Preface: I've seen a lot of talk regarding foam guns and I wanted to present my method.
Much credit is due to Accumulator on the other autopia for getting me hooked on the BHB (boar hair brush) and for getting me going with his wash method. Much of the wash part is his method, with parts I've thrown in and have found to work well/quickly, the drying is what I've started using recently.
This is the safest/most gentle wash IMO because you are always lubricating the surface with lots of soap suds. It is also one of the fastest washes. 2bm takes me an hour or so, this takes me approximately 30 mins. I've been using the bhb for about a year and a half now, refining the method as I go.
I decided to get a BHB after reading a lot of Accumulator's recommendations, I got the Montana 10" brush from AG. It has a rubber bumper around the perimeter and a threaded hole for attaching a handle. I didnt buy the handle they offer, but found a paint roller handle in the garage that works (though I have only used it once for the top of an excursion, nice to have incase). I got the 10" also because it fits lengthwise into a 5gal bucket for easy rinsing, which I did at first, but then Accumulator convinced me that the suds would rinse the brush free enough. This is true but I still spray the brush with water between panels when I am rinsing the panel clean of soap.
I get enough foam from about 4oz CG Citrus wash and gloss/rest water to sufficiently flush the brush constantly. Foam is sprayed directly ahead of the brush movement on the bristles. The brush is held with light pressure in one hand (foam gun always in the other, making sure not to hit the paint with the nozzle). The brush movement is critical (see below). Do not make long sweeps, and do not bend the bristles all the way over(this is how most people use a bhb, which increases the chance of scratching by using the side of the bristles). The bristles should touch the paint and with only about 1/4" of the tips should do the cleaning (very light pressure). I do 2 panels at a time, then rinse the car and brush (bristles facing the ground) with water to keep soap residue from drying and to ensure any stuff is out of the brush.
The flagged bristle ends are so soft and I feel like this is less harsh on the paint than any other method due to low applied pressure and the constant foaming flush. It also uses very little soap as I use about 1/2 of the foam gun container (2oz total soap) per car.
Cliff notes:
0. Clean wheels/tires as usual, clean off any tar with tar cleaner, and spray bug stuff on any insects (you can leave this sitting on the paint if you are comfortable with doing that)
1. Gather supplies (foam gun with 4oz soap, remainder water, bhb*, hose, waterless wash in sprayer, quick detailer/wax, about four 500+ gsm mf towels)
2. Work top-down, as usual, doing the roof, then two panels at a time
3. Soak bhb with water from hose (slide foam gun dilution bar all the way so just water comes out)
4. Spray some foam onto working area (for me, the foam gun slider bar is just one click over from straight water)
5. With foam gun constantly shooting foam at the bristle-paint interface, make short 2-3" jiggling motions to aggitate the surface. Make a pass left to right, then move down the panel and go right to left with some overlap. These motions are pretty fast and you can cover a lot of area quickly and safely. (Remember subsequent passes must be below the previous ones for flushing)
6. After the roof, or two panels, disconnect the gun bottle using the quick disconnect, set on ground, and spray the panel clean. Use this time to spray the brush also. Reconnect bottle to sprayer. ( I disconnect the bottle because there is not enough water flow when using the straight water setting on the slider bar, which slows you down)
7. Rinse and repeat until the vehicle is done. I also tend to keep the previous sections wet whenever I am spraying off soap so the water doesnt dry and spot.
8. Grab waterless wash and mf towel folded into fourths. Begin top-down and work in similar sized sections spraying generously and wiping/flipping mf towel often.
9. Continue with the WW until you've covered the entire vehicle. Note: there will likely be streaking now due to using a lot of WW. That is ok because this step was to get most of the water off.
10. Basically do the same procedure using the qd or quick wax, to finish drying and remove the streaks. This step will take slightly longer because you'll pay a little more attention.
11. Clean windows and other trims/grilles with WW, glass cleaner, etc. Dont use your bhb for this as it's not the best tool.
12. All done.
*no need to soak bhb prior to use since you are only using the bristle ends
Much credit is due to Accumulator on the other autopia for getting me hooked on the BHB (boar hair brush) and for getting me going with his wash method. Much of the wash part is his method, with parts I've thrown in and have found to work well/quickly, the drying is what I've started using recently.
This is the safest/most gentle wash IMO because you are always lubricating the surface with lots of soap suds. It is also one of the fastest washes. 2bm takes me an hour or so, this takes me approximately 30 mins. I've been using the bhb for about a year and a half now, refining the method as I go.
I decided to get a BHB after reading a lot of Accumulator's recommendations, I got the Montana 10" brush from AG. It has a rubber bumper around the perimeter and a threaded hole for attaching a handle. I didnt buy the handle they offer, but found a paint roller handle in the garage that works (though I have only used it once for the top of an excursion, nice to have incase). I got the 10" also because it fits lengthwise into a 5gal bucket for easy rinsing, which I did at first, but then Accumulator convinced me that the suds would rinse the brush free enough. This is true but I still spray the brush with water between panels when I am rinsing the panel clean of soap.
I get enough foam from about 4oz CG Citrus wash and gloss/rest water to sufficiently flush the brush constantly. Foam is sprayed directly ahead of the brush movement on the bristles. The brush is held with light pressure in one hand (foam gun always in the other, making sure not to hit the paint with the nozzle). The brush movement is critical (see below). Do not make long sweeps, and do not bend the bristles all the way over(this is how most people use a bhb, which increases the chance of scratching by using the side of the bristles). The bristles should touch the paint and with only about 1/4" of the tips should do the cleaning (very light pressure). I do 2 panels at a time, then rinse the car and brush (bristles facing the ground) with water to keep soap residue from drying and to ensure any stuff is out of the brush.
The flagged bristle ends are so soft and I feel like this is less harsh on the paint than any other method due to low applied pressure and the constant foaming flush. It also uses very little soap as I use about 1/2 of the foam gun container (2oz total soap) per car.
Cliff notes:
0. Clean wheels/tires as usual, clean off any tar with tar cleaner, and spray bug stuff on any insects (you can leave this sitting on the paint if you are comfortable with doing that)
1. Gather supplies (foam gun with 4oz soap, remainder water, bhb*, hose, waterless wash in sprayer, quick detailer/wax, about four 500+ gsm mf towels)
2. Work top-down, as usual, doing the roof, then two panels at a time
3. Soak bhb with water from hose (slide foam gun dilution bar all the way so just water comes out)
4. Spray some foam onto working area (for me, the foam gun slider bar is just one click over from straight water)
5. With foam gun constantly shooting foam at the bristle-paint interface, make short 2-3" jiggling motions to aggitate the surface. Make a pass left to right, then move down the panel and go right to left with some overlap. These motions are pretty fast and you can cover a lot of area quickly and safely. (Remember subsequent passes must be below the previous ones for flushing)
6. After the roof, or two panels, disconnect the gun bottle using the quick disconnect, set on ground, and spray the panel clean. Use this time to spray the brush also. Reconnect bottle to sprayer. ( I disconnect the bottle because there is not enough water flow when using the straight water setting on the slider bar, which slows you down)
7. Rinse and repeat until the vehicle is done. I also tend to keep the previous sections wet whenever I am spraying off soap so the water doesnt dry and spot.
8. Grab waterless wash and mf towel folded into fourths. Begin top-down and work in similar sized sections spraying generously and wiping/flipping mf towel often.
9. Continue with the WW until you've covered the entire vehicle. Note: there will likely be streaking now due to using a lot of WW. That is ok because this step was to get most of the water off.
10. Basically do the same procedure using the qd or quick wax, to finish drying and remove the streaks. This step will take slightly longer because you'll pay a little more attention.
11. Clean windows and other trims/grilles with WW, glass cleaner, etc. Dont use your bhb for this as it's not the best tool.
12. All done.
*no need to soak bhb prior to use since you are only using the bristle ends
