Foam benefits?
- Thread starter imported_Detailing Technology
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David Fermani
Forza Auto Salon
Here's my thoughts.....
If you're using a power washer, I can't see presoaking a car with an *LSP safe foam* beneficial and could actually waste more time. This is because it's not 100% completely cleaning your vehicle and still requires friction to do so. If your still touching your vehicle that the foam didn't create less work.
If I were to rely on a foam to aid in the cleaning of a dirty car, then I'd certainly blast off all the loose dirt/debris 1st. If not, the foam looses it's penetrating power by getting diluted by the solid dirt/ oil film. Ever notice how quicly your foamy sudds evaporate once your wash bucket gets saturated with dirt? This happens every time I clean wheels/tires. I'll start with a fresh bucket of suddsy water and by the 2nd/3rd wheel, the sudds pretty much disappeared. Every tunnel Car Wash I've seen generally blasts off the loose dirt/debris 1st and then allows a presoak to dwell. That's probably because it has less/thinner of a dirt barrier to eat through.
Next time you try foaming/rinsing your vehicle (and it appears clean) try wiping it with a white towel and/or light clay to see it any dirt transfers. If it doesn't then you know it's clean.
If you're using a power washer, I can't see presoaking a car with an *LSP safe foam* beneficial and could actually waste more time. This is because it's not 100% completely cleaning your vehicle and still requires friction to do so. If your still touching your vehicle that the foam didn't create less work.
If I were to rely on a foam to aid in the cleaning of a dirty car, then I'd certainly blast off all the loose dirt/debris 1st. If not, the foam looses it's penetrating power by getting diluted by the solid dirt/ oil film. Ever notice how quicly your foamy sudds evaporate once your wash bucket gets saturated with dirt? This happens every time I clean wheels/tires. I'll start with a fresh bucket of suddsy water and by the 2nd/3rd wheel, the sudds pretty much disappeared. Every tunnel Car Wash I've seen generally blasts off the loose dirt/debris 1st and then allows a presoak to dwell. That's probably because it has less/thinner of a dirt barrier to eat through.
Next time you try foaming/rinsing your vehicle (and it appears clean) try wiping it with a white towel and/or light clay to see it any dirt transfers. If it doesn't then you know it's clean.
BigAl3 said:
Its all good Al, I tend to wash off the foam then wash it again. It bugs me when its all bubbly on the surface when I start to wash
BigJimZ28 said:
lets coat your car in road salt and see if you think it works them
SoCal weather ftw ("for the win") :woot2:
I have a foam lance anyway. I know for sure that'll work
WhiteStripes
New member
David Fermani said:
I have the Brass UK style Foam Lance, and use it pretty much Exclusively with CG CW & Clear when I'm prepping a car for a wash where I will be applying a new LSP.
It seems to do a pretty good job with a concentrated amount of the citrus cleaner on there to get rid of the last lsp, and helps save some time, I believe especially if I'm not claying.
Was it an expensive tool for what a mitt can do? Yes. But it's oh so much fun to use, if nothing else, and it's not a super common thing, so I look at it as another option for my sales pitch when trying to persuade a prospective client to pay for my service.:xyxthumbs
WhiteStripes
New member
PaintPolisher said:
I'd say I use less water since I got my Karcher than I did before. But, now, Phoenix isn't a drought zone. Didn't actually know we had any in AZ which I always thought was funny.
Accumulator
Well-known member
I can see both the foamlance/cannon and the foamgun having their uses. And if overspray isn't an issue (as it is for me) a pressure washer would sure have its place too.
I'd say the bottom line is the *results* and for me, that means a) the vehicle gets clean and b) a virtual elimination of wash-induced marring. Heh heh, if it were that easy to avoid marring, think of how few "how do I get these swirls out?" threads we'd have around here
If you're polishing out significant wash-induced marring, or even *light* marring of this type on a regular basis (whatever "regular basis" means...) then there's something wrong with how you're washing. Simple as that. Yeah, everybody gets *some* marring *some* time, but it shouldn't be a regular occurence.
If you're *not* polishing out wash-induced marring regularly (and not getting *significant* marring of this type at all) then whatever you're doing/using is great and more power to you.
I'd say the bottom line is the *results* and for me, that means a) the vehicle gets clean and b) a virtual elimination of wash-induced marring. Heh heh, if it were that easy to avoid marring, think of how few "how do I get these swirls out?" threads we'd have around here
If you're polishing out significant wash-induced marring, or even *light* marring of this type on a regular basis (whatever "regular basis" means...) then there's something wrong with how you're washing. Simple as that. Yeah, everybody gets *some* marring *some* time, but it shouldn't be a regular occurence.
If you're *not* polishing out wash-induced marring regularly (and not getting *significant* marring of this type at all) then whatever you're doing/using is great and more power to you.
