Pressure washer foam gun

[X1 Mike]

The standard soap reservoir on my Troy Bilt pressure washer is pretty much good for nothing more than making you frustrated. I have been thinking about getting a foam cannon and was looking at one made by Slick products. My question is do these foam cannons work or not and is there really a quality difference? The one I'm looking at is aimed at dirt bike riders and I'm not sure if it's any better than a $20 Amazon product.

https://www.slickproductsusa.com/collections/off-road/products/pressure-washer-foam-cannon

 

[rshadd]

I've had my MTM foam cannon for several years, it works great and I can get replacement parts for it if necessary.

 

[Ingram306]

+1 for the MTM foam cannon. Works great on dirt bikes/quads.

 

[ChrisLS8]

I have an Amazon special and a brass adapter with quick release on mine and it's worked solid for years. Super thick foam with basically any soap

 

[pat9198]

I have a cheap amazon foam cannon and it's been very good. For ~$25 I have in it I'm very pleased! It makes really thick foam.

This foam cannon
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00WPKHFA6/?tag=atomicindus08-20

And I added this nozzle to it
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07BZT4BG6/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[red94chev]

I have an MTM with a 1.1 orifice in it and its great. A buddy picked up an Amazon one and it's barely different.

The biggest thing is to get the 1.1 orifice.

 

[isb cornbinder]

I bought an MTM foam thing and it is useless. It makes lots of foam and that is all it does. Foam does not clean. I still have to wash the old way.
I wish I could get my money back. I think these foam cannons are all show and no go.

 

[Mandres]

I've seen a few youtube vids where they took a (mostly) scientific approach to testing whether foam canons actually clean any better than just plain water. The consensus seemed to be "not really".

They use a ton of soap and you still have to scrub the vehicle by hand anyway. IMO, they're not worth buying

 

[dmaxfireman]

I use my foam cannon for cleaning houses. Works great, the foam really helps the sodium hypochlorite stick on areas where there is heavy mold / mildew and under soffits. I use my MTM on a belt drive honda/cat 4000psi 4gpm pressure washer with zero complaints other than the limited capacity of the MTM bottle.

 

[X1 Mike]

The MTM looks even pricier than the one I was looking at. Seems foam cannons have mostly positive reviews here.

 

[Rory Bellows]

I have this one and it works great. I just fill the container with about an inch of soap and fill will water. It doesn't use a ton of soap and it works perfectly. I washed cars and two houses. When I do a car I foam it then use a wash mitt then rinse. If you just foam it then rinse your results won't be as good. I'd gladly race anyone washing a car by hand versus me with the foam cannon and mitt. No contest at all.

When I did the houses I used a car brush on an extension just to lightly scrub and then rinse. The foam cannon easily reached second stories and totally coated a side of a house in foam in 30 seconds. If you expect to just foam and rinse your results will okay but not as good as when you spend a few seconds scrubbing/swiping with a sponge or brush. Literally seconds....


https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01CE78VO8/?tag=atomicindus08-20

A foam cannon will make the standard soap dispenser on a pressure washer look as if the pressure washer soap dispenser doesn't even work.

 

[DetachedGarage]

MTM is TOP!!!! worth the extra $

 

[X1 Mike]

A foam cannon will make the standard soap dispenser on a pressure washer look as if the pressure washer soap dispenser doesn't even work.

It doesn't hahahaha

 

[sberry]

I rarely use soap, I use hot water for real cleaning. If I do soap a car its hot pressure wash first and then got a brush dip in a pail of soap but its really rare I do it.

 

[ChrisLS8]

The purpose of a foam Cannon is to use the foam as a surfacant to take off all the grit that will cause swirls if it gets caught in the mitt.

When I do a serious detailing (I used to detail high end cars)

Foam Cannon with dawn to strip old wax
Then again
Clay bar
Tape off trim
Polish with DA(rubbing compound if you have serious swirls and scratches)
Rinse
Seal
2-3 coats of wax

It's a huge amount of time to dedicate

 

[kngelv]

^^^ What he said as far as its purpose. I have a MTM and it is worth the price difference. That said I don’t think a foam cannon is some spectacular advantage for cleaning a dirt bike. I have one that I use to use on one specific car. Washing a dirt bike is not the same as detailing a car at all. Most dirt bikes - well mine anyway - have scratches galore from hitting branches or going down on the trail. I throw on a light coat of wax a few times a year and that’s it. BTW I watched that video and if the product is really a concentrate then 4-8 oz. is way too much to put in the cannon. I use Chemical Guys soap and put like a capful in there. About an ounce. That can cover a car like three times so that other stuff is a bad buy IMHO.

James

 

[Git]

I am curious, Why do you think a 'MTM' gun is worth the price difference?

I did a quick search on Amazon. The cheapest MTM is $61. I have this one made by Dusichin and it cost me $17... So what does the MTM do that is 3 times better than the $17 cheapie?

 

[ChrisLS8]

There is no difference imo, especially at 3 times the price. I've had my 14 dollar special for 4 years and use it weekly

 

[ChrisLS8]

Tell me the MTM makes better foam lol

 

[Git]

Tell me the MTM makes better foam lol

Ya, but, but, but, but - yours doesn't have an MTM sticker on it!

 

[On-Wheel]

Maybe the MTM sticker was foamed off.hahaha
$17 one is close enough to 1.1 orfice

 

[kngelv]

I am curious, Why do you think a 'MTM' gun is worth the price difference?

I did a quick search on Amazon. The cheapest MTM is $61. I have this one made by Dusichin and it cost me $17... So what does the MTM do that is 3 times better than the $17 cheapie?

I have never handled the one you purchased however I have seen a few similar Chinese knock offs. Lesser quality machining and sloppier adjustment. MTM is made in Italy and has a more precise feel. If you use it occasionally probably not a big deal.

James

 

[ChrisLS8]

However you have to justify the price. Mines about 5 years old and I beat on it weekly for 13.99 with prime shipping. It's literally just brass fittings and some plastic bits, its not a CNC machined billet turbo wheel lol

 

[X1 Mike]

However you have to justify the price. Mines about 5 years old and I beat on it weekly for 13.99 with prime shipping. It's literally just brass fittings and some plastic bits, its not a CNC machined billet turbo wheel lol

Can you get one with the turbo wheel?

 

[Garett]

It doesn't hahahaha

My Karcher works great with the right tip, use any other tip and and it’s junk.