which foam lance for my pressure washer?

tofu- · 06-13-2011, 11:13 PM

i'm going to pick up one of these http://www.pressurewashersdirect.com...her/p6274.html

karcher x series

and i'm wondering which foam lance i should go with to recreate what i see in these detailing threads. i would like a nice thick foam that will cover my entire vehicle, not a weak dribble that looks like it came out of garden hose

XDEEDUBBX · 06-13-2011, 11:21 PM

funny, I was wondering the same thing..

tofu- · 06-13-2011, 11:25 PM

i've been looking through the previous threads and it seems the cam spray unit everyone is using has been discontinued. not sure what to pick up now...

mr_milo · 06-14-2011, 02:40 AM

I got the Green Earth G-Foam Blaster from Home Depot. It doesn't have super thick foam but only being $15 I thought I'd give it a try. The problem with it for many is that it has a 1/4" quick disconnect fitting. I didn't have a PW so I just made sure to get one with the same fittings.

As I mentioned, the foam isn't shaving cream thick but works for me. Might be worth the $15 to try it out. Plus you have 30 days to return it.

Jean-Claude · 06-14-2011, 05:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mr_milo

I got the Green Earth G-Foam Blaster from Home Depot. It doesn't have super thick foam but only being $15 I thought I'd give it a try. The problem with it for many is that it has a 1/4" quick disconnect fitting. I didn't have a PW so I just made sure to get one with the same fittings.

As I mentioned, the foam isn't shaving cream thick but works for me. Might be worth the $15 to try it out. Plus you have 30 days to return it.

You may want to try a different shampoo or bump the pressure on your pressure washer.

I get wonderful foam with that lance.

tofu- · 06-14-2011, 05:33 PM

that's pretty impressive for $15.

what shampoo are you using and in what dilution, if you don't mind sharing

mr_milo · 06-14-2011, 07:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jean-Claude

You may want to try a different shampoo or bump the pressure on your pressure washer.

I get wonderful foam with that lance.

I have tried a few shampoos some were a little better than other but am currently using Meguiars Ultimate Wash & Wax. I add 2oz of shampoo and then fill the bottle with HOT water and mix. The foam I get looks about the same as your picture but it doesn't stay on the car and seems to run off. It's pretty thick but not super thick, like some I have seen. I guess it could just be my PW, it's a 1400PSI 1.6GPM unit from Costco.

Buegie · 06-14-2011, 08:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mr_milo

I got the Green Earth G-Foam Blaster from Home Depot. It doesn't have super thick foam but only being $15 I thought I'd give it a try. The problem with it for many is that it has a 1/4" quick disconnect fitting. I didn't have a PW so I just made sure to get one with the same fittings.

As I mentioned, the foam isn't shaving cream thick but works for me. Might be worth the $15 to try it out. Plus you have 30 days to return it.

+1 I was just going to recommend that one...I got it for my dad and he was floored with how well it works for only being $20.

Are you rinsing the car beforehand? That might be why the foam is running off. Even on the highest setting, there is a lot of water being mixed in with the soap, so there isn't really a need to rinse beforehand. If you do, the foam just tends to slide off with the water.

Jean-Claude · 06-14-2011, 09:14 PM

I use a custom blended shampoo at full concentration.

Quote:

Originally Posted by tofu-

that's pretty impressive for $15.

what shampoo are you using and in what dilution, if you don't mind sharing

mr_milo · 06-15-2011, 01:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Buegie

Are you rinsing the car beforehand? That might be why the foam is running off. Even on the highest setting, there is a lot of water being mixed in with the soap, so there isn't really a need to rinse beforehand. If you do, the foam just tends to slide off with the water.

Yup, I usually rinse the dirt off the car first, do the rims, spray off the rims

Jean-Claude · 06-15-2011, 09:15 AM

You can see that home depot lance in action on my website. If I had a way to link just the video I would, but I have no idea how to embed it.

Go to http://www.detaileddesignsautospa.co...r-gallery.html and click the first gallery. The video's screen shot is of a GTR. Click it and about 30 seconds in you can see how well it works along with a high quality shampoo. It barely drips off the car even though it was pre-rinsed.

Focus · 06-15-2011, 09:39 AM

What fittings and/or attachments would you have to purchase to make sure the home depot unit works with your power washer?

tofu- · 06-15-2011, 12:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jean-Claude

You can see that home depot lance in action on my website. If I had a way to link just the video I would, but I have no idea how to embed it.

Go to http://www.detaileddesignsautospa.co...r-gallery.html and click the first gallery. The video's screen shot is of a GTR. Click it and about 30 seconds in you can see how well it works along with a high quality shampoo. It barely drips off the car even though it was pre-rinsed.

interesting. so you rinse, foam it up, rinse it off, then use the bucket method?

you don't just foam then agitate with a microfiber/sponge/mitt and bucket of water (or onr)?

mr_milo · 06-15-2011, 01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Focus

What fittings and/or attachments would you have to purchase to make sure the home depot unit works with your power washer?

If you get the right pressure washer it will just snap on like all the other attachments. Although for most electric pressure washers you need to get an adapter from the standard "twist on" fitting to a 1/4" quick disconnect. HD sells a wand with this set-up but I thought it made it too long. So I saw two electric pressure washers with 1/4" QD fittings. One was at Lowes and the other at Costco. I went for Costco and the Costco return policy even though I liked the Lowes one better.

E92TTKING · 06-15-2011, 02:33 PM

will this work with the electric powerstroke from costco? i think its 1800 psi

E92TTKING · 06-15-2011, 04:43 PM

also exactly what soap do you guys think will work to yield maximum foam?

Bobble · 06-15-2011, 05:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tofu-

interesting. so you rinse, foam it up, rinse it off, then use the bucket method?

you don't just foam then agitate with a microfiber/sponge/mitt and bucket of water (or onr)?

I do this but I only do my families cars and some friends:

I rinse pretty well, foam the whole car including wheels, let it dwell and do the wheels, rinse it off and do a traditional 2BM wash. This only takes about
30 minutes total and the car is clean and paint is spared. Also I always add about 1/2 a cap of ONR to my wash bucket for extra lubing. I use a few different soaps depending on intent. I use DG 901 most if I can find it at a Napa store on the counter, otherwise I use CG Wash & Gloss(both 1 cap per 3 gallons), to strip for polishing I use CG Citrus Wash & Clear in a high dilution (4 caps per 3 gallons). I also have the HD foam lance and a cheap PW from Target. Oh and my neighbors think we're crazy the way we wash cars each week 3 of them pretty much back to back.

MuttGrunt · 06-15-2011, 05:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by greek335xi

also exactly what soap do you guys think will work to yield maximum foam?

Any normal shampoo should work fine. A foaming-specific shampoo isn't needed IME.

mr_milo · 06-15-2011, 05:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by greek335xi

will this work with the electric powerstroke from costco? i think its 1800 psi

I think that's the one I bought. I'm pretty sure it has a 1/4" quick disconnect.

Jean-Claude · 06-18-2011, 02:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tofu-

interesting. so you rinse, foam it up, rinse it off, then use the bucket method?

you don't just foam then agitate with a microfiber/sponge/mitt and bucket of water (or onr)?

Correct.

My washes take as long as one can take but my goal is to be as gentle as possible. I have clients who use me to correct their paint then maintain them with washes, ect. I would be doing them a disservice to correct it then wreck it.

Jean-Claude · 06-18-2011, 02:42 PM

This.

Though, you can play with adding other products like p21s TAW as a pre-treat that is more aggressive than just shampoo.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MuttGrunt

Any normal shampoo should work fine. A foaming-specific shampoo isn't needed IME.

x3man1994 · 07-05-2011, 08:51 PM

What dilution would I use of chemical guys wash and gloss if I just wanted a maintenance wash?

06-13-2011, 11:13 PM	#1
tofu- Banned 87 Rep 2,854 Posts Drives: 335i Jet Black/Coral Red Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: nyc iTrader: (4)	which foam lance for my pressure washer? i'm going to pick up one of these http://www.pressurewashersdirect.com...her/p6274.html karcher x series and i'm wondering which foam lance i should go with to recreate what i see in these detailing threads. i would like a nice thick foam that will cover my entire vehicle, not a weak dribble that looks like it came out of garden hose
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06-13-2011, 11:21 PM	#2
XDEEDUBBX Lieutenant Colonel 64 Rep 1,715 Posts Drives: 535I Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Los Angelz iTrader: (11)	funny, I was wondering the same thing.. __________________ Click here to join the >>>>https://www.facebook.com/groups/socal535f10crew/
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06-13-2011, 11:25 PM	#3
tofu- Banned 87 Rep 2,854 Posts Drives: 335i Jet Black/Coral Red Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: nyc iTrader: (4)	i've been looking through the previous threads and it seems the cam spray unit everyone is using has been discontinued. not sure what to pick up now...
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06-14-2011, 02:40 AM	#4
mr_milo Captain 12 Rep 668 Posts Drives: 2011 E93 328i Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: SF Bay Area, CA iTrader: (1)	I got the Green Earth G-Foam Blaster from Home Depot. It doesn't have super thick foam but only being $15 I thought I'd give it a try. The problem with it for many is that it has a 1/4" quick disconnect fitting. I didn't have a PW so I just made sure to get one with the same fittings. As I mentioned, the foam isn't shaving cream thick but works for me. Might be worth the $15 to try it out. Plus you have 30 days to return it.
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06-14-2011, 05:33 PM	#6
tofu- Banned 87 Rep 2,854 Posts Drives: 335i Jet Black/Coral Red Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: nyc iTrader: (4)	that's pretty impressive for $15. what shampoo are you using and in what dilution, if you don't mind sharing
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06-15-2011, 09:15 AM	#11
Jean-Claude Banned 1 Rep 168 Posts Drives: m3 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Atlanta iTrader: (1)	You can see that home depot lance in action on my website. If I had a way to link just the video I would, but I have no idea how to embed it. Go to http://www.detaileddesignsautospa.co...r-gallery.html and click the first gallery. The video's screen shot is of a GTR. Click it and about 30 seconds in you can see how well it works along with a high quality shampoo. It barely drips off the car even though it was pre-rinsed.
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06-15-2011, 09:39 AM	#12
Focus Captain 68 Rep 942 Posts Drives: N/A Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Jersey iTrader: (2)	What fittings and/or attachments would you have to purchase to make sure the home depot unit works with your power washer? __________________
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06-15-2011, 02:33 PM	#15
E92TTKING Colonel 251 Rep 2,251 Posts Drives: e92 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Merica iTrader: (10)	will this work with the electric powerstroke from costco? i think its 1800 psi
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06-15-2011, 04:43 PM	#16
E92TTKING Colonel 251 Rep 2,251 Posts Drives: e92 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Merica iTrader: (10)	also exactly what soap do you guys think will work to yield maximum foam?
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07-05-2011, 08:51 PM	#22
x3man1994 Banned 37 Rep 187 Posts Drives: 2004 X3 2.5 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: NY iTrader: (0)	What dilution would I use of chemical guys wash and gloss if I just wanted a maintenance wash?
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