What do YOU put in your foam gun?

[tom p.]

Can you compare the Optinum to Griot's?

Ah-hem, if you recall, I offered to send you a few ozs last year when I got the Optimum. It's that good...I would not waste your time Offer still stands, BTW.



I think the Optimum has superior lubricity compared to the Griot's (which I have a lot of). It's a product that's not lacking in any area, IMO. Even has a great smell, but Griot's may have the edge in this category.

 

[Accumulator]

michakaveli & tom p.- Thanks for the replies. Hmmm...



michakaveli- I find the Griot's to be incredibly LSP-friendly (and yeah that really matters as I don't relish waxing the DenaliXL one bit). The Extreme Foam just doesn't seem like it'd be compatible with my wash technique.



tom p.- "Ah-hem" indeed! Oh sheesh I'm embarassed, I'd completely forgotten about your generous offer of an Optimum sample There's no real rush on this, I still have gallons of the Griot's, but I might take you up on that after all, we'll see.

 

[Setec Astronomy]

Guys, if you crave foam and lubricity, it's the Optimum wash! I'm mixing 6 oz in 128 ozs of water.

What dilution setting do you use on the gun with that? I have a quart of Optimum that I'm scheduled to get to in 2013.

 

[Mr. Clean]

Perhaps I need to try to further dilute my foam gun solution. I primarily use Duragloss shampoo @ 1:4. For particularly grimey vehicles, I even add a bit of PB's Bug Squash.

 

[tom p.]

What dilution setting do you use on the gun with that? I have a quart of Optimum that I'm scheduled to get to in 2013.

I generally set my dial to "E" which is max setting for my unit. I blend my soaps based on this.

 

[tom p.]

Perhaps I need to try to further dilute my foam gun solution. I primarily use Duragloss shampoo @ 1:4. For particularly grimey vehicles, I even add a bit of PB's Bug Squash.

WOW, 1:4 dilution!!?? That's really strong. I think I'm around 1:20 or 1:25 with my various experiments.



I use at least 1/2 qt. of solution per vehicle washed. i find I'm using more, possibly a full quart, when the cars are super-filthy.

 

[tom p.]

There's no real rush on this, I still have gallons of the Griot's, but I might take you up on that after all, we'll see.

No problem...just ping me and I'll send some out. It's quite nice, ask scottwax





FWIW, I don't think you're going to find a big $avings over Griot's. Isn't Griot's around $39 plus ship? I think you can get a gallon of Optimum for $30 plus ship..that's a smokin' deal for a tremendous shampoo.

 

[Setec Astronomy]

I generally set my dial to "E" which is max setting for my unit. I blend my soaps based on this.

Ok, the big hole in my Foamaster (you are using a Foamaster II, right, not that horse thing?) is 12 oz/gal, so if I did my math right you are using an effective dilution ratio of .562 oz/gal...which sounds reasonable.

 

[tom p.]

(you are using a Foamaster II, right, not that horse thing?) is 12 oz/gal, so if I did my math right you are using an effective dilution ratio of .562 oz/gal...which sounds reasonable.

:lol Yes, it's the horse-branded Foamaster. I think y'all call it Foamaster II:

 

[Downgear]

:lol Yes, it's the horse-branded Foamaster. I think y'all call it Foamaster II:

I can 100% verify everything stated above I have the same foam gun and absolutely love it with optimum shampoo. Talk about TONS of foam. Just to give you an idea of how much foam it produces; i had large piles of foam collect at the end of the driveway after a wash. When I would look out 5 hours later it would still be there and people walking by would not know what it is and one man even kicked it to see for sure. Keep in mind this was the summer time and it looked like snow or something!

 

[o0M3NTAL0o]

I am going to try and use my foam gun tomorrow morning - the quart size with brass fittings and slider for ratio.



I will be using Prima Mystique... I guess I will have to play around with quantity and ratio. I usually use about 2-3 ounces in a 5 gallon bucket to wash my entire car.

 

[Accumulator]

..FWIW, I don't think you're going to find a big $avings over Griot's. Isn't Griot's around $39 plus ship? I think you can get a gallon of Optimum for $30 plus ship..that's a smokin' deal for a tremendous shampoo.

Did you mis-speak, or did I miss some sarcasm (or otherwise misinterpret)? Saving ~25% sounds pretty good, especially the way I go through shampoo!

 

[tom p.]

Did you mis-speak, or did I miss some sarcasm (or otherwise misinterpret)? Saving ~25% sounds pretty good, especially the way I go through shampoo!

No, I just didn't sense that saving $10/gallon would make a huge impact on most of our detailing budgets



You must use a LOT of soap if the $10 savings is significant. It takes me quite a while to use a gallon of soap. I'm also still "adjusting" my brew ratios, trying to figure out what needs to be used at what strength.



Yes, I'm using a lot of soap nowadays and the rate is increasing. I've tried to start out with modest amounts added to that gallon of water, but some of the brews aren’t getting the job done at lower concentrations - - so, I'm using more and more to get the lubricity where I feel it needs to be. I'm also using up a lot of (soap) remnants!