What's new

Lava Wall

RyanPatrick

New member
Joined
Aug 6, 2024
Messages
1
Reaction score
0
Points
1
IMG_5195.jpeg Hello,

Anyone have any ideas how to get my lava wall to look more like a wall? I’m currently running a 10 gpm injector with no versadial and 45 psi of air pressure. Product is coming through a 1/2 diameter hose into to a 4 line manifold that feeds into 4 foamers.
 

Keno

Well-known member
Joined
May 30, 2022
Messages
722
Reaction score
438
Points
63
It takes a lot of chemical to make a lava wall look right, and still it is a very delicate and tedious process to adjust just right. Many operators are moving to rain bars instead of lava wall for this reason. Less chemicals usage, better look consistently, and some say a better clean
 

OurTown

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 8, 2017
Messages
3,589
Reaction score
1,367
Points
113
Location
Ohio
View attachment 11469 Hello,

Anyone have any ideas how to get my lava wall to look more like a wall? I’m currently running a 10 gpm injector with no versadial and 45 psi of air pressure. Product is coming through a 1/2 diameter hose into to a 4 line manifold that feeds into 4 foamers.

Are you sure it is drawing chemical? If it is drawing you should be able to watch the chemical level in the drum go down with each car with no Versadial. That sounds really rich.
 

OurTown

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 8, 2017
Messages
3,589
Reaction score
1,367
Points
113
Location
Ohio
I just looked it up and on a PC2 10 GPM injector with an open tip/no Versadial is 15:1 so it is not as rich as I originally thought.
 

Earl Weiss

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 31, 2007
Messages
6,345
Reaction score
928
Points
113
I did not want to deal with typical product usage for the Sheet / wall applications so I made my own applicator. - Uses 1 Flo Jet at 15PSI and a Vacuum motor for air injection.
 

OurTown

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 8, 2017
Messages
3,589
Reaction score
1,367
Points
113
Location
Ohio
I did not want to deal with typical product usage for the Sheet / wall applications so I made my own applicator. - Uses 1 Flo Jet at 15PSI and a Vacuum motor for air injection.

How are you using a vac motor for air? I assume it's not a peripheral ported one. How big is the hose (or hoses) going to the arch?
 

Earl Weiss

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 31, 2007
Messages
6,345
Reaction score
928
Points
113
Vac Motor is KR part # VAL 5334. Amtek Motor . I use a regular 2" Vacuum hose since the motor is in the ER. Initially I was going through a motor a year but then started replacing brushes twice a year. Now, they seem to last indefinitely.
 

liftheavy

Member
Joined
Aug 6, 2024
Messages
39
Reaction score
20
Points
8
using a rainbar/streamer-styled foamer will reduce your chemical usage by 20-30% per application and will also spread the application evenly.

sheets are overrated, none of my customers mentioned it when i went from sheet to streamer foamer.
 

Earl Weiss

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 31, 2007
Messages
6,345
Reaction score
928
Points
113
I put the bubbler at the entrance. Probably more comments than any ever piece of equipment in memory. It makes more of an impression from the car behind the one receiving the bubbles. Inside the tunnel with cloth and soap on the windows the visual effect of lots of stuff s greatly muted.
 

Blanco

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 30, 2021
Messages
374
Reaction score
373
Points
63
I did not want to deal with typical product usage for the Sheet / wall applications so I made my own applicator. - Uses 1 Flo Jet at 15PSI and a Vacuum motor for air injection.
That looks great! Do you have any pictures of the applicator you made or any pictures the back room set up? I'm curious how exactly your plumbing the vacuum motor in. Really looks good!
 

Blanco

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 30, 2021
Messages
374
Reaction score
373
Points
63
View attachment 11469 Hello,

Anyone have any ideas how to get my lava wall to look more like a wall? I’m currently running a 10 gpm injector with no versadial and 45 psi of air pressure. Product is coming through a 1/2 diameter hose into to a 4 line manifold that feeds into 4 foamers.
You need a a lot of volume. 15GPM is not going to do it. The 1/2" hose feeding 1/2" tube to four foamers won't either. I have a full wall at my tunnel location and I use a dosatron pump rated from 500:1 to 50:1. You air is also way too high. A lot of people think you need a lot of air but you need volume and minimal air. All my air settings for lava bars are between 5-15 PSI. Taking a guess but Im probably at 60-75:1 with a 3/4" hose feeding three foamers. It's a full sheet but waste of money. Check out Earls video. Looks great and probably costs way less per car.
 

Earl Weiss

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 31, 2007
Messages
6,345
Reaction score
928
Points
113
That looks great! Do you have any pictures of the applicator you made or any pictures the back room set up? I'm curious how exactly your plumbing the vacuum motor in. Really looks good!
Just a vacuum hose from the Back room to the unit. Unit is a 6 foot plastic (Cut to length) trench drain from Menards. In the unit are 2 PVC lines T'd in the center. 1/2" for the liquid with 1/8 ich holes drilled every 6 inches facing down. The air is 2" to attach to the Vac Hose but reduced at the T to 1" with 1/4 inch holes facing down drilled every 6 inches.
 

Blanco

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 30, 2021
Messages
374
Reaction score
373
Points
63
Just a vacuum hose from the Back room to the unit. Unit is a 6 foot plastic (Cut to length) trench drain from Menards. In the unit are 2 PVC lines T'd in the center. 1/2" for the liquid with 1/8 ich holes drilled every 6 inches facing down. The air is 2" to attach to the Vac Hose but reduced at the T to 1" with 1/4 inch holes facing down drilled every 6 inches.
I got you. Are you using 1/2" hose or tube for the chemical coming from the floret? Does the trench drain have the ends on it? If you have time one day take some pics please.
 
Top