Foam Cannon Process HELP

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b0b

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Hey guys,

I just got my HP foam cannon in and I had a few questions about it. First, what is the process that is standard to follow? Is hand washing involved in the process while using a foam cannon? I have a Karcher K2 1600 psi pressure washer, will that be able to do the job or should I return that and get a 2000 psi? I am hoping for a warm day soon to try it out and I would like to know what everyone else does.

Thanks in advance for your help.

And please feel free to share your favorite wash to use with the foam cannon!
 
That psi washer is fine. If your looking for crazy foam or to put on a foam show, a higher pressure may help. But if your looking to get the job done its more than fine. I recommend CG Honeydew foam, as it seems to be the best for me in a similar pressure washer.

1. Foam dry car and let foam dwell a few minutes
2. Pressure wash foam off. I work from the bottom up, as it won't rinse as much soap off as quickly and I think that cleans better.
3. 2BM, Rinse-less, or Waterless wash.
 
+1 my process of rinsing is different. After foaming and dwell time I rinse from the top down. I also recommend HoneyDew. 1-2 oz in your foam canon bottle will give you all the foam you'll ever want.

Haven't tried a waterless wash yet but CG has a waterless wash that looks interesting. If your going to pressure wash it defeats the waterless wash idea IMO.
 
I do as above. Foam, let dwell then rinse (bottom up), really getting into all panel gaps, wheel wells, etc then follow up with a 2BM wash.

Alternatively you could foam & rinse (as above) then foam just a panel, wash that with a mitt, etc (also sprayed with foam before first panel) & rinse. This replaces your wash bucket but make sure to still have a rinse bucket as you would with a normal 2BM wash.

I hope that makes sense...
 
1600 psi will be enough to use your foam cannon just fine. I basically do as the other posters above. Also I take the time while it's foamed to go ahead and clean all the emblems and badges with a swissvax brush and if the wheels aren't too dirty i will clean them as well while i am letting the foam dwell. I will make the distinction the I do not hand wash with my mitt during the foam wash. I do a full foam and rinse then 2 bucket method or rinseless wash session.
 
Thanks for the help everyone. It really cleared things up for me.

I will be using this for the first time this week sometime. I will check back if I have some issues... Thanks again everyone!
 
let us know how it turns out. i purchased my cannon while the black Friday deals where active. im not happy with the amount of foam i had when i used it. i used probably about 3-4 oz of optimum shampoo.
my PW is a 3100 psi with 2.6 gpm which makes it a hell of a candidate for the job.
im hoping its the shampoo it self. maybe i had the thing turned on low foam out put or something ?
 
Lim3, I would be disappointed with that as well...

Did you try playing with the adjustments on the top & front of the lance?
Haven't used Optimum wash myself but have heard great things about it, including using it with a foam cannon.
& as you mention your machine is more than capable.
Nothing "heavy duty" should be needed, equipment wise.

I only use around 1-2oz of soap (depends on what I'm using), rest hot water, & get foam that resembles shaving cream, as many others do.

Try playing with the adjustments (if you haven't already) & let us know how you go...
 
I played around with the settings. I'm guessing I didn't mix the water and soap correctly ? . I never used hot water either. I used about 3-4oz of optimum.
 
I've only used a foam cannon 2x along with CG Max Suds II and 1500psi karcher and it made tons of foam. I read somewhere else that someone used hot water and that may be the key for creating lots of foam, at least it worked for me.
 
PaulG said:
I've only used a foam cannon 2x along with CG Max Suds II and 1500psi karcher and it made tons of foam. I read somewhere else that someone used hot water and that may be the key for creating lots of foam, at least it worked for me.
Click to expand...

I didn't use hot water. I'm gonna try it out later this week.
 
Im still waiting on a day warm enough to try this thing out. I was able to get a 2000 psi Karcher for about the same price as the 1600 so I upgraded to that. In the meantime I am going to purchase some CG Honeydew and see how that works. I will post pictures of how it went.
 
I might as well chime in since everyone always helps me. I have a 1700 psi greenworks pressure washer from Lowes and a foam cannon. I love it but some soaps work much better then others and adjusting the settings helps. I will only use DP extreme foam or honey dew foam going forward. By far the two best products I've used. I add 1-2 oz's of foam to the bottle then fill it about 7/8's full with warm water and shake a little. I also foam then the two bucket method. In a hurry with a fairly clean white car I might use the method above with the rinse bucket but not the norm
 
primo spaghetti said:
ive also read that water hardness plays a role in the amount of foam you can create...
Click to expand...

Hard water being good for it or bad ? I've been told by a buddy that my water is awesome due to it not being the city water. My home uses well water from what I recall, so I believe it's not harsh at all
 
gardnerr2 said:
Im still waiting on a day warm enough to try this thing out. I was able to get a 2000 psi Karcher for about the same price as the 1600 so I upgraded to that. In the meantime I am going to purchase some CG Honeydew and see how that works. I will post pictures of how it went.
Click to expand...

How many GPM is your washer compared to the original ?
Let us know how it works paired with that soap. What cannon are you using. ?

I purchased a bottle of chem guys MR PINK which is suppose to be a high foaming soap. I also got some samples on the way from a member. So I will be comparing some of the best high foaming shampoos offered. I will review and possibly video record each wash so you all can get the BEST idea of which has the best foaming capabilities.
 
Lim3 said:
Hard water being good for it or bad ? I've been told by a buddy that my water is awesome due to it not being the city water. My home uses well water from what I recall, so I believe it's not harsh at all
Click to expand...

harder water = less foam
 
Lim3 said:
let us know how it turns out. i purchased my cannon while the black Friday deals where active. im not happy with the amount of foam i had when i used it. i used probably about 3-4 oz of optimum shampoo.
my PW is a 3100 psi with 2.6 gpm which makes it a hell of a candidate for the job.
im hoping its the shampoo it self. maybe i had the thing turned on low foam out put or something ?
Click to expand...
use dish soap and a little degressor the nob on the top is how much soap will come out and how fast you use it.low is good. ps when I am all done with it for the day I take and run some degresor in a cup and pour it in the tip then pour some down the back of it. this will clean the screen out of soap. if you dont keep the screen clean it will not foam good
 
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