Basic "how to" Snow Foam Pre Wash

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ghall2004
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Basic "how to" Snow Foam Pre Wash

Post by ghall2004 »

Newbie to snow foam process so thought i would document my process and results

What is snow foam?
Snow foam is a pre-wash foam, sprayed onto the car to dissolve and remove as much dirt as possible before washing by hand.

What do i need?
Water supply
Pressure washer
Snow foam lance with suitable connections
Snow foam solution of your desire

My choice of starter kit

Autobrite Direct Magifoam purple
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Autobrite Direct Snow Foam Lance
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Each manufactures foam will differ for dilution and also application, best just to get stuck in and see what works for you

To start with I went with Autobrite’s instructions (if you have the Autobrite snow foam lance) to see where that got me. (Bare in mind that the foam will vary depending on the brand of snow foam concentrate you use)

Autobrite’s Lance instructions are as follows…
“To use simply apply 50-200ml (depending on pressure washer) of either Autobrite Super Snow Foam or Magifoam into the 1 litre container bottle and fill up with warm or cold water. Each 1 litre bottle when full will foam approx 2 cars. You are now ready to use the Autobrite Snow Foam Lance by switching on your machine and altering the black adjuster on top of the lance for your desired foam. The adjustments are: towards the + on the knob gives you more water - less foam and towards the - on the knob gives you less water and more foam for a stronger mix.”

Magifoam instructions:
Magifoam has been primarily formulated to be used in a foam lance, with a dilution rate of 100:1 it is also very economical, this equates to roughly 1-2" in the bottom of a 1l bottle in a foam lance when using with a domestic pressure washer. To use simply rinse car surface first, then spray the car with a liberal layer of foam and allow to dwell for at least 10 minutes, after this time simply rinse the foam off and watch the dirt rinse away too. The longer this product dwells the deeper it penetrates into the dirt and more of the dirt will then be removed

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K2
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I went with car dry before application, seems to a lot of personal views to whether you wet car before foam or dry

Result will differ on the following
1. level of last stage product protection ie wax or sealant
2. level of dirt on the car

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Cannot be seen here but, front of car was heavily affected by motorway/summer flies and bugs

Following is a short but hopefully purposeful insight into how it went on. ( i am trying to stay out of shot, hence strange angle and application technique)



As you see, water to foam mix can be adjusted very easily for preference but the control knob, and also spray patter too.

Car covered, and starting to dwell nicely
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sticking well i feel, approx 6-7 mins after application
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Now after the prescribed 10 mins suggested dwelling period
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Final stages

Now wash out your snow foam lance and store and switch your pressure washer lance back to your preference
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Close up of front, really impressed at how it dissolved the bugs and flies
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Side shot, LSP doing well
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Couple of closing "money shots"
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Thanks for looking and hope there isnt too much wrong, like i say, i am not a professional, just a keen DIYer

Cheers
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Re: Basic "how to" Snow Foam Pre Wash

Post by peteT16 »

Good starter guide Greg. :thumbup:

My one recommendation as a complete newb to detailing is steer clear of Demon Shine foam, it doesn't have the strength to dissolve a wet paper bag let alone traffic grime.
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Re: Basic "how to" Snow Foam Pre Wash

Post by stuballs »

Nice one Greg. Always wondered what the hell snow foam was!
Cheers

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Re: Basic "how to" Snow Foam Pre Wash

Post by ghall2004 »

Thanks pete

yeah will be staying away from the demon

:)
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Re: Basic "how to" Snow Foam Pre Wash

Post by ghall2004 »

stuballs wrote:Nice one Greg. Always wondered what the hell snow foam was!
Thanks

Really pleased at how its turned out
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Re: Basic "how to" Snow Foam Pre Wash

Post by mg55 »

great post. looks a good bit of kit you have there.
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Re: Basic "how to" Snow Foam Pre Wash

Post by David-Ti »

I need to get me some of this. 8)
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Re: Basic "how to" Snow Foam Pre Wash

Post by james3990 »

8) 8)
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Re: Basic "how to" Snow Foam Pre Wash

Post by ghall2004 »

can consideration be given to making this a sticky?

would like to know admins thoughts on this either way

feel free to pm me

thanks
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Re: Basic "how to" Snow Foam Pre Wash

Post by rovermadman4825 »

So do you juat pressure wash the snow foam off or hand wash it off?
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Re: Basic "how to" Snow Foam Pre Wash

Post by ghall2004 »

rinse/pressure wash off

then move onto the two bucket washing method then proper restore/rejuvenating/maintenance processes can take place then protection

full circle and back to a fully well protected and pre prepped car once snow foam should need very very minimal hand contact during a manual washing stage

this would be the best practice and "ideal" way to keep swirling and scratches being induced quicker than they need be

in terms of maintenance, snoam foam, rinse, 2bucket shampoo/wash then rinse again and dry
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Re: Basic "how to" Snow Foam Pre Wash

Post by rovermadman4825 »

:thumbup: i actually gotvmy brm washed yesterday but its screaming out for a da polish.... al have to borrow my brothers.
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Re: Basic "how to" Snow Foam Pre Wash

Post by ghall2004 »

look forward to see your progess
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Re: Basic "how to" Snow Foam Pre Wash

Post by Neill »

After seeing this I decided to get myself the same lance however I have got the citrus snowfoam instead. Followed the instructions on the bottle which said to pre wet then foam. Having done this I would recommend the dry car method as after 5 mins pretty much all the foam has run off and the car actually started to dry.

Good stuff though.
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Re: Basic "how to" Snow Foam Pre Wash

Post by BlueRover »

Good, easy to follow instructions :D but..
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who painted the car ? Mr Tango'd ?
Time to get the 1200 grit paper out methinks.
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Re: Basic "how to" Snow Foam Pre Wash

Post by ghall2004 »

Yeah its bad isnt it

Being addressed monday
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Re: Basic "how to" Snow Foam Pre Wash

Post by peteT16 »

I'd go for a bit of wet sanding with 2000 grit, glassy finish coming right up.
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Re: Basic "how to" Snow Foam Pre Wash

Post by ghall2004 »

Be more than that :wink:
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Re: Basic "how to" Snow Foam Pre Wash

Post by peteT16 »

Kerbstone ? :scared:
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Re: Basic "how to" Snow Foam Pre Wash

Post by BlueRover »

A member of the 800 forum details his cars using wet 1200 paper, he gets two sheets and rubs them together to get some of the grittiness off and goes to work on the paint. It takes a while but his results are outstanding.
I don't think he'd mind me showing you the results

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Re: Basic "how to" Snow Foam Pre Wash

Post by ghall2004 »

8)

Seriously impressive results and workmanship

Serious skill there

Wet sanding is a great skill to have ( which i dont ha ha)
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Re: Basic "how to" Snow Foam Pre Wash

Post by ramsey414 »

Surely wet sanding creates spirals on the paintwork, I can't get my head around this, but the photos do proove me wrong so....
Top thread by the way. :thumbup:
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Re: Basic "how to" Snow Foam Pre Wash

Post by David-Ti »

wet sanding removes the peaks in the top coat. You then have compounds to remove the grit marks (swirls and streaks)
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Re: Basic "how to" Snow Foam Pre Wash

Post by roveboy »

As mentioned above you use the wet sanding to remove the orange peel effect and then you use a polisher to make it like glass which removes the scratches left from the wet sanding.
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Re: Basic "how to" Snow Foam Pre Wash

Post by shen »

I think the foam lances are a bit of a waste of money tbh.
I used same product as shown at the top and On a very dirty car it will get rid of some but not most dirt.
You still have to wash the car.
On a well maintained car that's regularly washed and polished there's not much point and you may as well just wash it.

That's my opinion although it is fun I suppose and really shows the neighbours just how anal you are about cleaning your car.


The most important thing to get shine when waxing/polishing a car....clean cloths.

That 1200 grit wet sanding thing looks interesting though :thumbup:
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Re: Basic "how to" Snow Foam Pre Wash

Post by peteT16 »

1200 wet sanding does give a glass like finish, but does it ever require some patience and dedication, I've used it to blend clear coat, it worked perfectly, but doing a whole car, pfft, :lol:
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Re: Basic "how to" Snow Foam Pre Wash

Post by shen »

Pete I once sprayed my bonnet and don't have a DA so I had to cut the paint by hand lol
It took 3 hours just to do a 1/2' square...my arms hurt a bit after the week it took me to do the whole thing :D

Maybe I shoulda used the 1200 grit method instead of cutting compound.
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