Shut-Off valves for Foam Gun?

Accumulator said:
I'm currently experimenting with THIS SHUTOFF from Griot's. Because it positions the user's hand farther back from the foamgun, and is grasped in a different way compared to the smaller rotary shutoffs, it does *not* offer the sort of control that the smaller shutoffs do. THis means it's not as good for the mitt-balloon technique on the top horizontal surfaces, but it works *great* for vertical surfaces and for most other foamgun techniques. Very handy for use in conjunction with a BHB. The downsides are that it doesn't swivel (use the brass qds for that) and that it doesn't seem to offer as full a flow as other shutoffs when wide open. This isn't a problem for me with my boosted pressure- I still don't get the maximin volume but I do get pretty much- plenty of suds from the foamgun, more than sufficient. But you'd have to try it with *your* pressure to see if it works OK for you. This is one of those things I'd previously dismissed, didn't think I'd like it at all; man was I wrong about that!
Click to expand...

I am using the foam gun in my left hand. I find it's hard to turn a knob very well. I also find that having to do something to stop the water is counterintuitive. I like a squeeze shutoff because it's intuitive. Squeeze more for more water/foam, less for less.



So I got these two to try out:

B0007LTSUK.01-A3PQXVT7RPSXTO._SCMZZZZZZZ_.jpg
B0009PM25W.01-A3PQXVT7RPSXTO._SCMZZZZZZZ_.jpg


The metal thumb-valve has a very small hole, but it seemed to spray ok. In reality I don't need a lot of volume of water, just a continuous stream through the foam gun onto the area I'm washing.



We'll see how it goes. I'll probably need a second QD like you said so the valve will swivel. The thumb-break one also has very little travel, so it might be hard to have fine control over it. :nixweiss
 
Aurora40- I'll hold off on any comments until you've tried those out a bit, so as not to give you expectations/color your judgement. Yeah, when something's counterintuitive I too would rather find something else than try to change my take on the situation.
 
samjake beat me to the punch but is absolutely correct. hardware/outdoor stores that carry the "do it" line have a fantastic "push button shut -off valve", yellow in color, and when used with the quick connect set-up, is much easier to use ( you press it in half way for a controlled on-off high low stream or press it in all the way for it to remain on) and cheaper ( $5.79) than goin with that solid brass shut off. part # is 722056
 
Ah, OK, now I see 'em. Thanks.



Is it hard to keep fom switching it to "always-on" when trying to use the "max-flow" position?
 
No, not at all. You can press the push button down partially in the off position, without fully engaging it in the on position, to allow free water flow. When you release the button, it will shut off. The push-button is large enough for good dexterity with soapy hands. It works great with the foam gun.
 
SamJake- OK, thanks for elaborating. Sounds interesting...sometimes the lever-action one and my Gilmour ones aren't quite right for what I'm doing. Gee wonder how many different shutoffs I really need :o
 
Accumulator said:
Aurora40- I'll hold off on any comments until you've tried those out a bit, so as not to give you expectations/color your judgement. Yeah, when something's counterintuitive I too would rather find something else than try to change my take on the situation.
Click to expand...

I tried them out today. The thumb valve is probably great for gardening, but was useless for car washing. It doesn't flow much at all. Not enough to get much of a spray out of the Ultimate Nozzle.



The other one works ok. I need a second disconnect, as it needs to be able to swivel. It also doesn't flow all that much, though. Less than the sears shut-off. And it isn't that easy to control. It takes a bit of force then breaks easy so I end up spraying a pretty hard volume of water. What I ended up doing was spraying a panel down, then occasionally spraying a large volume of foam to keep the mitt soaked. It was hard to have a slow rinse of water.



Even like that it works a lot better than a bucket because it keeps so much soap and water on a panel and in the mitt. I suspect it will get better as I get used to it. I think I may end up putting the quick disconnect right on the hose end, then using that Dramm grip thing with the foam gun, and the sears (or some other) shut-off with the ultimate nozzle.
 
Aurora40- Thanks for the detailed report. I sorta figured the lever-action shutoff worked OK for me because of my boosted pressure and that it might not flow all that well for others. Yeah, it really does require another quick disconnect so it can swivel freely. I hadn't noticed the stiff sounding action you described, but IMO everybody's gonna find each shutoff has pros/cons that others might not even notice.



Yeah, the learning curve for the foamgun isn't quite as steep as one might like. Note that I'd used it, dismissed it, forgotten about it before giving it a lot of thought and coming up with the methods that I now swear by.



I still think you oughta track down the other style of plastic shutoff, the one with the built-in swivel and the easy-to-use finger pad ;)
 
becks said:
Did you buy it from a store in Canada, if so, which one?
Click to expand...



I had to order it, the local distributor didn't carry it. Here's the address and phone :)



Dramm Corporation Canada

906 Hwy 20 West

Fenwick, ON LOS 1C0



905 892 5644
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top