foam guns

[Bounty]

Re: foam guns

bounty, i take your word on a lot of things, but dangit i just wish i understood it!!!! LOL

The cool thing about the Gilmour is that just about any car shampoo, dish soap, or citrus cleaner will work with the adjustable settings to get you good foam. I vary my product based on what the job is...Dawn or Citrus Boat Soap for a heavily soiled or pre-polish soak, car shampoo's like Gold Class or NXT (my favorite) for final washes or maintenance washes.

I use the 1-bucket/foam gun method to wash. I fill a 5-gallon bucket with clean water and add a grit guard. I do a heavy pre-soak and thoroughly cover everything from paint to rims to wheel wells. Rinse off and then grab your wash mitt or sponge (I love the HD grout sponge here). Take your sponge in one hand and the foam gun in the other. Pre-soak a panel. Then spray the foam in front of the sponge as you swipe it over the surface gently. You shouldn't need a lot of pressure and you definitely shouldn't need to "scrub" the paint.

If you have to go over an area again, spray more foam and follow with sponge. This insures there's always plenty of soap to encapsulate dirt and lubricate the surface to minimize any potential marring or swirling. After a panel or if the sponge gets soiled, dip it in your bucket, rub it a few times against the grit guard, and move on. Works fine for me...

[fzr confused]

Re: foam guns

sounds good bounty thanks that seems like the technique shown in one of the videos i have seen. i cant wait to get it in and use it

[tapp1]

Re: foam guns

The cool thing about the Gilmour is that just about any car shampoo, dish soap, or citrus cleaner will work with the adjustable settings to get you good foam. I vary my product based on what the job is...Dawn or Citrus Boat Soap for a heavily soiled or pre-polish soak, car shampoo's like Gold Class or NXT (my favorite) for final washes or maintenance washes.

I use the 1-bucket/foam gun method to wash. I fill a 5-gallon bucket with clean water and add a grit guard. I do a heavy pre-soak and thoroughly cover everything from paint to rims to wheel wells. Rinse off and then grab your wash mitt or sponge (I love the HD grout sponge here). Take your sponge in one hand and the foam gun in the other. Pre-soak a panel. Then spray the foam in front of the sponge as you swipe it over the surface gently. You shouldn't need a lot of pressure and you definitely shouldn't need to "scrub" the paint.

If you have to go over an area again, spray more foam and follow with sponge. This insures there's always plenty of soap to encapsulate dirt and lubricate the surface to minimize any potential marring or swirling. After a panel or if the sponge gets soiled, dip it in your bucket, rub it a few times against the grit guard, and move on. Works fine for me...

Bounty, I too like the NXT wash. Do you dilute the mixture in the container? What settings have you found the worked the best with NXT? Just got my Foamaster tonight!

[Calais]

Re: foam guns

Does the Mr. Clean one work with Gold Class shampoo? My dad bought one online for cheap hoping it would meet my standards, I'm sure I can find a use for it.

[tapp1]

Re: foam guns

Does the Mr. Clean one work with Gold Class shampoo? My dad bought one online for cheap hoping it would meet my standards, I'm sure I can find a use for it.

IIRC, the Mr. Clean auto dry can only use Mr. Clean shampoo. Using other brands can clog the gun.

[Andrew C.]

Re: foam guns

What exactly are the benefits of using a foam gun? With a pre-soak, do you rinse off all the foam before going to two buckets?

[Caress Detailing]

Re: foam guns

What exactly are the benefits of using a foam gun? With a pre-soak, do you rinse off all the foam before going to two buckets?

I'm curious about this as well.

[Murr1525]

Re: foam guns

I'm curious about this as well.

Well, different people will cite different benefits. Some people are all about the pre-soaking, but I really don't do that unless it is the middle of winter sort of thing.

And yes, I do rinse off the foam from a pre-soak, as I find it would dry.

Here is my main reason, at least by my logic. Since the soap is the lubrication, I want my lubrication to stick around. I always feel like with a bucket, I drip off half my soap before getting to the car, and then the rest runs off when the mitt is on the car. I kind of don't like seeing my lubrication running away.

So, with the foam gun, I can spray the mitt, spray the panel, and see that the soap foam, and thus my lubrication, is clinging to the panel a little longer while I can run my mitt over it. And, if I think I need a little more, I can spray some more.

Maybe it isn't as big of a deal, and the soap sticks around either way, but I feel better.

[Andrew C.]

Re: foam guns

Well, different people will cite different benefits. Some people are all about the pre-soaking, but I really don't do that unless it is the middle of winter sort of thing.

And yes, I do rinse off the foam from a pre-soak, as I find it would dry.

Here is my main reason, at least by my logic. Since the soap is the lubrication, I want my lubrication to stick around. I always feel like with a bucket, I drip off half my soap before getting to the car, and then the rest runs off when the mitt is on the car. I kind of don't like seeing my lubrication running away.

So, with the foam gun, I can spray the mitt, spray the panel, and see that the soap foam, and thus my lubrication, is clinging to the panel a little longer while I can run my mitt over it. And, if I think I need a little more, I can spray some more.

Maybe it isn't as big of a deal, and the soap sticks around either way, but I feel better.

Do you think it is worth $60?

[Murr1525]

Re: foam guns

Well, I paid ~$38 2 years ago, so yes, I really like it.

[TJPark01]

Re: foam guns

Well, I paid ~$38 2 years ago, so yes, I really like it.

I bot one about 2 months ago, it's awesome. Look around, I think I paid about 35 bucks. Check out this video on how to use one properly. I skip the soap bucket for the car and leave it just for the tires and rims. Rinse bucket with grit guard remains.
http:// paintcare-n-detailing.com/foam.html (TO SEE THE VIDEOS SIMPLY CUT AND PASTE THE INFORMATION INTO YOUR BROWSER AND HIT ENTER, Mark Kleis)


*9. Clickable Links are allowed after new members have over 30 substantial posts . Self-promoting clickable links are not allowed and will not be tolerated in messages. Self-promoting links are allowed in signature Lines once a member reaches Level 2 Privileges. Self-promoting statements or phone numbers are also not allowed in your posts. -Mark Kleis

[Blueline]

Re: foam guns

Everyone seems to have a good opinion of the Gilmour foamer and as a foamer it works great. As for using mine to wash my car...no way. It is a pain to use, a waste of soap, soap dries on the the vehicle, and for me was a waste of money. I was going to sell it on Flea but I kept it around for the nephew and friend to play with. My opinion is that it is a great summer toy for kids.

[Caress Detailing]

Re: foam guns

Everyone seems to have a good opinion of the Gilmour foamer and as a foamer it works great. As for using mine to wash my car...no way. It is a pain to use, a waste of soap, soap dries on the the vehicle, and for me was a waste of money. I was going to sell it on Flea but I kept it around for the nephew and friend to play with. My opinion is that it is a great summer toy for kids.

Actually that's the reason why I'm hesistant to use a foam gun. Not because I don't think it works, but because sometimes here in tracy temperatures can reach 110 degrees with direct sunlight because of the direction my house is facing.

And man I'd have a mess to clean up with dried up foam all over the car.

[Murr1525]

Re: foam guns

Do you rinse your car down after every few panels that you wash, to get the soap off? Or get around the whole car before rinsing?