[RicheyBMW]

do you use the foam gun and foam up the whole car and then spray it off and that's it? No mitt or touching the car for the wash? How effective is it? How and what are you suppose to do with it? Is it only for a "pre-soaking aid" or can you really substitute this with hand washing?

[dday]

It's a pre-soak, helps loosen up dirt and grime before you use a sponge or mitt. I don't own one, I'm on the fence with buying one, my current method without one works well so I have a hard time justifying it.

[Gig103]

^ What he said. Instead of just spraying the car down before washing, you spray soap+water and let it soak. That way when you are washing, you hope more dirt has already come off.

I bought the Gilmour and I rarely use it because it doesn't do much. The fancy ones the pro detailers have, that creates a thick foam, is really cool but out of a hose you don't get enough pressure.

[E3r2E9r]

It is a pre-soak to loosen up dirt and grime.
You still wash the car as normal afterwards.

[sorryiwasnapping]

As mentioned it's purpose is to mainly help loosen dirt/grim from the car, then you do your 2 bucket wash.

I've had the Gilmour and IMO it just isn't worth it. I now use a cheap 1600PSI electric power washer with $15 green earth foam blaster from home depot. It does a decent job of actually staying on the car. I found the gilmour, even with using 8oz+ for MaxiSudds II and the highest settings, the bubbles/foam/soap just drips from the car in seconds, by the time you've finished half the car has nothing on it again.

[ar design III]

Originally Posted by sorryiwasnapping

As mentioned it's purpose is to mainly help loosen dirt/grim from the car, then you do your 2 bucket wash.

I've had the Gilmour and IMO it just isn't worth it. I now use a cheap 1600PSI electric power washer with $15 green earth foam blaster from home depot. It does a decent job of actually staying on the car. I found the gilmour, even with using 8oz+ for MaxiSudds II and the highest settings, the bubbles/foam/soap just drips from the car in seconds, by the time you've finished half the car has nothing on it again.

Personally, I wouldn't wash more than half the car at a time anyways.

Rinse the whole car
Wash Half the Car
Rinse that side
Wash the other half
Rinse the entire car with low pressure
Dry using waffle weave or similair.

That will minimize having soap residue dry on the car.

Also, the lack of suds may be due to poor water pressure.

[sorryiwasnapping]

Originally Posted by chris @ ar design

Personally, I wouldn't wash more than half the car at a time anyways.

Rinse the whole car
Wash Half the Car
Rinse that side
Wash the other half
Rinse the entire car with low pressure
Dry using waffle weave or similair.

That will minimize having soap residue dry on the car.

Also, the lack of suds may be due to poor water pressure.

When washing by hand I do it sectionally. When doing it with a foam gun I cover the entire car. With the gilmour I was lucky if soap was on for a minute, the foam gun on a power washer does a much better job.

[Royal Flush]

As others have said, the point of a foam gun or foam cannon is to pre-soak the car to loosen up contaminants on the paint before you use a wash medium.

I just used my new foam cannon and pressure washer for the first time over the weekend with my first "detail" on my cars. I felt like a little kid having "fun" washing my car with the foam cannon.

[electricjet]

.... all i can say: get it ... use it ..

the model:
Gilmour 95QGFMR Foamaster II Cleaning Sprayer
(around $39.0)
the soap:
Chemical Guys Maxi Suds II
(around $12.00 1gal)
followed by a 2 BUCKET-GRITGUARD handwash with:
Chemical Guys Glossworkz
(around $39.00)

NOW HERE IS THE SECRET:

fill the canister of the foam gun ONLY with soap and use the dial-knob to dispense the mix ratio
after your done "foaming" return unused soap in foam gun canister to soap jug

... ask me how i know ! ... some experts on this forum shared their knowledge - thank you gents ! ... i am a beliver