Foam Cannon Foam - I want to believe the hype.

H

howareb

New member
Well with the popularity of the Foam Cannon (pressure washer) I was intrigued to try it for myself. After reading many reviews and seeing videos, I too wanted to be part of the action.



The other day I got a chance to connect my foam cannon to the cam spray pressure washer (Model 1500a - Electric - Top of the line), and I had to say that I was impressed with the foam that was created. It was nice, thick and frothy. I then let it sit on the black Durango for a few minutes, and then proceeded to spray it off with the pressure washer. I guess my expectations were a bit more than the results that I got. When I proceed to rinse with the pressure washer I was surprised to find that the layer of dirt that I expected to be removed was not going anywhere. I expected for the car to be clean without me having to touch it with a wash media. In the end, maybe I was doing something wrong, but I really was not impressed. It may be the soap combo that I used (Eagle One Bucket Free wash mixed 3:1). I want to improve on my experience so if someone has any suggestions for improvement soap combinations then I am all ears.



In the meantime until I can perfect a procedure (with the help of Autopians), I think that I will stick the two bucket method or ONR.



Do you think that foam cannon foam is hype or does it serve a useful purpose within my detailing procedures? Like the X-Files “I wanna believe�.
 
you still need to touch the paint for the baked on bugs, dirt, tar, etc. that's why i like the foam gun because you can use it as a pre-soak and to wash the car as well. you can't do that with the foam cannon/lance...
 
BigJimZ28 said:
why?



look at the countless threads on foam guns/cannons
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I have looked and there seems to be a varied amount of opinions on the subject (and varied techniques (higher pressure, different soap combos, and the temperature of water used (Hot warm, cold))). So I guess that I had to have my own personal experience in order to make my own conclusion.



I set my expectations way too high, but there has to be some room for improvement.
 
BigAl3 said:
you still need to touch the paint for the baked on bugs, dirt, tar, etc. that's why i like the foam gun because you can use it as a pre-soak and to wash the car as well. you can't do that with the foam cannon/lance...
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+1 I agree on this.
 
The type of LSP you use will greatly effect how clean your car comes with just a pressure washer and a foam gun without using some sort of wash media.



*Generally speaking*, carnauba based LSP's will come cleaner using a touchless wash than sealants will. Even when my car is really dirty, I need nothing more aggressive than a very gentle boars hair brush to get the car completely clean. When the car fails to come clean using a touchless wash, I just apply another layer of wax, or if time doesn't permit, refresh it with a good carnauba based QD.



If you do decide to go completely touchless, you might also want to look into some sort of deionized water for a spotfree rinse, and possibly a forced air drying method. I don't use any sort of drying media if I haven't touched the car during the wash; there's just too much potential for there to still be something on the paint. Something that would then mar the finish during a waffle weave drying.
 
I think the foam looks cool but I'm not sold on the concept that foam is any more lubricious or better cleaning than a strong solution of soapy water from a cheap sprayer.
 
SuperBee364 said:
The type of LSP you use will greatly effect how clean your car comes with just a pressure washer and a foam gun without using some sort of wash media.



*Generally speaking*, carnauba based LSP's will come cleaner using a touchless wash than sealants will. Even when my car is really dirty, I need nothing more aggressive than a very gentle boars hair brush to get the car completely clean. When the car fails to come clean using a touchless wash, I just apply another layer of wax, or if time doesn't permit, refresh it with a good carnauba based QD.



If you do decide to go completely touchless, you might also want to look into some sort of deionized water for a spotfree rinse, and possibly a forced air drying method. I don't use any sort of drying media if I haven't touched the car during the wash; there's just too much potential for there to still be something on the paint. Something that would then mar the finish during a waffle weave drying.
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Thanks fot the insight. I used M #21 so maybe that explains some of my results. The water that I am using is Filtered and softened (using autogeek water filter set) and I dried with a blower.



Would water temp or soap combos play into this also?
 
wannafbody said:
I think the foam looks cool but I'm not sold on the concept that foam is any more lubricious or better cleaning than a strong solution of soapy water from a cheap sprayer.
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i have to agree. there are a lot of things im not really 'sold' on around here but to each his own. some stuff is just over kill (like using a QD after giving like 2 coats of wax)...totally ridiculous.
 
Well, car wash soap isn't designed to remove dirt by just sitting on it, it simply isn't strong enough. I don't get the point of foaming a car as a presoak, an a APC mix will do a much better job, but of course it will be harsh on the LSP. But i do this when a car is really dirty. Rather wax again than remove scratches from trying to wash it with a mitt.
 
I kind of feel the same way as Mark77. I'm not really convinced that foaming the car as a presoak does any more actual cleaning than just rinsing the car with water. Especially the foam guns (not the foam cannon). They don't seem to produce that much foam and every video I've seen of it being used the soap just slides right off anyway. I don't know, maybe if I saw one in action in person to see the results would show me otherwise. The foam cannons do seem like fun though.
 
I have a foam cannon and while it's a fun toy, it's definitely not a necessity and you can spend your money in better ways. So far the only use I have for it is a pre-soak to let the soap dwell and break-up contaminants such as bird droppings. While the car is pretty clean for the most part after the first high-pressure rinse, I find that to get the car 100% clean there always needs to be some form of agitation from a wash media.



It's not a time saver and you will use up a lot more soap than a normal wash. The only way I can imagine it saving time for me was if I had a deionized water setup like the CRSpotless where I foamed, let sit, and rinsed with DI water. While not a substitute for a normal wash, I think this would a good way to do a 5-10 min quick car wash when you're running short on time.
 
Some sorta-random thoughts from a guy who only uses a foamgun as opposed to a foamcannon:



The touchless method only seems to work for people (such as SuperBee364 who are using ultra-dirt-shedding LSPs. I bet you could get away with doing it with Collinite 476S, but I also bet it wouldn't work as well as with that Zymol Vintage. And I'd only try it with a vehicle that's not too dirty to start with.



Not sure why a presoak with shampoo wouldn't work better than a presoak with plain water :think: Neither one works miracles for me, but the shampoo does seem to make the subsequent washing a bit easier whereas the plain water only helps a little bit with readily dissolved stuff like roadsalt.



Oh, and I wouldn't consider something "ridiculous" if the person doing it derives/perceives some kind of benefit that they believe outweighs the time/effort involved. Heh heh, I know people who think the whole proper-detailing thing is ridiculous and I can see where they're coming from.
 
BlackElantraGT said:
I have a foam cannon and while it's a fun toy, it's definitely not a necessity and you can spend your money in better ways. So far the only use I have for it is a pre-soak to let the soap dwell and break-up contaminants such as bird droppings. While the car is pretty clean for the most part after the first high-pressure rinse, I find that to get the car 100% clean there always needs to be some form of agitation from a wash media.



It's not a time saver and you will use up a lot more soap than a normal wash. The only way I can imagine it saving time for me was if I had a deionized water setup like the CRSpotless where I foamed, let sit, and rinsed with DI water. While not a substitute for a normal wash, I think this would a good way to do a 5-10 min quick car wash when you're running short on time.
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thanks for your honest opinion, i always know i can get a straight forward answer from you...
 
I have no experience w/ a foam gun or cannon.



That said, I do however use my Gilmour 362 ($17 @ Ace Hardware) every washing for the following reasons:



Due to the environment that my car is subjected to (a black DD) it is washed at least 6 times/monthly and I feel as if I need an "edge" in keeping it swirl free.



Prewashing/soaking aids in the removal of dust and bug guts from my car. I generally load up w/ DG 902 (mixed 2:1 ) sprayed on the highest concentration and let it soak soak/dwell for a few minutes and do it again. Then rinse w/ a nice stream from my firemans nozzle. This rids the dust prior to washing and if there's grit present it will knock some of that off as well before my next step. I then use the two bucket method, spraying the panels w/ concentrate before I apply my wash media to it.



Most importantly: This additional step prevents the GS from coming in contact w/ an unlubricated surface. Rinse panels, spray next w/ concentrate, wash, rinse, repeat. With quick connects this moves fairly fast and I feel it's a great regimen.
 
See its all about reducing the odds of swirls



When the soap is sliding off the car, it starts to loosen dirt, birds droppings, bugs. It does NOT get them off, but it makes it so that it only takes one pass with the wash mitt to remove stuff that normally would take 3 passes. And we all know that touching the paint less is the best way not to get swirls
 
citizen arcane- Your Gilmour is the one with the black plastic deflector on the end as opposed to the aerating/foaming nozzle, right?





MrNorwall said:
See its all about reducing the odds of swirls



When the soap is sliding off the car, it starts to loosen dirt, birds droppings, bugs. It does NOT get them off, but it makes it so that it only takes one pass with the wash mitt to remove stuff that normally would take 3 passes. And we all know that touching the paint less is the best way not to get swirls
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Differing approach here (and I'm sure not bashing *your* position, just showing the other side of this particular coin):



Using the foamgun for all media/vehicle contace, I do one pass with the BHB, a second pass with a mitt, and sometimes a *third* pass, especially if the previous two left stuff I had to (very gently) clay off. That's two-three contacts, each of which *does* carry the potential for damage. But I keep each pass so gentle that IMO it's *safer* than fewer but more aggressive passes. Well, safer for *me* anyways, what you're doing might be just right for *you* and people like Mike Phillips have long championed the "minimal touching" idea.
 
Accumulator said:
citizen arcane- Your Gilmour is the one with the black plastic deflector on the end as opposed to the aerating/foaming nozzle, right?
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Yup, when I bought mine the foam gun was a lot more than what Amazon is offering one for now. It yields decent results and does what I want it to do.



When grit is present I also do two or three light passes, applying soap w/ the sprayer each pass, opposed to one pass w/ heavy pressure. As noted this process uses *a lot* of concentrate but am happy w/ the results.
 
During winters I usually only spray off my dd. For years I would just do the high preasure soap then rinse. I gets the big stuff off but thats really it.



Then one day I used the pre-soak first and let it sit. Then I used the high preasure rinse. Hey I thought this looks better! It is now 60% clean not just 50%.



I just picked up a Gilmour and I I like it a lot for $39. No mircle but I like the pre soak. Just a nice way to get soap on the car IMHO.



At home I first spray the car very well. Then I pre soak spray again and then a two bucket wash. If my car is really dirty then I use the my power wash first. I still like a normal spray after the soak as it is easier to rinse, better to flush out dirt in wheel wells and such.
 
citizen arcane said:
Yup, when I bought mine the foam gun was a lot more than what Amazon is offering one for now. It yields decent results and does what I want it to do.



When grit is present I also do two or three light passes, applying soap w/ the sprayer each pass, opposed to one pass w/ heavy pressure. As noted this process uses *a lot* of concentrate but am happy w/ the results.
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OK, I thought it sounded like that model, just checking.



Sounds like your general approach is pretty similar to mine, and hey, as long as the stuff/technique/etc. you use works to your satisfaction, well, that's all that matters IMO :xyxthumbs
 
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