I think I want a foam gun

runrun411

runrun411

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I didn't think I'd want one. Didn't see the real need for one but now I think I want a foam gun. I saw a couple of post last week about them and suddenly it seems like the must have, can't clean the car without it, If I don't buy it I'll be cheating myself and my cars thing. AG, right when I think i'm out, you pull me back in. Which one do I buy without having to 2nd mortgage the house. LOL
 
I'm in the exact same boat it seems. I don't want to buy something that will get used one time, then stored. I have enough of that already. It sure does look like fun though!
 
I bought one and love the darn thing. I use for:

1) Stripping LSP. Foam up with Dawn dilution, let is dwell on the paint and use a 2 bucket to strip everything off.
2) Washing in general. A quick rinse with the PS; foam up with my favorite soap; let it dwell; use the 2 bucket to wash off and then a quick rinse with the PS and I am ready to dry.

So far I have used Dawn, Mr. Pink and the DP super suds that came with it.

In order to convince myself, I waited to use a gift card (which was bought on sale (instant 20% off), then combined it with a 20% off + free shipping over $125 (bought some other stuff also). I thought it was a deal considering I was able to select the fitting for my PS (Karcher) which is normally $20+/-. The math worked out at the time Im the MAN
 
Dr_Pain said:
I bought one and love the darn thing. I use for:

1) Stripping LSP. Foam up with Dawn dilution, let is dwell on the paint and use a 2 bucket to strip everything off.
2) Washing in general. A quick rinse with the PS; foam up with my favorite soap; let it dwell; use the 2 bucket to wash off and then a quick rinse with the PS and I am ready to dry.

So far I have used Dawn, Mr. Pink and the DP super suds that came with it.

In order to convince myself, I waited to use a gift card (which was bought on sale (instant 20% off), then combined it with a 20% off + free shipping over $125 (bought some other stuff also). I thought it was a deal considering I was able to select the fitting for my PS (Karcher) which is normally $20+/-. The math worked out at the time Im the MAN
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Sounds like you have a foam cannon? I think the OP is speaking of a foam gun which is for a regular hose. I have a gas pressure washer that I only use when my truck is really dirty. I can't decide if I should buy the "cannon" for that or the "gun" for the regular hose that I use more frequently. hmmmm.......
 
I did not think I needed a foam gun either. Been washing and waxing cars for nearly 60 years just fine without it. But I watched some videos and thought it was neat looking, whether it did much good or not it at least looked like it was doing something.

I bought the Gilmour gun which is about as good as any. I tried it a couple times and it worked pretty darn good using CG "Clear" shampoo. It is not thick or like "shave cream" the way a cannon would make suds but rather it has a little run to it which I think is even better. It lingers on the car just long enough but slowly runs off. I follow it up after a few minutes with a two bucket, normal wash and that job does go a little smoother and faster thanks to the foam beforehand. A foam gun is certainly not necessary for sure but it can't hurt and I've got a lot of time to "play"!
 
I bought the original Gilmour Foamaster, quarter gallon size. If you have a small car, the quart size should be fine. I wash the wheels first and then I foam my car with 1 oz. of Maxi Suds II, 31 oz. of water, let it dwell while I ready my wash and rinse buckets. I'll also use Dawn dish soap in the foam gun and wash bucket occasionally when I'm looking to strip all the wax off my car and start fresh.

The foam gun is a simple design and it's fun to use. I use it pretty much every time I wash my car. I've had it for several months now, no issues, no malfunctions. Do yourself a favor and get the quick connects and water shut-off valve for the hose so that you can shut the water off at the hose and change nozzles if needed. It beats running back and forth to the water spigot to turn the water off, back on, off, on, etc. when you need to change nozzles.
 
Shortspark said:
I did not think I needed a foam gun either. Been washing and waxing cars for nearly 60 years just fine without it. But I watched some videos and thought it was neat looking, whether it did much good or not it at least looked like it was doing something.

I bought the Gilmour gun which is about as good as any. I tried it a couple times and it worked pretty darn good using CG "Clear" shampoo. It is not thick or like "shave cream" the way a cannon would make suds but rather it has a little run to it which I think is even better. It lingers on the car just long enough but slowly runs off. I follow it up after a few minutes with a two bucket, normal wash and that job does go a little smoother and faster thanks to the foam beforehand. A foam gun is certainly not necessary for sure but it can't hurt and I've got a lot of time to "play"!
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When I read a post last week (I think it was Mike Phillips) the foam gets into all the nooks and crannies I thought that was very true. Yeah it looks cool but I didn't think cool looks was worth buying it. Like you said I've been washing just fine without it. But now I think I see the light. The light that says 'spend more $$$'. LOL
 
spiralout462 said:
Sounds like you have a foam cannon? I think the OP is speaking of a foam gun which is for a regular hose. I have a gas pressure washer that I only use when my truck is really dirty. I can't decide if I should buy the "cannon" for that or the "gun" for the regular hose that I use more frequently. hmmmm.......
Click to expand...


Now here's where the complications begin. You know it can't be as simple as just buying a foamer. What's the difference between a foam cannon and a foam gun? When they have the big water holders, how big is big enough? Do I need both or would having both be a little OCD (which kind of best describes this whole hobby). Sorry if these are stupid questions.
 
runrun411 said:
Now here's where the complications begin. You know it can't be as simple as just buying a foamer. What's the difference between a foam cannon and a foam gun? When they have the big water holders, how big is big enough? Do I need both or would having both be a little OCD (which kind of best describes this whole hobby). Sorry if these are stupid questions.
Click to expand...

The foam gun can be attached to any garden hose and produces nice thick suds, but they don't cling as much to the paint like how a foam cannon does. Foam cannons, as far as I know, are only for pressure washers.

I'm totally happy with my foam gun. If you wash the wheels first and then foam, there's no reason (in my opinion) to foam the wheels, so that will leave you more solution to keep on foaming the paint. I use CG Maxi Suds II, which is rated at a medium for foaming action, but it foams up really great in the foam gun and the wash bucket. I can only imagine how CG Mr. Pink and Honeydew soaps foam up, as they're both rated at a high foaming action, I think.
 
It makes sense as a pre-soak. After rinsing, it'll make the two bucket go a lot faster with much less dirt on the car, meaning less chance of swirls.
 
spiralout462 said:
Sounds like you have a foam cannon? I think the OP is speaking of a foam gun which is for a regular hose. I have a gas pressure washer that I only use when my truck is really dirty. I can't decide if I should buy the "cannon" for that or the "gun" for the regular hose that I use more frequently. hmmmm.......
Click to expand...

Sorry, you are correct! I have a cannon and not a gun. In my opinion both are in the same family as far as function. One may produce a slightly different thickness of foam, compared to the other, but both will have the same end result.... a nice foam show! and good dwell time.

Is foam that necessary? My personal view is no. I do use it to envelop the car and take a nice pic that I text to my customer (ie. marketing of the day at the spa).

Does it have a function? My answer is yes. It does allow a good amount of dwell time so to let the surfactant and other reagent to work on the dirt and grime etc.... If the products are left to work longer pre-soaking the dirt and grime then that means less time in physical contact with the paint therefore lessening your changes of scratching the paint.
 
FivePoint.0 said:
It makes sense as a pre-soak. After rinsing, it'll make the two bucket go a lot faster with much less dirt on the car, meaning less chance of swirls.
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:iagree:

Love my new AG Foam Cannon. By the time I get to the two bucket wash there is not much grit on the car to cause swirling.
 
I used my Gilmore Foamaster for the first time last weekend, and I loved it, like already said, it dwells nicely and doing the 2 bucket wash is a lot easier after the foaming, I will be using it every time I wash my cars:)
 
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