NovaGTE2
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Registered: 26th Sep 06
Location: Peasedown St John, Bristol Avon
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Rite decided to buy a pressure washer for cleaning the cars; thinking either Karcher or Nilfisk as these seem the popular choice; dont really want to spend more than £100 on the washer and then want to get a snow foam lance and some snow foam to go with it.
The Kartcher im thinking of is a K2.395 at £87.98 here http://www.cleanstore.co.uk/products/Product.asp?ID=7663
or would it be better to pay the extra and would the thing thats included in this work as a snow foam lance ? http://www.cleanstore.co.uk/products/Product.asp?ID=7664
Or the Nilfisk is a Nilfisk C110.4-5 X-tra Pressure Washer with Patio Cleaner & Rotary Wash Brush which has something similar at £73.56 http://www.cleanstore.co.uk/products/Product.asp?ID=7506
Then if these arent suitable which snow foan lance and which snow foam? I dont want anything to harsh as have had a paint protection put on the car!
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shaunmods
Premium Member
Registered: 12th Mar 07
Location: Glascote, Staffordshire
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The Nilfisk is the one to go for out of those two 
They are detergent lances that come with them rather than snow foam lances. Check here for a proper one -
http://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/washing-and-drying/foam-pre-wash/cat_67.html
If you go for a Nilfisk you need the KEW/ALTO connector
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Corsa_Sport21
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Registered: 13th Apr 08
Location: Leven, Fife. Drives : 205 GTi
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We have the Karcher HDS 601c Eco at work and its always breaking. About £2.5ks worth of pressure washer and it never works.
Also use Nilfisk floor cleaning machines and they seem trundle on forever.
Based on that, i would always choose Nilfisk stuff over Karcher.
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3CorsaMeal
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Registered: 11th Apr 02
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The Karcher made foam lance is crap, i had it for mine, its like slightly frothy milky water rather than foam
I find all the attachments you get with a Karcher are pointless, i only use the normal lance it comes with and an Autobrite foam lance
But the foam lance can be about £50 on it own
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3CorsaMeal
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Registered: 11th Apr 02
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I've had one Karcher, for over 10yrs, never really look after it, just sling it in garage, must of used it thousands of times over the years
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Kyle T
Premium Member
Registered: 11th Sep 04
Location: Selby, North Yorkshire
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The Nilfisk C110 are normally floating around £50 and they're excellent.
10m hose is a good "addon" for it.
Lotus Elise 111R
Impreza WRX STi
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Munchie
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Registered: 17th Jul 01
Location: I swap goats for mobile phones
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I use the krcher lance....£12 or so as cannot justify £35 on a lance. I bought snowfoam from Jas of here
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NovaGTE2
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Registered: 26th Sep 06
Location: Peasedown St John, Bristol Avon
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Cool cheers have reserved a standard Nilfisk at Argos as were as cheap as any and ordered a snow foam lance 
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3CorsaMeal
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Registered: 11th Apr 02
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I actually beginning to find foam a waste of time, its a bit gimmicky really.
Am sure a quick blast with a jetwash does exactly the same thing.
i know the theory of it lifting dirt up etc, But can't see the benefit, especially when you add up the cost of foam and a lance and the extra time/water you use up. And the fact your walking around in sloppy foam afterwards
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Kyle T
Premium Member
Registered: 11th Sep 04
Location: Selby, North Yorkshire
User status: Offline
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I tried to wash my GF's car the other week without foaming it first and I couldn't believe how much more elbow grease it took to scour the film off of the car... I'm pretty convinced (protecting paintwork aside) it does a decent job.
I like walking around like a ghostbuster for 10mins 
Lotus Elise 111R
Impreza WRX STi
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SXI - Matt
Member
Registered: 8th Jul 07
Location: Leicestershire Drives: Corsa C SRI
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Does this stuff take off the wax you have applied then? Or can you get some stuff that is safe to use on wax ect?
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Kyle T
Premium Member
Registered: 11th Sep 04
Location: Selby, North Yorkshire
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Safe to use on wax, though there may be some specialist products out there intended to help strip old stuff off.
Lotus Elise 111R
Impreza WRX STi
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SXI - Matt
Member
Registered: 8th Jul 07
Location: Leicestershire Drives: Corsa C SRI
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Ah ok, I've always wanted to try it to see if actually works or just a gimmick a lot of people say its worth it
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3CorsaMeal
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Registered: 11th Apr 02
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They sell Ph neutral/wax safe ones, you need to read the label to check its wax safe, some are detergents
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Pete_vxl
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Registered: 24th Nov 06
Location: Lochgelly, Fife
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There is a thread on here from ages ago that links you to detailing world. The company can send you a lance attatchment with foam bottle and a free bottle of foam. Pretty sure it was about £25/30. They also have attatchment nozzles for both brands mentioned.
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Pete_vxl
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Registered: 24th Nov 06
Location: Lochgelly, Fife
User status: Offline
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£40, sorry.
http://www.detailingworld.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=183611
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CORSA NUT
Member
Registered: 3rd Aug 01
Location: Wirral
User status: Offline
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quote:
Originally posted by Kyle T
I tried to wash my GF's car the other week without foaming it first and I couldn't believe how much more elbow grease it took to scour the film off of the car... I'm pretty convinced (protecting paintwork aside) it does a decent job.
I like walking around like a ghostbuster for 10mins
I now use a Valetpro citrus pre wash before foaming Kyle and it helps a lot if the car is bad. I bought a £5, 5 litre pump sprayer from Home and Bargain. 1 litre in and filled to 5 and it's still half full and I have 4 litres left of concentrate . Our Qashqai hadn't been washed since mid November and was proper filthy! Citrus wash got rid of 50% then foam got rid of another 45% so when I shampoo'd the mitt was practically clean at the end.
It's great for doing the grills/shuts/badges whilst the foam I dwelling too.
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Mertin
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Registered: 12th Oct 05
Location: Scotland
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I find with a decent wax or sealant on the car a snowfoam and rinse is all thats needed to get the car clean again, Iv pressure washed cars before washing them and it nowhere near takes off the dirt that foam does
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Daniel_Corsa
Premium Member
Registered: 21st Apr 04
Location: Wigton, Cumbria
User status: Offline
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I'm using CG No Touch Snow Foam now and its great compared with previous ones I've tried. My cars well waxed and after a 10-15min soak in snow foam it's pretty much clean after rinse with pressure washer.
Still wash it afterwards but it takes 80% of dirt off!
April '06' Corsasport Feature Car | Aug '08' Total Vauxhall Feature Car | Spring '09' Fast Car Feature Car
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Kyle T
Premium Member
Registered: 11th Sep 04
Location: Selby, North Yorkshire
User status: Offline
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quote:
Originally posted by CORSA NUT
quote:
Originally posted by Kyle T
I tried to wash my GF's car the other week without foaming it first and I couldn't believe how much more elbow grease it took to scour the film off of the car... I'm pretty convinced (protecting paintwork aside) it does a decent job.
I like walking around like a ghostbuster for 10mins
I now use a Valetpro citrus pre wash before foaming Kyle and it helps a lot if the car is bad. I bought a £5, 5 litre pump sprayer from Home and Bargain. 1 litre in and filled to 5 and it's still half full and I have 4 litres left of concentrate . Our Qashqai hadn't been washed since mid November and was proper filthy! Citrus wash got rid of 50% then foam got rid of another 45% so when I shampoo'd the mitt was practically clean at the end.
It's great for doing the grills/shuts/badges whilst the foam I dwelling too.
A load of guys on the Civic Forum I used to go on were talking about this not long ago, seems like it's effective but I really don't have any more storage for more shit to be honest 
Lotus Elise 111R
Impreza WRX STi
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Munchie
Member
Registered: 17th Jul 01
Location: I swap goats for mobile phones
User status: Offline
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I use about 3/4 foam and 1/4 of hot water in the bottle and then connect to my karcher.
How long do you guys normally leave it on the car? I Would say around 5mins
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Kyle T
Premium Member
Registered: 11th Sep 04
Location: Selby, North Yorkshire
User status: Offline
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quote:
Originally posted by Munchie
I use about 3/4 foam and 1/4 of hot water in the bottle and then connect to my karcher.
How long do you guys normally leave it on the car? I Would say around 5mins
I guess this is the Karcher lance holding you back. With the proper lances you can get away with diluting your snowfoam to around 1:5 with warm water, or even less if you're a proper tight ass.
I leave it on the car as long as it takes me to go inside, thaw my hands out and fill my 2 buckets ready for the wash stage... and sometimes I take a dump - 10-15mins sounds about right.
I used Bilt Hamber Snow last year, it was alright but I'm using the PH neutral stuff from Valetpro this year and it foams up much thicker and seems to cling to the car for longer.
Lotus Elise 111R
Impreza WRX STi
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