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Pick the nozzle before you pull the trigger
Updated
The nozzle changes the force on the surface more than the machine does. A narrow tip puts all the pressure on a small spot. A wide tip spreads it out. Most damage comes from a tip that is too narrow, held too close.
The tips
| Tip | Use it for | Keep it away from |
|---|---|---|
| 0 degree | Almost nothing at home. Caked mud on steel, a stain high up out of reach | Wood, siding, cars, skin. It can carve lines in wood and soft concrete |
| 15 degree | Bare concrete, brick, stripping loose paint | Wood decks, cars, vinyl siding |
| 25 degree | General cleaning: decks, fences, siding, patio furniture | Car paint at close range |
| 40 degree | Cars, windows, screens, anything delicate | Few limits, but still keep your distance |
| Turbo | Concrete and brick. It spins a narrow jet in a circle for faster work | Wood, siding, cars |
| Soap | Laying down detergent at low pressure | Nothing. It does not clean by force |
Tips are usually color coded, but go by the degree number printed on the tip.
How people damage things
- Wood decks: a narrow tip raises the grain and leaves stripes. Use the 25 or 40 degree tip, stay a foot or more away, and move with the grain in long even passes.
- Vinyl siding: spraying upward drives water behind the panels. Spray level or downward, and stay back from windows, vents and outlets.
- Car paint: use the widest tip and stay a couple of feet back. Keep off chipped paint, decals, rubber seals and tires at close range.
- Concrete: new or soft concrete can be etched by a 0 degree or turbo tip held still. Keep the wand moving.
Check the box contents
Tip sets differ more than you would think. Of our picks, the Sun Joe SPX3000 lists 0, 15, 25 and 40 degree plus soap. The Greenworks lists 15, 25, 40, soap and turbo. The Westinghouse ePX3500 lists 0, 15, 25, turbo and soap, with no 40. The Karcher K1700 lists 15, turbo and 65 degree. The Westinghouse ePX3100v has a 3 nozzle set and a foam cannon, which suits car washing. Quick-connect tips are widely sold on their own, but confirm the fitting matches your wand before you order.
The spray can cut skin, even through shoes. Never point the wand at a person or a pet, and wear eye protection. Debris comes back at you.