Anyone on MOL have a "Foam Gun"?

[gb387]

You see it talked about from time to time on other sites... I was wondering if anyone here on MOL has one or has used one. Sure seems like a good idea, but they get a little $$$$$.

Foam Gun

[the other pc]

I have that exact gun.

I like it a lot. I wouldn't say it's an absolute necessity. I don't use it every time I wash a car, in fact I use it more often for cleaning other things that I drag out into the yard.


PC.

[gb387]

Originally posted by the other pc
I have that exact gun.

I like it a lot. I wouldn't say it's an absolute necessity. I don't use it every time I wash a car, in fact I use it more often for cleaning other things that I drag out into the yard.


PC.

If you wash your vehicle.... do you mix a concentrated water/soap solution or just raw soap in the sprayer?

[Hannibal]

I dont know but simple green is a great degreaser. I havent tried megs APC, thats only because it isnt available locally. I use an empty megs GC carpet cleaner bottle and it makes a great foam shot when used with Simple Green 1:3.

[the other pc]

I haven’t tried using wash shampoo straight. I mostly use Gold Class and it just seems too thick. I also don’t want to load so much shampoo in the gun that I don’t use it all and have to unload it when I’m done. A little goes a really log way with the foamer.

I usually add a blorp (technical term) of shampoo into the cup and then mix in enough water to make it thin. It doesn’t take a lot, maybe 1:1. Then I adjust the dilution ratio to use the least concentrate that still foams up nicely. Gold Class and Shampoo Plus work well, haven’t tried other shampoos in it yet.

I should probably try pre-diluting it even more. It uses so little concentrate that there’s always some left over, even when I barely use any to begin with. Tip: don’t put a quart of concentrate in the cup. You won’t use a fraction of it unless you’re following Joe to the Bus yard.

Because it’s thin to begin with I’ll use Simple Green straight, without pre-diluting it. SG works well on lawn furniture, the BBQ, rugs that the cat puked on, etc.

I haven’t had a chance to try APC in it yet.

It’s fun to use. I’d like to use it more on cars but our daily drivers have rooftop bike racks and I don’t like to pour water over them every time I wash the cars. They have nooks and crannies that hold water and dirt that keep dribbling out after the rest is dry. I normally sheet water over the roofs and use a flat mitt under the racks.

I still do a two-bucket wash when using the foamer.


PC.

[Mark2]

I have one called Hydrofoamer, but Ihaven't used it too often lately, maybe I'll start using it again now when winter is coming.

[gb387]

Thanks for the info.

If I could find a cheap one first I would get one to try then if I like it move on to a better one...

the other pc.... doesn't sound like you use it all that much on your vehicle as you say it is not absolute necessity.

Mark2.... winter might be a good use. I guess I could see it best used on a very dirty car where you may want some extra soap solution. Kind of a pre-wash in addition to the normal wash bucket/mitt wash.

[Accumulator]

I *just* finished recommending that on another thread here at MOL. I never wash without one and I hardly *ever* have to polish out marring. Yeah, now and then it still happens, but I don't have to polish the whole vehicle more than once a year if that, it's more a matter of dealing with light random spots of marring.

I keep a gallon jug filled with a shampoo mix of about 4-5 oz/gallon. I fill the gun from that and use the second-to-weakest setting unless a panel is very dirty. I replaced the pistol grip with a 90 degree shutoff and I have a quick disconnect to attach it to the hose. Very ergonomic that way.

I still use the two-bucket method in addition to the foamgun, but I *never* let a mitt touch the vehicle without a stream of foam to provide constant lubrication and flushing.

Best thing that's ever happened to my detailing.

Most people who buy cheaper ones end up buying the better ones anyhow. The Simple Green and Butcher's brand ones are both made by Gilmour.

[the other pc]

Also note: almost all of the cheaper guns people try to use aren’t “foam” guns at all. They’re diluter/mixer guns. Those are fine for spreading liquid lawn food around the yard but the great thing about the foam gun is the foam.

By heavily aerating the mixture to fill it with bubbles the spray becomes very light, clings to the surface and has a lot of volume that dries slower. You get good “dwell time”. A diluter just makes slimy water that will roll off quickly, dry fast and leave soap film.

I haven’t seen the foamer that Mark2 uses. I wonder if they’re available in the US?


PC.

[gb387]

Originally posted by the other pc
Also note: almost all of the cheaper guns people try to use aren’t “foam” guns at all. They’re diluter/mixer guns. Those are fine for spreading liquid lawn food around the yard but the great thing about the foam gun is the foam.

By heavily aerating the mixture to fill it with bubbles the spray becomes very light, clings to the surface and has a lot of volume that dries slower. You get good “dwell time”. A diluter just makes slimy water that will roll off quickly, dry fast and leave soap film.

I have seen the item pictured below referred to as a foam gun. Now to me it looks like a different animal all together. Look more like something you are talking about in the above quote ("diluter/mixer guns").

[the other pc]

gb387, I’ve seen that nozzle for sale but haven’t heard from anybody that’s tried it. It doesn’t appear to have any features that suggest it would make bubbles or foam in any way but who knows.

I was considering picking one up to use as a diluter/mixer since it appears to have a much nicer nozzle and control valve than others.


PC.

[the other pc]

Well, gee whiz. The foamer Mark2 has is made by an American outfit, the Hydro Systems Company of Cincinnati, Ohio. Go figure.

Not only do they make the hose-end foamers but also compressed air foamers and a huge number of other dispensing, metering and application products for a variety of industries. Very cool.


PC.

[RCBuddha]

Paul (other PC),

Where did you get your gun again? I forgot where you told me when I was at the Autopia Day @ Meguiars....Autobacs?

thanks,

Craig

[the other pc]

Hey Craig,

I got it at KBC Tools and Machinery (www.kbctools.com) in Fullerton. They’re a big machine tool supplier.

They just started carrying Simple Green as a parts cleaning and degreasing line. Unfortunately, they don’t have any of the SG line in their catalog or on their website yet. They couldn’t tell me if they’re planning on stocking them.

I made some phone calls to their home office and to SG about ordering more. My notes are on my desk at work. I can get back to you on Monday with details.


PC.

[RCBuddha]

Originally posted by the other pc
Hey Craig,

I got it at KBC Tools and Machinery (www.kbctools.com) in Fullerton. They’re a big machine tool supplier.

They just started carrying Simple Green as a parts cleaning and degreasing line. Unfortunately, they don’t have any of the SG line in their catalog or on their website yet. They couldn’t tell me if they’re planning on stocking them.

I made some phone calls to their home office and to SG about ordering more. My notes are on my desk at work. I can get back to you on Monday with details.


PC.

Sounds good Paul, keep me informed, I'm eager to get one to try soon.