Slightly Thrown Off By the IK Sprayers

[chefwong]

Prior to my most recent buy, the only IK sprayer I had was similar to the Foam 12, but probably their previous model. - it was their 1st 12L model they offered when IK came to the market in the US.
It was -meh- to me and I ended up returning it.
When I received it, my initial thought was that it was similar to any of the commercial grades sprayers I had with with a *teejet*. Said typical commercial sprayers having better materials over-all

I recently bought some Pro Foam 2 Plus. It appeared purpose -built-. Foam filter, etc
Almost everyone seems to have a IK Sprayer

However, after receiving it, these 2 things just throw me way off. The plastic on these is thin Every plastic, whether it be the bottle or the sprayer head.
And the plunger on it, the thin plastic has alot of -play- and just feels like over time, it will break eventually. It doesn't inspire build quality

So what's with the IK fanfare. Is it just the output of the foam it gives and one treats it like a consumable item - whether it last 2 months or 2 years.
It's cheap enough to replace when it goes bad and while I see they have rebuild kits, I'd probably opt to replace.

 

[Flash Gordon]

I gave up on expensive sprayers at least 20 years ago by dumb luck.
I have about 1000 armor all sprayers.
Although they look cheap, they're damn near indestructible.
No doubt I will die with a crap load of sprayers that cost me nothing

 

[BLM]

Ive got quite a few pump sprayers. Ten total. Two IK foam 12s, one Multi Pro 12, two pro foam 2s. They all have charging valves so no pumping. I charge them with a compressor i have handy.

So i dont get any wear on the pumping mechanisms. Only things i have to mess with is the filters in the foamers. Think if one doesnt rinse them out after use the soap residue gums up the filter. Also because on the IK 2s one has to separate the head from the tank the oring eventually doesnt seal. My one Ik 2 is about 2 years old and i just replaced the head to tank oring. Found a pack of 20 orings on Amazon for around $10.00. So a lifetime supply. They are an exact replacement.

Ive got 5 other pump sprayers and i think the IKs are built a little better. I pretty much use them for every wash. Some i just use for rinseless and one is dedicated for just water. That way i can still use a wheel and tire cleaner if im doing rinseless and rinse them off without getting out my hose.
The sprayers I just use for rinseless, which I do more of in the warmer months, I just leave the excess rinseless in them and add more at the next wash. I have 3 larger sprayers I can use for rinseless. That way I can use a different rinseless without having to empty out a sprayer.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Flash Gordon]

20 armor all sprayers I will sell you for $25 + free shipping
If your over 50 years of age I guarantee you'll never have ti buy another sorayer again

 

[Eldorado2k]

20 armor all sprayers I will sell you for $25 + free shipping
If your over 50 years of age I guarantee you'll never have ti buy another sorayer again

What do those Armor All sprayers look like? Pic?

 

[Flash Gordon]

What do those Armor All sprayers look like? Pic?

I will get you a pic on my burner phone later today.
I may just make you my curator for my sprayer collection
I'm concerned when I die they'll end up in the dump

 

[chefwong]

Ive got quite a few pump sprayers. Ten total. Two IK foam 12s, one Multi Pro 12, two pro foam 2s. They all have charging valves so no pumping. I charge them with a compressor i have handy.

So i dont get any wear on the pumping mechanisms. Only things i have to mess with is the filters in the foamers. Think if one doesnt rinse them out after use the soap residue gums up the filter. Also because on the IK 2s one has to separate the head from the tank the oring eventually doesnt seal. My one Ik 2 is about 2 years old and i just replaced the head to tank oring. Found a pack of 20 orings on Amazon for around $10.00. So a lifetime supply. They are an exact replacement.

Ive got 5 other pump sprayers and i think the IKs are built a little better. I pretty much use them for every wash. Some i just use for rinseless and one is dedicated for just water. That way i can still use a wheel and tire cleaner if im doing rinseless and rinse them off without getting out my hose.
The sprayers I just use for rinseless, which I do more of in the warmer months, I just leave the excess rinseless in them and add more at the next wash. I have 3 larger sprayers I can use for rinseless. That way I can use a different rinseless without having to empty out a sprayer.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Looks like you have a full blow system for a rinse less.

For me, I don't have a major use case for handheld foamers. I bought the large IK when it 1st came out, thinking I would use it to apply pre-rinse to the panels during the winter. Then I got over that idea.....and fast forward to now. Again, it's winter now. Revisiting Pre-Wash Dwelling......I am currently using the Canon for that. Want to see if there is a performance difference by using doing a sprayer hand foam and its effects. Hence, added foamers again to the stash.

Just threw me off that my impressions about their current sprayer builds was exactly the reason why I send the others one back. It really is thin in all plastic components....at least to me. It feels really cheap....but like I said, it it pre-foams well, then it just falls into my -consumable- category of run it till it lasts and then replace it.

I do have a spare battered powered sprayer and 3 extra tanks I've been meaning to MOD. I just haven't done enough Homewood given the application on the seals/o rings, etc on the battery sprayer (Milwaukee) to see if it would work in the realm of stuff we are speaking of (Alk or Acid).....
This stuff I generally use is more in the realm of canisters labeled fungicide, herbicide, insecticide, etc with the liquid in these tanks being more on the PH neutral side

 

[Flash Gordon]

 

[Flash Gordon]

 

[Flash Gordon]

 

[Flash Gordon]

@Eldorado2k
Now my burner phone can't post a full picture.
Shoot me your email or phone number and I'll send you the whole picture

 

[Flash Gordon]

The yellow sprayers are 1st generation.
The orange are 2nd generation.
I thought for sure when they changed the color a few years ago the 2nd Gen would be inferior, but credit to armor all they are the same quality

Can I put you down for the 20 unit or would you like to wait until your curator of my collection??

 

[Flash Gordon]

Looks like you have a full blow system for a rinse less.

For me, I don't have a major use case for handheld foamers. I bought the large IK when it 1st came out, thinking I would use it to apply pre-rinse to the panels during the winter. Then I got over that idea.....and fast forward to now. Again, it's winter now. Revisiting Pre-Wash Dwelling......I am currently using the Canon for that. Want to see if there is a performance difference by using doing a sprayer hand foam and its effects. Hence, added foamers again to the stash.

Just threw me off that my impressions about their current sprayer builds was exactly the reason why I send the others one back. It really is thin in all plastic components....at least to me. It feels really cheap....but like I said, it it pre-foams well, then it just falls into my -consumable- category of run it till it lasts and then replace it.

I do have a spare battered powered sprayer and 3 extra tanks I've been meaning to MOD. I just haven't done enough Homewood given the application on the seals/o rings, etc on the battery sprayer (Milwaukee) to see if it would work in the realm of stuff we are speaking of (Alk or Acid).....
This stuff I generally use is more in the realm of canisters labeled fungicide, herbicide, insecticide, etc with the liquid in these tanks being more on the PH neutral side

Armor all sprayers will hold up to Tarminator.
Will your fancy sprayers do that??

 

[BLM]

Flash, ive only ever purchased one Armor All product. That was probably two years ago. I purchased a quart/maybe 24 oz bottle of Armour All wheel and tire cleaner. The sprayer failed when the bottle was still half full.

 

[Flash Gordon]

Flash, ive only ever purchased one Armor All product. That was probably two years ago. I purchased a quart/maybe 24 oz bottle of Armour All wheel and tire cleaner. The sprayer failed when the bottle was still half full.

I assure you this a very rare occurrence.
I've been using these sprayers exclusively for a couple of decades and have never had one fail within at least 6 months of daily use.
On behalf of armor all Inc let me take this opportunity to apologize and to also send you not 1, but 2 FREE sprayers

 

[Flash Gordon]

This sprayer thread has really go me to thinking
Since that faithful day 20 years ago when I literally lost my mind when my NEW $4 HD Sprayer took a crap on me on the very 1st use I got to doing some calculating today.
I was burning through close to 10 of these crappy sprayers every month.
If I multiply that number by 240 months I've literally saved $28,000
Thank you armor all inc. you have made me a very wealthy man

 

[Setec Astronomy]

Thank you armor all inc. you have made me a very wealthy man

Think how wealthy you could be if you retired from detailing and started selling your secret coating. I mean look at Buffer Barry!

 

[Flash Gordon]

Think how wealthy you could be if you retired from detailing and started selling your secret coating. I mean look at Buffer Barry!

What you say is true. Buffer Barry is rolling in the dough. He's not even a detailer any longer

 

[Eldorado2k]

The yellow sprayers are 1st generation.
The orange are 2nd generation.
I thought for sure when they changed the color a few years ago the 2nd Gen would be inferior, but credit to armor all they are the same quality

Can I put you down for the 20 unit or would you like to wait until your curator of my collection??

I thought OP was talking about Pump Sprayers, since he mentioned the “plungers”.

I never thought we were talking about regular bottle sprayers. In that case, if I’m buying, my #1 choice has always been the Gray Tolco Sprayers.

But at the same time I also save sprayers too. In this box I currently have 8 sprayers and I have at least 10 more of these black sprayers that are on random empty bottles of Blackfire quarts on my shelf. I just haven’t brought myself to throw away those bottles because the 32oz. bottles can be useful for things when you need a 32oz. bottle one day.

 

[Flash Gordon]

I thought OP was talking about Pump Sprayers, since he mentioned the “plungers”.

I never thought we were talking about regular bottle sprayers. In that case, if I’m buying, my #1 choice has always been the Gray Tolco Sprayers.

But at the same time I also save sprayers too. In this box I currently have 8 sprayers and I have at least 10 more of these black sprayers that are on random empty bottles of Blackfire quarts on my shelf. I just haven’t brought myself to throw away those bottles because the 32oz. bottles can be useful for things when you need a 32oz. bottle one day.

Nice!!!
Glad I'm not the only hoarder of somewhat useful junk around here

On that note, I save some of my quart la awesome bottles for other uses.
I burn through so many of those though there's no room to keep them all