Foam Gun Users: Feedback Requested

mgm2003

mgm2003

New member
I would like to hear feedback from foam gun users that have had some seat time. I've held off on one for a few reasons, the primary concern being 'will I use it a few times, and set it aside'?

A few basic questions for those of you using a foam gun:

-Have you noticed a significant reduction in marring?

-Is everyone basically using the foam gun like this: http://www.detailcity.com/forums/showthread.php?t=15232

-Do you use the foam gun on a regular basis?

-What soap do you use/like?

-Has your wash time increased/decreased?

-Do you feel that the foam gun is a good value?

At the end of the day, I see a foam gun as a convenience item.
I can just run down to the car wash, drop in 6 quarters in the machine and use their foam gun, and run home and perform a 2 bucket wash.
 
I am not as well versed in foam gun usage as some of our other members probably are, but here's my take on it.

Have you noticed a significant reduction in marring?
Yes, although it might be considered a slight reduction. I was using several rinse buckets & several sheepskin mitts prior to the use of the foam gun anyway.

Do you use the foam gun on a regular basis?
Yes, most of my washing is now done using the foam gun.

What soap do you use/like?
I like NXT & 4Star Premium Auto Shampoo. I use them for both the foam gun and a conventional wash

Has your wash time increased/decreased?
I would figure it has probably stayed somewhat close to what it was prior to using the foam gun.

Do you feel that the foam gun is a good value?
I think that depends on what you would consider a value. I didn't think $15+ bottles of polish (and other products) were a "value" until I began using them.

Also, keep in mind that there are "cheap" foam guns that probably won't perform as well as some of the "higher end" models will perform.

Value is a very subjective term, but to me personally, the foam gun was a pretty nice addition to my arsenal. One more thing to remember is that a foam gun does not replace things such as several rinsing buckets, several mitts, or using the lightest amount of pressure possible to "sweep" across the paint surface.
 
I'm an admitted "foam gun zealot". That's how much I like this tool. To me, this is THE most vital tool for preventative detailing maintenance. I can honestly say I don't know how I got by with washing without it especially on any dark colored vehicle.

There is a profound reduction in swirling if one chooses to go the "whole 9 yards" with washing as I do. This entails a disregard for the amount of time it takes, the use of multiple sheepskin mitts, QDing before blot drying with the softest WWs, etc.

I religiously wash with the foam gun. I've used a wide variety of soaps most recently including NXT, Duragloss, P21s, and even 1z Perls. Notice the difference of the suds produced across that variety of products. The foam gun is like a turbo boost to all of them.

Although, yes, the foam gun can be used as a convenience tool, that is only using part of its potential. It maximizes the prevention of wash induced marring and so I take full advantage of that by using it throughout the washing process.
 
-Have you noticed a significant reduction in marring?
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I've always been very careful and gentle so probably not.

-Is everyone basically using the foam gun like this: http://www.detailcity.com/forums/showthread.php?t=15232
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That is pretty much my method. I probably use a bit stronger concentration of soap though.

-Do you use the foam gun on a regular basis?
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Everytime I wash.

-What soap do you use/like?
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I'm using Gold Class now and like it. But I like to try different things. I have a bottle of Blue Coral High Foam soap to use as soon as I'm out of GC

-Has your wash time increased/decreased?
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It has significantly reduced my time. Prior to the foam gun, I was positively anal about making sure I had enough soap on the car and mitt. This has really reduced my time re-soaping and my worries. Prior to the foam gun, the typical car was took about 30 minutes. Now it takes about 20. On my wife's Tahoe, the time savings is even greater as I spend less time climbing up and down to soap-up the mitt.

-Do you feel that the foam gun is a good value?
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Depends on your definition of value. I'd gladly pay more than I did for the great job it does. But frankly, I don't see $50-$70 worth of parts in a foam gun.

At the end of the day, I see a foam gun as a convenience item.
I can just run down to the car wash, drop in 6 quarters in the machine and use their foam gun, and run home and perform a 2 bucket wash.
Click to expand...
Maybe that would be right for you. Frankly, I don't like the soap those places use. And your method would be very burdensome for me as the nearest horror wash is about 5 miles away and on nice weekends, all the nearby ones have a long wait.
 
DetailCad said:
Frankly, I don't like the soap those places use.
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DetailCad brings up a good point. Though I don't have any personal experiences to speak of, I have read on here that the soap those places use are very harsh and can strip waxes & sealants. Might be something to think about.
 
I do not wash with the foam gun alot. My truck, while in Texas, very seldom is unattended long enough to get really dirty. I have the foam gun and use it for full details. Just recently(yesterday) finished a detail on the exterior of my wife's vehicle. I used the last of my Z7. Will use Poorboy's SS&S for the next wash. The biggest difference that I noticed in washing with the foam gun is that I get the foam to the vehicle. Used the foam gun to soak the vehicle. Used the lubricicty of the soap to minimize the marring of the vehicle. Still used two buckets to rinse my pads. Had a clean pad full of soap on the vehicle each and every time. I cannot say that I had that when I used the two bucket method because a lot of it was on the ground.

It definitely does not take less time to do a vehicle for me. If anything I take more time to do a wash. I use a high concentration of soap to fully lube and clean the surface which here to fore had never been achieved. If you are interested in minimizing marring, a foam gun will surely help. :)
 
-Have you noticed a significant reduction in marring?
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No, but I wasn’t seeing much (if any) wash related marring to begin with. The foam gun just adds another step of precaution.

-Is everyone basically using the foam gun like this: http://www.detailcity.com/forums/showthread.php?t=15232
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I still use 1 wash bucket and 2 rinse buckets in my routine. If I read the poster’s methods correctly they only used the foam from the gun. This alone, IMO, does not provide sufficient lubrication. Another well known poster (from another board) uses his foam gun to “balloon” a wash mitt. He seems satisfied with the results. While I have a lot of respect for that individual, I will continue to use the foam gun as a supplement to my normal wash routine.

-Do you use the foam gun on a regular basis?
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Yes

-What soap do you use/like?
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Soap du jour…AM’s Wash & Wax, Pinnacle’s Bodywork, Sonax Gloss

-Has your wash time increased/decreased?
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Definitely increased

-Do you feel that the foam gun is a good value?
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If it holds up to the rigors of regular washing, yes.

At the end of the day, I see a foam gun as a convenience item.
I can just run down to the car wash, drop in 6 quarters in the machine and use their foam gun, and run home and perform a 2 bucket wash.
Click to expand...
Only considering your criteria for valuation, then the foam gun would be worth the convenience of not having to drive to the car wash, spending the buck-fifty and returning home to finish the wash.
 
If one chooses to constantly stream the soapy solution from the foam gun over a portion of a panel at a time while washing, it will provide a very sufficient amount of lubrication. This is where the siphon settings comes in handy. Bump to the higher settings for more foam/mix. As inferred before, washing only this way is going to increase the total amount of wash time.
 
97F1504x4 said:
So where is everyone getting these foam guns and is one better than another?

Richard
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I got mine from Steve at Poorboy's. I beleive he is carrying them now. I like the construction of the foamer parts. Solid metal. If taken care of properly you will have a lot of washes under your belt before anything starts to wear out.
 
97F1504x4 said:
So where is everyone getting these foam guns and is one better than another?

Richard
Click to expand...
This is where I got mine:

http://www.motorsportssuperstore.co...7-6171_product_136449.SIMPLE_GREEN_FOAMER.htm

The price is right and they shipped fast.

Basically, there brands of quality foam guns are on the market: Gilmour, Butcher, and Simple Green. But, all 3 are made by Gilmour. In fact, Gilmour's name appears more often on my Simple Green gun than does Simple Green's name.

I think however, all 3 have different sized bottles. I know the simple Green is 1/2 gallon and is larger than the Gilmour. But, I'm not sure of the bottle size on the Butcher.
 
Ah.. the Foam gun... Well I don't have one but will be getting one soon. and John I'm SHOCKED That you don't have one. The one time i used it i was very impresses with it and found it nice to use. Steve let me was his truck wth it and it put's out a nice amount of foam on the lowwest setting.. and MAD AMOUNTS on the highest settings.


PS if i was you i'd get it.
 
But how do you get the soap from drying on the paint before your finish washing the car? Seems like a pain in the butt too me. I do not see much marring when I wash my cars( most of the time nothing). I don't think you will ever stop them all. What I do is rinse the car down then free flow of water and then raise before I start. I also use two buckets and both with soap one with more than the other. I think this help keep the suds on the wash mitts
 
I switched over entirely to washing and drying the car in sections but before I started doing that, I simply had the gun flow the soapy mix on the finish as I whisked with the mitt ( "primed" with the soapy mix from the foam gun beforehand).Then I rinsed before anything had a chance to dry. I made sure everything remained wet until I was ready to dry.
 
I have a questions for those of you that are currently using the foamguns. How are you adding the soap into the gun? I am assuming it is in a diluted form/ratio but what would that ratio be? I just purchased the Butchers gun after all the recomendations from here and would like some info on how to best use it. Then what setting do most of you use?

Richard
 
Have read in other threads that a dilution of shampoo has been used. In my application of shampoo thru the foam gun I do not use a mix I use strait shampoo. I get a lot of foam which provides great cleaning and lubricity. I am not interested in dilution. The foam gun does that for me
 
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