[Nitrousbird]

Wife is looking for Father's Day ideas for me.

Are Foam Cannons really worth it? I'm typically a car wash in a bucket type of guy...but if these work better I'm all for it.

[Detailed Image]

They do not work "better" than a hand wash... they are a supplement to the hand wash process.

There are two options for foaming mechanisms, a foam lance which attaches to a pressure washer and produces thick, heavy foam.. or a foam gun which attaches to a standard hose and produces thin, soapy water.

Layer of soapy water created with Gilmour Foam Gun




Layer of foam created with DI Foam Lance and pressure washer





In any case, the products are used in the same fashion. There are two ways most people utilize foaming tools.

1 - A foam presoak. This adds a step to your wash process as you rinse the car and then cover it with a layer of foam to help loosen dirt on the paint prior to washing. I explain this process in the following article.

How to Implement a Foam Lance into your Wash Routine by Zach McGovern


2 - As soapy water for the wash process. In this scenario, the foam is sprayed onto the car and then immediately washed with your wash mitt, therefore replacing the need to have a bucket with soap and water in it.


Hope that helps

Zach McGovern
Detailed Image Ask-A-Pro Blog Author
www.DetailPeoria.com

[PourBoi-Jay]

Detailed Image FTW!!

[BMB063]

Foam is an easy way to reduce scratches without changing your routine entirely! It loosens the dirt and allows it to fall off the car before you touch it with your wash mit.

A low budget starter option is the Gilmour Canon and should be great for most people. The pressure washer options clearly have better suds, but the parts are more expensive and it requires you to have a pressure washer as well as be willing to drag one out and hook it up. I feel like when most people use foam, they never go back. If you aren’t crazy obsessed about keeping the car scratch free and perfect, the Gilmour should be good for you. It’s also really fun!

[The HACK]

It's worth it if you have a pressure washer. And live in California. Because both combination uses about 1/3rd the water a normal hose wash would use, and take up 1/2 the time.

It doesn't eliminate all the elbow grease, I've found that even with the foam canon you still need to go over the car, while the foam is on the car, with a nice wash-mit. But it does significantly decrease your consumables (like soap and whatnot).

[Mr. Tasty]

I love my Foam Sprayer and I always use it whether the car is extremely dirty or just dusty. I do not use the Foam Cannon as I do not have a pressure washer. I have a great time presoaking my car with foam, I always think of it as a euphemism. So much fun to use.

Also when you pair it with the 2-bucket method, it eliminates 99% chance of swirls induced by washing the car.

[Nitrousbird]

I do have a pressure washer. Water here is clean and cheap, so conservation isn't an issue.

Hmmm, I like the soap from the pressure washer better in the two pics. Might have to go that route, though it does add a couple minutes to the process to get the pressure washer in/out of the garage and running.

[BMB063]

Originally Posted by Nitrousbird

I do have a pressure washer. Water here is clean and cheap, so conservation isn't an issue.

Hmmm, I like the soap from the pressure washer better in the two pics. Might have to go that route, though it does add a couple minutes to the process to get the pressure washer in/out of the garage and running.

Holy crap I just realized you're in Powell! I'm in Worthington and moving to UA in about a month. We should have a car foaming party!!!

[bb1857]

Definitely worth it....makes washing the car more fun too and your neighbors will wondering what the hell you are doing to your car!!

[bb1857]

Pic for reference and because it looks cool!!

[Elliott@DetailAddict]

It's one of the preventative method in a proper car wash to reduce damages to the painted surfaces of the car. Foam helps encapsulate, soften, and loosen dirt and soil. Other techniques and methods are dual bucket wash/rinse, grit guards to separate dirty water, microfiber towels, water filtration system, increased wash and rinse frequency, and more. By doing a good wash you will keep your car looking good and clear coat healthy. So in short YES it is benificial to you for the longevity of your paint.

[Rival]

a cannon does so much more than what you can do by hand.

I didnt buy one at first, but after using one.......Done deal.

[jkrig]

OP just consider your process/procedure, I have a pressure washer but don't always feel the need to break it out for a quick wash, while Lance is effective it sees little use because of this...strictly based on convenience, the Gilmour Gun is my go to.....

[Nitrousbird]

I just ordered this one:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I figured even if I rarely use it, it is under $20.

[Route 16]

Originally Posted by Nitrousbird

I just ordered this one:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I figured even if I rarely use it, it is under $20.

I went with a cheap one like that before, needless to say, the nozzle threads would leak water when i turned it on, foam spray wasn't as "nice" as I would've thought, then I bought one from autogeek.com, I also had to make sure the supplied adapter was the right one for my pressure but i do have the foam gun if i'm in a rush to clean

[Nitrousbird]

Originally Posted by Route 16

I went with a cheap one like that before, needless to say, the nozzle threads would leak water when i turned it on, foam spray wasn't as "nice" as I would've thought, then I bought one from autogeek.com, I also had to make sure the supplied adapter was the right one for my pressure but i do have the foam gun if i'm in a rush to clean

This specific unit was recommended to me by someone on a boat forum I am a member of that uses it on his 335.

Looking at the reviews, if these units fail it looks like it happens after the first couple of uses...well within the Amazon return period, so I'll just send it back.

[Nitrousbird]

I tried it out. Works well enough. I used just straight Meguiar's Gold Class car wash in it. Plenty of foam but it ate through the soap faster than I expected. It shoots it at a super high pressure too (2500psi / 2.3GPM washer, so nothing special). making it a bit more aggressive than I anticipated. Overall, I liked the results of using it.

[jkrig]

Originally Posted by Nitrousbird

I tried it out. Works well enough. I used just straight Meguiar's Gold Class car wash in it. Plenty of foam but it ate through the soap faster than I expected. It shoots it at a super high pressure too (2500psi / 2.3GPM washer, so nothing special). making it a bit more aggressive than I anticipated. Overall, I liked the results of using it.

You don't need to use straight soap, only a couple of ounces of soap then filling the rest of the canister with water, then a good swirl/shake to mix....

[Mr. Tasty]

Originally Posted by jkrig

You don't need to use straight soap, only a couple of ounces of soap then filling the rest of the canister with water, then a good swirl/shake to mix....

really? I always thought that you filled the canister with straight soap and the adjuster mixes the soap with the correct concentration (volumetric flow rate) of water.

[Route 16]

Originally Posted by Mr. Tasty

really? I always thought that you filled the canister with straight soap and the adjuster mixes the soap with the correct concentration (volumetric flow rate) of water.

naaaah

[Mr. Tasty]

Originally Posted by Route 16

naaaah

Weird, all sources I found say to put just concentrate in the reservoir and to not premix it.

[Route 16]

Originally Posted by Mr. Tasty

Weird, all sources I found say to put just concentrate in the reservoir and to not premix it.

put like probably 2 bottles of that yakult size into the container and fill the rest with water. both the pressure washer cannon thing and foam cannon use the same principle