European detailer stereotype (foam gun)

[CarbonBlack]

Re: European detailer stereotype (foam gun)

Any foam gun users from other countries have some insight?

Are they really a lot more common in Europe, and why?


-Nick

[Murr1525]

Re: European detailer stereotype (foam gun)

Hmm.. guess we didnt answer your question at all did we....

[gb387]

Re: European detailer stereotype (foam gun)

Hmm.. guess we didnt answer your question at all did we....

True... but I did order one from Amazon.com for $36.17. Will give it a try and see what its all about. So this thread did lead to something.

[Murr1525]

Re: European detailer stereotype (foam gun)

Sounds like a good start...

[Kickin Griffin]

Re: European detailer stereotype (foam gun)

Any foam gun users from other countries have some insight?

Are they really a lot more common in Europe, and why?


-Nick

I am from Scotland, and use a foam lance as part of every was I do on the car and it really earns its keep, especially at this time of year. Spray on the foam, allow to dwell for around 5 mins (I use Bilt Hamber Actifoam) during which time it slowly runs off the car, and then rinse under pressure. When the foam runs off the car you can see it carrying the dirt away with the foam being quite dirty. Rinsing afterwards and you can see that gis foam does a good job of cleaning and the major plus point is a lot of grit and silt is removed before the mitt even touches the car which makes the two bucket wash even safer...

Indeed, I can quite often get away with a "touchless" wash: Foam and rinse the car twice, and then blow the rinse water off with an air gun and that's it, no need to get mitts or drying towels out. Great as you have no risk of contact wash marring (which while we minimise it, we can never 100% gaurantee against it), plus it is quicker and my hands dont get cold at this time of year! Only work thogh if you do this regularly as more significant dirt will not fully remove with just foaming and rinsing, but general dirt and road film clears nicely with the Actifoam.

[eyezack87]

Re: European detailer stereotype (foam gun)

I have the Gilmour and it does help delete one of my buckets and it helps loosen the bugs/whatever on the car during a wash. Its also a lot of fun to watch the foam float away in the air if you made a super soap concoction

I have now upgraded to a Karcher 1600psi PW and the Euro-style foam cannon:


Its going to be fun when that comes

[Mikejl]

Re: European detailer stereotype (foam gun)

What is the benefit of a foam Cannon over a foam Gun?

Mike

[imacarnut]

Re: European detailer stereotype (foam gun)

What is the benefit of a foam Cannon over a foam Gun?

Mike

read post #6

the foam gun is more useful and you don't need to haul out the pressure washer (most occasions you will still need to do a bucket wash anyways) everytime and not to mention, the foam gun is cheaper in price.

[Kickin Griffin]

Re: European detailer stereotype (foam gun)

What is the benefit of a foam Cannon over a foam Gun?

Mike

The Foam Cannon (or Foam Lance/Gun as they are known over here) that you use with a pressure washer has the benefit of producing a functional foam that can be used to have a cleaning effect, more so than the foam from your garden hose foam gun (in my experience)...

Its not the thickness of the foam that really matters - you can have shaving foam like foam on your paint, that sticks and clings and looks cool but does absolutely nothing other than that. The foam I use produces a comparitively runny foam, that does cling but it does a better job of "wetting" and the foam runs off over time taking the dirt with it.

As I mentioned above, my car if foamed and rinsed regularly, this is all it will see - not a two bucket wash as it is not necessary if you use a foam that works well. A good mate's car went from May to October with nothing other than a foam and a rinse for cleaning, which was hugely beneficial on his Honda as the paint was very soft and very easily marked, the touchless wash method (which only really works if you have a good layer of wax/sealent protection) took a lot of the "risk" away from the wash process. You would not IMHO get the same cleaning capabilities from a simple garden hose foam gun attachment.

But the foam from the canon seems to function significantly better for cleaning purposes than it does out of the garden hose gun. The garden hose gun does have the use, as mentioned above, of being used to put suds on the paint for during the wash process but you can do this with the foam cannon as well and if anything its the best use for the clingier foams. I'd advise a foam and rinse before using the cannon (or indeed the foam gun as well) in this manner however.

[imacarnut]

Re: European detailer stereotype (foam gun)

What is the benefit of a foam Cannon over a foam Gun?

Mike

if you haven't seen this video, here it is once again...
Washing with the Foam Gun

[AeroCleanse]

Re: European detailer stereotype (foam gun)

I prefer to use ONR and save a bunch of water and wasted time.

[Michael Stoops]

Re: European detailer stereotype (foam gun)

BTW....You'll want quick conencts and a shut off as well.

No, I pretty much wash same as one would with a soapy water bucket. Just the soap comes from the gun.

So it is more like:
1. Good rinse with hose
2. Spray some soap on half of roof, little on mitt, and wash.
3. Flip mitt over, spray some soap on half of trunk lid, some on mitt, and wash.
4. Rinse mitt in fresh water.

Do a few panels / partial panels like that, and then rinse off soap when needed.

Pretty much what I do, too. Makes washing a vehicle a very quick process.

[gb387]

Re: European detailer stereotype (foam gun)

Pretty much what I do, too. Makes washing a vehicle a very quick process.

That is/was the hope when I purchase one. Can't wait for it to show up and as soon as we get a day above freezing I will be out in the driveway trying it out!

[Mikejl]

Re: European detailer stereotype (foam gun)

Imacarnut and Dave, Thanks!

I think having a foam cannon would be cool, but not quite worth the extra expense.

I will be more comfortable with the foam gun using the method shown in the video and Murr1525's 1 bucket method.

Mike

[CarbonBlack]

Re: European detailer stereotype (foam gun)

Hmm.. guess we didnt answer your question at all did we....

Not a problem.

All your posts were appreciated, and I learned lots about this tool!


Thanks everyone
-Nick