Fittings for pressure washer trigger gun/foam lance?

[NewShockerGuy]

Have more of a general question on what I need to make this work.

I went to costco and bought a simpson electric pressure washer. The sole purpose of this is to wash cars, that's it. No side walks or anything like that. When the time comes for a gas one which will be after the shed is built that's fine.

From everything I have read it comes with the 22mm hose connections.

What I want to do is make a small foam cannon trigger so I don't have to walk around with a huge lance.

I have attached a picture of what I would like to do to make it from another person on amazon.


I am pretty sure he used this trigger assembly from NorthernTool:

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_273_273

Which has a 1/4" fitting on the front so I can attach a quick disconnect for the foam lance.

The bottom however is 3/8" fitting.

I was planning on purchasing this hose mainly because it's cheap:

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200442436_200442436

But you can see that the ends of the hose is different from the fitting on the gun.

Does anyone know what I would use to attach that hose to the end of the gun? The other part would just screw into the electric end of the pressure washer.

The picture below that I attached he is using a 3/8" quick disconnect which would be fine if I was using that type of hose but I'm not, plus those hoses are at least $60 or so... I'm looking to keep this all under about $100 with the hose, gun, fittings and foam lance.



Found this site but nothing looks like it would match up...
http://www.arkansas-ope.com/QUICK_CONNECT_COUPLERS.html


EDIT: IS this right? I think I got it?
From the above site I could use the M22 adaptor that HAS the quick disconnect push fitting on it:

Screw that end ONTO the hose linked above. and then just buy the normal 3/8" quick disconnect coupler as shown in the picture below and then it would work right?

Welp after looking now it doesn't appear that that would even screw onto the hose because of how it's shaped the hose has the internal threads... so confused now..


Thanks,
-Nigel

 

[mayday0017]

FYI Arkansas OPE has threatened Garage Journal with a forum because of their wonderful customer service and the review written on here about them. Please make sure not to support their business....

Now let me read your question again and see if I can help, I had a foam lance that I recently gave away but plan on getting another.

 

[rshadd]

Here's how I built mine...

I got all the fittings from northerntool.com and the MTM foamer attachment from pressurewashersdirect.com.

I don't think you really need a quick connect between the handle and the foamer.

MTM Hydro Long-Range Detergent Foamer Attachment (Part # 14.0263) $59.99

Pressure Washer Plated Steel ****** — 3/8in. Male Inlet, 4000 PSI (313106) $3.99

Pressure Washer Trigger Spray Gun — 4000 PSI, 8 GPM (Part #2227) $16.99

Pressure Washer ****** — 1/4in. Fitting, 4000 PSI (2296) $3.49

Thread Sealant (Loctite 545) $1.75 for 0.5. (Teflon® tape works too, and is alot easier to find)

 

[G_P]

I have used regular brass and black Iron ******* on pressure washers and hydraulic lines before. They never burst. Just watch out that some pressure washers use straight pipe thread and a gasket instead of tapered pipe thread that normal plumbing fittings use.

in your pic above the "4000 psi" ****** is just a plain black iron pipe ******. If it was intended for use with water it would either be glavanized or plated with something to prevent it from rusting the first time it gets wet.

 

[kald]

Rshadd, Is that a high pressure down stream attacment?

 

[rshadd]

The MTM Hydro is rated at 5000psi.

In my pics I used 1/4" black pipe because I couldn't find a 1/4" plated steel ****** when I was putting this foam cannon together.

I've since replaced the black pipe with a pressure rate steel ******. I also initially used telfon tape sealant, but I think the Loctite 545 is a better choice on pressure lines.

 

[NewShockerGuy]

FYI Arkansas OPE has threatened Garage Journal with a forum because of their wonderful customer service and the review written on here about them. Please make sure not to support their business....

Now let me read your question again and see if I can help, I had a foam lance that I recently gave away but plan on getting another.

Thank you for the reference! I will NOT be using them for anything ever!

Here's how I built mine...

I got all the fittings from northerntool.com and the MTM foamer attachment from pressurewashersdirect.com.

I don't think you really need a quick connect between the handle and the foamer.

MTM Hydro Long-Range Detergent Foamer Attachment (Part # 14.0263) $59.99

Pressure Washer Plated Steel ****** — 3/8in. Male Inlet, 4000 PSI (313106) $3.99

Pressure Washer Trigger Spray Gun — 4000 PSI, 8 GPM (Part #2227) $16.99

Pressure Washer ****** — 1/4in. Fitting, 4000 PSI (2296) $3.49

Thread Sealant (Loctite 545) $1.75 for 0.5. (Teflon® tape works too, and is alot easier to find)

EXCELLENT! I have one question. Would it be better to use the quick disconnect or the straight pipe? I figured a straight disconnect pipe to the outlet of the gun so that way I can put on different tips as need be. But the straight pipe looks good! Clean looking!

Any issues with that setup?

My wife thinks I'm crazy to do this just to wash our cars..lol

I like it though!

-Nigel

 

[G_P]

I have used regular brass and black Iron ******* on pressure washers and hydraulic lines before. They never burst. Just watch out that some pressure washers use straight pipe thread and a gasket instead of tapered pipe thread that normal plumbing fittings use.

in your pic above the "4000 psi" ****** is just a plain black iron pipe ******. If it was intended for use with water it would either be glavanized or plated with something to prevent it from rusting the first time it gets wet.

 

[skamp]

Just get one of these. They are awesome and pretty cheap. I use mine all the time with Meguiers Gold Class.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000XTH1GY

Steve

 

[rshadd]

EXCELLENT! I have one question. Would it be better to use the quick disconnect or the straight pipe? I figured a straight disconnect pipe to the outlet of the gun so that way I can put on different tips as need be. But the straight pipe looks good! Clean looking!

Any issues with that setup?

My wife thinks I'm crazy to do this just to wash our cars..lol

I like it though!

-Nigel

I doubt that you'll ever different tips. I like to use a just a garden hose without a nozzle to rinse. The water sheets off without beading and makes it easier to dry.

Just get one of these. They are awesome and pretty cheap. I use mine all the time with Meguiers Gold Class.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000XTH1GY

Steve

There's a big difference between a foam gun and a foam cannon. With a foam cannon the foam is almost like shaving cream and sticks longer to the vehicle. The foam from a foam gun will run off the vehicle very quickly. Both are handy though.

Here's a video I did of the foam cannon in action...

and here's the foam gun for comparison....

 

[Milton Shaw]

Unless you have a numbered nozzle after the cutoff valve you no longer have a high pressure washer, so you don't really need high pressure fittings. Unless the flow is restricted by the nozzle (size determines the pressure and flow rate) the pressure is not much more than city water pressure. That's why the soap nozzle is so big and the injector will pull soap into the water stream.

 

[fatfillup]

Pressure washer guy checking in. The above advice is pretty sound, and I am surprised cause I don't run into many folks that really know pressure washers.

As far as the black pipe and rusting,,,,,,,don't sweat it, galvanized will rust soon enough too. I like to use schedule 80 fittings on washers regardless of psi, but will use black or galvanized.

The only concern I have is with the cheap hose. Being 1/4", the soap injector may not work. The injectors work because of pressure differential and the 1/4" hose may cause too much back pressure for the injector to function. Won't know till you try.

 

[NewShockerGuy]

I doubt that you'll ever different tips. I like to use a just a garden hose without a nozzle to rinse. The water sheets off without beading and makes it easier to dry.



There's a big difference between a foam gun and a foam cannon. With a foam cannon the foam is almost like shaving cream and sticks longer to the vehicle. The foam from a foam gun will run off the vehicle very quickly. Both are handy though.

Here's a video I did of the foam cannon in action...

and here's the foam gun for comparison....

Everything ordered...!! Now I wait :-( I ended up using the quick disconnect up front just in case.. figured if I don't like it then no worries just throw on some straight pipe exactly how you have it. This way I can break it down, clean it if need be and most all of I can store the items in the cabinet and it won't take up as much room attached to the gun!.

Can't wait to try this all out... giddy!

-Nigel

 

[EOC_Jason]

After watching that video you have convinced me to make one to wash my car (though I won't do it in the garage... lol)...

I also need to make a short setup so I can pressure wash my mower deck. The current lance is just way too long and awkward to use.

 

[EOC_Jason]

Went by northern tool last week and got the trigger assembly and two fittings. Then today my foam cannon came in just as I was cleaning off my mower.

I like having the short handle setup so I can clean under my mower deck soooo much easier than trying to manhandle the regular pressure washer lance with the extra 3' of pipe... So with that being said, I used the quick disconnect setup for the foam cannon so I can also use regular nozzles on the new trigger.

Can't wait to wash my truck tomorrow morning!

Thanks guys!

 

[soloz2]

Just found this thread. Great info here! My wife thinks I'm crazy since I just bought a pressure washer and a foam cannon just to wash my car... Lol
I do need to go shopping for an adapter will see what I can source locally.