Whats the best foam gun?

[The Count]

So Im getting all my supplies in order here. Now its foam gun time. Which one is the best? I was thinking autogeeks one or Amazon.com: Gilmour 95QGFMR Foamaster II Cleaning Sprayer: Patio, Lawn & Garden or what do you guys think? I want lots of foam and a good one that'll last a long time. I also have 901 will that work good with this or I was thinking of trying Optimums soap since the ONR grabs the dirt and holds it so good the Optimum wash would do the same thing. So give me your advice.

 

[JohnZ3MC]

Practically both will produce results that are virtually identical.

One has a rotating dial for volume control (Amazon) and one has the sliding brass tube for volume control (Autogeek).

I'm thinking the Autogeek one with the sliding brass tube is a simpler design and therefore will give more reliable results over time. Simpler is better.

As for what shampoo to use, I've never tried the 901 but I've been using the Detailer's Pride Extreme Foam shampoo and it does give superb foam, cleans very well and has lots of glideability. (Is that a word?)

My foam doesn't stay on the car very long though. It runs off quickly but I think that's because I have a very good and slick lsp on the car. There's just nothing for the foam to grab onto and linger. Keep the state of your lsp in mind when you foam your car and don't worry if it doesn't dwell a long time.

Others will add their favourite shampoos/soaps.

-John C.

 

[Accumulator]

So Im getting all my supplies in order here. Now its foam gun time...I was thinking of trying Optimums soap since the ONR grabs the dirt and holds it so good the Optimum wash would do the same thing. So give me your advice.

You'll go through shampoo quickly enough that you'll soon know whether you like your 901 with the foamgun or want to try something different.



The Optimum shampoo oughta be very good, but note that you don't really *want* the "grab and hold" effect that you get with ONR; foaming is a whole different ballgame.



There are different ways of using a foamgun...give some thought to what you want/expect from it and how you oughta go about achieving that.

 

[The Count]

Accum what one would you suggest? I see the 95 and the 75 and the autogeek where does it end where does it end!?



Heh, but basically I've learned to accept what you say to be very good so what foam gun do you have and what would you suggest?

 

[Accumulator]

The Count-Heh heh, it *doesn't* really ever end in my book! And I gotta say that I'm not really the best source of info on how to do this stuff economically



But here goes:



I'd get the foamgun with the sliding brass bar. I'd take off the pistol grip and replace it with a shutoff valve (much more ergonomic IMO) and attach the whole thing to the hose with a quick disconnect (another quick disconnect on your normal nozzle for rinsing..or else use two hoses like I do). That's the setup I'm happiest with.



I'd buy the Optimum shampoo, especially if you can still find it on sale. Buy a lot of it; it doesn't go bad and that sale price is great. Mix it up in a gallon jug- ~6 ounces of shampoo + remainder water, and fill the foamgun from that. Use the stronger half of the mixture choices, see which one(s) work best for you.



The foamguns last for years even if you're pretty rough with 'em. I just replaced my second generation of them and it wasn't *really* necessary. So I've gone through three batches (I use two at a time) in maybe 9 years or so. And I really do abuse mine pretty badly; I bet most people will be far more gentle and will get a much longer working life out of theirs. Yeah, they do cost a bit, but I view them the same way I do BHBs- renewable resources ; unlike clearcoat, which is *not* renewable. The expensive wash stuff help me avoid marring, hence polishing, hence I don't have to take off clear for my vehicles to look good.

 

[The Count]

So you are saying get the autogeek one? Its better than the gilmours? Optimum it is

 

[jl114]

So you are saying get the autogeek one? Its better than the gilmours? Optimum it is

The two foam guns are made by gilmour. Autogeek just sells it under their name. You can get the brass switch one on amazon too, Amazon.com: Gilmour 75QGFMR Foamaster Adjustable Multi Ratio Cleaning Gun: Home & Garden



Both Optimum and 901 foams well. Optimum is one of my favourite smelling soaps , not a fan of the 901 cherry since it reminds me of cough medicine though. Still, both work great in the foam gun.

 

[AeroCleanse]

I don't think I would consider a foam gun based on what I've seen of them in use. A foam cannon / lance (or other name) that can be used with a pressure washer is something I would use.

 

[Accumulator]

I don't think I would consider a foam gun based on what I've seen of them in use. A foam cannon / lance (or other name) that can be used with a pressure washer is something I would use.

Maybe not for a pro, but (at least if used the way I do it...and yeah that's quite a qualifier there...) the foamgun can be good if only because of the decrease in wash-induced marring. I basically *never* have to do correction any more. Never. Not on year-round drivers, not on anything. Even the SunGun/etc. inspections don't show wash induced marring of any consequence and I've never been able to achieve that any other way.



Of course, plenty of people would say that polishing ever now and then is easier than washing the way I do, but that's another matter...



But I do worry that people get unrealistic expectations regarding the foamgun. HOW you use it makes all the difference, and it's not like I got the hang of the whole thing after just a dozen washes or so.

 

[The Count]

Yeh I can't afford the foamcannon.



Now I like the Foamaster 75QGFMR cuz it has better reviews but the Foamaster II is 95QGFMR its a bigger number and its the second version so common sense would say its better, and the bigger number would mean it can produce more foam? But the reviews on the II are not as good. So can you explain the difference between the 75 and the 95?





So as of now the Foamaster 75 seems like the best deal to me.

 

[jl114]

Yeh I can't afford the foamcannon.



Now I like the Foamaster 75QGFMR cuz it has better reviews but the Foamaster II is 95QGFMR its a bigger number and its the second version so common sense would say its better, and the bigger number would mean it can produce more foam? But the reviews on the II are not as good. So can you explain the difference between the 75 and the 95?





So as of now the Foamaster 75 seems like the best deal to me.

There should be no difference with the foam production between the two. The plastic one is better suited in case you decide to opt for chemical cleaners. I remember reading people had their brass unit corrode with the 75, ironically people usually think the brass one is more durable :happy: I own the 95 and primarily use it for APC rinse, it is well built. The best thing you can do with both is flush them out with water after use to prolong its life.

 

[Accumulator]

There should be no difference with the foam production between the two...

Right. The aeration tube (black plastic nozzle thing) is the same.

The plastic one is better suited in case you decide to opt for chemical cleaners. I remember reading people had their brass unit corrode with the 75, ironically people usually think the brass one is more durable :happy: I own the 95 and primarily use it for APC rinse, it is well built...

While I'm a fan of the brass one (for various reasons, including mere familiarity, I adjust the strength a lot during a wash and also appreciate being able to flip the bar over to get clear water), you do have a point there. I occasionally take the brass bar out and make sure the holes aren't clogged up with some corrosion or somesuch. The rest of the metal parts sometimes discolor, but never seem to actually develop a problem.



Can you take the plastic one apart, say...to clean out the holes in the circular piece?

The best thing you can do with both is flush them out with water after use to prolong its life...[/

Gotta admit I seldom do this Sheesh, I really do just use-and-abuse my wash stuff, from the foamguns to my wash media. Guess I'm just lucky that I don't have more problems (and thus more replacement expense!) than I do!

 

[jl114]

While I'm a fan of the brass one (for various reasons, including mere familiarity, I adjust the strength a lot during a wash and also appreciate being able to flip the bar over to get clear water), you do have a point there. I occasionally take the brass bar out and make sure the holes aren't clogged up with some corrosion or somesuch. The rest of the metal parts sometimes discolor, but never seem to actually develop a problem.



Can you take the plastic one apart, say...to clean out the holes in the circular piece?



Gotta admit I seldom do this Sheesh, I really do just use-and-abuse my wash stuff, from the foamguns to my wash media. Guess I'm just lucky that I don't have more problems (and thus more replacement expense!) than I do!

Yes, it can be unscrewed and it comes apart quite easily. I did it once just for fun and remember seeing holes in the plastic dial and can't seem to remember anything more. I do remember reading in the manual about flushing the gun out after use and it has become a habit haha, and we have really soft water where I live. I've had dollar store sprayers last longer than zep spray bottles!



I think both models are adequate for detailing needs. No one is going to be using some crazy caustic or acidic cleaners on their paint... I hope. So pick the one you think looks better or is a better deal. Also accumulators advice on ditching the gun is a good idea. The manual also states to keep it upright, which is a pain to do with the trigger gun being so heavy, it just tips it over if you settle it (assuming you have half to a quarter of soap solution left). Accumulator what sort of shut off valve are you using to connect to the foam gun? I'm currently using the trigger gun + quick disconnect + shut off valve crazy contraption lol

 

[Accumulator]

jl114- Heh heh, I bet my setup is even crazier than yours! I have a pair of hoses on each side of the washbay- one hose for the foamgun and the other for rinsing (and then there's the one for the CRS....).



For the foamgnun, I screwed a Gilmour AS1FF shutoff (link: Full Flow Poly ) attached to the gun via a brass quick disconnect in place of the pistol grip, and I have a second brass quick disconnect attaching the shutoff to the hose. It's easy (well, at least IMO) to operate the shutoff with the thumb of the hand that's holding the foamgun. The full-flow shutoff seems to produce considerably more foamgun output than I got with other, more restrictive shutoffs.



All those quick disconnects make it easy to change things as needed and, perhaps more importantly, they allow everything to *rotate* freely.



When I'm rinsing or otherwise laying the foamgun down, I lay it across my rinse bucket. Having the straight connection to the hose (as opposed to the pistol grip) makes that easy.



FWIW, I use the same style of shutoff, but in the low-flow/restrictive version, and brass quick disonnects for my rinse hoses too. Easiest way, at least for me, to get the water on/off, more so than twisting a nozzle for instance.



That's good that the plastic-dial foamgun comes apart OK. You might want to clean out those holes every now and then; even with soft water I get a little buildup.

 

[tom p.]

Count, get the Foamaster II and the Optimum car wash. I suspect it will be everything you want and then some. It's my preferred setup for washing.



I selected FMII over the original because you can vary the dilution ratio on the fly (strong vs weak).



Welcome aboard!

 

[Accumulator]

..I selected FMII over the original because you can vary the dilution ratio on the fly (strong vs weak).

Hmm....I vary the mix on the fly with my orignal one...or am I missing something here :think: Well, it *does* take two hands...and I can imagine being able to turn the wheel on the FMII with the hand that's holding it, is that what you mean?

 

[john1r]

What ratio does everyone use for the Gilmour and Optimum Soap? I have the 75QGFMR and have read all sorts of different ratios from 2 oz of Optimum/30 ounces of water all the way to 8 optimum/24 water. [editing what I just wrote: I see in an earlier post that Accumulator recommends 6 ounces of optimum in a gallon. The 75QGFMR is a quart, so if I'm correct that would translate into 1.5 ounces of optimum and 30.5 ounces of water. Though probably easier to do as suggested and mix 6 ounces in a gallon and then use that to fill the 75Q.]



Is it better to use less optimum and a higher setting on the gun, more optimum and lower setting, or medium optimum and middle setting?



Also, I find the optimum car wash to be very thick. How do you get it to 'blend' with the water w/o overfoaming?



Thanks!