Methanol Foam Brush Soap

[Tpoppa]

I recently took over a 4 bay SS. I am not having much luck with my foam brushes when it gets below freezing. I am using methanol soap, and they seem to freeze up around 30-31 degrees. When above freezing they work well and produce good foam.

For those using methanol soap...any tips for keeping the brushes working below freezing? What is a reasonable temperature limit for methanol soap?

 

[Earl Weiss]

I recently took over a 4 bay SS. I am not having much luck with my foam brushes when it gets below freezing. I am using methanol soap, and they seem to freeze up around 30-31 degrees. When above freezing they work well and produce good foam.

For those using methanol soap...any tips for keeping the brushes working below freezing? What is a reasonable temperature limit for methanol soap?

I follow the directions for dilution on the Kleen Rite product bucket. Seems to work.

 

[soapy]

10% methenol mixture is good to 25 degrees and 20% is good to 10 degrees. If your foam brush soap is almost pure methenol and you use no tip through a hydrominder you are good to around 10 degrees.

 

[Randy]

With the methanol soap you have to constantly play with the tips. You have to adjust the soap mixture for the temperature. A Beige tip is good to about 21 deg., a Black tip is good to around 17 deg. and a Gray tip is good to 15 deg. or so. What color tip are you using?

 

[Tpoppa]

Thanks for the information. I think the issue is that I have a foam brush system that needs some updates or perhaps replacement.

Has anyone tried the Air Logic Low Pressure System from Kleen-Rite? Would you recommend it? or any other systems?

 

[MEP001]

There's not much to a foam brush system: Hydrominder, tank, pump (or pump and bladder tank/pressure switch system, or pump and pump controller/multiplexer), solenoids and needle valves. If it works other than the freezing problem, there would be no need to update or replace anything. If your methanol foam brush soap is freezing at 30-31 degrees, either you're running it too lean or the methanol has evaporated away. There's a fairly recent thread about using an antifreeze purge which should save money on expensive methanol foam brush soap if you have long, cold winters.

 

[Bubbles Galore]

The system RykoPro made up for me is working great! I haven't had one single freeze up and it's been in the single digits at night for a few weeks now. I would have already gone through a 55 gallon drum and then some, and I am not even halfway through one yet. If you want to know more, send me a PM.

 

[Tpoppa]

BG,

PM sent.

 

[soapy]

Etowah Valley makes a nice foam brush setup with a cold weather change over setup. It is very reasonably priced also.

 

[Randy]

Making your own Foam brush change over system isn?t a big deal. A couple of years ago I was going to build a change over system for my Foam brush system. I got all the components together but l put it on the self for another day when it got warm. I?ve still got all the components up in the attic, one these days I might install it.

 

[Bubbles Galore]

Never got the PM.

 

[washnvac]

I read on another post (which I can not find at the moment) that some operators purge out with windshield washer fluid. Is there any reason not to make my own winter soap product with a 55 of windshield washer fluid and a 5 gal of foam bruah soap? Does anyone know if there is anything harmful in the fliud? I wouldn't think so, since it sprays all over the painted surface when it is used to spray a windshield. I do not have an economical supplier for methanol in my area. The cheapest I have found is $300 for a 55 gal. It is cheaper to get from Kleen-Rite rtu prouduct for $265. I figure windshield washer fluid at $1.50 gal converts to $82.50 for 55 gal, then a foam additive for $70 or so. That $153 sounds pretty good versus $265. Any thoughts? Thanks.

 

[Bubbles Galore]

I have been using a purge system that has worked really well for me so far this winter.
With the exception of this really cold stretch, I haven't had one freeze up (I just took the hoses off). I was thinking about initially going with washer fluid, but I couldn't make it pencil out. If you can make it work, go for it. At this point, we all have to do our best at controlling our expenses. That was my whole intention for doing the purge system.

 

[Kirb]

Washnvac,
The difference between using KR and windshield washer fluid is the dilution is different. With the KR you can use beige, black or gray depending on temp. With the washer fluid you have to take it as straight, 1to1 or maybe 2to1 depending on temp. It would pencil out to be cheaper to use the KR.

 

[washnvac]

Thanks Kirb. I knew there had to be a reason, otherwise everyone would be doing it. I am just looking for a better solution than the expensive methanol, as I am sure most people try.