Foam cannon / foam in general

[Klasse Act]

Yeah, these washing and waxing maniacs on here will ruin a guy

And his wallet

I find it interesting that there seems to be a much lower percentage of reviews for 3D products compared to some of the high profile brands

Not sure if it’s a lack of glamor for the brand or what but 3D seems to come up short in the reviews department


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True but that's on 3D if you think about it

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[chilly]

True but that's on 3D if you think about it

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I am curious if you mean this is due to 3D not getting their products out into the hands of the usual suspects in the detailing product review world like TW does?

 

[Klasse Act]

I am curious if you mean this is due to 3D not getting their products out into the hands of the usual suspects in the detailing product review world like TW does?

Well I mean you have to do some type of advertising to get yourself out there right?

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[crg001]

I've started using 3D Super Pre-Soak in the foam cannon before doing some of the details I do every now and then. I think it's a pretty good degreaser to hit some of the road film before a contact wash, but if you look at the SDS for it, it only has a pH of 8 in concentrate. And you dilute this stuff pretty crazy so for it being claimed as a "high pH alkaline" is kind of not true. Maybe in relative function, but not chemically. So I'm not sure it would be as powerful against road film versus the BH stuff. I've been eyeballing an iK foam pro 12 to try it in as I feel the foam cannon dilutes it too much and it isn't as effective. That all being said I do like using it and I absolutely feel like it is doing some heavy lifting before the contact wash.

Just recently I used it as a pre-soak on my Xterra that is coated with Adam's Graphene. It was pretty dirty as we've been getting some rain here in SoCal and all that it does is liquefy all the dirt and pollen that was sitting on the vehicle, lol. After pretreating and rinsing with the power washer I did a rinseless in the garage with N914. It made it really effortless and anything that was left on the paint wiped right off. Sometimes that's not always the case when doing rinseless. So I think the 3D is definitely helping.

 

[chilly]

Well I mean you have to do some type of advertising to get yourself out there right?

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I certainly can't argue with that; I guess "getting yourself out there" was the first day lecture in business 101

lol

I do know that there has been a lot of forward movement on their part since Mike Phillips joined their ranks

Their website, which used to be almost unusable, is now 100% better, but it still needs some tweaking IMO

Their store on the big "A" website must help as well

I have to wonder if their focus has traditionally been more on the commercial side of the supply chain for carwashes, etc and less on the individual detailer whether hobby or pro

I believe that was the way P&S was for the longest time before they really jumped into the detailing aspect of sales and targeted the hobby and pro detailers

I guess from one point of view I am ok with them NOT doing a lot of the promo work that some of the other players have used because my overloaded and jaded mind has gotten to the point that I am instantly suspicious when the ringing endorsements from what I feel are paid or biased reviewers come streaming out to overwhelm the detailing world

I also know that for years a portion of the 3D business was and I believe continues to be custom formulating and bottling of products for other brands that lack their own production facilities

I honestly think going forward as I need replacement products and supplies I will most likely either continue to buy the 3D products I already use and like as well as try different 3D products to possibly replace other brands that are frequently underwhelming

I have been exposed to several new 3D products in the last few months that were flying under my radar but seem to be just what I have been looking for in various product categories and a lot of the folks on here swear by them so given the value and my past 3D experience I have no hesitation diving in

 

[Klasse Act]

IIRC the 3D pre-wash is $40 a gallon and Bilt-Hamber Touchless and Auto-foam are $45, so based on what I'm reading here the Bilt-Hamber products are worth it but I'm glad the 3D is helping.

Btw get the IK Foam Pro 12 and "maybe" the mini chargeable air compressor for a cool "hack", I love mine

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[crg001]

IIRC the 3D pre-wash is $40 a gallon and Bilt-Hamber Touchless and Auto-foam are $45, so based on what I'm reading here the Bilt-Hamber products are worth it but I'm glad the 3D is helping.

Btw get the IK Foam Pro 12 and "maybe" the mini chargeable air compressor for a cool "hack", I love mine

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I have a couple air compressors already so that would certainly be a nice feature. I want to get a Ryobi EZ Clean (like the worx hydroshot) and pretty much switch to rinseless washes completely. My thought process is foam from the iK with pre-soak, rinse with rinseless solution from the bucket with the battery operated pressure washer, then wash using ONR/N914/Feynlab PR depending on dirt levels. I have spend too much time d***ing around with the foam cannon and tons of different soaps and have found it to be a flashy time waster most of the time. I just want fast and effective clean. Even on customer's rides, I find all the extra steps don't amount to much of a different result than those two steps.

 

[Klasse Act]

I have a couple air compressors already so that would certainly be a nice feature. I want to get a Ryobi EZ Clean (like the worx hydroshot) and pretty much switch to rinseless washes completely. My thought process is foam from the iK with pre-soak, rinse with rinseless solution from the bucket with the battery operated pressure washer, then wash using ONR/N914/Feynlab PR depending on dirt levels. I have spend too much time d***ing around with the foam cannon and tons of different soaps and have found it to be a flashy time waster most of the time. I just want fast and effective clean. Even on customer's rides, I find all the extra steps don't amount to much of a different result than those two steps.

You don't need something battery powered to do rinseless washes, just get an IK non-foaming sprayer to do tye job or a 1000ML Kwazer

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[oneheadlite]

Late to the thread, but count me in the "Pro Foam Cannon" camp (with caveats).

I've only made it as far as the Griot's Foaming Surface Wash (the mild white stuff), which I'm sure is much milder than the Built Hamburger ( ), but it absolutely makes a difference when it comes to washing a legit dirty car.

Example: Did a wash this morning on my road warrior (80mile/day commuter), it's been 2 months/ about 4000 miles of MN Winter driving since it's last wash (Don't judge!).

Pulled the car in to the shop, foamed with Surface Wash.
While it was dwelling, hit the wheels with Surface Prep diluted down in a trigger spray bottle; then used boars hair brush w/ car wash soap to clean wheels.
Pressure wash rinsed, followed with single bucket/single mitt wash.

Despite being trashed to start, I wasn't getting huge grime transfer on my mitt as I went. The wash bucket now that it's settled barely looks darker than when I started.

Nothing fancy for LSP; got Griot's Ceramic 3&1 in July (no polish beforehand). No drying aids, though I did play around on the hood/roof with some different combos, but no discernible difference in dirt accumulation/washing.

I will say (I think each time this topic comes up), I've never been a believer in using a foam cannon with regular car wash soap prior to doing a contact wash (IE: Snow foam car, proceed to bucket wash); to me I find it hard to believe the standard soap bubbles add that much lubrication to the process.

Bill's Extreme wash method with a foam gun absolutely does make sense for someone looking for extreme lubrication and safety.

Bilt Hamber and the other touchless options are definitely appealing; I'm just working through my current inventory before I'm letting myself accumulate more.

 

[Klasse Act]

Late to the thread, but count me in the "Pro Foam Cannon" camp (with caveats).

I've only made it as far as the Griot's Foaming Surface Wash (the mild white stuff), which I'm sure is much milder than the Built Hamburger ( ), but it absolutely makes a difference when it comes to washing a legit dirty car.

Example: Did a wash this morning on my road warrior (80mile/day commuter), it's been 2 months/ about 4000 miles of MN Winter driving since it's last wash (Don't judge!).

Pulled the car in to the shop, foamed with Surface Wash.
While it was dwelling, hit the wheels with Surface Prep diluted down in a trigger spray bottle; then used boars hair brush w/ car wash soap to clean wheels.
Pressure wash rinsed, followed with single bucket/single mitt wash.

Despite being trashed to start, I wasn't getting huge grime transfer on my mitt as I went. The wash bucket now that it's settled barely looks darker than when I started.

Nothing fancy for LSP; got Griot's Ceramic 3&1 in July (no polish beforehand). No drying aids, though I did play around on the hood/roof with some different combos, but no discernible difference in dirt accumulation/washing.

I will say (I think each time this topic comes up), I've never been a believer in using a foam cannon with regular car wash soap prior to doing a contact wash (IE: Snow foam car, proceed to bucket wash); to me I find it hard to believe the standard soap bubbles add that much lubrication to the process.

Bill's Extreme wash method with a foam gun absolutely does make sense for someone looking for extreme lubrication and safety.

Bilt Hamber and the other touchless options are definitely appealing; I'm just working through my current inventory before I'm letting myself accumulate more.

Have you tried Griot's Garage Surface Prep yet?

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[crg001]

You don't need something battery powered to do rinseless washes, just get an IK non-foaming sprayer to do tye job or a 1000ML Kwazer

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I know, but I just love power tools! :laughing: I've been using a gallon-sized pump-up garden sprayer from the hardware store for a while now, but I think blasting the surface with a little pressure and rinseless at the same time would be a great way to pretreat.

 

[crg001]

Late to the thread, but count me in the "Pro Foam Cannon" camp (with caveats).

I've only made it as far as the Griot's Foaming Surface Wash (the mild white stuff), which I'm sure is much milder than the Built Hamburger ( ), but it absolutely makes a difference when it comes to washing a legit dirty car.

Example: Did a wash this morning on my road warrior (80mile/day commuter), it's been 2 months/ about 4000 miles of MN Winter driving since it's last wash (Don't judge!).

Pulled the car in to the shop, foamed with Surface Wash.
While it was dwelling, hit the wheels with Surface Prep diluted down in a trigger spray bottle; then used boars hair brush w/ car wash soap to clean wheels.
Pressure wash rinsed, followed with single bucket/single mitt wash.

Despite being trashed to start, I wasn't getting huge grime transfer on my mitt as I went. The wash bucket now that it's settled barely looks darker than when I started.

Nothing fancy for LSP; got Griot's Ceramic 3&1 in July (no polish beforehand). No drying aids, though I did play around on the hood/roof with some different combos, but no discernible difference in dirt accumulation/washing.

I will say (I think each time this topic comes up), I've never been a believer in using a foam cannon with regular car wash soap prior to doing a contact wash (IE: Snow foam car, proceed to bucket wash); to me I find it hard to believe the standard soap bubbles add that much lubrication to the process.

Bill's Extreme wash method with a foam gun absolutely does make sense for someone looking for extreme lubrication and safety.

Bilt Hamber and the other touchless options are definitely appealing; I'm just working through my current inventory before I'm letting myself accumulate more.

I'm pretty much on the same page! While the pre-soak foam is dwelling, if the car is especially dirty, I will go around it with some 3D orange degreaser and a ultra soft detail factory brush and agitate the hot spots like rubber window trim, grille, and other plastic trim before rinsing. Makes the mitt/sponge wash go super easy.

 

[Klasse Act]

I know, but I just love power tools! :laughing: I've been using a gallon-sized pump-up garden sprayer from the hardware store for a while now, but I think blasting the surface with a little pressure and rinseless at the same time would be a great way to pretreat.

I get that but it's a bit cumbersome for what your using it for, lots of stuff to set up compared to a 1000ML sprayer

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[oneheadlite]

Pulled the car in to the shop, foamed with Surface Wash.
While it was dwelling, hit the wheels with Surface Prep diluted down in a trigger spray bottle; then used boars hair brush w/ car wash soap to clean wheels.
Pressure wash rinsed, followed with single bucket/single mitt wash.

Have you tried Griot's Garage Surface Prep yet?

Yessir. Arguably my favorite wheel cleaner of the moment. 2 Audi's in the garage and a shortage of detailing time; Foaming Surface Prep at 10:1 or whatever the spray bottle ratio is works great to help dissolve my sins.

(And topic for another conversation but no, I'm not putting in aftermarket pads to have less to clean up - I Do Not Do Not Do Not like the pedal feel/performance of most aftermarket pads. I work on cars for a living, thus drive a lot of other people's cars. I can always tell on a test drive when someone's got non OE/OEM brake pads. I'll trade ease of clean up for guaranteed good stopping power any day.)

 

[Bill D]

Bill's Extreme wash method with a foam gun absolutely does make sense for someone looking for extreme lubrication and safety.

Well, the method belongs to Accumulator.


I’m only such an advocate of the extreme method because I simply cannot wash a car without marring if I wash any other way. The extreme method has been my saving grace for over ten years now.

These days at the slightest hint of dirt though, I use the foam gun and do a touchless successfully. I’ll have to see if I even need BH because my run-of-the-mill 3D Pink Soap gives me the results I desire. I have another brand new gallon sitting on the shelf.

 

[Klasse Act]

I'll be washing the ES come Sunday as it's really dirty, a true test for 6 oz of Bilt-Hamber Touchless and 1.5 gallons of distilled waiting for it. Also my g/f's very dirty Cruze will be here afterwards and I applied 303 Touchless sealant to it back mid-Oct 2021 and I'm pretty sure it gone by now as she doesn't wash her car (I'll be taking care of that!) but it will show what Bilt-Hamber Touchless does on something NOT coated...stay "tuned"

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[Coatingsarecrack]

Found this just a bit ago. I don't know much about this channel but first comparison between BH and 3D I've seen. A year old actually. Sounds like 3D is a serious competitor and might win out on price. Not sure about the results yet your conditions though. If YT links aren't allowed, my apologies and I'll delete.

Edit: I'm messing up the link but attached a picture to search on YT.



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His ratio coulda been off. In a foam cannon on most electric PW i’ve seen ratio as crazy as 60/40. But i’ve seen true with most alkaline pre soak end up hotting panels near ph8….. one step above neutral. CarPro lift the same.


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[UncleDavy]

It’s foamy Friday. Foam is fun.

 

[Klasse Act]

It’s foamy Friday. Foam is fun.

What you usin' there Dave

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[UncleDavy]

MTM 225 foam cannon with DP Detailer’s extreme foam soap with Blackfire foam booster. I used the same mixture in a cheap foam cannon and the foam wasn’t as good.


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