Foam generator for washing from a sprayer. How to make a do-it-yourself foam generator for washing: materials, instructions, tips

In order for the car to have an attractive appearance, and the paintwork to be in perfect condition for as long as possible, you should regularly wash the car using a good car shampoo with the right composition.

This article is intended for persons over 18 years of age.

Are you over 18 already?

Often, car owners who want to save on car wash services prefer to wash cars on their own, while making car shampoo with their own hands. Make your own detergent is not difficult, but you need to remember that the wrong composition can ruin the coating of the car.

Car wash

If you decide to cheapen the process of washing your iron horse and do it yourself, before you start making a washing agent, familiarize yourself with the recipe and purchase quality ingredients. The composition of the shampoo must be professional, because:

the washing solution should form a lot of active foam;
wash not only dirt and dust, but also bitumen stains, soot, gasoline, oil;
shampoo should be for manual and contactless washing and be in different containers (jars, canisters).

Some drivers use ordinary shampoos or dishwashing detergent to wash their cars. They cope with dust and dirt, but oil and soot remain on the surface even after washing. Sometimes vehicle owners do not delve into the recipe needed to prepare the solution, and then aggressive chemistry spoils the varnish on the surface of the body, which incurs considerable restoration costs.

In order for the vehicle to look well-groomed, the varnish to shine, and the optics to be in perfect condition, you need to use only high-quality detergents designed specifically for washing cars. This will increase the attractiveness and reduce the accident rate. Car shampoo is one of the main components for car care.

Types and features of funds

There are many types of car shampoos. They differ in consistency, aggressiveness, additives, etc.

There are the following types:

For contact washing. These shampoos are designed for hand washing with a cloth or sponge.
Contactless car wash. The method involves the use of water supplied under pressure.

GRASS foam for contactless car wash

To date, the automotive market offers funds intended mainly for the second type. They are characterized by the formation of a large amount of foam, which acts on dust and dirt, removing it from the surface.

By consistency, the funds are divided into the following types:

in the form of a powder that dissolves in water, simultaneously forming a foam;
pasty, rubbing on the surface of the car until a foamy layer appears;
liquid, which are poured into special equipment, and immediately cover the car body with foam.

IN Lately car shampoos began to add various products that provide a light polish to the body or form a thin film of wax.

A simple gentle shampoo

How to make a car shampoo with your own hands? To make a homemade washing solution for washing, you will need a container from a quality product on which the composition is written. We carefully study it and begin to act. We write down all the components, excluding chemical ones. We purchase the most common hair shampoo, not necessarily expensive, a simple one is fine, add what is written on your list, and the car shampoo for contactless washing is ready.

Regular hair shampoo

This method is the safest for both the owner of the car and for the paintwork, but it probably won’t cope with complex dirt the way you want it to. But it is economical, easy to manufacture, forms a lot of foam and makes the car look pretty clean.

Never use mixtures of cheap chemicals to make shampoo. By doing this, you will not only undermine your health, but also spoil the car coating. It will become cloudy, remaining all in the same dirty spots, and, possibly, will corrode the varnish layer. Glasses can also lose transparency.

Learn about car washing. What kind of species are there, what means should be used in a particular case, what chemical components are harmful. Only after that, start learning the basic recipes for car shampoos.

Car shampoo recipes

On the Internet you can find a whole bunch of recipes that promise us the perfect ratio of price and quality of the resulting product. If you want to make the perfect store-bought product, make sure you stock up on deodorant fragrances and polishes. A small number of them will need to be included in the composition.

So, what does do-it-yourself foam for contactless washing include:

Surfactants.
Foaming agents.

Do-it-yourself car shampoo

The main thing with which we begin the preparation of our solution is the base. In good natural compositions, the basis is water with a pH of 7. It is gentle on chrome and varnish. Having decided on the type of sink, you can add the following components. For manual washing, they should be less aggressive. The most popular surfactants used in car shampoos are anionic and nonionic.

The next thing that is added is complexing agents. They are used to reduce the hardness of water. If you do not add this component, it will lose fluidity, which will complicate washing in hard-to-reach parts of the car body.

These include:

foam formers, which are responsible for the formation of active foam;
polyphosphates, silicone resins, anti-corrosion additives;
polishing agents that protect against chemical damage and slight mechanical impact;
fragrances used to ensure that after washing there is no smell of chemicals that make up the shampoo.

You can mix all the ingredients yourself, without following strict rules. If you feel that it is difficult for you to cope with this task, and do not know what and how much to add, buy car shampoo in the store. This will save you from mistakes, the price of which will be damaged paintwork of your vehicle. Do-it-yourself active foam for a contactless car wash, prepared correctly, will serve you no worse than purchased at a car dealer.

Active foam for touchless do-it-yourself washing

How to use auto chemistry correctly

A home-made car shampoo has practically no differences in application, compared with an industrially prepared detergent. The principle of operation is the same for them, the result, if used correctly, will also not differ. You can start using the detergent immediately after you have prepared it. Given the consistency of the shampoo for contactless washing with your own hands, it must be diluted with plain water.

In order to wash a car, you need to apply a diluted product to the surface, rub it over the car body until a rich foam forms and leave it for a while. At this point, the detergent composition will remove dust from the surface. Then, use a brush or sponge to wash off the car shampoo from the car and wipe it dry.

Wipe glass surfaces and mirrors with a soft, lint-free cloth or special wipes.

The detergent must not be allowed to dry on the paintwork. This will lead to stains and streaks.

In case you are not sure how much shampoo to use for car washing, it is better to use less. A concentrated solution may damage the lacquer.

For contactless washing, equipment is used, in the presence of which you do not have to do physical labor and rub the detergent on the surface of your car.

Microfiber glass cleaning cloth

In order to wash your iron friend, you will need a gun, a spear and a steam generator.

First of all, dirt, sand and dust with abrasive particles should be washed off the machine with plain water. This will prevent paintwork from forming. small scratches. Further, with the help of equipment, a detergent is evenly sprayed onto the body. With the help of a steam generator, an ordinary solution of car shampoo and water turns into a resistant foam.

Leave the car for five minutes so that the chemical components act on complex contaminants and corrode them. The composition of the car shampoo for contactless washing allows you to cope with even stubborn dirt.

The last step is to wash off the foam from the machine.

Car washing is an important means of maintaining the attractive appearance of the car and the preservation of its paintwork.

It doesn't matter what tool you use, homemade or industrial. Observing the safety precautions and the rules for using the cleaning solution, the car will thank you with the shine and cleanliness of the body surface.

Washing your car is an important way to keep your car looking good.

Rules, the observance of which will help to avoid damage to the varnish coating during washing:

the dried solution leaves stains and stains;
glass, mirrors and headlight caps should be wiped dry immediately after washing;
a solution of high concentration is diluted with water and quickly triturated until foam is formed;
concentrated agent spoils the paintwork.

Touchless car wash allows you to quickly and efficiently wash your car without damaging the paintwork. The washing effect is achieved by car shampoo applied to the car body in the form of foam using special devices.

The foam nozzle is not the most accessible part. But you can replace it with a foam generator.

Types of car wash equipment

1.High pressure foam generator. Foaming occurs in two stages: first, when connected to a high-pressure apparatus (120-190 kg / cm²), primary (active) foam is formed, and then, due to the foaming tablet, stable high-expansion foam is obtained at the output.

2. Foam generator low pressure. Connected to compressor (6-20 kg/cm²). Foam is also formed in two stages, but of worse stability and not as plentiful as when connected to an AED.

3.Sprayer. Works like a regular garden sprayer, i.e. it sprays a solution of car shampoo. Low expansion foam.

4. Dosatron. The dosing pump is connected through a filter to the water supply network. Does not require compressed air and works without electricity. A low pressure spray gun is used to apply the cleaning solution. There is practically no foam.

The device and principle of operation of the foam generator

The foam generator is a metal tank with a capacity of 20-100 liters with a filler neck at the top, a drain valve at the bottom and two fittings. The inlet fitting is connected to the compressor, and a nozzle is connected to the outlet fitting for forming and applying foam. The tank is filled two-thirds with a cleaning solution (10 ml of car shampoo per 1 liter of water) and compressed air is supplied (at least 6 bar pressure). The resulting foam enters the outlet fitting through a special filter and, passing through the nozzle nozzle (foaming agent), is applied to the car body. Pressure control is carried out using a pressure gauge, and the filling of the tank is carried out with a water measuring tube.

Advantages and disadvantages of foam generators

The entire washing cycle (preliminary washing off of dirt and dust, applying a layer of foam, final washing of the car, drying) takes 15-20 minutes.

The absence of contact with the surface of the body during the washing process eliminates the appearance of microdamages, stains and clouding of the paintwork.

High-quality washing in hard-to-reach places of the car body is ensured by the fluidity of the foam and the surfactants contained in it.

The formation of a thin protective anti-corrosion film after washing off the foam protects the paintwork.

The cost of a low pressure foam generator is measured in tens of thousands of rubles. Sprayers and dosatrons are cheaper, but the quality of washing is worse. The foam generator (foam set) is an inexpensive device, but it requires connection to a high-pressure machine, the cost of which is from 50 thousand rubles. It is easier and cheaper to make a low pressure foam generator yourself.

We make a foam generator from a garden sprayer with our own hands

For the manufacture of a home-made foam generator, an old Quasar garden sprayer with an inoperative pump or a Zhuk pump-action is suitable. Buying a new sprayer for subsequent alteration will cost 500-800 rubles.

To supply compressed air, we drill a hole at the top of the sprayer body and insert a nipple with a check valve. If this option does not suit you, then you can unscrew the existing overpressure relief valve from the housing and, by inserting the nipple, connect the hose from the car compressor to it. The quality of the foam depends on the pressure value - the higher the pressure created by the compressor, the better.
We disassemble the spray bar. We tightly stuff the adapter tube with a fishing line or a metal washcloth for washing dishes to improve foaming at the exit.
In the intake hose in its upper part, from the side of the sprayer outlet fitting, we make 5-10 punctures for better foaming.
Pour water through the neck in the case with added car shampoo in a ratio of 1:50 or select the desired concentration empirically. The volume of the washing solution occupies 70% of the sprayer capacity. After turning on the compressor, we eliminate possible leaks and evaluate the quality of the foam.

Nuances in the independent manufacture of a foam generator

Making a foam generator with your own hands from improvised means, take into account the power of the existing compressor and the volume of the tank. The ratio of the volume of 20 liters and the pressure of 6kg / cm² will allow you to wash the car without additional topping up the solution in the tank.

The foam tablet device (foaming agent) determines the quality of the foam. If the stability and multiplicity of the foam are not satisfactory, then they buy a ready-made foam kit or modernize the design of a home-made foam concentrate.

What to make a foam generator

The base part of the device for creating foam is the tank on which the rest of the nodes are assembled. For the manufacture of the foam generator use:

Metal pipe.
Garden sprayer.
Propane tank.
Water heater tank.

How to make a do-it-yourself foam generator from a water heater (video)

See how an efficient foam generator works and what it takes

Outcome

Knowing the device and the principle of operation of the foam generator, motorists independently manufacture washing devices. Saving money is obvious, but do not forget about common sense. Homemade foam, dried and not washed off in time, damages the paintwork of the car.

The use of foam for a contactless car wash provides a better cleaning of the surface. The advantage of this washing method is also "delicacy" - the foam will not damage the body. Therefore, many motorists strive to make a foaming agent for car washing with their own hands.

Principle of operation

With the help of high pressure, a jet of foam is supplied, which not only removes all contaminants from the surface, but also disinfects it. The internal device of the unit allows you to create foam of the desired density and evenly apply it to the machine. Foam is formed in several stages:

A jet of water passes through a car shampoo suitable for a foam generator.
It mixes with a stream of air and foam begins to form.
At high speed, the resulting substance is sent to a special foaming "tablet".
The foam of the desired density is already coming out of it.

The foaming agent allows you to clean very quickly, besides, it significantly saves water. A small amount of water is enough for a jet, high pressure will provide the desired spray rate and surface area to be treated. Thus, a foaming agent and a high pressure car wash very quickly occupy a leading position in the list of necessary tools for the garage, according to car enthusiasts.

How to assemble a blowing agent

The foam unit itself consists of several parts:

Cylinder with compressed air.
Application gun.
mixer parts.

Professional foaming agent industrial production it is very expensive, so it makes sense to assemble a foam generator for washing a car with your own hands.

At a price it will be much more affordable, besides, the efficiency of work will remain the same. There are several ways to create a blowing agent:

Manufacture of a compact foaming agent.
Creation of a traditional foam generator.
Production of a foaming agent from a canister.

To make it by the first method, you need adjustable wrenches, a grinder, and other tools, as well as the materials for manufacturing themselves: a tube 50 cm inch in diameter, a washcloth made of polyethylene strips, pipes, a hose. Part of the pipe is filled with a washcloth, which replaces the tablet and promotes the formation of foam. At one end of the pipe you need to put a filter, and at the other - a plug and a tee. It is on this part that a valve for supplying compressed air is installed. To the side where the filter stands, attach the fitting and foam hose. Such a foam generator will not last very long, but it will be cheap.

In the same way it is done foam nozzle do-it-yourself car wash. Sometimes motorists need a separate foam nozzle if it was not in the purchased factory-made washing kit.

Such a self-made device is likely to work much more efficiently than many industrial foam guns.

The second method will make it possible to make a unit that is close in design to an industrial one. To do this, you need a compressor that will create a sufficient level of power. In addition, you will need to take a container with thick walls. It could be a garden sprayer.

Metal pipes must be screwed into the container from the sprayer. At one end, you need to install a fitting and a check valve, and at the other end, a container for connecting with a foaming tablet. The air supply for this frother must come from below. After completing the assembly of the foam generator for a car wash with your own hands, you can use it.

Not only a garden sprayer can be used as a water tank. The most reliable option would be a propane tank, as it can withstand high pressure.

A third method for creating a blowing agent is using a plastic canister. This allows you to make the necessary unit cheaply and quickly. You will need a long tube of small diameter, which must be filled with fishing line or something that replaces it. A fitting is installed at one end of the pipe, and a special adapter with two tubes is installed at the other. Hoses and taps are fixed on it, through which water is supplied. On the one hand, the foaming agent is attached to a container with washing liquid, on the other hand, a compressor.

All the described methods allow you to make a do-it-yourself foaming agent for a car wash.

Do not use a foaming agent or a high-pressure car wash for a very long time in a row. This may lead to breakage.

Creating a car wash with your own hands

Thanks to the high-pressure car wash, you can easily clean the car from any contamination. The combination of strong water pressure and a special nozzle that allows you to cover a larger volume is liked by motorists. The versatility of such a unit also makes it attractive.

In many stores you can buy a car wash of industrial production, but its cost will be quite high. For the sake of saving money, as well as for the pleasure of doing something on their own, many motorists prefer to do their own car wash. There are a large number of training videos in which you can find out all the information you need to create it.

First you need to find the right parts. These include:

Pump.
Electric motor.
Coupling.
Water tank.
Pump performance regulator.

The pump must be chosen very carefully. It will become the most expensive element in the entire structure, but it will last a long time. All important parts of the pump must be metal. In addition, it must be characterized by high performance and pressure resistance of 150 atmospheres.

A single-phase 220 V electric motor can be used for car washing. The connection will be safe and inexpensive. The higher the engine speed, the greater the performance level. The electric motor will be connected to the pump by a coupling. It is best to use a soft coupling, which can become a fuse if the pump fails.

The water reservoir must be voluminous so that the pump can work for a long time without interruption. Water tanks are often used. A mesh can be attached at the junction with the hose so that no debris can damage the pump. The material of the container must be chosen carefully, as it must be durable. Thick metal or plastic will do.

To make a high-pressure car wash with your own hands, you must also purchase a pump regulator. It will help return some of the water to the tank if there is a threat of overloading the pump. All elements are fixed on a special frame. They also add high pressure sleeves, a brass pump and a spray gun.

The process of washing a car can be made more efficient by attaching a brush or other nozzle to the water hose.

They will complement the list of car wash functions. If desired, you can turn the sink into a steam cleaner. This will also require a special nozzle on the hose, as well as a heater.

It is impossible to work for a long time using the same sink, as it will thus quickly become unusable. The purpose for which the sink will be used affects its final dimensions. In appearance, the sink can be:

Compact.
Large stationary.

The second option is more difficult to use at home and requires a fair amount of space in the garage.

Knowing how to make a car wash with your own hands, every motorist will think about how to use it correctly.

There are several basic rules for use:

Regular inspection of the connections and their tightening will help prevent mechanical damage, possible from strong pressure.
Inspection of filters before operation - their regular cleaning will ensure a uniform supply of water.
Grounding the electrical circuit - not only the electric motor must be grounded, but also the plug itself. Then the device will be safe.
Washing should be carried out over the entire surface so as not to damage the paint that covers the car. If the machine has a drawing or a sticker on it, then this element should not be directed with a jet of water, as it may crack the coating or remove the sticker.
It is advisable to use a battery in case of a poor-quality source of electricity. This will protect the unit from short circuit.
Avoid temperature fluctuations - a sudden change in air temperature can lead to tool breakage.

When using, you must remember that washing the car is not allowed everywhere. Washing a car near ponds and lakes threatens with a fine. This rule, however, does not apply to keeping headlights and windows clean.

You can use a high-pressure car wash not only outside the car, but also inside. This will allow you to clean the interior very quickly and efficiently. A wide range of nozzles and rollers will help you to do even delicate cleaning in the car.

If you know how to make a foam generator and how to make a car wash with your own hands, then you can save a lot of money. Experienced motorists have everything in garages necessary materials and tools, so they only have to spend money on a special car shampoo.

The contactless method of car washing has a number of advantages, but the main advantage is the absence of the possibility of damaging the paintwork. The effectiveness of the contactless washing method is achieved thanks to the car shampoo applied to the body in the form of foam. To turn the gel into foam, special devices are used: foam generators, sprayers and dosatrons. To wash a car with shampoo, it is not necessary to sign up for a car wash, as this can be done at home. To convert shampoo into foam, you need to design a foam generator with your own hands.

Design features of the foam generator device

Before you figure out how a foam generator is made, you should understand its design and principle of operation. A foam generator is a metal tank or tank, the capacity of which is from 20 to 100 liters. In the upper part of such a tank there is a filler neck, as well as a drain valve with two fittings. One of the fittings (inlet) is connected to the compressor, and a nozzle is connected to the second (outlet) to create foam and apply (spray) it to the car body.

The tank, depending on its volume, is filled with a special cleaning solution, the amount of which is 2/3 of the tank capacity. The solution is a mixture of 10 ml of car shampoo with 1 liter of water.

This is interesting! Additional protection car body shampoo is achieved due to the content of wax in it.

After filling the tank with detergent, the compressor turns on and compressed air is supplied to the tank. To create foam, the air pressure must be at least 6 atmospheres. Shampoo foam is formed in the tank under the influence of compressed air, which enters the outlet fitting through the filter and sprayer (foaming agent). The sprayer is located in the nozzle, through which foam is supplied to the car body. The pressure in the tank is controlled by a manometer, and its level of filling is controlled by a special water measuring tube.

The main purpose of the device is the formation of foam from the working solution

Thanks to this device, a person does not need to come into contact with the chemical, and applying shampoo in the form of foam contributes to a better washing of dirt from the car body. In addition, the speed of car washing increases, which takes no more than 15-20 minutes. A number of additional advantages of using a steam generator also include:

The complete absence of physical contact with the surface of the body. This eliminates the occurrence of damage, stains and clouding of the paintwork product.
The ability to remove dirt in hard-to-reach places.
Additional protection of the paintwork due to the formation of a thin protective anti-corrosion film.

However, of all the advantages, it is important to highlight the disadvantage, which is that a factory-made steam generator is quite expensive (from 10 thousand rubles, depending on the capacity). Based on this, many home craftsmen resort to the manufacture of low-pressure steam generators. This approach allows you to significantly save finances, as well as get a high-quality steam generator for home use.

Features of the manufacture of a foam generator for washing

The cost of the cheapest foam generator for washing will cost more than 10 thousand rubles, and with an independent approach to the manufacture of the device, no more than 2 thousand rubles will be needed. This amount can be even less if the arsenal contains the items necessary for the construction of the device. For such purposes, you will need the main elements presented in the form:

Capacities;
reinforced hose;
pressure gauge;
metal clamps;
Shut-off valve;
metal tube.

Before proceeding with the manufacture of the foam generator, it is necessary to select the appropriate tank. The main requirement for the tank is the ability to withstand pressure up to 5-6 atmospheres. The second requirement is the volume of the product, which must be within 10 liters. This is the optimal volume to apply the foam to the car body at one time without re-adding the cleaning solution. All other products can also be found in the garage or purchased in their absence.

The scheme of the foam generator for washing has the form shown in the photo below.

The reservoir of the device must withstand pressure up to 6 atmospheres inclusive

Preparation of drawings in the manufacture of the device

Before proceeding with the manufacture of a homemade foam generator, it is necessary to prepare drawings with outlines. This will not only allow you to understand what you need to get homemade, but also help you avoid missing out on the following tasks:

Determining the sequence of the operation for assembling the product.
Formation of a complete list of necessary materials and parts.
Preparation of tools that will be needed for the manufacture of products.

A drawing of a home-made foam generator circuit is shown in the photo below.

For clarity, it is best to make a sketch on a piece of paper.

Based on such a scheme, you can compile a list of necessary materials, as well as tools for the manufacture of the product. In each case, depending on what the foam generator will be made of, the necessary expendable materials will differ. Some of the required tools include:

Spanners;
Roulette;
Pliers;
Bulgarian;
Screwdriwer set;

After the sketches are completed, you can begin to manufacture.

From the sprayer "Beetle"

Surely at the disposal of many there is an old garden sprayer of the Zhuk brand or its analogues. It can be used not only for its intended purpose, but also for the manufacture of a foam generator for washing a car. Consider what the manufacturing process itself is. To get started, you will need to use the following types of materials:

Capacity. A tank from a Zhuk garden sprayer or other brands, such as Quasar or Spark, is used as a reservoir.
Manometer designed to measure pressure up to 10 atmospheres.
A valve that will regulate the flow of foam.
A metal tube with a nozzle for carrying out the spraying process.
A hose that can withstand pressure up to 8 atmospheres.
Hose adapter.
Clamps.
Automobile nipple with a shut-off valve that conducts compressed air in one direction only.
Two ½ inch squeegees or nozzles and 4 seal nuts.

The sprayer tank is ideal option for the manufacture of a foam generator tank

The foam generator is based on a metal mesh or tightly whipped fishing line, with the help of which the cleaning solution will be sprayed. You can purchase a ready-made foam tablet in a specialized store.

A foam tablet that is responsible for the consistency of the solution can be purchased at a store or made by yourself.

It is important! The capacity of the foam generator must withstand pressure up to 6 atmospheres. The plastic tank should not show signs of deformation and damage.

When working with the device, protective clothing is worn, as well as protective equipment. When all the materials are ready, you can begin to design the device.

From the sprayer, you need to remove the hand pump, and then plug the existing holes.
2 half-inch spurs are installed at the top of the tank. To fix the sgons, nuts are used, which are screwed on from both sides. The tightness of the connection is carried out by using gaskets.

To ensure tightness, it is possible to use sanitary gaskets

A T-shaped adapter is installed in the air supply nozzle. A pressure gauge is attached to it, as well as a shut-off valve.
Attached to the squeegee inside the tank steel pipe by screwing onto a threaded connection. From this pipe, air will be supplied to the bottom of the tank, thereby foaming the liquid.
From the second nozzle, foam will be supplied. A tap is installed on the nozzle, as well as a foam tablet. The hose is connected to the nozzle on one side, and to the metal tube on the other. A nozzle or atomizer is attached to the metal tube, after which the device is ready for use.

The resulting design is very similar to the factory

To be able to regulate the pressure in the tank, it is necessary to install a special air injection control valve. This valve will relieve excess pressure in the tank.

You can simplify the manufacture of the foam generator by using a hose with a sprayer, which is completed with a sprayer. To do this, the sprayer needs to be slightly modified:

Make a small hole in the shampoo intake hose. This hole is made under the very top, and its purpose is to mix air with shampoo.

The hole made in the tube is necessary for additional air supply

The second type of modernization includes the manufacture foam tablet from a metal brush for washing dishes. This brush is located inside the adapter tube. Instead of a brush, you can install a foam tablet or a ball of fishing line.

Using a dishwashing brush as a foam tablet can help you save money

To supply compressed air to the tank, you need to drill a hole in the sprayer body and install a nipple into it. Connect the hose from the compressor to the nipple, after which one part of the compressed air supply is ready.

After that, we get a simplified version of the foam generator with our own hands, which will serve for a long time and efficiently.

From a fire extinguisher: step by step instructions

Consider what is the process of manufacturing a foam generator from a fire extinguisher. To do this, you need to use an old five-liter fire extinguisher with a gas generator. This volume is enough to wash the car from one refueling of detergent.

The body of the fire extinguisher is a priori designed for high pressure, therefore it will become great option for making a foam generator

A fire extinguisher with a gas generator is an almost ready-made foam generator that requires minor modifications. In addition to the cylinder, the following materials will be needed to build a foam generator from a fire extinguisher:

Valve for tubeless wheels.
Brushes for washing dishes.
Grid with a small cell.
The hose that will be used to connect the canister to the foam gun.
Clamps for secure fixation of the hose.
Sealant that can be used to seal threaded connections.

From necessary tool All you need is a drill and a hacksaw. After that, you can get to work:

Initially, the locking and starting device of the fire extinguisher is unscrewed. At the bottom of the cover is a tube with a gas generator. The gas generator is a small container for compressed air.
The locking mechanism is disassembled. The tube and cylinder are unscrewed together with the couplings.

The locking mechanism is disassembled, and the tube and cylinder are unscrewed

The gas generator is to be sawn into two parts, for which a metal sheet is used. The upper part of the gas generator must be at least 4 cm long. This will be our foaming tablet in the future.

The upper part of the gas generating device must be at least 4 cm long

The lower part of the gas generator is retracted to the side. We proceed to the manufacture of the tablet, for which a round mesh is cut along the diameter of the gas generator. It is located inside this balloon.

As in the previous case, we will use dishwashing brushes to create a foaming tablet.

The cylinder also contains metal brushes, which are designed for washing dishes.
To prevent the washcloths from falling out, another fixing mesh is installed. The diameter of the mesh must be larger than the size of the balloon for tight fixation.
A hole is drilled in the sleeve where the cylinder neck is screwed in, which is necessary to improve the foam's permeability. Drilling is carried out until the diameter is at least 7 mm.
After that, a homemade foam tablet is screwed into the hole. To seal the hole, the threads must be coated with sealant.
At the next step, a hole is drilled in the fire extinguisher body, where the tube coupling will be screwed. A fitting will be installed in this hole, so it must be of the appropriate size. The optimal size is 10 mm.
The valve is installed, and the tube coupling is immediately screwed in. This valve will be used to pump compressed air into the fire extinguisher tank.
A tube is put on the coupling, after which the air supply line to the cylinder is considered ready.
A foam tablet is screwed into the second hole of the cover, after which you can start preparing the gun.
The old hose is disconnected from the fitting, after which it is screwed into the locking and triggering mechanism from the gun.
The parts are connected to a new hose, and connected to a shut-off device.
Hose connections must be secured with clamps.

The device from the fire extinguisher is reliable and has a much longer service life.

The device is ready for use, and to facilitate its transportation, handles or holders can be welded to the cylinder. The device is ready, so you can start testing it. Pour 2 liters of water into the container, then add shampoo. The ratio of shampoo to water can be specified on the packaging with the chemical. The pressure in the cylinder should not exceed 6 atmospheres. If the pressure is lower, then in the process of washing the car, pumping will be needed.

This is interesting! Even if there is no compressor at your disposal, you can pump air with an ordinary hand or foot pump.

From a plastic canister

If there is an old plastic canister in the garage, then a foam generator can also be made from it. The advantage of using a canister is the ease of manufacture of the device, as well as minimal costs. Of the tools and materials you will need:

Compressor;
Plastic canister;
Bulgarian;
flush tubes;
Pistol;
Keys set.

The principle of manufacturing a foam generator from a plastic canister is to perform the following manipulations:

An inch tube 70 cm long is filled with fishing line or a metal brush.
At the edges, the tube is fixed with special plugs using threaded connections.
On one of the plugs is a T-shaped adapter.
A fitting is installed on the second plug.
Hoses and taps are attached to the T-shaped adapter on both sides, through which the water supply will be shut off.
On the one hand, the compressor will be connected, and on the other, foamy liquid will be supplied from the tank.
It remains to put on a gun and use a homemade device.

Penogen from a canister does not require a huge investment of time and money and is known for its ease of execution.

Schematically, the design of the foam generator will have the form shown in the photo below.

General scheme of a homemade device from a canister

From a gas bottle

A metal barrel of a cylinder is an excellent option for making a tank. Its advantage lies in the thickness of the cylinder walls, which are able to withstand high pressure. As in previous cases, you first need to prepare the drawings. After that, collect all the necessary materials and tools, and only then begin work.

Drawing check valve penogen

A check valve with a pressure gauge will be used to supply air. The drawing of a homemade foam tablet looks like this.

We will use fluoroplastic as a material.

You will also need to make a nozzle for spraying foam. This nozzle will be put on the hose through which the foam is supplied. The scheme for manufacturing a nozzle for a sprayer is as follows.

From the materials you will need the details that are shown in the photo below.

Necessary consumables for the manufacture of the device

The manufacture of a foam generator for washing is carried out from a cylinder with a capacity of 5 liters. You can use a larger tank, but only this is not necessary.

Once everything is ready to work, you can proceed:

Initially, the handle is dismantled from the cylinder and 2 holes are drilled.
After that, using welding machine a fitting with a 1/2 ″ thread is welded into which the tap will be screwed.
A tube is welded to supply air to the cylinder. She must hit the bottom. After welding, a non-return valve will be screwed onto the tube. In the tube, you need to make several holes in a circle with a diameter of 3 mm.

To supply air to the cylinder, we weld a tube

After that, the handle to the cylinder is welded into place.
We proceed to the assembly of the check valve. To do this, you need to make a membrane from a thin elastic band. We also drill 4 holes with a diameter of 1.5 mm. Appearance membrane is shown in the photo below.

4 small holes are drilled around the center in the membrane

The resulting check valve must be screwed onto the tube, and a manometer with a quick-release “dad” should be installed.

The check valve is screwed onto the tube

Now you need to make a device for removing foam. To do this, a tap is fixed on the fitting.

We use a crane to remove the foam to the outside.

A tablet is fixed to the tap, which can be made of stainless steel.

A hose with a diameter of 14 mm is put on the brush. Let's start making the nozzle. To do this, you need fluoroplastic, as shown below.

Nozzle material - fluoroplast

The filler neck is made from a regular cylinder check valve. To do this, the valve is drilled and a M22x2 thread is cut into it. The stopper is made of PTFE.

After that, you can pour 4 liters of water into the balloon, as well as 70 g of shampoo. On this, the process of manufacturing a foam generator from a cylinder is considered complete, and you can start testing it.

Device upgrade

Refinement includes improving the functioning of the nozzle. The disadvantage of regular nozzles is that water is supplied under low pressure, so full mixing is not observed. Consider two ways to refine factory foam generators.

Nozzle replacement

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

Now you need to take a similar type of nut a little bigger size. A hole with a diameter of 2 mm is drilled in it. From the side that will be turned towards the nozzle, the nozzle is installed. To do this, a core is taken from a gel pen, from which a part with a length of at least 30 mm is cut off. A hole with a diameter of 4.6 mm is made on the nozzle in the upper part. Everything is sealed with a sealant. You can start testing.

Mesh Nozzle Upgrades

The mesh in the nozzle plays the role of a water divider and a foam former. The disadvantage of nets is their rapid wear. To finalize the product, you will need to use a jet from the carburetor of any car. You will also need a mesh made of stainless material.

The jet must be placed instead of the standard nozzle, paying attention to the dimensions. If necessary, drill a hole to accommodate the jet. According to the standard grid template, you need to make a new one. The new mesh should have a mesh diameter of no more than 2 mm. After that, the product can be installed in place of the regular one and tested in action.

Summing up, it should be noted that it is not difficult to build a foam generator for washing a car. All parts and tools are available in every garage, so if such a need arises, you need to take it and do it. The material contains indicative samples, so in each individual case you can use your own ideas.

Add a comment

Many car owners, for the purpose of high-quality cleaning of their vehicle, entrust this business to professional car wash employees, because it is believed that only they can perform this task at the highest level. And all why? That's right, because they have special equipment and corresponding materials for this.

As a rule, the treatment of cars in such places is carried out automatically, in which an important role is played by such a tool as a foam generator - a special device designed to form bubbles obtained from a synthetic detergent that can provide quick, and most importantly, high-quality cleaning of a contaminated surface car. Of course, it would be nice to have such a unit at home, but the truth is that it is not cheap at all and not every car owner can afford it. The solution to this problem could be independent creation foam generator, which will be much cheaper, but we will now tell you how to complete the specified task and what is required for this.

1. What is a foam generator and what does it look like?

Before moving on to the implementation of our plans, let's figure out what a professional machine is used for washing cars at specialized service stations. To begin with, the foam generator is used when active foam is used. The main functions of the apparatus are the preparation of this foam and its subsequent distribution over the surface to be cleaned.

Unlike conventional sprayers, the devices we are interested in are able to form a more uniform and finely dispersed foam, which is achieved by exposing the car shampoo to a jet of compressed air passing through the foaming agent. The foaming process in the installation consists of two stages: first is the production of primary foam, and then the creation of the final, output product. At the first stage, a jet of water under high pressure leaves the jet and connects with the car shampoo solution, simultaneously capturing the air that enters the device through its holes. The result is such a foamy tincture, but it is not yet suitable for washing.

Its "improvement" takes place at the second stage, when the foam begins to flow from the mixer to a special foaming tablet at high speed. This tablet is made from a hydrophobic wire (or mesh) with increased anti-corrosion resistance and has a calculated cell size. When the foam tincture passes through this element, a stable high expansion foam is formed, and the higher the expansion level, the better the quality of washing the surface.

At the exit from the tablet, the foam flow takes the form of a flat jet, which is facilitated by parallel-mounted regulator plates. On the surface of the machine, the foam is applied using a special gun, and thanks to its long and flexible hose, even the most inaccessible places can be reached. The maximum possible height of the jet reaches 6 meters.

The use of a foam generator has a number of undeniable advantages, which include:

- application the right amount foam, without any loss of it;

Formation of stable high quality foam;

Possibility to adjust the appropriate rate of foam consumption (for example, on average, one charge of a 50-liter cylinder is enough to wash 10-15 cars).

The main disadvantages, and they are everywhere, experts attribute the need to install a compressor and regularly refill the cylinder. In general, with a contactless wash, it is unlikely that it will be possible to do without a foam generator, since it is he who is responsible for creating foam, which cleans off the dirt, and the pressure of water only washes it away.

2. Selection of materials to create a foam generator yourself

As you know, our compatriots have always been resourceful and enterprising, so it is not surprising that the turn has come to the creation of a home-made car wash, along with the same home-made foam generator. We will not describe the process of creating a sink, but we will still pay attention to the foam generator. And so, what might be needed to complete the task? In fact, for the manufacture of such an apparatus, a small amount of tools will suffice, including a grinder, a set wrenches and standard, inexpensive tools for contactless washing: a “gun”, a flushing hose with a nozzle and a compressor, which, preferably, should be factory.

Everything except the compressor does not have to be new and expensive, as used appliances can also cope with the task, which need to be slightly redone. Of course, the compressor is the most expensive part of the future foam generator. In some cases, they use a unit taken from a ZIL truck, of which there are tens of thousands in our country. The main thing is to carefully check that there are no defects on such a compressor (oil leaks or any obvious pronounced signs its wear), indicating an imminent possible failure, otherwise, such a foam generator will only last for a few washes.

Quite often, a home-made device of this type also needs a piece of pipe, the diameter of which will be equal to 2.5 centimeters, and the length will correspond to 30-40 centimeters. The specified part must be connected to two plugs located on the thread, which allow the connection of other devices. A T-shaped adapter is screwed onto one of them, and a fitting adapter is screwed onto the second, from which foam will appear. To the outlets of the T-shaped adapter, with the help of stopcocks, hoses are connected that connect it to the compressor and a container with car shampoo, from which foam is produced.

In another version, creating a foam generator for home washing, two tees are attached to the plugs, preferably made of steel. Also, it is worth preparing a tank for future filling of liquid, for the role of which an old propane cylinder, presented in the form of a large-diameter barrel, is perfect. The final touch that completes the design of our device will be the foam generator mesh, which, in fact, is responsible for the formation of small bubbles - so effective in removing mud deposits. The following materials are suitable for its creation: foam sponge with large holes, polyethylene synthetic body washcloth, nylon fishing line.

3. How to make a foam generator at home?

Well, having prepared everything you need, you can begin the process of creating our home foam generator. To begin with, let's take care of the spray device, for the creation of which we use a pre-prepared pipe segment. Inside the segment, you need to insert a grid created from the materials described above. If you decide to use a body washcloth, simply cut out a circle of the desired diameter and place it in the pipe, making sure that it is firmly fixed and will not be washed away under the pressure of the foam solution.

In the case of using a fishing line, it must be twisted tightly, resulting in a small tangled ball, and placed in the pipe in the same way.

Note! It is important that in the sprayer homemade generator there were as many threads as possible blocking the path of the liquid, because only in this case, the foam can be formed taking into account small bubbles with a sufficiently high density.

On both sides of the pipe, it is necessary to install threaded plugs - the outer one is used to fix the fitting. In addition, a damper can be additionally installed on the foam generator, which will limit the flow of liquid and make it possible to quickly change the characteristics of the flowing jet. On the other side of the pipe, the plug should be connected to a steel tee, and for greater reliability, it is better to put it on a sealant. A flexible hose is connected to the second outlet and with its help we connect the pipe to the compressor, on which a tee is also installed.

If you want to improve the device of the foam generator and increase the density of the foam, then for this the pipe can be made more authentic, and inside it create more obstacles using the materials already described. The only disadvantage of this option is that the jet pressure at the outlet will be somewhat lower.

But back to our design. After completing the described steps, you will notice that there are still free places on the tees (one on each) - we use them to supply the detergent solution. However, first, let's deal with the reservoir for its storage. As mentioned earlier, a propane tank is perfect for this role. All possible holes should be welded in it, and then two new ones should be created: one should be at the bottom point of the end, and the second should be in the same plane, but somewhere in the middle.

Pipes with fittings are welded to them, which are used for quick connection of flexible hoses. From a theoretical point of view, the type of connection used is not limited in any way, and even collet adapters or couplings of the most diverse designs can be used in the foam generator, the main thing is that they can withstand the pressure created by the compressor. Well, it remains only to check the performance of a home-made foam generator, and if everything goes as it should, then there will be no problems with washing the car.

4. Modernization of the foam generator device

If the above example of creating a foam generator does not suit you, and you want to make the unit even cheaper, while not dealing with welding, then you can replace the propane tank with any other plastic container that can withstand strong pressure. For example, it can be a plastic five-liter oil canister or a similar larger canister. In this case, in order to obtain the desired device, it will be enough to solder a tube to it, the second hole of which will be located on top in a plastic vessel.

True, in this case, you will have to constantly monitor the level of the liquid, because if it is not enough, the detergent will not be able to enter the sprayer. Moreover, in the process of work, carefully monitor the condition of the canister itself and if you notice even the slightest signs imminent damage, immediately stop working, because if they turn into holes, you risk falling into the epicenter of a mini-explosion.

Improve homemade foam generator it is possible in another way. To increase its efficiency and ease of use, you will need a small tank from an airbrush (aerosol gun) and a nozzle for a pressure washer, often referred to as a "spear". It is with this part, in the improved device, that the pipe with the filler is replaced, while instead of the cylinder, plastic container from the spray gun. As a result of this modernization, the compressor becomes the most bulky and heavy element of the structure, and all equipment can be lifted with "bare hands".

Naturally, such a foam generator will require much more money, but it will be portable if, of course, you put it on a small welded frame on wheels. And so, what do we get in the end? Despite its "homemade", our foam generator meets all generally accepted standards that are used by manufacturers professional equipment for car washes. Of course, in this case, workarounds were used. technical solutions, but for a household foam generator, especially if it is used only a few times a week, this is more than enough.

The positive aspect of this design (in addition to being cheap) is that if any of its components fails, you can replace it as soon as possible without spending serious financial resources on it. However, as practice shows, the service life of a well-made home foam generator is not much inferior to the “life activity” of a factory product, the resource of which sometimes turns out to be excessive for home use. So why pay more?