Amazon.com Review

Are you looking for a pressure washer with enough power tohandle everyday chores--such as power-washing your deck, sidewalk,patio, grill, or car--but without the hassles associated with larger,commercial-grade, gas-powered units? The Karcher K520M electric pressurewasher may provide the answer. Powered by a 120-volt, 60 Hz inductionmotor, the K520M offers adjustable pressure, with a maximum output of1,600 psi at a rate of 1.8 gallons per minute. While this might not beenough for some commercial applications, such as stripping the paintfrom an entire house, it more than suffices for everyday, at-homechores. As the world's leading manufacturer of high-pressure washers,Karcher has put a lot of care into this unit's design. At 31 pounds, theK520M is lightweight. It's also easy to use. Power to the washer iscontrolled by a trigger gun. Just releasing the trigger shuts it down. Acorrosion- and impact-resistant cover protects the motor and pumpassembly, a garden hose connector with external water filter eliminatesdebris, and a safety lock prevents the trigger from accidentallyengaging when not in use. --Carl Thress ... Read more

Features

• Adjustable operating pressure directly at the wand
• Sprayer delivers 1600 psi at a rate of 1.8 gallons per minute
• Complete machine shut-off at the trigger gun
• Built-in GFCI protection for increased safety
• Two wheels for easy transport, pull-out handle, and built-in accessory storage

Reviews (28)

Decent power, great flexibility
I think this is a great product for residential use. I've just recently used it to wash my deck, and scrub away much of the poor paint job that the previous owner had done.

For cleaning, the power it had was quite sufficient to blast away gunk and mildew, without using any cleaning additives. It does have a siphon tube that allows you to mix in cleaning additives, but I found that straight water pressure cleaned just fine.

For paint cleaning, I found it a bit underpowered. I was able to get up all of the paint that needed to come up, but it went a bit slowly. To get the pressure I needed to scour up the paint, I had to hold the nozzle about an inch from the deck surface. Since the width of the water flow is much smaller when the nozzle is so close, it took a while to cover all the surface area.

However, compared to the extra complication and cost of a gas-powered washer, I was willing to accept the thing being slightly underpowered. Setup and breakdown of the washer is a snap. To take a break in the middle of a long project, just flip the safety lock on the nozzle gun, and turn a power switch on the sprayer. And that's all there is to it - no worries about fueling, lubing, cooling, exhaust. Time will tell if the unit lasts as long as a comparable gas powered washer would.

I was somewhat nervous about using an electric appliance for very wet work. However, I found that the long power cord and long hose for the spray nozzle made it easy for me to keep the washer away from my work area. Also, the unit is double insulated, and has a ground-fault interrupt unit on the plug, so I think your chance of injury when using the product correctly is minimal.

I would recommend buying this model over the lesser powered models from Karcher if you plan to do anything more demanding than cleaning decks, driveways and cars. Like I said, it had enough power to do the job of stripping paint off of my deck, but only just. If you're going to be doing large or frequent jobs that demand more pressure, I'd say go to a gas-powered washer.

Be careful when shopping for cleaning agents to use with the washer. Some of them call for being mixed with bleach, or contain caustics, and the manual for this product advises you not to use them with the washer.

Just right for home use
Minimal assembly required, only a screwdriver to pull out tab to firmly attach high pressure hose.

A death in the family exposed a totally repulsively moldy cement pool deck that would have taken days to clean. Using the K12 surface washer to losen up the filth, and the quatro rotary nozzle to do detail clean up, it was clean in a couple of hours, looking new except for some cracks in the cement. No cleaning solution was required, which was a big plus. That quatro nozzle was terrific for cleaning pool filter, gutters, etc. The K530M has just enough power to do any job around the house, washing cars, siding, etc. and is small enough for a 60 yr old lady to move around without any strain. I'm just thrilled that it does everything I had hoped.

We then used the rotary nozzle again to blow some spanish moss off trees and cleaning the trees (with the extension wand attached to the nozzle) became possible for us to do without calling professionals.

Granted the extra options of the wand extensions, the quatro nozzle and the surface washer completed the usefulness of the K520M, but the unit itself is totally satisfactory, the options just make it that much better and more versatile.

We're actually thinking of getting another to keep at another location. It's a very satisfying unit, and so nice to buy something that actually surpasses your expectations.

Karcher K 520 M Pressure Washer
It is now June 2004, & my Karcher is still working fine. I can't explain why more recent buyers have had so much trouble with there's. I did buy the K 12 Surface Clearner & extension hose. It was a great addition & made driveway & sidewalk cleaning easier & faster.

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After reading the positive customer comments about the Karcher K520M Pressure Washer, I decided to go ahead & purchase one. I was not disappointed. Living in Florida with the humid and rainy conditions, my sidewalk and driveway had become black with mold & mildew. In addition, there is a large oak tree in the front yard that drips brown stains on portions of the driveway and sidewalk. This 1600 PSI model was more than able to remove all of these stains! As in many other reviews I have read, I didn't even need to use any type of cleaner. The pressure of the water was enough to remove the years of build-up.

The unit was easy to unpack & assemble. Just be careful of the external plastic inlet water filter. It looks a little fragile. I suspect it could break if you tried to roll the unit to a new location, dragging the weight of a water-filled hose attached to the filter.

With the supplied nozzle, it did take several hours to clean the area I wanted. In order to remove the dirt & mildew, I had to hold the nozzle about 3 inches from the surface which meant that only a narrow stream was hitting the surface. It worked very well but it was slow and a little painful on my back - walking around half bent over. I kept shifting positions to relieve the stress on my back.

I still have more sidewalk to clean, but before doing it, I decided to order the Karcher K 12 Surface Cleaner (model CS12) & a 25 foot high pressure extension hose. I am hoping it will make the job easier & faster. I decided on the extension hose so that I could cover more area (there is sidewalk on 3 sides of my property) without having to move the unit as frequently, which will reduce the amount of stress on the plastic inlet water filter I mentioned earlier. I ordered these directly from the Karcher website (buykarcher.com) because I could not find the Surface Cleaner sold by any other online site. I am still waiting to receive this unit & I will update this review after I have had a chance to try it.

Overall, I would recommend this Pressure Washer to anyone who has light to medium duty cleaning requirements. It stores in a small space & is much less expensive than the gas powered units.

I've had pretty good luck with this machine
I purchased this machine last fall and have used it a couple of dozen times without it failing me. The power was a little disappointing at first. It seems to have the spray force of about the top one-half of the car washes I've used. It would be a real chore to strip off paint with this critter but it has been more than enough power for a variety of around the house jobs. I wouldn't purchase this if I were a tradesman in that it lacks the durability necessary for day in and day out use on even smaller jobs. It is directed to the homeowner market and I think it hits the mark. It thankfully at times doesn't have too much power to ruin paint and wood stuctures which can happen with some commercial machines. Today I washed two of my cars, Cleaned tenacious bird droppings off of a porch, cleaned half of a deck and a barbeque grill, washed off some garden tools, and then cleaned a rock sidewalk. I figure when its out I should use it on all I can. It's been great in the past for my riding mower (particularly cleaning the deck), and for cleaning a motorhome and boat. I've also cleaned my vinyl siding which was laborious but effective (because its underpowered for this job...but the price was right). It comes with a accessory brush, which is pretty useless. I've read here and elsewhere that the accessory extension tubes for the wand are flimsy so I passed on them. I bought an extension hose which gives me an extra 20 feet or so of manuvering.--It is a wonderful addition in that I don't have to cart the washer unit around so much. It has a low handle and seeing that I'm 6'4" it is uncomfortable to drag it any significant distance. The electrical and wash hoses are bulky and don't store well on the amachine. I bought a couple of cheap cord hanging organizers which helps.The construction is of hard plastic externally with good fit and finish. It doesn't take up much room in my garage with the attachments hanging on the wall in the warm months. It was kind of a pain last fall and winter lugging the whole thing down into my basement in that you can't let it freeze. I did use it through the winter washing the salt off of my vehicles on warmer days and it did an admirable job. For me it has been a reliable workhorse. I see from other reviews that the experiences are pretty variable and it doesn't sound like product support is a high priorith. I've treated mine pretty gentl I think using a short wire reinforced hose extesion to reduce stress on the water intake which appears a little flimsy. I pull the hose around rather then the machine to further reduce knocks and bangs. It's worked so far. At this point if I had to do it over again I would still buy this washer.

Karcher=junk
Had the 360M model worked great for 4 hours then a cheap
"o" ring blew out in the wand..Its a nonstandard size so
you have to get the whole wand from Karcher! I live in
the same town Karcher is headquartered in and it took
4 weeks to get the part under warranty...that was 3 weeks
after I returned it to the store! It was working great, good
pressure, turbo nozzle worked great, quiet and nice...
They could change several things and make a good machine but
they dont.... ... Read more

Features

• Covered by Porter-Cable's 1-year limited warranty
• High-torque 2 HP electric pressure washer free of toxic fumes and chemicals
• Totally maintenance free pump and motor no oil or gas required, operates on standard 110-volt 20 amp circuit
• American made DAPC radial pump produces 1,700 psi at 1.7 gallons per minute of cleaning power
• Manufactured of strong steel tubing and equipped with 10-inch pneumatic wheels

Features

• Easy adjustable operating pressure on the machine
• Delivers 1600 psi max. pressure at a rate of 1.6 gallons per minute
• Shuts on/off at the trigger gun
• Built in GFCI for safety and thermo-coupler for motor protection
• Pressure regulation from 400psi -1600psi max. and built in accessory storage

Product Description

This 12-1/2" portable planer is perfect for the woodworker on the go or for the overcrowded shop. It can be easily stored under the bench or on a shelf when not in use and despite its portability, it is a real workhorse! The 12-1/2" width gives you more cutting capacity when compared to other similar models on the market. And the rugged 2 HP motor lets you plow through some of the toughest wood. The top-mounted depth adjustment handle makes setting the cutting depth quick and easy. The blades are double edged, so when one side gets dull, you can just turn them over and keep on planing. ... Read more

Features

• 2 H.P., 110V, 15 Amps
• Feed Rate: 25 FPM
• Maximum cutting height: 6"
• Maximum Cutting Width: 12-1/2"
• Maximum depth of cut: 1/16"

Reviews (2)

Too much snipe
This machine does not have a cutterhead lock and produces way too much snipe. Don't buy.

Snipe-o-rama
Don't buy this planer. Cutterhead produces terrible snipe. All in all I like Grizzly, but not this one. ... Read more

Features

• 2 year limited warranty
• 23,000 rpm at 90 psi
• Ergonomic grip for comfort and stability
• Rear exhaust directs air away from work
• Metal wheel guard allows for safe operation

Product Description

YOU SAVE $1,267.00 off Manufactures List Prices! Smoothness and precision is what you'll experience thanks to the dual rail system and linear ball bearings on this 8-1/2-inch compound miter saw from Makita. With its powerful high performance Makita motor, this saw cuts 276 two-by-fours at 90 degrees on a single charge. And, with a little help from our 40-tooth, high quality carbide-tipped blade, this miter bevel cuts up to 45 degrees to the left and miter cuts 0 - 52 degrees left and 0 - 57 degrees right. Adding to its versatility, this saw also features nine positive stop settings: 15-, 22.5-, 30-, 45- right and 0 (90-degree cuts). Weighs 22.2 pounds. Your purchase includes a Makita BLS820SFK Saw, BTD200SH Drill, 24-volt battery, DC24SA charger, vertical vise, carbide-tipped blade, and a sturdy plastic tool cases. ... Read more

Features

• Manufactures List Price $1767.50 for the Combo Kit
• Powerful 24V (1.7Ah) Ni-MH MAKSTAR battery for longer run time,
• Miter Saw Bevel cuts to 45 degrees left; miter cuts 0-52 degrees left and right
• Dual rail system with ball bearings, High performance Makita motor
• Impact Wrench with Variable speed trigger for total control operation, 2-speed motor 0-2,000 RPM

Product Description

Over 13 years of trial, testing and serious abuse in the field has proven what we've known all along - this 12" planer is about the toughest, most dependable portable on the market. Available only through Grizzly, this 2 HP planer provides 55 cuts per inch, so you'll enjoy smoother cuts that require very little surface sanding. And it's light enough to carry right to the jobsite! Sound too good to be true? American Woodworker rated this machine a Best Buy and Wood Magazine rated it a Top Value in their independent reviews of comparable products. We have carried this machine for 13 years and it is the heaviest 12" planer on the market. ... Read more

Features

• 2 H.P., 110V, 16 Amps
• Feed Rate: 26 FPM
• Maximum cutting height: 6"
• Maximum cutting width: 12"
• Maximum depth of cut: 1/16"

Product Description

All ball bearing construction with powerful 2 HP single phase motor. Motor is 3450 RPM and draws 12 Amps at 220 V, 4 heavy-duty support columns made vertical adjustment rigid and accurate, 3-knife cutterhead is ball bearing supported and powered by triple V-belts from the motor, includes jack screws and accessory spring kit, comes complete with 3 HSS knives and 3-piece knife setting tool, Up/down calibrations are both inch and metric, automatic infeed and outfeed rollers are chain driven and feed the work evenly for a smooth finish. Anti-kickback fingers prevent the board from backing up, front power feed roller is metal and minutely straight serrated, table is cast iron and is precision ground to a mirror-like finish. Stand sold separately: Use Model # G1197. ... Read more

Features

• Maximum cutting height: 6-1/8"
• Maximum cutting width: 14-7/8"
• Motor size: 2 H.P., 220V, single phase
• Number of knives: 3
• Rate of feed: 16 FPM and 20 FPM