Foam Gun / foaming ?

[luckydawg]

Of the folks on here that use a foam gun- I take it that you fellas start by foaming down the whole entire vehicle first then immediately start the wash process? Is that correct?

Myself-- I have never let soap solution dry on anything I am washing, as I clean one section @ a time and immediately rinse that section.

Do you not care if the solution dries out on the vehicle prior to you getting around to washing it?

 

[Bill D]

I have done it both ways: foam the entire vehicle first and then begin washing by constantly streaming foam over a section while I wash. It won’t dry out. I’ve also foamed in sections as well. This might be good to do on an especially hot and sunny day. Either way, my objective is to stream the foam while I wash so I have that barrier of protective soapy solution that is flushing dirt away as I wash

 

[Texchappy]

I pretty much have to do sections due to being in dry, usually hot, almost desert conditions. This is one of the reason I now do primarily rinseless/waterless processes.

 

[chilly]

I won't go direct to a contact wash after a FIRST round of foam, but I will rinse the first round completely and then lay down a second round and start a contact wash

Depending on weather and vehicle size I will stop every couple of panels and make sure the entire surface is still wet and if need be I will "mist" the panels with my pressure gun to keep them damp but try not to rinse the foam off

If I am having a bad day and the foam is just sliding off or dissipating faster than I can keep up with it so be it, but I still keep the vehicle wet until I finish and do a final rinse

Keeping the car wet and foamy was often a problem in Hawaii but not so much in Alaska

 

[luckydawg]

I won't go direct to a contact wash after a FIRST round of foam, but I will rinse the first round completely and then lay down a second round and start a contact wash

Depending on weather and vehicle size I will stop every couple of panels and make sure the entire surface is still wet and if need be I will "mist" the panels with my pressure gun to keep them damp but try not to rinse the foam off

If I am having a bad day and the foam is just sliding off or dissipating faster than I can keep up with it so be it, but I still keep the vehicle wet until I finish and do a final rinse

Keeping the car wet and foamy was often a problem in Hawaii but not so much in Alaska

Myself- I cant see where the benefit of foam would be worth the hassle of constantly keeping up with that. I could be wrong but the only way I could see the benefit of foam is if the foam did the cleaning so I wouldn't need a manual wash.

I just have always been in the "camp" that foam is just another "thing" for people to do, as I have not seen the benefits verses the expense of the foam eqipt. and extra time & effort to use it. Who has found the results better than a traditional bucket wash alone? Anyone?

 

[Bill D]

I get zero marr ing by washing with the foam gun in the way I described.

This saves big time and expense not to mention clear by having to polish out marr ing left by other methods. This is especially true when it comes to soft clear like my Honda's.

 

[chilly]

Myself- I cant see where the benefit of foam would be worth the hassle of constantly keeping up with that. I could be wrong but the only way I could see the benefit of foam is if the foam did the cleaning so I wouldn't need a manual wash.

I just have always been in the "camp" that foam is just another "thing" for people to do, as I have not seen the benefits verses the expense of the foam eqipt. and extra time & effort to use it. Who has found the results better than a traditional bucket wash alone?

It’s totally situational as far as I’m concerned

In my world and in my opinion if my vehicles are “clean” but “dusty” then a simple rinse, foam, and rinse gets them cleaner SAFER than any waterless or rinseless wash or wipe down with an instant detailing spray

Again, this is my opinion, not an absolute I will go to the mat over

It may be a total placebo the rest of the time, who knows, but it feels like I am doing the best I possibly can to keep my paint in the best possible condition for as long as possible

As far as time goes, I am retired and the expense is negligible TO ME

Your mileage may vary


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Bill D]

Just foaming and rinsing a very lightly dirty car works for me too provided the soap and the LSP is good. Doing it doesn't take me much time. Drying takes more for me.

 

[Honda Fan]

I just received my foam gun (Blackfire) and I'm quite anxious to use it (except that it decided to rain today!). For my first use with this gun I plan on rinsing / foaming / contact wipe down and go from there. I may incorporate a rinse after the first foaming and then apply another layer foam and then contact wipe. I don't see this as being too cost prohibitive (soap) and I have the time to spend so... Although I've never used one before I'm drawn to the procedure. My cars are always washed in the shade and then immediately roll into the garage after a quick blast from my leaf blower and sometimes a little compressed air for the cracks and crevices. I'm looking forward to trying it out. It looks like something that fits my approach to cleaning cars. I guess I'll know once the rain stops, LOL.

 

[Bill D]

Welcome to the foam gun club!

 

[Honda Fan]

Welcome to the foam gun club!

Yeah, they're going to have to pry it from my cold dead hand. (Wait a minute, wrong forum)