A closer look at the Gilmour Foam Gun....

[Markus Kleis]

Re: A closer look at the Gilmour Foam Gun....

I use mine on the 2nd to LOWEST foam setting, and use a combo of Shampoo Plus, Gold Class, and NXT (all at once, then dilute 1:1 with water in the canister).

I still get oodles and oodles of foaming bubbles. We do have soft water though, so it takes less soap than those with hard water IME.

[Murr1525]

Re: A closer look at the Gilmour Foam Gun....

Yes, the Gilmour ones are just for garden hoses.

[Paul S]

Re: A closer look at the Gilmour Foam Gun....

I know I'm a little slow but what purpose does this gun have other then making soap foam ? Please don't take this wrong but I guess it may be neat to have but does all of this foam make washing easier or quicker. I currently use the two bucket method with the guards and like the results. Now I only wash one vehicle at a time and don't forsee any volume production in the near future.I am like others when it comes to having too many tools , so just wondering if I really need one.

[Murr1525]

Re: A closer look at the Gilmour Foam Gun....

I am sure Brandon can give some new insight, but here's my thoughts.

Is it needed, of course not.
Do things go faster, maybe a little.
I like it because when I just use 2 buckets, it just seems like all my soapy water falls out of the mitt or runs off the panel before I get the area washed. So I just have this feeling like I am losing lubrication. With the foam, the soap stays around just long enough for me to catch it all with my mitt, and wipe around. It just seems like there is more soap and lubrication left around for me.

[Tom Weed]

Re: A closer look at the Gilmour Foam Gun....

I know I'm a little slow but what purpose does this gun have other then making soap foam ? Please don't take this wrong but I guess it may be neat to have but does all of this foam make washing easier or quicker. I currently use the two bucket method with the guards and like the results. Now I only wash one vehicle at a time and don't forsee any volume production in the near future.I am like others when it comes to having too many tools , so just wondering if I really need one.

My 2 cents,
While I dont have the Gilmore foam gun, I had an attachment that went on my karcher that did the same thing, really put out the foam. It's really good for washing during and after winter in our part of the world. Soaking your car with foam first too losen up all that winter crud. It does a good job of loosening up the dirt and probably lessens the chance of marring. Is it any quicker? I never thought so, it does use more soap and if you have a dark vehicle in the sun, it's hard to keep it from drying before you can make it around the car...

[Markus Kleis]

Re: A closer look at the Gilmour Foam Gun....

I know I'm a little slow but what purpose does this gun have other then making soap foam ? Please don't take this wrong but I guess it may be neat to have but does all of this foam make washing easier or quicker. I currently use the two bucket method with the guards and like the results. Now I only wash one vehicle at a time and don't forsee any volume production in the near future.I am like others when it comes to having too many tools , so just wondering if I really need one.

I use this in conjunction with the Meguiar's recommended 2 bucket (with Grit Guard) system.

I start with a full, thorough water only rinse. Then I do a Foam Gun soak for a minute or two (or more if the sun allows). This helps to PRE-loosen debris and film on the vehicle. Then I rinse the entire vehicle, and then depending how dirty it is I might re-foam each panel as I wash it with my mitt, or I might just follow with a traditional wash at this point.

After doing full paint corrections I don't mind spending a few extra minutes to make sure I help minimize the damage to my freshly perfect paint.

[FCAD]

Re: A closer look at the Gilmour Foam Gun....

For those of you who don't have one

Here is the Gilmour Foamaster II Foam Gun in action:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZEOw1HFN1J0

[Paul S]

Re: A closer look at the Gilmour Foam Gun....

For those of you who don't have one

Here is the Gilmour Foamaster II Foam Gun in action:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZEOw1HFN1J0

Nice link and welcome to the forum.

[3Fitty]

Re: A closer look at the Gilmour Foam Gun....

Instead of starting a new thread, thought I might ask here if anyone knows where to get the "foaming" attachment for a Karcher power washer?

Also, my power washer (photo below) has a built-in soap dispenser, yet no matter what type of car shampoo I put in it (GC, NXT or other) I don't get much in the way of foam. Any thoughts on how I might increase the foam? Obviously I know it is not a must, but I'd kind of like to add another toy to the arsenal.

[Carfire]

Re: A closer look at the Gilmour Foam Gun....

I think Tom Weed said he used the Karcher.
Is there some sort of adjustment knob on the machine or look in the instructions. (I know, it is not in my nature either)

[Tom Weed]

Re: A closer look at the Gilmour Foam Gun....

check out this thread...

http://www.meguiarsonline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=10419

I used to have one of these, it wouldn't work on my Campbell Hausfield so I got rid of it I think, let me look tonight when I get home... When I had a karcher power washer though the thing worked great, provided a lot of foam, more so than the Gilmore foam sprayer I have for my hose now.

If I still have it, I will PM you...

[3Fitty]

Re: A closer look at the Gilmour Foam Gun....

I think Tom Weed said he used the Karcher.
Is there some sort of adjustment knob on the machine or look in the instructions. (I know, it is not in my nature either)

Believe it or not, I actually read the manual, but nothing.

I think it is exactly the piece that Tom is talking about which I need. I went to Karcher's "buy direct" site and they have it for $21.00, so it certainly won't break the bank!

[3Fitty]

Re: A closer look at the Gilmour Foam Gun....

Okay, so this brings me to my next question regarding foam guns and those who use them.

One of the primary reasons for the prewash rinse of your car is to knock off any loose debris from your paint, to ensure when you pass over that area with your wash mit, you don't instill any new scratches.

Now, I see a lot of guys on youtube using their foam guns straight away on a dry car and then they wash with a mit.

This, to me, seems like a recipe for instilling new swirls or scratches. Wouldn't you want to rinse first, make sure you remove any debris from the paint and then foam?

I understand that the foam might now stick to the paint as well, since the car will be wet, but isnt the end goal protecting the paint?

[Tom Weed]

Re: A closer look at the Gilmour Foam Gun....

my 2 cents...

You could rinse first and it would be fine, but when foaming he car, the foam is going to have a certain amount of water in it anways and you really want the foam to stay on the paint and not rinse off, providing more lubrication when washing. Obviously there's a lot of personal preference involved on what method you come to use, but I am sure living in Canada, you have a lot of winter crud on your car and more lubrication you have, the better.

Another use for it, if I am going to be doing a full detail where I am going to claying and polishing, I will even opt for APC in the foamer as opposed to car washing soap to help loosen bugs, tar and road grime. I am going to be claying it afterwards anyways, so stripping any existing wax is not an issue.

[i pamper my corolla]

Re: A closer look at the Gilmour Foam Gun....

Just got this recently...

dumb question: is there any way to secure the foam wand with the mixing head?

It tends to fall out when I point downwards at an angle