Foam Gun

Nagchampa

Nagchampa

Oh I'll Bring the Shizzle
Does anybody here use one of these? I read a little bit about it in the archives but didn't see if anyone actually has one. It looks like it will cut down on the time it takes to wash.



Any thoughts or opinions would be appreciated.
 
It looks pretty neat. You can control how much soap goes through it. 1/4oz per gallon up to 14oz. per gallon.



I was going to give it a test but then I saw it cost $50.



The only thing is I wonder how fast you can go from spraying soap to being able to spray just water.



Edit: That store also has the chewing gum removers I like for a good price! http://www.cjms.com/snapgumremover.html
 
I see a good use for this if you have somthing like a line of vans from a electric company to do, or somthing similar. Just have 2 hoses, and another person. 1 clean, one foamy.
 
Nagchampa- I have one of those. I've used it with varying concentrations of car wash solutions with mixed results. It seems better suited for a "pre-soak"/hose off followed by regular washing techniques than it does for any sort of spray-on/hose-off ONLY cleaning. I find that I still need some kind of mechanical agitation (wash mitt, etc.) to really get the dirt off.



The pre-soak/hose off DOES appear to help minimize washing induced swirls, especially on dirtier surfaces, so it's not a complete waste of time and money. But no, it won't revolutionize how you wash cars; it's more of an additional step.
 
Accumulator said:
Nagchampa- I have one of those. I've used it with varying concentrations of car wash solutions with mixed results. It seems better suited for a "pre-soak"/hose off followed by regular washing techniques than it does for any sort of spray-on/hose-off ONLY cleaning. I find that I still need some kind of mechanical agitation (wash mitt, etc.) to really get the dirt off.



The pre-soak/hose off DOES appear to help minimize washing induced swirls, especially on dirtier surfaces, so it's not a complete waste of time and money. But no, it won't revolutionize how you wash cars; it's more of an additional step.
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I think that is what he is wanting to know. Using it to spray the car with soap, wash with mit, then rinse off. How well does it work for this? Spray the car soap on, wash with mitt and then hose off? Works well?



How hard is it to take it off to get clean water to rinse off the vehicle. Do you have to turn the hose off, unscrew the foamer, turn hose back on, etc. ?



Also, can you put the soap in the container at full concentration and set it to mix it in per gallon? Car soap is pretty thick so I was wondering if it would suck it up and mix it.



How much suds does it actually make?
 
Intel486 said:
I think that is what he is wanting to know. Using it to spray the car with soap, wash with mit, then rinse off. How well does it work for this? Spray the car soap on, wash with mitt and then hose off? Works well?



How hard is it to take it off to get clean water to rinse off the vehicle. Do you have to turn the hose off, unscrew the foamer, turn hose back on, etc. ?



Also, can you put the soap in the container at full concentration and set it to mix it in per gallon? Car soap is pretty thick so I was wondering if it would suck it up and mix it.



How much suds does it actually make?
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Hey! Quit reading my mind!!:D



I also want to know how thick the foam is that comes out the gun. The consistancy of the foam that comes out of the foaming brush at a self serve carwash would be perfect.
 
OK, I'll try to answer as best I can. It appears I didn't convey what I intended :rolleyes: my bad. Now note that I haven't exactly been scientific about using this thing, but here goes:



Intel486- If I'm reading you right, that's not exactly how I use it. I rinse the car well, spray the foam on, let it dwell for a bit, rinse the car AGAIN (this gets off some of the loose particles), maybe spray foam on again (for some extra lubrication/cleaning) but I still wash using a wash-solution soaked mitt/brush as per usual wash techniques. Rinse, etc. I DON'T rely on the foam gun to supply all the needed wash solution. It's an ADDITIONAL step; it DOES NOT replace any of the normal wash techniques. Doing it WITHOUT the normal soaked-mitt doesn't provide the lubrication I desire, and the "foamy version" of the solution, regardless of strength/dilution doesn't seem to clean as well as the "usual" wash solution. Re rinsing: you'll NEED (as in mandatory) a quick disconnect with a shut-off so you can switch between your "normal" nozzle and the gun. No, you CAN'T put the soap in full strength (yep, too thick, at least what I use), gotta dilute it. I haven't been precise about mixing it up, I just try to get it pretty strong. It DOES make a lot of foamy suds that stick to the car.



Nagchampa- Haven't been to a self-serve since '87 :D .. pause, remember..but NO, not that thick.



If I'm not being clear, or any more Q's, just keep asking.
 
hey what happened to all the ridicule that I got when I brought this up



perhaps Autopia has gotten nicer since :xyxthumbs



The only thing that foam would achieve is letting the soap "soak" into the dirt. IMO, that would be better in a pre-rinse/soak step that you need to do otherwise.



My question is the foam quality substancial? Or is it more watery than anything.
 
YoSteve-Yeah, this place is rather mellow at present; I haven't been flamed yet. And FWIW, it was your post that prompted me to buy this thing.



The foam is pretty thin but I wouldn't go as far as "watery". It's sure not thick like shaving cream or a turn-soap-into-foam dispenser, or anything like that. You're right about how it DOES stick to the finish/dirt better than normal wash solution. It IS a better way to pre-soak.



Intel486-I haven't seen them at any of the big-box places.
 
Intel486- A qualified "yes". A lot will depend on which soap you're using and how strong you mix it up and maybe how good your water pressure is. You CAN get an impressively sudsy spray.



OK, recent field test: I used the foam gun yesterday on a well-Klassed but dirty and salted car. Used Griot's Car Wash. Started with a few oz of water in the gun, added seven pumps on the gallon jug dispenser (maybe about 6-6.5 oz) and filled with water until it foamed over. Used the strongest-concentration setting. Used it as a pre-soak and I sure got lots of foamy suds. It hung on the vertical panels quite well. Hosed it off with a good pressure rinse- nope, wouldn't work by itself (well, if you'd JUST Z'ed or something it might). Sprayed it on again and washed the still-foamy panels per usual. Worked VERY well that way; virtually no chance of scratching/marring with all that lubrication. Less of a need to go over each panel twice or more (as I tend to do). Note that if your wax/sealant is sensitive to your wash solution you might wash off your wax with all this soap! Not a problem with the Klasse/Griot's combo. It WAS a little more work, though. I tend to reserve it for the "good" cars.



I'm still sorta leery of really recommending this thing. No, I don't think it's just a " garage toy", but that question DOES occur to me. I DO like it for those cars I'm being especially careful with.
 
I would do it a bit different. First I would hose the car down with water, then fill a small bucket with soapy water. I would then spray foam over the car and use my soapy wash mit to agitate the foam while rinsing the mit with either a hose, or a rinse bucket. I would still use a soapy bucket, or just a rinse bucket if the car is reasonably clean.
 
Nagchampa- Perhaps I'm not being clear. What you suggested is basically what I do when using the foam gun, except that I use pretty BIG :D buckets full of wash solution and rinse water. The pre-soak thing DOES help remove some of the contaminants that might otherwise stick to the mitt.



Intel486- OK, then I think I WAS clear as far as whether this thing is worth the $. ;)
 
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