Pressure Washer/Snow Lance/Foam - Saxperience

Yates · 3rd March 2013, 00:15

Right, pressure washer on the way out, so thinking of getting a new one, also never used a snow lance or snow foam before, noob question, what exactly is a snow lance? Can i just use a normal pressure washer with a bottle attachment and put in snow foam?

link a brother up

griff_106 · 3rd March 2013, 00:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yates

Right, pressure washer on the way out, so thinking of getting a new one, also never used a snow lance or snow foam before, noob question, what exactly is a snow lance? Can i just use a normal pressure washer with a bottle attachment and put in snow foam?

link a brother up

Yup got it one mate - as long as the connection is right, you can fix the lance straight to the pressure washer and you're away

I've got a Nilfisk PW so obviously have the corresponding attachment - here's where I got mine from.

It was actually part of a birthday present so my Dad ordered it and got the deal with the lance and Ultimate Finish Foam as well - it works well but would probably go for Autobrite Snow Foam as I've heard good things from it. As I said, nowt wrong with the foam I'm using at the moment though

LVC · 3rd March 2013, 12:49

This >>
Foam

With this >>
Foam lance

Give this >>

I'm using a Karcher but you can get cheaper options - the standard snowfoam lance/bottle is crap need to get one like in my link (exactly the same as the AD one with a different bottle) so you can adjust the mix air/snow ratio.

m4tt274 · 3rd March 2013, 12:59

your before after shot sells it well. You should send that to the company that sells the stuff! :')

LVC · 3rd March 2013, 14:17

May have to go into business flogging it over here as I've not found anyone who stocks it in France

I still like to have a good go at the wheels afterwards and come the warmer months will do a proper clean and polish on the cars but as a quick jet/snow/jet it does a great job.

Yates · 3rd March 2013, 14:27

Ideal. Halford got 50% off some pressure washers today online. So Gona get one now.

Yates · 3rd March 2013, 16:02

Why are the lances so much?! Looked at one for current washer and you can buy a new washer with foam lance for less!

Bedford126 · 3rd March 2013, 16:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yates

Why are the lances so much?! Looked at one for current washer and you can buy a new washer with foam lance for less!

The ones you get cheap are shit and use loads of snow foam solution ans it will never stick right.

The decent foam lances can be altered to whatever ratio you want also it adds air to the mix and foams it up before it leaves the tip and it sticks loads better also uses less.

Yates · 3rd March 2013, 16:37

so just an ordinary pressure washer and bottle wont do?!

Yates · 3rd March 2013, 16:52

LVC just ordered the bottle you have and the foam, so hopefully get some good results, all this talk of mix of foam and water and air, whats that about?!

Bedford126 · 3rd March 2013, 17:31

The foam sits on the surface and softens the dirt and grime the air helps lift it and carry it away when you rinse it off.

LVC · 3rd March 2013, 18:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yates

LVC just ordered the bottle you have and the foam, so hopefully get some good results, all this talk of mix of foam and water and air, whats that about?!

You need to put about 1" of concentrated foam mix in the bottle then fill the rest with warm water - give it a good shake and attach to the jet washer.

On the top of the bottle you have a dial - turn this to the max + setting for the thickest foam, ease of a little bit to thin it out (not too much). When the bottle empties (usually at the end of doing the whole car easily) you get only water coming out so avoid pointing it at the car or you'll wash off the snow too soon. The nozzle turns also to widen or restrict the fan of the jet - you;ll figure it out.

Leave for a good 5 - 10 mins and then rinse off. Afterwards you can give it a good polish for a proper finish. I redo the wheels and then leave it at that - too cold for any polishing at the moment - the effect is pretty good and you get to play at being Fireman Sam whilst covering the car in thick snow...great fun

Let us know how you get on.

Bedford126 · 3rd March 2013, 18:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by LVC

Afterwards you can give it a good polish for a proper finish. .

Snow foaming is a pre wash, You still need to rinse the car then wash the car as you normally would.

LVC · 3rd March 2013, 19:13

Personally...I rinse the snow foam off but nothing more at the moment - depends how smart you want it to look. With the weather at the moment and the fact that I live at the end of a 1km long unmade road I've no intention of deep cleaning or polishing up any of my cars and the snow foam does a pretty good job of getting most of the crap off them.

Come the summer then I'll clean and polish properly using the SnowFoam as a pre-wash/dirt/grime loosener.

Yates · 3rd March 2013, 19:31

Won't be doing anything for three weeks as off to Norway tomorrow. Gona detail it when im back got week off

LVC · 3rd March 2013, 20:01

Say "hello" to A-Ha for us

readie · 16th March 2013, 20:30

If I was you I would get a nilfisk which is basically a karcher but with a metal impeller instead of a plastic one.

I have the snow foam lance off CYC which is very good(make sure you run clean ware through after a wash) and maintenance is easy to do on it.

I personally(being a professional) found auto finesse avalanche is a very good foam it offers great suds and a very good prewash( it contains AF citrus watch the video on YouTube) I usually foam the car let is sit and then rinse before washing as the idea is foam the car and let it soften the dirt then rinse to remove the non bonded contaminants ready for a low risk hand wash

griff_106 · 17th March 2013, 00:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by readie

If I was you I would get a nilfisk which is basically a karcher but with a metal impeller instead of a plastic one.

I have the snow foam lance off CYC which is very good(make sure you run clean ware through after a wash) and maintenance is easy to do on it.

I personally(being a professional) found auto finesse avalanche is a very good foam it offers great suds and a very good prewash( it contains AF citrus watch the video on YouTube) I usually foam the car let is sit and then rinse before washing as the idea is foam the car and let it soften the dirt then rinse to remove the non bonded contaminants ready for a low risk hand wash

Never knew the bits I highlighted in bold tbh! Thanks for the info - quite interesting IMO!

Yates · 17th March 2013, 07:49

i got what was posted up, never made it to norway, but been down in plymouth, im home on next weekend, so may get a detail on the go

Yates · 21st March 2013, 14:02

well just used it, done what you do LVC and snow foamed it and rinsed it and left it for now. Cars was waxed few weeks ago, just had a bit of road dirt on it and splash back from snow roads. Im well happy, snow foamed it, nice and think, left it 15 mins came out and washed down, couldnt be happier! Gona make things so much easier from now on