. Also, any detergents (specialized detergents for cars or household chemicals) can be added to the tank. The nipple must be connected to a car pump and gradually pump up the canister with air. During this action, you need to ensure that the canister does not inflate too much. If it was decided to install a plunger pump or pump, then they are attached to the fitting using connecting hoses.
After completing these steps, a rubber hose is connected to the fitting, at the end of which a watering gun must be attached.
Advice : You can check the correct assembly by pressing the trigger of the gun. If, as a result, a strong pressure of water began to flow from the gun, then the device was assembled correctly. If this does not happen, then the canister is leaking air and you need to check all connections again and, if necessary, treat them with sealant.
Today, you no longer need to waste time and effort to deal with dried-on dirt and clogged dust. Every year, new modifications of pressure washers appear on the market. These devices wash not only cars, but also windows, walls and doors of houses, all kinds of household utensils that are difficult to clean with a brush and a rag. Strong water pressure is much more effective to cope with this task. The presence of such a device at home will save money that will be spent on washing the car in the service, while water consumption will be minimal.
Internal washing device
The main parts are the engine and the pump, they create the necessary water pressure. It is recommended to use a single-phase electric motor with a potential of 220 V, it is easily accessible and safe.
To make the case, choose a strong material, metal or durable plastic. But even when using a wear-resistant case, it is not recommended to use a sink for more than three hours in a row. This will lead to a quick breakdown.
A wide variety of nozzles for hoses are available, they serve to facilitate cleaning - different stiffness brushes, standard sprayers and soft rollers. If you buy a pair of these nozzles, you can significantly increase the functions of the sink, use it as a steam cleaner (requires a heater) or an automatic mop.
Internal pressure
The more pressure is created inside the body, the stronger the jet of water from the hose will be, which means that the dirt will fall behind faster. Pressure must be set carefully, high pressure water may cause dents in the vehicle or damage fragile parts. Manufacturers recommend setting the pressure in the range of 150-170 bar, 100 bar is enough to clean the machine.
If a jet of water fails to clean, purchase a nozzle for a hose, a turbo cutter. With its help, you can wash discs, tires and remove accumulated dirt in the cracks. To use a turbo cutter, you need 160 bar.
Electric pump
Before buying a pump for designing a sink, you need to choose the right device. The material from which the pump is made will determine its durability.
The plastic pump will soon fail. Such a pump it is not recommended to use more than 20 minutes at a time. Reliable, but expensive are made of brass, as this material does not corrode.
How to use the mini sink
In order for the sink to work for a long time without breakdowns, the following rules should be followed:
- Before starting operation, be sure to check the functionality of the sink.
- Be sure to change the filter after each use.
- If the power source is unstable, install a battery in the sink.
- If necessary, replace damaged parts in a timely manner.
- Install surge protection.
If you follow all the rules, your sink will last a long time.
Homemade car wash
If you set out to make a sink with your own hands, you will need the following materials:
Canister volume selection depends on the purpose for which a homemade pressure washer will be used. A five-liter canister is enough for a car.
Choose a hose that is flexible and durable, it should not break. The most suitable option would be a hose with a nylon braid and consisting of several layers. You can't skimp on this part.
The pump can be used both foot and electric. It is more convenient to use an electric pump, you will not have to do unnecessary physical work with your foot. However, the cost of such a pump will be several times more expensive.
Coupling and fitting choose at your discretion, the main thing is that they have a tight connection with each other.
In the canister, make a hole suitable for the size of the coupling. Next, insert the coupling into the hole and screw in the fitting. In order to maintain the desired pressure in the canister, all structural details are connected to the sealant.
The lid on the canister must be solid and durable.. For higher tightness, put a rubber gasket on the bottom of the lid. Then drill a hole in it and insert the fungus of the tubeless tire.
The canister is tightly twisted with a lid, and a cord from the pump is connected to a pre-embedded fungus. The hose is attached to the hole in the canister with a fitting. The device is ready!
The principle of operation of such a device is simple: using a pump, air is supplied to the canister (you do not need to fill the canister with water to the brim). The pressure created will displace the water when the gun handle is pressed.
If a home-made device will be used in cold weather, it should be equipped with a heating element. For such a sink, a canister with a large volume is required, it will lose its mobility, but with the help of hot water, the dirt will be cleaned much faster and more efficiently.
June 7, 2017High pressure washers are widely used among residents of the private sector and car owners. This phenomenon is caused by the fact that the devices are used for various purposes: for cleaning paths in the backyard, when cleaning terraces, and even for washing cars and houses. To become the owner of the unit in question, it is not necessary to send it to a specialized store and spend a large amount of money. You can make an apparatus from a compressor and some other components.
Advantages of homemade equipment
If there is no financial opportunity to purchase a device, or there is a desire to assemble equipment for a high-pressure washer with your own hands, the instructions below will be of interest to you. Before you make a pressure washer, you should know about the advantages of technology:
- low financial waste;
- the possibility of modernization;
- functionality at the level of production equipment;
- fast production;
- operational simplicity;
- high efficiency;
- no spare parts needed and no extra costs.
With the help of the equipment, it is possible to effectively, quickly and efficiently wash off pollution of any degree of complexity. You will be able to clean various surfaces of the car body. A home-made high-pressure washer, made and operated with your own hands, eliminates damage to the treated surfaces. This quality favorably characterizes the cleaning technique in the eyes of the user.
We make our own equipment
First of all, you need to choose a suitable pump for washing. It is planned to operate the equipment for commercial purposes - make a choice in favor of industrial equipment. The basic principle remains the choice of a plunger pump equipped with ceramic pistons. The crank mechanism increases the service life. The main parts of a pressure washer are:
- washing filter;
- hoses;
- additional nozzles;
- water containers;
- detergents;
- sandblaster for washing;
- durable wear-resistant housing;
- High pressure pump;
- engine (petrol or electric).
The schematic diagram of the operation of a home-made high-pressure washer is as follows: water is transported to a container from a special container or water pipe, after which it is pumped through a pump. The maximum load provides pressure up to 160 bar. Water is supplied through a hose to a gun with a nozzle. Consider the main steps in the manufacture of a pressure washer:
- The tank is equipped with a pump, and the connections must be completely tight and durable. Fixation involves the use of couplings.
- On the other side of the tank, you will need to fix the hose with which water will be supplied.
- The hose is equipped with a tip that directs the water jet.
An autoloading valve, produced in two variations, will need to be connected to the pump. The first type is represented by a closed valve. The system depressurizes after the gun is closed and then the water is pumped from the outlet to the inlet. It is recommended not to operate the device longer than 3 minutes. The valve with a supply differs in convenience. The liquid is transported through the collector to the tank or to the sewer immediately after the pressure is released (depending on the connection option of the sink).
There are two ways to connect the motor to the pump. In the presence of a motor with a full shaft, docking with the pump directly is possible. The motor shaft is placed on the front bearing, which creates an additional load. This technique shows the most economical results. If you make a sink with such an engine with your own hands, then it will have a significant overhaul period of operation. This is caused by high starting loads. It happens that it is not possible to remove the pump shaft from the engine. In this regard, it is advisable to install a soft starter.
Another method of coupling the motor to the pump is envisaged, which uses a clutch. It is used as a cushion, which softens the impact during the start-up of the equipment. The coupling serves as a protection that prevents the violation of the bearing of the shafts. In order to reduce the load during start-up, a soft start is allowed. Thanks to this element, it is possible to gradually increase the power in the system.
The sink is mounted on a frame. The installation of the electrical component, the gun with the nozzle, and the high-pressure hose is carried out sequentially. It is important that the equipment in question be installed according to the recommendations of the part manufacturers.
Follow the established algorithm for assembling the device, take into account the load present during the tightening of the bolts. Also use anaerobic fixatives.
The sink must be connected to the water supply system with a hose. The connecting hose must be at least 7 meters long. The length of the hose allows you to smooth out pressure drops in the water supply. Consider a sink filter. It is recommended to use a hose with a non-return valve, which increases the working pressure.
- Debris accumulating in the filter element of the tank must be removed in a timely manner.
- It is advisable to inspect the connections in time, tighten if necessary.
- Each electrical element of a homemade sink must be grounded, for which use a flexible three-wire wire in double insulation. Also use a grounding plug for this purpose.
- Connect the power outlet to earth ground securely.
- The strong pressure of the jet produced by the apparatus is not needed. Otherwise, the pressure pump will be overloaded, which is then likely to adversely affect the paintwork of the equipment. These actions will lead to moisture ingress into electrical equipment, damage to equipment and additional waste.
- Choose a water pressure that is suitable for removing basic dirt from the surface to be treated.
The product must be comfortable during operation, and therefore you should not resort to the use of large parts. If you live in an area where power is often cut off, it is advisable to provide an alternative power source: equip the equipment with a rechargeable battery.
The device of its own production is able to wash off pollution of varying complexity from any surface, from any object. Even the most stubborn stains of dirt will be removed without any streaks or residual dirt. The big advantage of the installation is the impossibility of damaging the treated surface during the cleaning process. Listen to the advice of experienced professionals - save time and money by creating useful home appliances with your own hands.
The use of foam for a contactless car wash provides a better cleaning of the surface. The advantage of this washing method is also "delicacy" - the foam will not damage the body. Therefore, many motorists strive to make a foaming agent for car washing with their own hands.
Principle of operation
With the help of high pressure, a jet of foam is supplied, which not only removes all contaminants from the surface, but also disinfects it. The internal device of the unit allows you to create foam of the desired density and evenly apply it to the machine. Foam is formed in several stages:
- A jet of water passes through a car shampoo suitable for a foam generator.
- It mixes with a stream of air and foam begins to form.
- At high speed, the resulting substance is sent to a special foaming "tablet".
- The foam of the desired density is already coming out of it.
The foaming agent allows you to clean very quickly, besides, it significantly saves water. A small amount of water is enough for a jet, high pressure will provide the desired spray rate and surface area to be treated. Thus, a foaming agent and a high pressure car wash very quickly occupy a leading position in the list of necessary tools for the garage, according to car enthusiasts.
How to assemble a blowing agent
The foam unit itself consists of several parts:
- Cylinder with compressed air.
- Application gun.
- mixer parts.
A professional foaming agent of industrial production is very expensive, so it makes sense to assemble a foam generator for washing a car with your own hands.
At a price it will be much more affordable, besides, the efficiency of work will remain the same. There are several ways to create a blowing agent:
- Manufacture of a compact foaming agent.
- Creation of a traditional foam generator.
- Production of a foaming agent from a canister.
To make it by the first method, you need adjustable wrenches, a grinder, and other tools, as well as the materials for manufacturing themselves: a tube 50 cm inch in diameter, a washcloth made of polyethylene strips, pipes, a hose. Part of the pipe is filled with a washcloth, which replaces the tablet and promotes the formation of foam. At one end of the pipe you need to put a filter, and at the other - a plug and a tee. It is on this part that a valve for supplying compressed air is installed. To the side where the filter stands, attach the fitting and foam hose. Such a foam generator will not last very long, but it will be cheap.
Do-it-yourself foam nozzle for car washing is made in the same way. Sometimes motorists need a separate foam nozzle if it was not in the purchased factory-made washing kit.
Such a self-made device is likely to work much more efficiently than many industrial foam guns.
The second method will make it possible to make a unit that is close in design to an industrial one. To do this, you need a compressor that will create a sufficient level of power. In addition, you will need to take a container with thick walls. It could be a garden sprayer.
Metal tubes must be screwed into the container from the sprayer. At one end, you need to install a fitting and a check valve, and at the other end, a container for connecting with a foaming tablet. The air supply for this frother must come from below. After completing the assembly of the foam generator for a car wash with your own hands, you can use it.
Not only a garden sprayer can be used as a water tank. The most reliable option would be a propane tank, as it can withstand high pressure.
A third method for creating a blowing agent is using a plastic canister. This allows you to make the necessary unit cheaply and quickly. You will need a long tube of small diameter, which must be filled with fishing line or something that replaces it. A fitting is installed at one end of the pipe, and a special adapter with two tubes is installed at the other. Hoses and taps are fixed on it, through which water is supplied. On the one hand, the foaming agent is attached to a container with washing liquid, on the other hand, a compressor.
All the described methods allow you to make a do-it-yourself foaming agent for a car wash.
Do not use a foaming agent or a high-pressure car wash for a very long time in a row. This may lead to breakage.
Creating a car wash with your own hands
Thanks to the high-pressure car wash, you can easily clean the car from any contamination. The combination of strong water pressure and a special nozzle that allows you to cover a larger volume is liked by motorists. The versatility of such a unit also makes it attractive.
In many stores you can buy a car wash of industrial production, but its cost will be quite high. For the sake of saving money, as well as for the pleasure of doing something on their own, many motorists prefer to do their own car wash. There are a large number of training videos in which you can find out all the information you need to create it.
First you need to find the right parts. These include:
- Pump.
- Electric motor.
- Coupling.
- Water tank.
- Pump performance regulator.
The pump must be chosen very carefully. It will become the most expensive element in the entire structure, but it will last a long time. All important parts of the pump must be metal. In addition, it must be characterized by high performance and pressure resistance of 150 atmospheres.
A single-phase 220 V electric motor can be used for car washing. The connection will be safe and inexpensive. The higher the engine speed, the greater the performance level. The electric motor will be connected to the pump by a coupling. It is best to use a soft coupling, which can become a fuse if the pump fails.
The water tank must be voluminous so that the pump can work for a long time without interruption. Water tanks are often used. A mesh can be attached at the junction with the hose so that no debris can damage the pump. The material of the container must be chosen carefully, as it must be durable. Thick metal or plastic will do.
To make a high-pressure car wash with your own hands, you must also purchase a pump regulator. It will help return some of the water to the tank if there is a threat of overloading the pump. All elements are fixed on a special frame. They also add high pressure sleeves, a brass pump and a spray gun.
The process of washing a car can be made more efficient by attaching a brush or other nozzle to the water hose.
They will complement the list of car wash functions. If desired, you can turn the sink into a steam cleaner. This will also require a special nozzle on the hose, as well as a heater.
It is impossible to work for a long time using the same sink, as it will thus quickly become unusable. The purpose for which the sink will be used affects its final dimensions. In appearance, the sink can be:
- Compact.
- Large stationary.
The second option is more difficult to use at home and requires a fair amount of space in the garage.
Knowing how to make a car wash with your own hands, every motorist will think about how to use it correctly.
There are several basic rules for use:
- Regular inspection of the connections and their tightening will help prevent mechanical damage, possible from strong pressure.
- Inspection of filters before operation - their regular cleaning will ensure a uniform supply of water.
- Grounding the electrical circuit - not only the electric motor must be grounded, but also the plug itself. Then the device will be safe.
- Washing should be carried out over the entire surface so as not to damage the paint that covers the car. If the machine has a drawing or a sticker on it, do not direct a jet of water at this element, as it may cause cracks in the coating or remove the sticker.
- It is advisable to use a battery in case of a poor-quality source of electricity. This will protect the unit from short circuit.
- Avoid temperature fluctuations - a sudden change in air temperature can lead to tool breakage.
When using, you must remember that washing the car is not allowed everywhere. Washing a car near ponds and lakes threatens with a fine. This rule, however, does not apply to keeping headlights and windows clean.
You can use a high-pressure car wash not only outside the car, but also inside. This will allow you to clean the interior very quickly and efficiently. A wide range of nozzles and rollers will help you to do even delicate cleaning in the car.
If you know how to make a foam generator and how to make a car wash with your own hands, then you can save a lot of money. Experienced motorists have all the necessary materials and tools in their garages, so they will only have to spend money on a special car shampoo.
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