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Do you guys use foam cannons?

D

dm6

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I have always just either gone to the car wash or washed my cars with a bucket of soap and a mitt, but don't plan to take this new truck through a car wash for a while! How do you guys like foam cannons? Do you just throw suds on the whole truck and let it sit then rinse, or do you still have to rub it down with a mitt first? Does it just save you the time of using a bucket, or is there more to it than that? Enlighten me on what the process is :) I only have a gas pressure washer (I don't think the pressure can be adjustable) so is that fine, or do you need an electric?
 
I have a foam cannon, they usually reduce pressure from an adjustable orifices'. It does not fix the issue of giving the vehicle a good scrub to loosen all the dirt but it does speed up the process. I use an RV extendable scrub brush, can get the hood, roof, and windshild pretty good without a step ladder. I did the house windows, our motorhome, wand my metal shed. Things I might not wash nearly as often otherwise. It has been a useful tool.
 
Yes.

Either work fine. Electric is good. Gas is better when it comes to making foam. The more psi, the more foam. That being said, I went back to electric I find gas pressure washers to be obnoxious these days.

foam is a better washing experience. Use PH balanced shampoo to minimize water spots.
 
jeepkevin said:
I have a foam cannon, they usually reduce pressure from an adjustable orifices'. It does not fix the issue of giving the vehicle a good scrub to loosen all the dirt but it does speed up the process. I use an RV extendable scrub brush, can get the hood, roof, and windshild pretty good without a step ladder. I did the house windows, our motorhome, wand my metal shed. Things I might not wash nearly as often otherwise. It has been a useful tool.
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So do you just foam the whole vehicle, let it sit for a couple minutes, then scrub the whole thing with a mitt or brush, then rinse with a hose? Do you do it all at once rather than panel by panel like you would if doing it by hand?
 
For me it depends on the heat here in Texas. You don't want the soap to dry. Middle of summer I have to break it down to 4 sides I guess you could say. In cooler weather, I soap the whole thing, grab the brush and scrub all the way around, then rinse. My soap cannon, Amazon with good reviews, sprays soap at a lower pressure than the pressure washer normal puts out. That's fine, takes about 1 min to cover vehicle so it looks like a giant pink snowball.
 
I have been thinking about getting a foam cannon. I haven't started up my pressure washer if a very long time though. If I didn't drain the carb the last time I sued it I will probably have to rebuild the carb or just buy an electric one.
 
Foam cannon is amazing, like Jeepkevin said, i use it to wash tons of other stuff. Must have for washing any sort of offroad toy.
 
Ok, I'm sold :) I see these are only like $20 or so on Amazon and have the multiple tips so I guess that is what reduces pressure. I never used a pressure washer on my car before but this seems like it would be good for cleaning the undercarriage too.
 
I'm another one in favor of foam cannons. I ordered one off Amazon a couple years ago and it has worked out great, even using an electric pressure washer. I have to do one side at a time as there's no way I can scrub the whole truck before the first side starts to dry.

Greg
2019 | RAM 2500 | CCSB | 6.4 HEMI
2016 | Heartland Pioneer | DS310
 
Power247 said:
I'm another one in favor of foam cannons. I ordered one off Amazon a couple years ago and it has worked out great, even using an electric pressure washer. I have to do one side at a time as there's no way I can scrub the whole truck before the first side starts to dry.

Greg
2019 | RAM 2500 | CCSB | 6.4 HEMI
2016 | Heartland Pioneer | DS310
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Which one did you get? My pressure washer is 3100 psi. Is that too much? If this works well, I wouldn't mind getting an electric one as well so it won't be so noisy when washing the cars, but I need the gas one for the patio.
 
dm6 said:
Which one did you get? My pressure washer is 3100 psi. Is that too much? If this works well, I wouldn't mind getting an electric one as well so it won't be so noisy when washing the cars, but I need the gas one for the patio.
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The brand is MATCC. My electric pressure washer is 1800psi I believe. I'd see more pressure as better but it works well with lower pressure too.


Greg
2019 | RAM 2500 | CCSB | 6.4 HEMI
2016 | Heartland Pioneer | DS310
 
Power247 said:
The brand is MATCC. My electric pressure washer is 1800psi I believe. I'd see more pressure as better but it works well with lower pressure too.


Greg
2019 | RAM 2500 | CCSB | 6.4 HEMI
2016 | Heartland Pioneer | DS310
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So then do you just spray everything (wheel wells, even undercarriage) and does it do a good job getting those areas somewhat clean without scrubbing them? Then for the rest of the truck, you don't need a bucket of soapy water then since you are just scrubbing the foam, right? Do you rinse with the pressure washer too?
 
dm6 said:
So then do you just spray everything (wheel wells, even undercarriage) and does it do a good job getting those areas somewhat clean without scrubbing them? Then for the rest of the truck, you don't need a bucket of soapy water then since you are just scrubbing the foam, right? Do you rinse with the pressure washer too?
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If the truck is just dusty then I can just spray with soap and then rinse with a normal 30* nozzle. But most times it's nasty and a bucket with brush and mitt are required.

Greg
2019 | RAM 2500 | CCSB | 6.4 HEMI
2016 | Heartland Pioneer | DS310
 
With car detailing there are so many levels of obsessive techniques. Just old plain washing and anal 10 step fussy pot detailing. With each method there are steps to take and the more complicated you get the more time and work is involve so car detailing can be very time consuming if taken to the next level and its hard to find the time to keep your truck clean. So its best to YouTube Car Detailing to see at what level of commitment you are willing to put into your truck. Im anal about detailing and have a bad back so Im limited to giving her the full treatment without taking a couple of Advil. I had my present 2017 double ceramic coated and its been great. If we have a good rain 90% of the dirt just falls off the paint. When I do wash her now I use my cheap 2500 PSI pressure washer on it. I rinse it, cannon it, then wash it with the 3 bucket method and use 2 wash mits, one for upper body and second one for lower body. I also use a car dryer so I dont have to wipe dry it down. Some of my friends think Im nuts and anal about washing her and I guess they are correct but I loves a pristine vehicle in and out
 
I have one. It doesn't seem to save any time or steps. In fact it just adds a step and doesn't seem to clean any better than just using a pressure washer first. You still have to wash with a bucket and mitt.

My foam cannon no longer gets used. With cars I use a multi bucket system. With the truck I just use my pressure washer on it every now and then and let it be. If I'm lucky my truck gets a good rain and that's as clean as it gets for the month.
 
I use one on my gas pressure washer, and love it. but a typical wash for me is about 2-3 hours. foam canon, scrubby wash, clay bar... the works. and there is a whole lot of truck to wash.
 
The point of the foam cannon is to have the solution bring the grime down off the vehicle before agitating to avoid swirls, etc... If you are just foaming the car then agitating, kinda pointless. You should foam the vehicle, then let the foam do its work and pull down contaminants, dirt, etc.. This should only take 5 mins or so for the foam to "drop". If its too quick, then your mixture is probably not right. Rinse off the vehicle. Then you can wash the vehicle. I like to partially foam it again, agitate, rinse, dry.
 
Nado said:
The point of the foam cannon is to have the solution bring the grime down off the vehicle before agitating to avoid swirls, etc... If you are just foaming the car then agitating, kinda pointless. You should foam the vehicle, then let the foam do its work and pull down contaminants, dirt, etc.. This should only take 5 mins or so for the foam to "drop". If its too quick, then your mixture is probably not right. Rinse off the vehicle. Then you can wash the vehicle. I like to partially foam it again, agitate, rinse, dry.
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Maybe if you don't have a pressure washer. If you foam, wait, and then pressure wash it takes off no more dirt than just pressure washing it right from the start. Then use a multi-bucket system to avoid swirls.
I think it look cool though and a great marketing tool for detail shops.

My 2 cents.
 
AnthonyD1978 said:
Maybe if you don't have a pressure washer. If you foam, wait, and then pressure wash it takes off no more dirt than just pressure washing it right from the start. Then use a multi-bucket system to avoid swirls.
I think it look cool though and a great marketing tool for detail shops.

My 2 cents.
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Its all about lubricity,,,even with a hose only and no pressure washer its better to form if you can. There is not as much foam without a pressure washer but it can be done . Foaming is better than no foaming because the foam will somewhat loosen and lube the surface to make those bigger sand and dirt particles fall off the vehicle after sitting and a rinse off before rubbing it with a wash mitt. IMO
 
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