I bought a foam gun not to long ago and Ive used it about four times now and Im not really impressed. Im not sure if Im mixing the soap right, but its not doing what everyone claims it does. It doesnt help make washing any easier. Ive used DP foam, Adams shampoo, and Chemical guys wash n gloss soaps. Any input would be nice thanks.
Foam gun problems
- Thread starter cwpcasey
- Start date
Gilmour Foam Master (garden hose type) should give you foam like this.
[video=youtube_share;RFIILkkdqaA] - Quart Foam Gun on Full Foam[/video]
Like Killrwheels mentioned make sure to adjust your mix ratio, some have a pin and brass bar some have a black plastic dial.
A foam cannon will give you denser foam like this, you won't get this kind of thick foam without a pressure washer.
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7uXlEMGc_60]YouTube - Foam Cannon[/video]
Just want to make sure your expectations are not off.
[video=youtube_share;RFIILkkdqaA] - Quart Foam Gun on Full Foam[/video]
Like Killrwheels mentioned make sure to adjust your mix ratio, some have a pin and brass bar some have a black plastic dial.
A foam cannon will give you denser foam like this, you won't get this kind of thick foam without a pressure washer.
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7uXlEMGc_60]YouTube - Foam Cannon[/video]
Just want to make sure your expectations are not off.
Last edited:
BobbyG
New member
- Dec 29, 2009
- 13,211
- 0
I just bought a foam gun too and one thing I discovered when used with the red squeeze gun it just doesn't get allot of flow. I removed the cup, nozzle, and valve assembly from the water gun itself and when squeeze full open the volume and pressure of water was very, very low.
When I connected the hose directly to the cup assembly minus the water gun it produced a generous amount of soapy solution with much more force covering the car very easily.
I read that there's a flow control valve in the handle, probably to stop a back flow of solution. I'm wondering if this valve is a problem with these guns and needs to be investigated?
When I connected the hose directly to the cup assembly minus the water gun it produced a generous amount of soapy solution with much more force covering the car very easily.
I read that there's a flow control valve in the handle, probably to stop a back flow of solution. I'm wondering if this valve is a problem with these guns and needs to be investigated?
Matt
Active member
- Aug 25, 2008
- 1,275
- 0
I just bought a foam gun too and one thing I discovered when used with the red squeeze gun it just doesn't get allot of flow. I removed the cup, nozzle, and valve assembly from the water gun itself and when squeeze full open the volume and pressure of water was very, very low.
When I connected the hose directly to the cup assembly minus the water gun it produced a generous amount of soapy solution with much more force covering the car very easily.
I read that there's a flow control valve in the handle, probably to stop a back flow of solution. I'm wondering if this valve is a problem with these guns and needs to be investigated?
Interesting, I'm going to have to look into this as I too am dissapointed about the thickness of the foam produced even at high foam setting. I have a pressure washer but $99 is a lot for a foam cannon, add that to the fact that I've already spent $49 (or watever it cost) for a foam gun.
- Thread starter
- #6
Well I dont have the problem with pressure, mine is more in the sense of it not really doing any "cleaning". It just puts foam on the car and that is it. Maybe my idea on how it works might be wrong, but I was under the impression it broke down most of the dirt and made washing easier. Ive tried all five different settings on the gun.
BobbyG
New member
- Dec 29, 2009
- 13,211
- 0
The gun lays down a blanket of sudsy foam that dissolves and softens dirt and grime. As this happens, the particles become suspended and will be easier to rinse off thus imparting fewer swirls and scratches to the surface.
Higher water pressure and volume increase the amount of foam produced by the unit allowing it to be much more efficient. Moving the mixing bar fully to the left allows the maximum amount of solution to water mixture to cover the surface.
Personally I do think the foam gun helps clean. Most of what it takes off for me is particulate matter and IMHO this is what a foam gun is good for. All those tiny bits of dust, fallout and grit that is stuck to the car is what causes swirls in the wash stage. I find that some pressure helps blast away the emulsified particles after foaming.
I have heard people using various methods when foaming but here is what I do and why.
1) Clean the wheels, I clean wheels first because it takes the longest and I don't want water drying on the car while I am doing wheels. They are also the dirtiest so I like to get rid of all that nastiness and change the water in my wash buckets before proceeding to the bodywork.
2) Foam the dry car, once the foam hits the car it will start to emulsify the grime and along with it the particulate matter.
3) I let the foam dwell and work as I prepare fresh wash and rinse water. and setup the pressure washer.
4) I pressure wash the remaining foam off the car making sure to blast off anything sticking to the paint like bugs and bee pollen (little yellow dots). Before I had a pressure washer I would blast it with a good hose nozzle.
5) I visually inspect the car for greasy road grime that is still stuck on the car. Looks like a very fine filmy residue. If that is present I foam the car again as a presoak and to add a lubrication buffer for the next stage. If you have healthy LSP on the car most everything should come off.
6) Traditional two bucket wash to remove any remaning bug guts and grime.
7) Final rinse and dry.
I usually just foam -> pressure wash -> 2 bucket -> dry since I wash regularly I don't need to do more unless the car is REALLY dirty or not a car I or the owner regularly maintains.
The rinse water bucket after washing is usually pretty much completely clear when I foam compared to a wash without foaming so I feel pretty confident that the foam is doing most of the work without even touching the car.
I find that some soaps are more effective than others in a foam gun but the ones you have tried should all work pretty well for this. I've used DP Xtreme Foam, CG Glossworkz, CG Citrus Clear and OPT Car Wash. They are all pretty good with DP being tops by a small margin but it is $$$.
SeaJay's
New member
- Aug 2, 2010
- 3,070
- 0
If your using this with a regular water hose it could be the pressure coming from your house isn't high enough. I know that on my house I have two faucets, one out front and one out back. The one on the front of the house doesn't put out nearly as much pressure as the one on the back of the house due to the one on the back is closer to the water main coming into the house.
This could be part of your problem. I have a foam gun that I use on my regular hose and it gives me a good amount of foam. Not nearly as much as with a pressure washer, but a good coating. And since I foam 1st, then before rinsing I use a two bucket wash system and go over it again while the foam is still there it works well for me.
This could be part of your problem. I have a foam gun that I use on my regular hose and it gives me a good amount of foam. Not nearly as much as with a pressure washer, but a good coating. And since I foam 1st, then before rinsing I use a two bucket wash system and go over it again while the foam is still there it works well for me.