How to make a foam generator for a car wash with your own hands

A foam generator is a device that is actively used in many areas of our lives. Car enthusiasts know about it as a device for contactless car washing.

The main task of the device is the formation of foam by creating high pressure. Foam is released after pressing a special “gun” lever.

Despite the “softness” of action, the foam composition ensures high-quality cleaning of the body and other surfaces from the most “corrosive” contaminants.

Owning such a device is the dream of many car enthusiasts. The only problem is the high price.

An industrial foam generator is too expensive and not everyone can afford it.

It’s another matter if you make the device yourself. This way you can “kill two birds with one stone” - get a powerful car washing machine and save money.

But how possible is this? What methods are there?

Industrial foam generators: purpose, principle of operation

As already mentioned, foam generators are very popular products. They are used in service stations (car washes), fire fighting, pharmaceutical and food industries.

The active composition of the foam promotes high-quality cleaning:

• production equipment;
• road transport (from the inside or outside);
• industrial premises (floors, walls, etc.);
• sidewalk paths and swimming pools.

The action of the foam is aimed at cleaning the surface, removing dirt and dust, disinfecting, and so on.

It is thanks to the complexity of action that foam generators have become so popular.

Structurally, the device consists of three elements:

• a cylinder containing compressed air;
• release gun, which provides convenient foam supply;
• mixer elements.

One of the main parameters affecting the functionality of the device is the capacity of the cylinder, which can be from 25 to 100 liters. There are some models that hold 24 liters.

The material used for manufacturing is stainless steel or ordinary steel.

The principle of foam formation occurs in two stages:

• a foam composition is formed, which has a low expansion rate and is not yet suitable for use;
• the mixture is supplied to a special “tablet”, which forms the required composition with the required density.

Advantages and disadvantages

This mini high pressure washer has important advantages:

• the components of the liquid are converted into foam without loss;
• the output creates a stable mixture with excellent cleaning properties;
• foam consumption and parameters can be adjusted;
• One charge of a 50-liter cylinder allows you to wash from 10 to 15 cars.

But there are a couple of disadvantages:

• you will have to constantly refill the cylinder with compressed air;
• you need to install a compressor.

Having a good sink at your disposal, using a special adapter, you can combine them into a common device. An excellent solution for those who have already acquired a car wash and want to increase the efficiency of their car washing equipment.

Some even create a homemade apparatus from a fire extinguisher or other improvised means. There are even a number of special videos where everything is clearly shown. But I would not recommend doing such things. If you want a device for supplying foam and a really high-quality car wash, spare no expense and buy yourself a good generator, even a Chinese one.

But revision is another matter. When buying a household or professional foam cleaner, many note that some spare parts are insufficiently effective.

DIY foam generator

To get a foam generator at your disposal, you don’t have to buy an expensive device - you can do everything yourself. Here are the following options:

1. First method.

It is considered the simplest and allows you to make a generator from scrap materials.

Of course, in terms of functionality, the device will lag behind its factory counterparts, but in everyday life its usefulness will be difficult to overestimate.

To perform the work you will need the following equipment:

• Bulgarian;
• roulette;
• knife;
• set of wrenches;
• pliers.

The work is performed in the following sequence:

• use a pipe (inch) about half a meter long. Hammer the front part of the product with a polyethylene sponge, which is designed to form foam.

• make a plug for one of the edges of the pipe and screw a special tee into the same place. Then connect the tap under the foam generator to the inlet hole.
• on the other side of the pipe, install a tap through which compressed air will be supplied from the vehicle compressor;
• the second outlet of the pipe is connected through a special fitting to the foam hose. To prevent washcloth from getting into the tube, do not forget to install a special filter. In this case, the filter element can have large sections.

The schematic diagram is proposed below.

Please note that the density of the foam produced depends on the length of the tube and the density of its packing with a washcloth.

Any container that can withstand the pressure of the compressor can be used as a liquid tank. In this case, the material does not matter much.

If everything is done correctly, then such a foam generator will do an excellent job of washing a car or other items in a garage.

2. Second option.

Manufacturing a foam generator, which is structurally similar to the factory type of product (with the exception of some differences).

Making penogen

The least labor-intensive method for making foam is to use a regular garden sprayer. This device is taken as a basis, after which it is supplemented with some elements. It was previously mentioned that the sprayer is very similar to car wash equipment, so it is ideal for creating a foam generator.

The simplest penogen design can be easily done at home. The master will have to take care of the availability of:

• Sprayer of any volume;
• Two cuts (one second of an inch);
• Nuts for drives;
• Air fitting;
• valves;
• Foaming tablets;
• Adapter for tablet;
• Metal tube.

A DIY foam generator for washing a car from a sprayer is made according to the following scheme:

• The pressure relief valve is removed from the base, as well as the fitting for attaching the hose;
• Squeegees are inserted into the resulting recesses;
• The bends on both sides are fixed with nuts using sealing gaskets;
• A tube is installed on either of the two ends. It must be arranged in such a way that it does not touch the bottom of the cylinder. A check valve and fitting are installed on the same outlet;
• An adapter is installed on the second drive, and the tablet is wound through it;
• The hand pump is turned off as it is not needed. In the finished foam generator it will act as a tank lid;
• A hose is connected to the outlet fitting of the foam concentrate;
• A spray gun is attached to the free end of the hose.

The equipment is completely ready. It should be mentioned that when making a foam generator for a car wash with your own hands, you do not have to make the drawings yourself - you can find them in specialized literature, or search on the Internet.

Operating a self-made penogen is a little more difficult than the factory version, but not so difficult as to abandon such equipment.

In order to wash a car using a self-made foam, you should:

• Fill two thirds of the container with detergent;
• Connect the compressor and start pumping air into the container (it is important to control the pressure so that it does not exceed the standard);
• After the atomizer valve opens, air masses will direct the mixture and force it through the tablet. The gun will produce high quality foam.

The main disadvantage of self-made foam is the need for constant pressure pumping, since a special regulator is not provided in this equipment. In addition, the master will not have the opportunity to regulate the strength of the outgoing jet.

There is another way to create a foam generator for washing a Karcher with your own hands. It is not used as often as the previous one, but does not lose popularity among motorists. The execution technology is quite simple:

• You need to get a canister with a volume exceeding 20 liters;
• A compressor from the car should be connected to the inlet nipple (made of brass) from the tire;
• Next, you need to connect the hose (length - 6 m, diameter - 1.6 cm) to a pre-prepared gun;
• The elements can be fastened using rubber flaps, clamps and nuts.

Video tutorial:

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How to reduce the size of the foam generator?

It is no secret that industrial samples of foam generators are large and not always easy to use.

Another thing is homemade devices that can be upgraded at your own discretion. How?

Everything is simple here. For work, prepare a small tank (for a gun) and a nozzle for a high-pressure apparatus.

Cover one side of the pipe with a nozzle, and the container itself with a container for an aerosol gun (alternatively, you can use a standard sprayer).

Such modernization is an opportunity to reduce the volume of the structure by 2-3 times. At the same time, the device itself, thanks to the presence of wheels, can be moved to any convenient place.

Safety precautions

When making a foam generator, you need to take into account that the container in the sprayer can withstand pressure up to 4-5 atm . When pumping air into it, be sure to monitor the pressure gauge reading or control the pressure with the relief valve.

Do not use the device for other purposes than for its intended purpose by pouring toxic or flammable substances into the container.

When working with a foam generator, it is recommended to use special clothing and personal protective equipment to avoid foam getting into your eyes and sensitive parts of the body.

How to save on materials?

As practice shows, it is not always possible to find everything you need in the garage. There is only one way out - saving. To do this, proceed as follows:

• always buy new parts so as not to overpay several times later;
• Have a good rummage in your garage or your friend’s garage (with approval, of course). Most of the spare parts can be found in old “deposits”.

If the necessary elements are not available, the cost of purchasing a compressor will be about two thousand rubles. But you can cheat. For example, an option is to dismantle the necessary equipment from an old truck.

If you can’t find the equipment you need among your friends, you can look at advertisements for the sale of machines for spare parts.

As a last resort, you can go to a car scrapyard, where there are plenty of old ZIL-130s. At the same time, the necessary part can be obtained for “pennies”.

Please check the unit carefully before purchasing. There should be no oil leaks or other defects on it. Otherwise, working with the compressor is dangerous.

Even if you manage to start a foam generator for washing, made by yourself, but equipped with a defective compressor, 1-2 cleanings and the device will fail.

Device Upgrade

Refinement includes improving the functioning of the nozzle. The disadvantage of standard nozzles is that the water is supplied under low pressure, so proper mixing is not observed. Let's look at two ways to modify factory foam generators.

Replacing the nozzle

To upgrade, you will need to use a screw nut. You can find it in the computer system unit. This is the product that secures the motherboard. The advantage of a screw nut is that it is made of soft materials, so it will not be difficult to drill a hole in it. To do this you need to take a drill with a diameter of 1 mm. A hole is made in the middle of the nut. A cut is made at the end part so that it can be screwed in with a screwdriver. The resulting device should be screwed inside the nozzle.

Now you need to take a similar type of nut of a slightly larger size. A hole with a diameter of 2 mm is drilled in it. The nozzle is installed on the side that will be turned towards the nozzle. To do this, take a core from a gel pen, from which a part of at least 30 mm in length is cut off. A hole with a diameter of 4.6 mm is made on the nozzle in the upper part. Everything is connected with sealant. Test work can begin.

Meet the second generation Mini Countryman

Where to buy shampoos? In any automotive chemical store. But it is very important to understand how to use special chemistry.

Cities such as Moscow, Yekaterinburg, St. Petersburg and many others offer a huge range of special active foam. To be more precise, the concentrate is sold.