Gilmour Foam Gun

N

Nitwit

New member
Hey all,



After much of the discussion, and the frustration over some tiny wash-induced marring, I've decided that I absolutely NEED a foam gun. I ordered mine over automagic.biz. I belive it's a Gilmour branded gun.



I realize it's not the best price I could get. But it was Sunday and I wanted some instant gratification. =) I'll be awaiting delivery for the next week, probably, and since I don't yet have the unit, I have a couple of questions:



Is there a setting on the gun for NO solution (pure water)?



Do any of you know if it is possible to order spare bottles (with covers, of course) so that I can have several bottles of pre-mixed solution to work with?



Thanks!
 
You rotate the selector lever 90 degrees so the orifice holes are obscured from the siphon tube--that gets you the "water only" setting. You can get spare bottles, but I am unaware of any caps.
 
I know the feeling of "not being able to do without " a foam gun :D I'd call Gilomour directly and see about the extra bottles. it worked for me when I called Pela and ordered more hoses for my oil extractor.
 
I havne't seen many sites offering the Gilmour Foam Gun.



What's best price on this foam gun right now and @ what site ?



I need one too, black paint is just so hard to keep marring off, and i'm the one marring it. :sadpace:
 
Nitwit- IMO the rinse setting (turned 90 degrees) doesn't work nearly as well as just using a second hose with a regular nozzle on it. The gun just doesn't flow that much water. With the two hoses, I just drop the foamgun into my rinse bucket when I'm using the second hose. It's quick and easy and avoids getting it dirty (from something on the ground/floor) or knocked over (mine don't like to stand upright and sometimes the bottle comes loose and dumps the solution). It doesn't get rinse water in it or anything like that, but then I'm a little careful about how I set it into the bucket.



If you haven't already done so, I'd lose the pistol-grip thing and replace it with a swiveling shutoff. If you get the plastic ones from Gilmour (also sold at Sears) it's really easy to operate them with just one finger/thumb. Just get spares and replace them frequently; when they go bad they pop apart and launch the foamgun (possibly into your paint!). They're cheap enough that it's no biggie to have a few and I've never actually had one cause any damage when it popped apart.



Rather than have multiple bottles, I just keep a one-gallon jug of diluted shampoo mix and refill the gun(s) from that.



mystickid- I'm the wrong guy to ask about where to get one at a good price as I just buy 'em when I need 'em. There does seem to be a wide range of prices so I guess you have to choose between spending some time looking and spending some extra money :D
 
mystickid said:
I havne't seen many sites offering the Gilmour Foam Gun.



What's best price on this foam gun right now and @ what site ?



I need one too, black paint is just so hard to keep marring off, and i'm the one marring it. :sadpace:
Click to expand...



I asked Steve (Poorboys) over at DC yesterday about the possibility of him carrying a foam gun. I'll update this thread if he gives me a positive response. Seems like most of the Gilmour clones still cost ~$60, which seems overpriced to me.



Here's a list I compiled when I was looking around for the best price:



http://store.yahoo.com/easonr/showerfoamgun.html

http://www.safetyplus.net/CandJproducts.html#56SG13291



These aren't quite the same as the Gilmour's. Not sure if they perform as well, but may be worth a try considering the price.



http://www.ezall.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=28

http://www.petedge.com/shopping/pro...&itemType=PRODUCT&itemType=PRODUCT&itemID=401
 
I think it would really be great for an online "official detailing supplies" vendor like Steve to sell foam guns. It's something that's been missing from inventory for far too long. :up
 
I used mine today twice - on the Bimmer and Honda! I'm sitting around waiting for the repair man to come with the new washing machine.



I'm using a full bottle per wash. I use on my wheels and tires which takes up some extra foam. Like Accum., I have a gallon Rubbermaid jug with pour spout at the ready to refill.



That's an awesome idea that Accum. has regarding "ditching" the nozzle and going with a shutoff valve. I have a few of them and never though of it. You can buy lightweight metal ones at Home Depot for like $2.



I love the gun. You guys got me hooked. It's worth spending the extra $$$ on a good one. They're on EBay from time to time at a cheaper price.
 
I typically use that same amount as well. I've had poor luck finding those Gilmour shut off valves at Home Depot but Lowe's has them. Be sure to get at least one quick disconnect set for the foam gun to quickly connect to the hose. The best sets I've seen are at Seas.
 
Spilchy said:
..regarding "ditching" the nozzle and going with a shutoff valve. I have a few of them and never though of it. You can buy lightweight metal ones at Home Depot for like $2...
Click to expand...



The metal ones are good in that they have one-piece bodies (no popping apart) and the way the lever sticks out can make them easy to manipulate on/off. The plastic ones are good in that (some of them) swivel and *I* find them easier to operate. But I can certainly see some people finding the metal ones easier to operate, personal preference and all that...they all wear out/break eventually so whichever ones you go with get a few spares.
 
Bill D said:
I think it would really be great for an online "official detailing supplies" vendor like Steve to sell foam guns. It's something that's been missing from inventory for far too long. :up
Click to expand...



Bill-- My inquiry to Steve was in response to a post on DC that Steve was going to be carrying some new foaming sprayers. I was definitely :clap: excited because in my mind I thought he might have been talking about the devices like you and Accumulator use. I was disappointed to find out Steve's foam sprayer was more like this.



Sprayer :nono





I did ask if he had ever thought of carrying a real foam gun. His inital response, after he saw what I was calling a foam gun, was that his suppliers had never offered him anything like that. But, at least he is checking into them now. No doubt he would have to consider whether it would be economically worth it for him to carry them.
 
Spilchy said:
I got the EXACT same thing in the garden section of KMart for $5!!!
Click to expand...

I got a couple on clearance at Target for about $3-$4.



I want to get a nice foam gun as well, one of these days....
 
Thanks for all the input!



I'll definitely give up the idea of spare bottles for now. Unless I grow a green thumb and will start to need fertilizer bottles. ;)



Just a question - is there any particular reason you didn't like the pistol grip flow control that came with it?



I'm thinking that using a pistol grip without a trigger (in the front, rather than the rear actuated laver) would make it a little hard to manage the gun while the reservoir is completely full. I've spent the last TWO HOURS looking for a pistol grip that has both the trigger and the front-threading ... with no success. I've looked at (Gardena, Orgill, Nelson, Darlac, Rehau, Mintcraft, etc ad nauseum) and no one seems to manufacture such a monster. =P



Ah well. I'll fiddle once I actually GET the darned thing. ;)
 
Dang you guyz, now you got me going to get a foamer too !, looks like I won't be able to any locally again and I'am cheap too so I'am looking for a quality foamer for under $30 !



The proper term for the type of foam gun we are looking for is called "Hose End Foamer" !



Here are more links for sources:





http://www.hydrosystemsco.com/



http://www.pharmacal.com/PDFS/HydroFoamer%209-00.pdf



http://www.pharmacal.com/PDFS/Instruction/481-483%20hydrofoamer.PDF



http://www.zep.com/ProductCatalog/ProductBrowse.asp?img=food&section=211&subSection=1151&superSection=25&pageNumber=5



http://bikebrite.com/dealers/shop_program/Hydrofoamer%20Spec%20Sheet.pdf



http://www.powersportsnetwork.com/accessoriesdetail/product=164554/levelcode=15029/catalog=1114/Biker's+Choice/SIMPLE+GREEN%AE+FOAMER/accessories164554.htm



http://www.streamlinesupply.com/shopdisplayproducts.asp?id=85&cat=HydroFoamer%2FSprayer+Series



http://www.laffertyequipment.com/products/handheld/
 
Nitwit said:
Just a question - is there any particular reason you didn't like the pistol grip flow control that came with it?
Click to expand...



I just found the ergonomics of the pistol grip to be lacking for what I do with the foamgun, especially when I use my "mitt balloon" method. I also like to be able to turn the gun on and keep it flowing without having to hold the pistol grip trigger back. Could just be me, but I like having all my nozzles/gun/etc. controlled by the shutoff- I just like consistency like that. I also find that with the hose going straight into the back of the thing it's a lot easier to have the hose over my shoulder when necessary (like with a PC's cord) . And I find it easier to set the gun down (or in a bucket) with the hose coming out the back. All-in-all I find lots to like about the straight out the back setup and nothing to like about the pistol grip.



Just downstream from the pistol grip is a brass quick-disconnect. This is a "standard/universal" size that works with my other brass q-ds. I unscrew the pistol grip and toss it. I then attach the female half of the brass q-d to my plastic shutoff. I have brass male q-d fittings on all my nozzles/guns/etc.
 
Steve's (Poorboy's over on DC) reply to stocking a true foam gun is very positive. Here is the link to the full post. http://www.detailcity.com/forums/showthread.php?p=136427#post136427



I suggest you contact him if you want to get in on the foam gun list.





"We have also checked for the availability of the Foamer Sprayers that attach to your hose and are used for car washing among other things. First they are very expensive and there is little mark-up to make these worth stocking, but if we can get a group to commit to buying these, I will purchase them and send them out at cost. They come in either 1 or 2 quart sizes and we need a minimum of 6 people to get a decent deal. They will be about $50-$53 shipped almost anywhere in the US."
 
There are deals out there. I just bought a new Gilmour 75QGF off Ebay. I was the only bidder and got it for $18 :grinno:
 
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