MTM Hydro Foamer Mini Review

[swanicyouth]

So, I finally got my MTM Hydro Foamer and a chance to use it. The foamer comes in a plastic bag (no box) with an instruction paper that is pretty much useless.

The bag looks like this:

The foamer looks like this:

A closer picture of the mechanism:

I got this foamer on Amazon for around $50.00 from a pressure washer vendor. The product labeling said that this foamer was for "gas" machines with a 2 gallon per minute flow rate. The pressure washer I own is electric and is only rated at 1.25 GPM. I wasn't sure how well it would work. Also, the fitting on the foamer was a 1/4" quick release male that screws into the mechanism itself. The threads are 1/4" NPT size. So, since Karcher pressure washers have a proprietary connection system for attachments on their consumer guns, an adapter would be needed. I was able to get an adapter directly from Auto Geek.

The adapter looks like this:

So, removed the male quick connect, and replaced it with a short piece of 1/4" hollow pipe. Then the adapter for the Karcher screws onto the pipe. Everything I needed for the connection, except the adapter, was available at Home Depot. I searched and searched and searched, I could not find the adapter for a Karcher locally. Apparently Home Depot carried them at one point, but the ones in my area no longer do. The bottle on this foamer is about 32 ounces. The soap I used was CG HoneyDew Foam. I used 2 ounces and then filled the bottle with DI water at room temperature. I was a bit worried my pressure washer wasn't going to be powerful enough to get decent foam. I was wrong. I didn't take pictures of the foam, as my neighbors think I'm crazy enough spraying this stuff around, no less taking pictures of foam. However, I was very please with the foam I got with 2 ounces shampoo. The foamer has 2 adjustments: one to control the amount of product in the mixture, and 1 to control the width of the spray. How to use both controls became obvious once I was using it. When cranked open, it sprays some pretty serious white foam. But, on that setting, you can also watch the mixture go down in the bottle. You can adjust if you want the spray to be a fan or a narrow line. Either way, it shoots nicely about twenty feet. The one thing I thought was odd was that the fan pattern is vertical, not horizontal. I just expected it to be horizontal for some reason, but it's still fine. One thing is, I found the bottle to be heavier than I expected when full

 

[shadowpr]

links?

 

[swanicyouth]

I bought it from Amazon. I don't think AG likes links on their forum for companies that sell competing items

 

[kronos]

I bought it from Amazon. I don't think AG likes links on their forum for companies that sell competing items

Or reviews. oke:

 

[Ohio Detailing]

I bought this last week on Amazon as well, it's still sitting on my kitchen table, because I can't figure out how to get it to work with my pressure washer (I made a dedicated thread to it looking for help here: http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum...oduct-review-pressure-washer-foam-cannon.html

Anyway, I asked Nick from customer service and sales at AutoGeek and he said the two products looks identical, so I went with the one that was $50 in stead of $120.

I'm looking forward to using it. Also, I don't think AutoGeek minds about people reviewing other products, we all talk about how AutoGeek sells the same bucket for way more than you can get it for with a lid and grit-guard at Home Depot for $8. Anwyay, if MTM Hydro makes the identical product without a Wolfgang or Blackfire sticker for 1/3 the price, they'll eventually adjust their prices. We all spend hundreds and thousands of dollars here, so I don't see why they would police the forum to 'cover up' information we all already know.

 

[Bunky]

Where are the foam pics?

 

[swanicyouth]

I bought this last week on Amazon as well, it's still sitting on my kitchen table, because I can't figure out how to get it to work with my pressure washer (I made a dedicated thread to it looking for help here: http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum...oduct-review-pressure-washer-foam-cannon.html

Anyway, I asked Nick from customer service and sales at AutoGeek and he said the two products looks identical, so I went with the one that was $50 in stead of $120.

I'm looking forward to using it. Also, I don't think AutoGeek minds about people reviewing other products, we all talk about how AutoGeek sells the same bucket for way more than you can get it for with a lid and grit-guard at Home Depot for $8. Anwyay, if MTM Hydro makes the identical product without a Wolfgang or Blackfire sticker for 1/3 the price, they'll eventually adjust their prices. We all spend hundreds and thousands of dollars here, so I don't see why they would police the forum to 'cover up' information we all already know.

It's hard to tell from your picture, but it looks like your trying to connect the foam gun to the pressure hose, not the gun. It gets attached to the gun. I don't know a lot about AR Blue pressure washers, but I believe there consumer models use a proprietary connector at the gun like the Karchers. I checked out AR Blues website for you, and I believe you can use 1 of 2 solutions:

1. You need this adapter:

AR Blue PW40788... It looks like this:

It looks similar to the Karcher adapter above I needed. It looks like the only place that really stocks this is Pressure Washers Direct. If this adapter is(?) similar to the Karcher, then all you need is this adapter and a small piece of 1/4" NPT pipe (available at HD in the plumbing section. The adapter will twist into your gun or wand, the small piece of pipe will screw into the adapter on one end and the other end will screw into your foam cannon(after removing the quick connector that comes with the foam cannon)

2. Go to Home Depot and buy a geric gun that goes on the hose you bought(assuming that hose does fit fit the outlet of the pressure washer). Make sure you get a gun with some type of exposed male threads or a quick release either on the bayonet or the gun. I believe HD sells a generic gun with a female 1/4" quick release that will connect right into the MTMs male quick release. If not, they make all types of single adapters for this, also the 1/4" male quick release that comes in the end if the MTM unscrews, and you can screw in a small piece of 1/4" NPT pipe (also available at HD). Basically, the AR gun isn't designed to be used with this item, and it will be a lot easier to adapt a generic one to work. You should really only need one adapter and one piece of small pipe to screw into the gun and the adapter. I hope this helps somehow.

... I'm curious, if connecting the foam cannon to the gun is the problem, why did you buy a new hose??? Post back if I can help.

 

[Ohio Detailing]

It's hard to tell from your picture, but it looks like your trying to connect the foam gun to the pressure hose, not the gun. It gets attached to the gun. I don't know a lot about AR Blue pressure washers, but I believe there consumer models use a proprietary connector at the gun like the Karchers. I checked out AR Blues website for you, and I believe you can use 1 of 2 solutions:

1. You need this adapter:

AR Blue PW40788... It looks like this:

It looks similar to the Karcher adapter above I needed. It looks like the only place that really stocks this is Pressure Washers Direct. If this adapter is(?) similar to the Karcher, then all you need is this adapter and a small piece of 1/4" NPT pipe (available at HD in the plumbing section. The adapter will twist into your gun or wand, the small piece of pipe will screw into the adapter on one end and the other end will screw into your foam cannon(after removing the quick connector that comes with the foam cannon)

2. Go to Home Depot and buy a geric gun that goes on the hose you bought(assuming that hose does fit fit the outlet of the pressure washer). Make sure you get a gun with some type of exposed male threads or a quick release either on the bayonet or the gun. I believe HD sells a generic gun with a female 1/4" quick release that will connect right into the MTMs male quick release. If not, they make all types of single adapters for this, also the 1/4" male quick release that comes in the end if the MTM unscrews, and you can screw in a small piece of 1/4" NPT pipe (also available at HD). Basically, the AR gun isn't designed to be used with this item, and it will be a lot easier to adapt a generic one to work. You should really only need one adapter and one piece of small pipe to screw into the gun and the adapter. I hope this helps somehow.

... I'm curious, if connecting the foam cannon to the gun is the problem, why did you buy a new hose??? Post back if I can help.

Thank you so, so much! Geez, seriously, THANK YOU.

Tomorrow on Saturday I'm going to go to Home Depot for sure - so I hope I can figure something out. It will be my second time there trying to remedy this issue. I think I may buy a new gun as you said, and hopefully the MTM Hydro will simply just SNAP right on, and BOOYAH, I'll be foaming away to my heart's content in no time! I have a couple jobs already lined up for next week, so I really want to get this sorted out asap!

YOU REALLY seem to know a lot about pressure washers, so other than solving this problem, can you answer something for me? What does it mean when a product is a "Cold Water" pressure washer? I have a hot-water hookup I can use to detail cars, will this make the machine brake or explode or melt!?

So, if you wouldn't mind... could you check this over for me:

1. Take back the hose I bought to Home Depot and get a refund, along with all the ridiculous attachments/connectors/couplers I bought as well
2. Buy a new generic gun/sprayer part for the AR Blue 383 pressure washer that fits the existing hose that came with my pressure washer (1/4''... or proprietary?)
3. Buy a few inches (?) of 1/4'' NPT Pipe in the plumbing section of Home Depot
4. Remove the male quick-release portion out of the MTM Hydro Foam Cannon, and replace it with the 1/4'' NPT Pipe, after I wrap it in Teflon tape

Then... at this point after steps 1-4 above, I should just be able to snap-on and go (that sounded dirty, haha) and Foam away to my heart's content!?

PS: WHICH one of the connections do I need, and will it screw (the male part) directly into my new generic foam gun? Search Results for#1/4 NPT Pipe#at The Home Depot

PPS: Do any of these guns or adapters look right when I go tomorrow? Outdoors - Outdoor Power Equipment - Pressure Washers - Pressure Washer Accessories at The Home Depot

PPPS: Last one, haha, but how about either of THESE as my generic add-on new gun sprayer to make this all work? Trigger Gun Kit-AP31001 at The Home Depot or Gun/Hose Pressure Washer Accessory Kit-90018 at The Home Depot

 

[swanicyouth]

I checked this out real quick this morning, and this is the kind of thing that will snap right into the foam gun as its at HD in the store.

Power Care 27 in. Replacement Wand for Gas Pressure Washers

.... Now all you have to do is pick a gun that comes with this one one that will work with it. If so, you can avoid the small piece of pipe, as it has the correct quick disconnect on it.
... The only thing, looking at your pressure washer, there may be a proprietary fitting that connects the gun to the hose, so you may need to keep the hose you bought. The good news is it looks like there is a regular screw fitting on the outlets of the pressure washer to the hose, see pic

That hose should look like yours and has a screw fitting. So, you may need to keep your hose to replace the gun. I know this is do-able. All you have to do is get a generic gun on there some how and take it from there.

 

[swanicyouth]

I really don't know a lot about pressure washers as you said above. Everything I found out was in the process of how to make MTM Foamer work with mine. The guy at PW Direct told me it couldn't be done too, and it can. I believe a cold water pressure washer is one that is designed to work with water up to about 100 degrees. Any water used at a higher temperature could damage it.

 

[Ohio Detailing]

I checked this out real quick this morning, and this is the kind of thing that will snap right into the foam gun as its at HD in the store.

Power Care 27 in. Replacement Wand for Gas Pressure Washers

.... Now all you have to do is pick a gun that comes with this one one that will work with it. If so, you can avoid the small piece of pipe, as it has the correct quick disconnect on it.
... The only thing, looking at your pressure washer, there may be a proprietary fitting that connects the gun to the hose, so you may need to keep the hose you bought. The good news is it looks like there is a regular screw fitting on the outlets of the pressure washer to the hose, see pic

That hose should look like yours and has a screw fitting. So, you may need to keep your hose to replace the gun. I know this is do-able. All you have to do is get a generic gun on there some how and take it from there.

I really don't know a lot about pressure washers as you said above. Everything I found out was in the process of how to make MTM Foamer work with mine. The guy at PW Direct told me it couldn't be done too, and it can. I believe a cold water pressure washer is one that is designed to work with water up to about 100 degrees. Any water used at a higher temperature could damage it.

THANK YOU!

Heading to Home Depot this afternoon, really hopeful I can get something worked out. I'm taking my hose, couplers, and connectors back with the receipt, just in case I need to return anything.

Also, I'm taking my entire AR Blue 383 Pressure Washer in Home Depot as well, which I did last time, spending at LEAST 45 minutes with an employee which obviously didn't work... but maybe THIS TIME!

Oh, yeah... Bill on Pressure Washers Direct, sigh. He must be the owner or something, he gets weekends off and his picture and Q&A's are all OVER the website. Anyway, he is kind of a big time bummer, the AR Blue and even Karcher product questions, he doesn't even try to problem solve or offer up basic solutions - he just dismisses the entire POSSIBILITY of the MTM Hydro Foam Cannon working with the electric pressure washers... PLEASE! Ugh. He must be trying to ride the corporate fence and not say anything that could void a warranty or whatever, lame.

So - alright, just so I'm clear... are you saying I should abandon the AR proprietary nozzle connector (here: AR Blue Clean Bayonet Adapter | AR PW40788) up top in your previous post, and instead:
1. JUST BUY A NEW GUN HANDLE AND WAND
2. That will simply fit into the MTM Hydro, while remaining compatible with my pressure-hose hookup on the machine?

What about not buying the long 27'' wand, and in stead... looking for a gun attachment that is DIRECTLY COMPATIBLE WITH the MTM Hydro!? Like this on AutoGeek's "Choosing the right fitting" website?

 

[jwgreen6]

I bought the same foamer from a different place for about the same price and got the adapters from AG to make it fit my Karcher K2.26-75 power washer. On the whole, it works OK, maybe my PW (1600 psi / 1.3 gpm) isn't powerful enough to get the quality of foam I'm looking for.

The deal is I got a foamer attachment with my Karcher and it works almost as well as the MTM foamer.

Pros:
• The foam spray is adjustable on the MTM.
• The foam spray on the MTM is more than the Karcher unit.
• The MTM bottle holds a LOT more product than the Karcher foam attachment.

Cons:
• You need two adapters to mate it with a Karcher PW.
• Cost. The Karcher foam attachment costs less than $20; the MTM costs between $50 to $120.

I will have to experiment more with both units to determine a winner. Right now, it's a virtual tie.

 

[ForceField]

I bought the same foamer from a different place for about the same price and got the adapters from AG to make it fit my Karcher K2.26-75 power washer. On the whole, it works OK, maybe my PW (1600 psi / 1.3 gpm) isn't powerful enough to get the quality of foam I'm looking for.

Same pressure and flow as my cheap AR112 and I get plenty of foam. CG Maxi Suds II produced more foam for me than HoneyDew SnowFoam. Use more product, less dilution in the foamer bottle. For example try 4 or 8 ounces instead of 2. Also you don't have to fill the 32oz bottle up with water all the way since you don't need that much for 1 car.

 

[swanicyouth]

I bought the same foamer from a different place for about the same price and got the adapters from AG to make it fit my Karcher K2.26-75 power washer. On the whole, it works OK, maybe my PW (1600 psi / 1.3 gpm) isn't powerful enough to get the quality of foam I'm looking for.

The deal is I got a foamer attachment with my Karcher and it works almost as well as the MTM foamer.

Pros:
• The foam spray is adjustable on the MTM.
• The foam spray on the MTM is more than the Karcher unit.
• The MTM bottle holds a LOT more product than the Karcher foam attachment.

Cons:
• You need two adapters to mate it with a Karcher PW.
• Cost. The Karcher foam attachment costs less than $20; the MTM costs between $50 to $120.

I will have to experiment more with both units to determine a winner. Right now, it's a virtual tie.

Funny you say that. I have almost the same pressure washer, I have a Karcher K 2.360 and the $20 Foamer. The comparison between the Karcher Foamer and the MTM is like night and day. The Karcher foamer for me just gives soapy water that has very little dwell time. The MTM, while not the texture of shaving creme, gives much thicker foam with a longer dwell time. I'm using in the MTM 2 ounces of CG Honey Dew Foam and filling the bottle almost up to the top with DI water. Maybe the water is softer where I live? I'm thinking your looking for shaving creme thick foam, while I don't get that, I do get much better foam than with the Karcher foamer. Also, keep in mind, no matter what foamer you use, your still get the benefit of removing a lot more of the dirt off the car without touching it, compared to just spraying with water. I notice the car is cleaner when I foam it than if I just rinse it down.

 

[Ohio Detailing]

At Lowe's now... going to Home Depot tomorrow afternoon - I won't give up on you and your proprietary rubbish AR Blue Clean!

 

[swanicyouth]

Something like this should work and it's from the Lowes website. As long as it can be fitted to your hose (or the new hose you bought). If you look closely at the picture of the wand it has a quick release at the end even if it's not 1/4" quick release, adapting it is fairly easy. Just get the correct quick release male, and a piece of pipe/adapter to connect it
to the foam cannon

 

[ForceField]

I used the method in this thread to connect the MTM Hydro to my AR 112 pressure washer:

http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/how-articles/48241-foam-cannon-ar-blue-pw.html

It works perfectly for me.

 

[Ohio Detailing]

Something like this should work and it's from the Lowes website. As long as it can be fitted to your hose (or the new hose you bought). If you look closely at the picture of the wand it has a quick release at the end even if it's not 1/4" quick release, adapting it is fairly easy. Just get the correct quick release male, and a piece of pipe/adapter to connect it
to the foam cannon

I used the method in this thread to connect the MTM Hydro to my AR 112 pressure washer:

http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/how-articles/48241-foam-cannon-ar-blue-pw.html

It works perfectly for me.

Thank you both! Went to both Home Depot and Lowes today, before seeing this thread unfortunately, and ended up empty handed. I know there's a solution out there now, I'm going to keep doing research. I was getting so frustrated that I thought about buying an entirely new pressure washer, but that would be kind of insane, there HAS to be a fix.

Thanks gentlemen. There's also a posed solution to my issue fitting the AR Blue 383 with the MTM Hydro in my thread right here if you want to take a look: http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum...oduct-review-pressure-washer-foam-cannon.html

 

[swanicyouth]

Man, we got to get this done for you! I checked out you website, it's pretty nice, and your arms are HUGE! Here is a close up of my setup:

In the picture, left to right, you can first see the black plastic adapter. Although mine is a Karcher, you can use the AR Blue adapter, it looks somewhat similar. It's also black plastic. You would just substitute this adapter for the one I'm showing. The AR Blue adapter would go with the "fat" (bottom end in picture) towards the "right" in picture. Here is a picture of the AR Blue adapter:

Next, you will see a small brass piece on pipe thread. It's threaded on both ends, and has a nut shape in the middle to tighten it. Here's a piece of the small piece of 1/4" NPT pipe (NPT stands for National Pipe Thread it's a standard way of measuring pipe thread). This piece is available in the plumbing section of HD or Lowes. The threads look white because they are sealed with Teflon tape, but it's really one small gold/brass pipe.

The piece of pipe close up:

.... And that piece of pipe screws into the cannon. The cannon has the 1/4" NPT pipe thread, so it screws right in. Keep in mind the gun came with a quick connector screwed into it, but I removed it, because the adapter lets it quick connect into the gun.

Now this picture shows the set up right before I place it into the Karcher gun:

The black piece on the right is the Karcher gun. It's the part the wand (stick looking) piece would go into. But you don't use this wand (stick piece) when you use the foam cannon on these type of pressure washers with proprietary consumer connectors.

...And here is the whole thing connected:

The above pic goes from top to bottom (a different direction than previous picture). The smooth plastic at the top is the gun, then the connectors / adapters, then the foam cannon.

... You can mimic this set up exactly, all you need is to get is the AR Blue adapter(second picture) and substitute it for the Karcher adapter. It looks like that adapter may have came in the set you posted that had pieces stolen out of it.

... If you go this route you won't need a new gun. Just need to get that black plastic adapter and piece of pipe.

 

[Ohio Detailing]

I had a gorgeous 1969 Camaro detail today, would have LOVED to use the MTM Foam Cannon, especially since it was an on-site job, and these cars are getting prepped for a very high-end auction at the end of the month and I may be entrusted/hired to detail the entire lineup! An entire portfolio of classic show-room pristine American Muscle Cars might happen as I continue to get my foot in the door. Wow, I love detailing, just last week I had a gorgeous BMW 750, a custom carbon fiber Mercedes, and a customized Canam Spyder

Here is an email I got today from Bill at Pressure Washer's Direct:

Hi Aaron,

In regards to your email, more than likely you will not be able to make the MTM Hydro foamer compatible with the AR383. The problem with the AR blue clean line of pressure washers is that they use a high pressure hose set up with a 15mm size inner nipple. Mainly all other brands use a 14mm inner nipple and o ring to seal the hose to the fitting. Even if you replace the gun, wand, and hose…….you will have a problem with the new hose fitting the actual machine’s fitting/connection due to that inner nipple and o ring size.

Realistically, your best option would be to contact AR directly and speak to them about this issue. Possibly they can explain it better and give you any possible alternatives/option for what you are trying to do. AR can be reached at 866-235-5112.

Sincerely,

Bill Mikenis
Inside Sales Rep.

Pressure Washers Direct
1325 Rodeo Drive
Bolingbrook, IL 60490
Phone: 866-618-9274