Les Jones: Pressure Washers Can Cut Holes in You?

August 11, 2007

Nifty > Pressure Washers Can Cut Holes in You?

Something else I didn't know. "Exactly eight years ago, my ex-brother-in-law, Joe, damn near lost his foot. He was victim of a pressure washer incident." The real problem was the infection, but the pressure washer is what created the wound. Yowch.

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Comments

They cut carbon fiber and stainless steel using water jet saws. A pressure washer delivers a non-trivial fraction of that stream. I would have known to keep it away from human flesh.

Posted by: triticale at August 11, 2007

I knew about water cutters for concrete and such, but I didn't realize an ordinary household pressure washer could have that much force. I'll have a little more respect for those things from now on.

Posted by: Les Jones at August 11, 2007

I used to work for Hotsy Corp, and their washers run from 1200 psi up to 3000 psi. I once made a pass across a 2x4 with a 3000 psi model, and left a cut 1/2" wide and 1/4" deep. Even the smaller ones will cut (slowly) through a plastic barrel and excavate a pit in an asphalt parking lot.
Fun toys.

Posted by: Billll at August 11, 2007

we have a very timid pressure washer at our pool. it blasted a hole in my thumb. that was 8 hours ago actually..

Posted by: acid at November 13, 2008