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View Full Version : Which is the correct way to use a foam gun.


G37
03-03-2011, 05:22 PM
I started this thread to try to understand something I quite don’t understand. I did not start it to offend or hit a nerve with those who disagree.

I am having a hard time understanding the FG importance when you wash a vehicle properly. My beef with the FG is the amount of soap which IMO is wasted and all those connectors you need on the hose and nozzle. IMO it adds more time and process to the detailing of the car which I contemplate how useful it really is. I know many say how fun it i to use that’s great but I just want to wash and protect my car I am trying to keep that simple task easy and simple. I have been using a FG for a while now and I am going to ditch it. Now I will just use a FG just to pre soak when the car has seen rain and the weather doesn’t allow for a wash in a couple of weeks at least for peace of mind.(car gets caked on dirt) Which is the correct way to use a FG I think its #1?

1.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BMp6fGaw4rc
sorry this just seems like a ton more of work...maybe for a show car or like a Ferrari plus I have enough fun playing tug of war with the hose now I will have both hands occupied and play tug of war with the hose..but I do feel this is the correct way to use a FG and this method might actually help reduce washed induced paint imperfections.

2.
- Adam's Polishes Video Vol. 6 - Chapter 05
really wash and let soap dry on finish in the sun.. I thought this was the right way to use it when I first used my FG but I do several panels and then rinse so how effective is that if I wash all the initial foam off...

3.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZEOw1HFN1J0
this is the presoak method IMO the way I use it now when the car has plenty of caked on dirt. If you read the comments the first thing is to foam the dirty car let it dwell and even though it doesn’t say that he rinses the foam off before washing it with the mitt I believe that is how its done for a pre soak.

Again I am not trying to discredit or disprove the importance of a FG just looking for the reasoning behind it because I am not using it anymore just don’t feel its worth it.
silverfox
03-03-2011, 05:35 PM
I retired my foam gun away a long time ago. Rinseless washing has changed the way I wash cars. You dont need suds and foam to lift dirt off paint. It's that simple. I've done my own tests over months and months and I concluded that foaming had no advantage over presoaking with a rinseless wash product. None
05xrunner
03-03-2011, 06:24 PM
I retired my foam gun away a long time ago. Rinseless washing has changed the way I wash cars. You dont need suds and foam to lift dirt off paint. It's that simple. I've done my own tests over months and months and I concluded that foaming had no advantage over presoaking with a rinseless wash product. None
I rinseless wash my car once in a while..but nothing is better then a good old soak down..gets all the dust and dirt out of all the cracks and crevices you cannot get with just a bucket and a sponge wiping down the car.
RobZ71LM7
03-03-2011, 07:13 PM
Foam isn't the reason I use a foam gun. I use it to prelube the areas I'm about to wash. I also will use it as a presoak when a vehicle is really dirty.
zliegen
03-03-2011, 07:34 PM
For paint, I don't use my Gilmour foam gun for anything except giving a good pre-soak when its filthy, then I rinse off the foam, foam it again, and use my normal 2 bucket method.

I love the foam gun for getting at wheel arches and other hard to reach places though.
SeaJay's
03-03-2011, 07:41 PM
I retired my foam gun and now use a foam cannon instead. As others have already said I mainly use it for a prelube. It also is nice to be able to let it soak in foam for a few minutes to help get all the caked on dirt off.

It's not a needed tool though. I could most definitely get by without it and I don't use it all the time. I will probably be using it a lot this spring for all the winter clean ups I'll be getting. Helps loosen up all the road salt.
Meghan
03-03-2011, 08:01 PM
I like to use as a PreSoak, since due to my laziness my car is nasty by the time I get around to washing it! :p
SeaJay's
03-03-2011, 08:05 PM
I like to use as a PreSoak, since due to my laziness my car is nasty by the time I get around to washing it! :p

I think that Max should be giving you guys some time every week to get out and clean up your cars! I mean come on your working for AG you can't have a bunch of dirty cars in the parking lot. :props:
VISITOR
03-03-2011, 08:44 PM
using a foam gun (i love mine) as only a pre-soak is a waste IMO. this video is more useful than the others. just like anything else, any tool is going to be benefical for one and maybe not for the other...
How to Detailing Video - Foam Gun (http://paintcarendetailing.com/foam.html)
G37
03-03-2011, 09:33 PM
using a foam gun (i love mine) as only a pre-soak is a waste IMO. this video is more useful than the others. just like anything else, any tool is going to be beneficial for one and maybe not for the other...
How to Detailing Video - Foam Gun (http://paintcarendetailing.com/foam.html)

I agree with you if you dont use the foam gun like in that video or to apply a LSP stripping wash...then IMO its pretty much use less.
panthercz
03-03-2011, 11:11 PM
After buying a foam gun and using it, I can't imagine going without it. Maybe in SoCal or the desert southwest you can get away with rinseless washes all the time but here in the midwest, that isn't going to happen. I've done a few ONR washes and while faster I don't think they will ever become the normal procedure for me just because of the amount of dirt, mud, salt and caked on grime that is standard here in the midwest.

My process is to rinse the car off with water (power wash it if really bad) then soak with the FG. I leave some soap in the gun, then begin 2 bucket method wash. Once I get to a section that the foam has disappeared from, I spray that part of the vehicle with the FG and wash it. Takes me an extra 5 seconds to grab the FG and spray down an area. I feel it is worth the extra few seconds and 1-2oz of soap to get that extra lubricity and cleaning ability.
mattkrmp80
03-04-2011, 02:10 PM
Anyone else
BobbyG
03-04-2011, 02:19 PM
I have a foam gun and a foam cannon from Home Depot. I figured for $18.00 how can I go wrong and it's allot of fun. I can soap the dogs, cat, and wife in one quick swipe...


Foam Gun

http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s225/BobbyG53/Detailing/FoamGun.jpg


Foam Cannon

http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s225/BobbyG53/Detailing/FoamBlaster05_.jpg

http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s225/BobbyG53/Detailing/FoamBlaster04_.jpg