Pressure washing RIB

[BogMonster]

Just seen mention of it on another thread.

I thought about using the pressure washer on mine after I accidentally got it "rather muddy" the other day - but I didn't. I figured that projecting 1000psi+ onto a thin Hypalon skin was probably going to be asking for trouble?

What is the verdict, do people use pressure washers or is it better not to?

[Ezgoing]

Stephen

A Garden hose, plenty of water and plenty of fairy liquid and elbow grease should do the trick.

Rgds

[John Kennett]

I've tried using a pressure washer on a RIB and it was all but useless. Had no effect on the tubes, and didn't do much on the GRP. The only thing that it did well was the Treadmaster flooring which came up like new!

If you do use one though, resist the temptation to see whether angling the jet right in close to a tube seam will make it come apart. It probably will (I haven't tried it, but in my youth I accidently removed the stripes off a couple of Police cars using a pressure washer!)

John

[Biggles]

I use one, when we haven't got a hosepipe ban, mainly on the trailer.

[BogMonster]

They aren't really that effective at cleaning vehicles, if my LR is plastered in mud (which is quite often) you can wash all the solid bits off but when it dries, it still looks filthy. I guess the same is true of RIB tubes then, but my main concern was damaging the tube with the high pressure.

Oh well, I was just looking for a lazy way of doing it, as always, failed, as usual

Thanks

[Alice]

Back to the TFR, A dilute TFR wash with a soft brush and then rinsed with a hose is like magic. Don't let the TFR dry. V important to get some protectors back on the tubes and other surfaces afterwards though as it'll strip them bare. Pressure washers are good for getting grit off cars to prevent the sponge from swirling it around and scratching.

[Hugh Jardon]

pressure washers will remove the slime, mud , green algie stuff and gunge a treat however they will never remove the film of dirt, that is best removed with a brush or sponge and some gentle cleaner or in Alices case she uses tfr to clean up all her dirty nooks and crannies!

[Nauti Buoy]

Originally Posted by John Kennett

in my youth I accidently removed the stripes off a couple of Police cars using a pressure washer!)

John

Sorry, but how do you accidently remove the stripes off of a Police Car

[Alice]

Originally Posted by Nauti Buoy

Sorry, but how do you accidently remove the stripes off of a Police Car

I think you have to steal them first. I wonder whether he managed to pressure wash the blue lights off aswell ?!

[brucehawsker]

Am I being stoopid? What is TFR?

[mdt]

Originally Posted by brucehawsker

Am I being stoopid? What is TFR?

Traffic Film Remover

Heavy duty detergent… works wonders on many things including oil off your drive when you spill it topping your car up “apparently”

not stoopid it tool me ages to work out what WOT stood for :-)

[John Kennett]

Originally Posted by Nauti Buoy

Sorry, but how do you accidently remove the stripes off of a Police Car

I had a temp job working at a body shop that had the contract to patch up the local police cars. I accidently discovered that at certain angles the pressure washer would remove the stuck-on stripes in an instant!

This was in the 80s and apart from the selection of police cars, the most common things in the yard were stolen/recovered Cosworths. We used screwdrivers in the broken ignition barrels to start them when thay had to be moved around.

John

[CJL]

We regularly clean our ribs with a steam cleaner and traffic film remover. Works on pretty much anything with the water temp at about 80 degrees. How have to be careful on the tubes though. Its a big diesel steam cleaner so standing back when you do the tubes is a must.

Also engine decals, trailer deacals, SSR numbers and the like come off very quickly, but it does a very good job.

We've never had any problems getting really close to the GRP though.

Chris