So, I finally had a chance to try the bottomless second bucket.
White: wash bucket (used Ultima Paint Guard Wash / BMW Sheepskin wash mitt)
Orange: bottomless 2nd bucket
Red: wheels
Video in action:
http://youtu.be/IkEY4oxiYwk
Some observations:
First, I want to pat myself on the back for building this thing perfect. I was wondering if I may have cut too much "bucket" away to hold the grit guard in place or make the whole contraption itself flimsy. But everything worked perfect. The grit guard didn't twist, move, bend, sink in or fly out of the bucket.
I cut the bucket just right so all the water exits it quickly, but everything stays in place. The fuel line tubing I used to line the grit guard to make it sit higher in the bucket worked perfect and it all stayed put under the pressure washer. So, I was pretty thrilled I was able to make it the way I imagined it the first time and it worked well.
Disadvantages:
1. You get wet using this. Water tends to splash back.
2. You do use a lot of water. This isn't too big of a deal because I tend to use a ton of water anyway. I mean when its hot, I end up rinsing down the whole car to keep it wet constantly during a 2BM to prevent water spots. I foam the car, sometimes twice and rinse. I rinse my mitts, wheel tools, and buckets to death. I flood water off the car when done. Until its illegal, I'll still keep using a lot of water.
3. It takes more time to rinse the mitt out this way then it does to rinse it normally in the second bucket. Sort of a PIA, but not too bad.
Advantages:
1. You can wash the whole car in any order without worrying about contaminating your wash or rinse water. Normally I save the bumpers for last because they are dirtier that the rest of the car. Now I can do the back bumper whole doing the trunk (2 mitts) and the front while washing the hood - same with the rocker panels. This means less back and forth. It was kind of nice.
2. Since you rinse bucket holds no water, your only lugging half the amount of water around the car. Wether you use bucket dollies or not, its easier to have a rinse bucket that weighs almost nothing to bring around the car.
3. When I was done I checked to bottom of the soap bucket for dirt. Theoretically, you would be blasting 100% of the dirt away with clean water, so it should be 100% dirt free. That's theoretically. In actuality, there was some floating dirt. When I say "some", I mean very very little.
However, I always check the soap bucket and there is always a little bit of dirt at the bottom, I'm not working in a sterile environment.
Conclusion:
I think where this device shines is in 2 situations:
1. The car is very dirty or your cleaning something very dirty like neglected wheels with a mitt.
2. Its great to blast dirt out of anything. I unused it to blast my mitts soap free when I was done. The came out clean. Its also great to rinse out pads or anything else you would want to blast dirt out of with a pressure washer but don't feel like chasing across the parking lot, or holding in your hand and getting soaked.
