Foam Gun Question

[BlackScreaminMachine]

I will be in the market for a Foam Gun probably sooner rather then later next Spring. I am looking at a Wolfgang one, quart sized bottle, Not too expensive. Not looking to spend for a Foam Cannon as I may or may not have access to a pressure washer at all time and I have decent water pressure.

My main question comes to the soap we should be using. I see Tuck91 uses a combo and I was wonder what everone's thought on this.

I have at my disposal....

Meg's Gold Class
Meg's Wash/Wax
Meg's Hyper Wash (Will purchase at same time w/ Gun)

Are there any other soaps I should consider, and should we always been combining multiple products for best results?

http://www.autogeek.net/woqufofogun.html

[Murr1525]

Re: Foam Gun Question

Be sure to shop around, that style is all from Gilmour. You could price it from Gilmour, from ADS, etc, etc.

Super Soap is supposed to work very nicely. Wash n/Wax also is supposed to do well, though I would worry about clogging. I use #62, and have used Shampoo Plus, Nxt, Gold Class in the past. Any will work. Can mix and match if you like. If I had a little Nxt left in my container, I didn't worry about adding Gold Class on top of it, or whatever. I wouldn't say it changed my results any.

Keep in mind that Meguiars soaps will be designed to safely wash the car, some other companies have ones designed more to give a nice foam.

[BlackScreaminMachine]

Re: Foam Gun Question

I hear you on the Wash/Wax, that stuff is THICK!!

Are people just mixing straight or are they adding a little water in the container to keep everything fluid??

[Murr1525]

Re: Foam Gun Question

I figure keeping it as watery as possible is a good thing.

If you walk through the math, if you add 4-5 ounces of soap, fill the container with water, and use the lowest dilution (largest hole on the adjuster), you will get around 128:1.

Since that is the Meguiars recommended use, it makes sense to me. So that's how I do it, and one container does a regular size car, sometimes with a little left over, so I am using about the same as always.

I am sure some folks use more or less, add less water/more soap, etc. Some don't mind going to lower dilutions. I think you can go a fair bit thicker before you would have clogging problems. I was thinking more of wax left behind, that would dry and clog.

[Tuck91]

Re: Foam Gun Question

UW&W performs poorly in the foam gun IMO.

I would order the Gilmour Foam Gun from ADS. You get a 320z sample of Super Soap and a Meguiars wash mitt as well.

[SuperCK]

Re: Foam Gun Question

I am going to use my Gilmour today. I have a 2 oz sample of DP Xtreme Foam Formula Auto Shampoo. I was going to sour the 2 oz into the Gilmour and fill the container up with water. Is this good enough to wash my car or do I need more?

[Murr1525]

Re: Foam Gun Question

No one has ever said what a foam gun 'needs'. I figure if Meguiars wants their washes used in a bucket at 128:1, I should use the same spraying it.

Does the DP Extreme Foam give a recommended ratio? 1oz per gallon ,etc?

[SuperCK]

Re: Foam Gun Question

No one has ever said what a foam gun 'needs'. I figure if Meguiars wants their washes used in a bucket at 128:1, I should use the same spraying it.

Does the DP Extreme Foam give a recommended ratio? 1oz per gallon ,etc?

I guess I answered my own question..lol. See below.

http://www.autogeek.net/dp-xtreme-foam-sample.html

[Bill Davidson]

Re: Foam Gun Question



It looks like a slippery surface to work on. I guess it's a good idea to rinse down the driveway before you get too close to the vehicle.

[Murr1525]

Re: Foam Gun Question

Hmm...2oz of soap, say the 8oz of water, that's 4:1. Then with the highest setting at 10:1, that gives us 40:1 overall.

Interesting that they want 40:1 in a foam gun, and 213:1 in a bucket?

I don't know what goes on at the surface exactly, but that's a big difference.

I think with 10oz of stuff in the container, I would run out along the way and have to refill once or twice.

[SuperCK]

Re: Foam Gun Question

Hmm...2oz of soap, say the 8oz of water, that's 4:1. Then with the highest setting at 10:1, that gives us 40:1 overall.

Interesting that they want 40:1 in a foam gun, and 213:1 in a bucket?

I don't know what goes on at the surface exactly, but that's a big difference.

I think with 10oz of stuff in the container, I would run out along the way and have to refill once or twice.

I got lost at the ratio part.

[Murr1525]

Re: Foam Gun Question

I got lost at the ratio part.

8oz:2oz (water :soap) reduces to 4:1. Multiply by 10:1 (gun setting) = 40:1.

5gal:3oz (water:soap) = 640oz:3oz = 213:1.

[Bill Davidson]

Re: Foam Gun Question

It's almost impossible to get an accurate measurement of the ratio as it comes out of the gun. The most accurate and simplest measurement is going to be a pH test.

Otherwise you'd have to measure the # gals/minute of clean water expelled by the hose without the soapy solution. (Every tap you connect to would likely give you a different flow rate. Even different length and inside diameters of the hose will effect the flow rate.) Knowing the concentration of the soapy solution, you would then have to calculate the time it takes to drain the soapy solution. Each type of soap is going to have a different viscosity, so each would have a different flow rate.

Truly a nightmare.

[Murr1525]

Re: Foam Gun Question

And different flows will give different suction out of the container.

[aris]

Re: Foam Gun Question

I just used my foam gun for the first time and i love it