Looking for a Foam Sprayer/Sudser? Here's one for $20!!!

mrecktid, have some one takes pics of it in action if you can.



I'm very confused on what goes on inside these foamers, I saw one site had spray tip, foam tips, ect. You could switch the tips that were different colors for different tasks.



Also the more aggresive looking ones that BIll D posted, why are they so expensive? I wish we could get part #'s for those brass and rubber connections? If it was to break or fail on you, could you get the parts? where?
 
cheapshot, mine doesn't have the brass slider to change dilution ratios, it has plastic tips that you switch in and out for the dilution radios, not as cool as the slider, but I won't be changing ratios too much so I don't mind that.



If my digital camera cooperates with me I'll try, but I think it's been dropped several times more than it should have. I'm still trying to figure out if my camera phone (last resort =\) can email pictures, we'll see.
 
cheapshot said:
Also the more aggresive looking ones that BIll D posted, why are they so expensive? I wish we could get part #'s for those brass and rubber connections? If it was to break or fail on you, could you get the parts? where?
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I got a diagram with part numbers with mine; I haven't tried, but it appears that replacement parts are cataloged and available from the manufacturer. But having used it for some time now (and none too gently :D ) I'd say that breakage is unlikely. The central connection on it (between pistol grip and foamer proper) is a "standard" quick disconnect that fits the ones I always use perfectly. None of the other parts appear to suffer wear nor do they appear vulnerable to breakage unless you run over it with the car or something like that. If you have *very* hard water it might be a good idea to soak it in vinegar now and then to clean out any mineral deposits, but that's about all I can imagine it ever needing.
 
Ok update on my first use of foam sprayer.



First Impressions: This is the most fun I've had washing my car in a real long time. The foam was amazing. There was so much of it I didn't know what to with it all. To put this into perspective, my neighborhood has the garages in the back with an alley where everyone drives down to pull into their driveway. My neighbor saw the suds that were still around AFTER I had washed my car (there was a ton more suds while I was washing) and she reversed towards my garage and said she thought my washer had overflowed. ^_^ And then of course she asked when I would do her car. =D



I also took pictures of the foam gun in action, but unfortunately me being the smart guy I am I forgot to save them on my camera phone. They were good pictures too =( I'll try taking some more when I wash my moms car later. I'm at school right now, but I'm about to get food so here's a short review.



Pros: A lot safer washing, tons of lubrication. Just fun to use, and you get to see your neighbors look at you funny. Dirt came off a lot easier with a presoak of the foam than going right to it with the two-buck and mitt method.



Cons: Pricey, I paid ~$40 for mine from eBay with s&h. I wasn't quite sure how much soap to put in. I put several ounces in and filled it up with water. I had to refill once to finish off the car. Neighbors look at you funny.



Conclusion: I love it, it sits next to my PC with its tip held high. I highly suggest everyone try one out.



Questions: The brass end of my hose isn't a full circle, its been dented in a little, I was wondering how I could go about replacing that without replacing the entire hose. It has trouble fitting snugly into the insert in the foam gun.



More in-depth review later.
 
mrecktid said:
my first use of foam sprayer...

First Impressions: This is the most fun I've had washing my car in a real long time. ... A lot safer washing, tons of lubrication. Just fun to use, and you get to see your neighbors look at you funny. ...Conclusion: I love it, it sits next to my PC with its tip held high. I highly suggest everyone try one out.
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More fun, safer washing- makes it well worth the money, huh? Glad to hear you like it so much. You don't hear much about stuff making detailing more *fun* too often.



Questions: The brass end of my hose isn't a full circle, its been dented in a little, I was wondering how I could go about replacing that without replacing the entire hose. It has trouble fitting snugly into the insert in the foam gun.
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Most replacement ends aren't so great- there's always something that holds them onto the hose and that something is usually not too pleasant to have right where you grip the hose. If you get a "repair kit", plan to wrap this part of it with some tape or something so it doesn't chew up your hand.



Other idea: I'd get a female quick-disconnect ( good excuse to get a set of them :D ) and somehow get it to fit snug. Maybe some teflon tape or some of the tape that melts-into-itself that is used for leaky pipes. Anyhow, if you can get a q-d to seal up OK just once you'll never have to take it off. Just get plenty of male fittings for your foam gun, nozzle, etc. You really oughta get the q-d fittings anyhow now that you're using different things on the hose. You get used to having them in a hurry and wonder how you ever got by without them. Sorta like with the foam gun ;)



The brass q-ds hold up a lot better than the plastic ones.
 
you should dilute the liquid soap you put in



one of the huge advantages of foam is using less soap



I use less than a capful, i'd say for the whole car (paintwise) (usually fairly clean) due to the foam dispenser. I'd barely get suds with a bucket and capful nor would I get suds the whole wash through.
 
While I, on the other hand, go through a *lot* of soap :D Different strokes, and all that...



But yeah, dilute it in a big jug first, and load the gun with that.
 
Accumulator said:
I got a diagram with part numbers with mine; I haven't tried, but it appears that replacement parts are cataloged and available from the manufacturer. But having used it for some time now (and none too gently :D ) I'd say that breakage is unlikely. The central connection on it (between pistol grip and foamer proper) is a "standard" quick disconnect that fits the ones I always use perfectly. None of the other parts appear to suffer wear nor do they appear vulnerable to breakage unless you run over it with the car or something like that. If you have *very* hard water it might be a good idea to soak it in vinegar now and then to clean out any mineral deposits, but that's about all I can imagine it ever needing.
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Accumulator, I'm not questioning Durability, they look pretty durable from the pics. I was thinking that auto magic and what ever other company's Butchers/etc. get the foam guns or parts from other companies. These other company's who actually manufacture the brass parts etc. could sell us the parts for much less. Then we could assemble the foamer and foam away for a fraction of the cost!



If it is possible, see if you could find a name brand or part #'s on the brass connection parts or all parts for that matter. If I could find out all the part #'s and get a foamer together for a nice price, I would try it. I would then post back here for autopians that may be interested in building their own for less.



I would first have to get part #'s that are needed. Then find out pricing, shipping etc. to see if it's worth the effort.



I'm sure buying a foamer and buying the parts to assemble the foamer should have pretty significant price differences.



PS. Did the foamer come with a an exploded cad drawing?



I know this sounds like it would be a hassle and it probrably will be, but if i get one together for much less, I'll post parts, prices and assembly instructions, making it much easier for the autopian to do, and not to mention for a good price.



Thanks, Sorry for the long post and hope it's not to confusing!
 
cheapshot- I'll have to see if I can find the product info that came with the gun (no promises there/don't hold your breath :o ). The plastic foamer part of it is marked "Gilmour" and "Somerset NY" if that helps any. No markings on the brass parts as best I can tell.



Yeah, just eliminating the pistolgrip part might cut down on the cost, but generally I've found that the aggregate cost of components (for anything) will add up to a *lot* more than the assembled item. You'd need the foamer nozzle, the mixer valve, the bottle and pickup tube, and a male QD fitting. I somehow think it'd add up to quite a bit but we'll see (if and) when I find the info.



Perhaps Bill D or somebody can come up with it; things just never got as organized as I'd like since we moved into this place :o No one to blame but myself...
 
sorry for not getting back sooner but all i can say is the foam gun from simple green works a treat ,still experimenting with dilution ratio's at the moment but its a foamer not a frother,expensive but should pay for its self within time.
 
OK, I found the product info (wasn't as hard as I thought, right in the "Garage Equipment" file in the garage office where it oughta be :D ).



Gilmour Manufacturing

P. O. Box 838

Somerset, PA 15501

(800) 458-0107



*Note that I was wrong about the "NY" part in my earlier post*



No prices, but here are the pns for the stuff you'd need:



Bottle: 7520MR (quart)/7525MR (half gallon)

Foam Wand: 7571GM

Mixing Head: 7511SPEC ("must specify model no. and ratio" :confused: )

Siphon Tube w/Screen and Holder: 7374 (quart)/7324H (half gallon)



Everything else is generic- the QD fittings, etc.



I can't find any reference to model number or ratio...not sure what you oughta specify. The sheet also says to "contact supplier" for parts and service so I dunno how helpful Gilmour will be. But anyhow, there's the info. And yeah, the sheet had an exploded CAD diagram, though parts of it look hand-drawn to me.
 
sbtuk said:
........ the foam gun from simple green works a treat ,still experimenting with dilution ratio's at the moment but its a foamer not a frother,expensive but should pay for its self within time.
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I've got one of those coming for Christmas, looking forward to joining the ranks of the foaming revolutionaries ;)



BTW, how well does the foam work with clay?
 
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