We make a foam generator for car washing - the easiest way. We assemble a foam generator for washing with our own hands. High pressure cleaning solution

The vast majority of modern stations maintenance equips its washing shops with high-tech equipment, including a high-pressure foam generator, or foam generator. The last name is rather slang, however, it has become widespread among domestic motorists.

A foam generator is a device whose functional purpose is to ensure the process of washing a vehicle (and not only) in a contactless way, characterized by the use of active foam. The main functions of the foam generator are:

Formation of dense, homogeneous and finely dispersed foam.

Even distribution of the foam mass over the surface of the vehicle.

Abundant, even foam produced by the high-performance foam generator reliably traps most known contaminants.

The main structural elements of the foam generator are:

a container (cylinder) with compressed air, made of ordinary or stainless steel;

pistol;

mixer elements made of anti-corrosive steel, resistant to chemically aggressive substances.

Cylinder volume - home technical specifications foam generator, which determines its functionality. The most common are devices with a volume of 100, 50 or 25 liters. Nevertheless, foreign manufacturers produce foam generators with intermediate cylinder volumes (24 liters) for compressed air concentration.

A pressure gauge mounted on the cylinder body allows continuous monitoring of the pressure value.

Modern manufacturers offer a wide range of accessories that are used in conjunction with a foam generating device and provide a solution to various functional tasks: nozzles different forms, hoses, straight (curved) "spears", etc. The combination of a foam generator and accessories to it is called a foam kit.

Foam generator for non-contact cleaning

Foam formation

The foaming process in the foam generator system occurs as a result of the action of a jet of compressed air on the foaming agent, which is a car shampoo, and occurs in two stages:

The purpose of the first stage is to obtain the so-called "primary" foam. As a result of ejection (suction) of a car shampoo solution by a water jet coming out of a nozzle under high pressure, and simultaneously capturing the air supplied through special holes in the device, a "primary" foam is formed. It is characterized by low durability, which makes it unsuitable for use in the car wash process.

The task of the second stage is to obtain final product... Its implementation is carried out by means of a high-speed supply of "primary" foam to a special foaming tablet made of hydrophobic wire or mesh with anti-corrosion properties. The cell size is calculated based on the required foam rate.

The stable foam formed as a result of the above-described process, having a large expansion rate, passing through the regulator plates installed in parallel, takes the form of a flat jet.

Important! The level of active foam is a factor directly proportional to the quality of car wash.

Thus, the main functional task of the generating device can be formulated as follows: the creation of a certain chemical solutionwhich is converted to foam by compressed air.

Car wash

The technological process of washing a car using active foam is quite simple. An active foam is applied to a car previously doused with water by means of a special pistol and kept for two to three minutes. Further, the activated solution is washed off, and the surface of the car is dried.

Washing off the foam must be done with translational movements in horizontal planegradually shifting them from the bottom of the car to its roof. This is due to two reasons:

Intensive washing of the lower, usually the most contaminated part of the vehicle;

The flow of mud streams on a moistened surface, which does not allow them to linger.

Advantages and disadvantages of foam generators

Foam generating devices have the following advantages, allowing:

get high-quality (stable) active foam;
apply a certain amount of foam to the surface of the vehicle body without loss;
adjust the flow rate of active foam.

However, along with the advantages, foam generators have certain disadvantages:

the organization of the workflow requires a compressor;

limited number of washing cycles per cylinder filling.

Review of popular models of foam generators

Foam-generating devices produced by the well-known Italian company Stihl are quite popular and in demand among domestic motorists. This is due to the excellent performance characteristic of these foam generators:

High efficiency due to low consumption of water, detergent (reduced by 3-4 times) and energy resources.

Minimal time spent on surface treatment (even with old dirt).

Foam generation with excellent stability and minimal chemical attack.

Availability efficient processing relief surfaces and hard-to-reach areas.

Foam generator "Lanzoni"

As distinctive features of foam generating devices from this manufacturer, experts note the following:

Equipping the device with a pressure gauge and a safety valve;

The presence of an indicator that allows you to control the level of the detergent.

Execution of a cylinder for compressed air from high-strength painted steel.

The thin and long tube of the spray (foam) gun provides the ability to apply active foam to hard-to-reach surfaces.

Foam generators cost

The cost of the foam generator is formed taking into account a complex of objective factors:

Manufacturing companies. The cost of branded models is significantly higher than the cost of devices from less well-known manufacturers, despite the identical technical and operational characteristics.

The volume and material of the cylinder. Devices whose cylinders are made of stainless steel are significantly more expensive than devices whose cylinders are made of ordinary steel.

Features of the complete set.

The foam generator is a device that is actively used in many areas of our life. Car enthusiasts know about it as a device for contactless car wash.

The main task of the apparatus is the formation of foam by creating a high pressure. Foam is ejected after pressing the special lever of the "pistol".

Despite the "mild" action, the foam composition provides high-quality cleaning body and other surfaces from the most "corrosive" dirt.

To get such a device for use is the dream of many motorists. 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. So you can "kill two birds with one stone" - get a powerful car wash machine and save money.

But how much is this possible? 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 wash), 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 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 the action that foam generators have become so popular.

Structurally, the device consists of three elements:

a cylinder with compressed air inside;
an outlet gun that provides the convenience of feeding the foam;
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.

Stainless steel or ordinary steel is used as a material for manufacturing.

The principle of foam formation takes place in two stages:

a foam composition is formed, which has a low expansion rate and is still unsuitable for use;
the mixture is fed to a special "tablet", which forms required composition with the desired density.

DIY car wash steam generator

To get a foam generator at your disposal, it is not at all necessary to buy an expensive device - you can do everything yourself. Here are the following options:

1. The first way.

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

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

To complete the work, you will need the following equipment:

bulgarian;
roulette;
set of wrenches;
pliers.

Work is performed in the following sequence:

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

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

The schematic diagram is suggested below.

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

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

If everything is done correctly, then such a foam generator will perfectly cope with washing a car or other items in a garage.

2. Second option.

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

Consider a few points right away:

select and buy a suitable compressor (it must have sufficient power to create optimal pressure);
buy or take an existing sprayer. Its walls must be thick enough to withstand five atmospheres;
remove the mounting nipple and valve from the sprayer. As a consequence, there should be two holes at the outlet. Wherein hand pump disassemble and jam;
prepare the necessary tool (equipment) for the job - a check valve, a foam tablet, a pair of squeegees (0.5 inch) and four nuts, a tube adapter, an air fitting and gaskets.

screw the squeegees into the plastic tank and tighten them with the nuts. Be sure to install new gaskets to ensure the required tightness;
choose any of the squeegees and screw in the check valve together with the fitting;
on the other squeeze, fix the tank to combine with the fixed tablet inside the device.

That's all - the homemade steam generator is ready. It remains only to attach a tube to the squeegee through which the air is supplied.

It is important here that the air enters the device from below (this will ensure full foaming of the liquid).

You will have to work with the hose for a while. The easiest option is to attach a conventional tree sprayer to the edge.

Now pour water into a special cleaner (10: 1 ratio to shampoo). Make sure that the neck is tightly screwed in during the entire operation of the foam generator.

At the same time, open the tap and start the sprayer. On average, one wash consumes about 20-40 grams of shampoo.

Monitor compressor pressure. Normal operation is ensured when reaching 4-5 atmospheres.

The total cost of collecting the foam generator (in this form) is about 2-3 hours. If all of the above equipment is at hand, then the only expense will be the purchase of shampoo.

3. Third way.

Allows you to make a foam generator from a regular plastic canister... The advantage of this technique is simplicity of execution, minimum costs time and money.

To work, you need a compressor, nozzle, gun, plastic canister, grinder, a set of keys and flushing tubes.

The algorithm should be as follows:

take a 70 cm long tube and stuff it with regular line. You can use all the products that are at hand (the section does not matter);
close both edges with special plugs. At the same time, make sure that the latter have a thread;
install a T-shaped adapter on one plug, and a fitting on the second;
on both sides of the T-shaped adapter, attach the hoses and install taps to stop the water supply;
one end of the washer foam maker will go to the foam liquid reservoir and the other to the compressor.

Before turning on the foam generator for the first time, pour a small amount of water and a little dye into the container. This allows you to identify weaknesses in the design (if any).

The options are presented below.

Other ways to set up a steam generator for a car wash

Alternative reservoir options, what can be used?

As we have already seen, at self-assembly it is important to select the correct water tank. The main requirements are sufficient volume and the ability of the material to withstand high pressure.

The above are the most simple ways, in which the usual (improvised) packaging is involved.

If we proceed from reliability, then the best way - propane cylinder.

The peculiarity of such a container is the ability to withstand enormous pressure. As a result, the efficiency of the foam generator also increases.

The fact of safety is also important. You can safely build up pressure without worrying about a possible rupture of the container or failure of the apparatus.

To use a propane cylinder for work, you will need special welding.

First, all the extra holes are welded, after which new holes are made. The first is at the bottom of the end part, and the second is in the middle.

Tubes with fittings should be welded to the holes made.

Couplings or collet adapters can be used as material for fasteners. The main thing is the ability of each of the structural elements to withstand the generated pressure.

To simplify the process of using the foam generator, make a special hatch for refilling the shampoo.

Pay particular attention to the tightness of the cylinder. For this, do not forget to install a special seal.

The lower part of the fitting must be directly connected to the compressor, and the upper part to the sprayer.

As you can see from the above diagram, the principle of connecting the cylinder does not differ much from the schemes described above. The main plus is a longer service life and reliability.

Alternative options for creating a spray

Lack of fishing line is not a problem. As mentioned in one of the methods, a synthetic washcloth or foam sponge can act as a spray.

All that is needed is to cut the desired part and press it into the tube. In doing so, make sure that the product is well fixed inside and will not crumple under high pressure.

An equally important task is to properly fix the filter, which plays a direct role in the formation of bubbles.

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. Prepare a small tank (for the gun) and a pressure washer attachment for operation.

Close one side of the pipe with a nozzle and close the can with a container for a spray gun (alternatively, 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.

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 - to save. To do this, proceed as follows:

always buy new parts so as not to overpay several times later;
well rummage in your garage or your friend's garage (with agreement, of course). Most of the spare parts can be found in the old "deposits".

In the absence of the necessary elements, the cost of buying a compressor will be about two thousand rubles. But you can cheat. For example, as an option - dismantle the necessary equipment from an old truck.

If you can't find the equipment you need among your friends, you can look at the ads for the sale of cars for spare parts.

As a last resort, you can go to the dump, where there are plenty of old ZIL-130s. In this case, the necessary part can be obtained for "a penny".

Please check the unit carefully before purchasing. There should be no oil drips and other defects on it. Otherwise it is dangerous to work with the compressor.

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

Outcome

The foam generator is a reliable assistant in the garage that will speed up the washing process and increase its efficiency, while you have two options:

purchase a ready-made structure;
make a foam generator with your own hands.

As you have already seen, the second option looks more preferable due to lower costs.

On the other hand, don't expect to be ready quickly. For manufacturing, you will have to go through several stages:

study the recommendations for manufacturing;
find the necessary material;
spend time making the device;
test its work.

In order to understand, you first need to understand its structure and how it works.

The Karcher foam generator consists of the following components:

High pressure cylinder;
Mixer elements;
Portable pistol.

The Karcher foam generator has the following principle of operation: in order for the device to function, it needs compressed air, which is supplied to the inlet of the tank at a working pressure of 5-6 bar. The pressure is regulated by a pressure regulator located at the inlet of the device, the pressure gauge realizes the control of the work. Foam is created by a jet of compressed air that passes through a special car wash shampoo called a foaming agent.

The foam is formed in two stages:

We get the primary foam. A jet of water exits the nozzle under high pressure, it begins to eject the car shampoo solution and captures the air supplied to the reservoir through the holes. Primary foam is not used for washing the car, as it does not differ in terms of resistance.
We get the final product. Under the action of high speed, the mixture that we obtain in the first stage is fed from the mixer to the foaming tablet, which is made of corrosion-resistant hydrophobic wire. This tablet helps to form a stable high expansion foam. The higher the foam rate, the better quality car cleaning. The foam flow looks like a flat jet as the regulator plates operate in parallel. The soap solution is applied to the car using a long flexible hose and a gun. Maximum height jets are 6 meters.

The foam generator greatly simplifies car washing and allows you to achieve a better result. Of course, a branded device is expensive, so not everyone can afford it, but there is another way out - to make a foam generator yourself. Next, you will make sure that there is nothing complicated about this.

1 The principle of operation of the foam generator - a simple mechanism

To make a foam generator yourself, you need to figure out how it works. The device includes several main components:

a container into which water and a foaming liquid are poured;
a compressor that creates a high pressure in the container and thereby ensures the primary formation of foam, as well as its expulsion from the container;
foam tablet, which provides secondary foam formation in the process of passing through it the primary foam liquid;
a gun and nozzle that allow turning on and off the foam supply, as well as forming a torch.

Thus, the principle of operation is as follows - under the action of high pressure, water with foaming chemistry breaks out through the foaming tablet, as a result of which ready-made foam is supplied from the tablet to the gun.

2 Preparation of parts - what will we assemble the device from?

To make a foam generator with your own hands quickly and with minimal investment, you need to find an old five-liter fire extinguisher with a gas generator, such a volume for washing a car will be quite enough. Such a fire extinguisher is, in fact, a ready-made manual foam generator. All you have to do is tweak it a bit. Therefore, in addition to the balloon, you should prepare some other parts:

rubber valve (fitting) for tubeless car rims with a spool (can be requested at any tire service);
two metal scourers for washing dishes;
metal mesh with a fine mesh;
a hose for connecting the foam generator with a gun, since the native hose from the fire extinguisher is very short;
hose clamps;
sealant for sealing threaded connections.

Of the tools, you only need a hacksaw for metal and an electric drill.

3 Making a foam generator from a fire extinguisher - a visual guide

If you unscrew the fire extinguisher locking and starting device, you will see that a tube and a gas generator are screwed to the bottom of the cover. The latter is a small metal can for compressed gas. We start work with disassembling the locking and starting device. You just need to unscrew the tube and the balloon, as well as the couplings into which they are screwed.

Then the gasifier needs to be cut into two pieces. Its upper part, i.e. the one with the neck should be about 4 cm long - we will make a foaming tablet out of it. We don't need the bottom of the balloon, so you can put it aside right away. To make a tablet, you first need to cut a round mesh along the diameter of the can and put it inside. Then you need to drive two metal scourers for washing dishes into the cylinder, as shown in the photo above. From above, so that the washcloths do not fall out, insert another mesh. Its diameter should be slightly larger than the diameter of the balloon so that it fits snugly and fits into the spacer.

Then, a hole should be drilled in the sleeve into which the neck of the cylinder is screwed in to improve foam permeability. The hole diameter must be at least 7-10 mm. When the sleeve is ready, you need to screw a homemade foam tablet into it. Pre-seal the thread with a sealant so that the connection is tight.

Then you need to drill the hole into which the tube coupling is screwed. The hole must be through with a diameter corresponding to the diameter of the valve, since the fitting will be inserted into it. Therefore, use a 10 mm drill. Then insert the valve and immediately screw in the tube collar so that the whistle is securely locked. Through this valve, we will pump air into the cylinder. Immediately screw the tube into the sleeve, and the air supply unit is ready at this.

Now screw the sleeve with the foam tablet into the second hole of the cover. Next, you need to prepare the gun. To do this, disconnect the old hose from the fitting, which is screwed into the locking and starting device, and from the gun. Then connect the parts to the new hose and connect to the cover, i.e. locking and starting device. Tighten all joints of the hose with clamps.

According to the described scheme, you can make a foam generator from other containers, for example, a gas cylinder. But in this case, the task will become much more complicated.

To make the device convenient to carry, you can weld a handle or even strap holders to it to hang the container on your shoulder.

4 Testing the device - is everything working?

Now is the time to test the resulting equipment in action. To do this, pour two water into a liter container and add a foaming liquid. The ratio of water to liquid for foam is usually indicated on the chemistry package. Then screw the cap tightly. Next, you need to pump air into the container through the fitting. The pressure should be raised to 6 atmospheres so that you do not have to pump air while washing the car.

If you do not have a compressor, you can even pump air with ordinary car pump... Then proceed to apply the foam to the car. Just point the nozzle at the car body and pull the trigger. After a few seconds, foam will begin to envelop the body in large flakes.

5 Improving the device - installing additional parts

We examined the process of making the simplest and cheapest foam generator, which even a beginner can make in an hour or two with practically no investment. But if you increase your budget a little, you can get an even better device. First of all, it is advisable to replace the pistol. You can get a quality gun from almost any hardware store, for example, from a sprayer. As a result, it will be more convenient to use the device, a clear torch shape will appear. In addition, many guns allow you to adjust the flow.

If you have a device for supplying water, for example, a small pump, a special foam nozzle will allow you to turn it into a foam generator. Its cost starts from 700-800 rubles.

Another point is the supply of air to the container. To automate the process, you can install a relay with a pressure gauge and connect it to the compressor. As a result, as soon as the pressure drops below the set level, the compressor will automatically turn on and also automatically turn off when the upper threshold pressure is reached. Such a foam generator will practically not be inferior to branded counterparts.

As you can see, making a foam generator is much more simple procedurethan it might seem at first glance. Therefore, every motorist can cope with it.

X Do you still think that car diagnostics is difficult?

If you are reading these lines, then you have an interest in doing something yourself in the car and really savebecause you already know that:

STO lomat big money for simple computer diagnostics
To find out the error, you need to go to the specialists
Simple wrenches work in the services, but you can't find a good specialist

And of course you are tired of throwing money down the drain, and there is no question of driving around the service station all the time, then you need a simple ROADGID S6 Pro AUTOSCANNER, which connects to any car and through an ordinary smartphone you will always find a problem, extinguish CHECK and not bad save !!!

We have tested this scanner ourselves on different machines. and he showed excellent results, now we recommend it to EVERYONE! So that you do not fall for the Chinese counterfeit, we publish here a link to the official AutoScanner website.

The non-contact method of washing cars has a number of advantages, but the main advantage is the absence of the likelihood of damage to the paintwork. The effectiveness of the non-contact washing method is achieved thanks to the car shampoo applied to the body in the form of a foam. To transform 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 you can do it at home. To convert shampoo to lather, you need to design a foam generator yourself.

Design features of the foam generator device

Before figuring out how the foam generator is made, you should understand its design and the principle of operation. A foam generator is a metal tank or tank with a capacity of 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 it (spray) to the car body.

The reservoir, depending on its volume, is filled with a special detergent 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.

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

After filling the tank 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. In the tank, under the influence of compressed air, foam is formed from the shampoo, which enters the outlet through the filter and sprayer (foaming agent). The sprayer is located in a nozzle through which foam is supplied to the car body. The pressure in the tank is controlled by a pressure gauge, and its filling level 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 such a device, a person does not need to come into contact with a chemical, and the application of shampoo in the form of foam contributes to 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:

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

However, of all the advantages, it is important to highlight the drawback, 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 money, 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 independent approach it will take no more than 2 thousand rubles to manufacture the device. This amount can be even less if the arsenal has 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 reservoir 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 amount to apply the foam to the car body in one go without re-adding the detergent solution. All other products can also be found in the garage or purchased if they are not available.

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 for the manufacture of the device

Before you start making a homemade foam generator, you need to prepare drawings with sketches. This will not only allow you to understand what you need to get homemade products, but also help you avoid missing the following tasks:

Determination of the sequence of the operation to assemble the product.
Formation full list necessary materials and parts.
Preparation of the tool that will be needed for the manufacture of products.

A drawing of the diagram of a homemade foam generator is shown in the photo below.

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

Based on this scheme, you can make a list of the 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 be different. A number of mandatory tools include:

Spanners;
Roulette;
Pliers;
Bulgarian;
Screwdriwer set;

After the sketches are completed, you can start making.

From the "Beetle" sprayer

Surely many have at their disposal 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 car wash. Let's consider what the manufacturing process itself is. First you need to use the following types of materials:

Capacity. A tank from a garden sprayer "Zhuk" or other brands, for example, "Kvazar" or "Spark", is used as a reservoir.
Manometer designed to measure pressure up to 10 atmospheres.
The valve, which will regulate the supply of foam.
Metal tube with nozzle for the spraying process.
A hose that can withstand pressures up to 8 atmospheres.
Hose adapter.
Clamps.
Automotive nipple with a shut-off valve that conducts compressed air in only one direction.
Two half-inch squeegees or nozzles and 4 nuts with seals.

The spray 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 from a specialist store.

A foamy tablet responsible for the consistency of the solution can be purchased in a store or made by yourself

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

When working with the device, wear protective clothing and protective equipment. When all the materials are ready, you can start designing the device.

The hand pump must be removed from the sprayer, and then the existing holes must be plugged.
In the upper part of the tank, 2 half-inch squeegees are installed. To secure the girders, nuts are used, which are screwed on from both sides. The tightness of the connection is achieved by using gaskets.

To ensure tightness, it is possible to use sanitary gaskets

An adapter is installed in the air supply nozzle T-shaped... A pressure gauge is attached to it, as well as a shut-off valve.
Inside the tank to the squeegee is attached steel pipe by screwing onto the threaded connection. From this pipe, air will be supplied to the bottom of the tank, thereby foaming the liquid.
Foam will be supplied from the second nozzle. 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 spray is connected to the metal tube, after which the device is ready for use.

The resulting design is very similar to the factory one.

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.

It is possible to simplify the manufacture of the foam generator by using a hose with a spray, 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 just below the top, and its purpose is to mix air with the shampoo.

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

The second type of modernization involves the production of a foam tablet from a metal dishwashing brush. 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 kitchen dishwashing brush as a foam tablet can save you money

To supply compressed air to the tank, you need to drill a hole in the sprayer body and install a nipple in 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 simplified version a foam generator with your own hands, which will serve for a long time and effectively.

From a fire extinguisher: step by step instructions

Consider what the process of making a foam generator from a fire extinguisher is. 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 filling of detergent.

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

A fire extinguisher with a gas generator is an almost finished 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.
Dishwashing brushes.
Fine mesh mesh.
The hose that will be used to connect the cylinder to the foam spray gun.
Clamps for a secure fit of the hose.
A sealant that can be used to seal threaded connections.

Of the necessary tool you only need a drill and a hacksaw for metal. After that, you can start working:

Initially, the fire extinguisher locking and starting device is unscrewed. In the lower part on the cover there is a tube with a gas generator. The gas generator is a small canister for compressed air.
The locking and triggering mechanism is disassembled. The tube and cylinder are unscrewed together with the couplings.

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

The gas generator must be sawed into two parts, for which a metal blade is used. Top part the gas generator must have a length of at least 4 cm. In the future, this will be our foaming tablet.

The top of the gas generating device must be at least 4 cm in length

The lower part of the gas generator is retracted to the side. We start making a tablet, for which a round mesh is cut out 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 container also contains metal brushes, which are designed for washing dishes.
To prevent the washcloths from falling out, another fixing mesh is installed. The mesh diameter must be larger than the balloon size for tight fixation.
A hole is drilled in the sleeve, where the neck of the cylinder is screwed in, which is necessary to improve the permeability of the foam. 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.
In the next step, a hole is drilled in the body of the fire extinguisher, where the tube sleeve will be screwed. A fitting will be installed in this hole, so it must be of the appropriate size. 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 cylinder from under the fire extinguisher.
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 in the lid, 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 trigger mechanism from the pistol.
The parts are connected to a new hose, and connected to the shut-off and starting device.
Hose connections must be secured with clamps.

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

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

It is interesting! Even if a compressor is not available, air can be pumped in 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 that the device is easy to manufacture as well as minimal costs. From tools and materials you will need:

Compressor;
Plastic canister;
Bulgarian;
Flushing tubes;
Pistol;
A set of keys.

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

The 70 cm long tube is filled with a fishing line or metal brush.
At the edges, the tube is fixed with special plugs using threaded connections.
One of the plugs has 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 hand, the foamy liquid from the tank will be supplied.
It remains to put on a pistol and use a homemade device.

Canister foam 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 be as shown in the photo below.

General scheme homemade device from a canister

From a gas cylinder

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 pressures. As in previous cases, you first need to prepare the drawings. After that collect all necessary materials and tools, and only then start work.

Drawing check valve foam

A check valve with a pressure gauge will be used to supply air. The drawing of a homemade foam tablet is as follows.

We will use fluoroplastic as a material

You will also need to make a foam spray nozzle. This nozzle will slide over the hose through which the foam is delivered. The scheme for making a nozzle for a spray 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 cylinder, but this is just not necessary.

Once everything is ready for work, you can start:

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. It should hit the bottom. After welding, a check valve will be screwed onto the tube. Several holes should be made in the tube in a circle with a diameter of 3 mm.

To supply air to the cylinder, we weld the tube

After that, the handle is welded into place to the cylinder.
We start assembling 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 the 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 pressure gauge with a "daddy" quick release must be installed.

The check valve is screwed onto the tube

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

To remove the foam outside, use a tap

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 attachment. To do this, you need a fluoroplastic, as shown below.

Nozzle material - fluoroplastic

The filler neck is made from a standard cylinder check valve. To do this, the valve is drilled out and a thread M22x2 is cut in it. The plug is made of fluoroplastic.

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

Device upgrade

Refinements include improved performance of the nozzle. The disadvantage of standard nozzles is that the water is supplied under low pressure, therefore, full mixing is not observed. Consider 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 a product that fixes the motherboard. The advantage of the screw nut is that it is made of soft materials, so it is not 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 from the end part so that it can be tightened with a screwdriver. The resulting device should be screwed into 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. On the side that will be turned towards the nozzle, the nozzle is installed. For this, a rod is taken from a gel pen, from which a part 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 connected with a sealant. You can start testing.

Modernization of nozzles with meshes

The mesh in the nozzle acts as a water divider and a foam former. The disadvantage of nets is their rapid wear. To modify the product, you will need to use a carburetor jet from any car. You will also need a stainless steel mesh.

The jet must be positioned instead of the standard nozzle, paying attention to the dimensions. If necessary, re-drill the hole to accommodate the jet. You need to make a new one according to the standard grid template. 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 standard one and tested in action.

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