Ric
Cantree Member
I'm considering adding in bay tri foam as an added service. Whose equipment (pumping station/delivery system) is worth taking a look at?
looking to add in bay tri foam...
- Thread starter Ric
- Start date
MEP001
Well-known member
Why not build it yourself? Find a tank you like, put it together so you know you can work on it later if you have to. The wiring is simple, and if you like I can program a log relay for you so you'll get six colors out of it. You'll save about a grand over buying one.
MEP001, I hate to ask but I have thought about building one myself, just to save the dollars. I have lots of extra parts that could be used as part of this. Can you tell me or show me how to build it and the parts needed. Air logic triple foam looks like a nice design, and six colors would even be better than three. CCAR
MEP001
Well-known member
The solenoids to the bay are the same as any other function, air and liquid. The programmable relay controls three solenoids off the individual tanks that then supply the pump. I've used the same setup with FloJet and Procon pumps, and the only difference is a slightly longer changeover time with the Procon. I'll take some pics today if I remember my camera.
This is how it applies (Some of the color is a bit weak - I noticed after I made the video that a foot valve was leaking):
[video=youtube;FkLx0wjAuw4]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FkLx0wjAuw4[/video]
This is how it applies (Some of the color is a bit weak - I noticed after I made the video that a foot valve was leaking):
[video=youtube;FkLx0wjAuw4]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FkLx0wjAuw4[/video]
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mjwalsh
6 bay SS w/laundromat
Just out of curiosity ... does tri foam have effective cleaning power ... or is it mostly cosmetic?
mike
mike
ScottV
Upstate NY
Ric,
4 years ago I purchased low pressure 3X foam machines with my Carolina Pride SS equipment that I installed at two different washes. It came with a seperate hose and boom, from the HP hose or Foam Brush. After 2 years we were still on the original 5 gal pails of 3X color polish. Our customers rarely ever used the function despite our efforts at improved signage, etc. Contrary to everything I had read on here about 3X foam in the bay, it was a terrible investment. I thought seriously about pulling the equipment and trying to sell it on the used market but figured Id lose my shirt. Instead I purchased "Rain X" and changed out the 3X foam pails. We now have moderate usage and I think it's mainly due to the Rain X brand name. We are still a far cry from paying for the additional low pressure eqiupment.
Not sure if my experience in Upstate NY is different from other locations, but it certainly could be.
4 years ago I purchased low pressure 3X foam machines with my Carolina Pride SS equipment that I installed at two different washes. It came with a seperate hose and boom, from the HP hose or Foam Brush. After 2 years we were still on the original 5 gal pails of 3X color polish. Our customers rarely ever used the function despite our efforts at improved signage, etc. Contrary to everything I had read on here about 3X foam in the bay, it was a terrible investment. I thought seriously about pulling the equipment and trying to sell it on the used market but figured Id lose my shirt. Instead I purchased "Rain X" and changed out the 3X foam pails. We now have moderate usage and I think it's mainly due to the Rain X brand name. We are still a far cry from paying for the additional low pressure eqiupment.
Not sure if my experience in Upstate NY is different from other locations, but it certainly could be.
Do you use three tanks and three Flojets like most do? Don't I need a timer controller or a switching device to change from one color to the next, or is that what the programmable relay is that you are referring to? Which one should I use? I have plenty of Flojets and solenoids on hand. I would need tanks and hydrominders if I need three of each. I was actually going to run this through my foam brush instead of the separate wand. I've been to a lot of washes that have the separate wand and yes it's flashy but what does it do?, nothing in my opinion. I think the foam brush changing colors would be neat, people are already using it and I just want to wow them.
MEP001
Well-known member
No, just one FloJet.
There are tri-foam controller modules you can buy, but AFAIK they're only three colors. I use the Siemens LOGO! programmable relay which costs about $135 (about the same as the controllers) and just overlap the changeover to get six colors.
I'm running the Simoniz with UVP - it noticeably cleans the paint (does the same thing as a clay bar) and adds UV protection.
There's nothing wrong with that - it would be an easier changeover than addind tri-foam.
MEP001
Well-known member
I heard a similar story from another local operator who built a wash with tri-foam. He put the foam brush hanger in the middle of the wall opposite the bay meter and put the tri-foam gun in the farthest back corner. He had poor use like you and eventually pulled it out. He even told me that people would select it on the switch and couldn't find the gun. When I installed the foam brush and tri-foam booms and hangers, I put the tri-foam at the same end of the bay as the meter so customers going to the brush had to walk past and see the gun, and when they select tri-foam it's right in front of them. Use seems to be better than ever - a set of buckets lasts about three months.
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Ric
Cantree Member
Scott, Thank you for the forehead smack. For years I've put off installing tri foam in the bays because I've never heard any gleaming reports from operators that have it. Plus it would be an additional item to keep from freezing in the winter. I recently had an operator tell me he liked it...the first, so I thought I would revisit the idea. Maybe...maybe not.
How do you think RainX or some other super sealant would go over if dispensed thru the trigger gun at low pressure in the same manner as presoak, tire cleaner, etc.? Simple enough to do...nothing extra to freeze protect...maybe having the customer switch and locate guns ain't a good thing...just a thought.
ScottV
Upstate NY
Ric,
We already have a super sealant as an option through our trigger gun. It gets good usage especially by the people who try it and see the results. That is all I would have as an option, if I hadnt already invested in the 3X foam equipment. Spending the extra money for the RainX seems to have been a good decision since the name brand helps to sell the product.
Scott
We already have a super sealant as an option through our trigger gun. It gets good usage especially by the people who try it and see the results. That is all I would have as an option, if I hadnt already invested in the 3X foam equipment. Spending the extra money for the RainX seems to have been a good decision since the name brand helps to sell the product.
Scott
Ric
Cantree Member
Are you dispensing the RainX as a low pressure product w/air to make it "foamy" from the trigger gun? Do you think it cuts into your high pressure wax/clear coat protectant sales in the bay?
Thanks!
Heed the advice of those who w2asted their money on this. If you are goping to add something to the bays consider a blower, bill acceptor or credit card acceptors, or new larger meter boxes.
ScottV
Upstate NY
Ric,
Yes I'm using the 3X foam equipment to dispense the RainX. It's low pressure and foams. Does it cut into my supersealant sales, possibly. But anything was better than what we were seeing for revenue from the 3X foam option! I agree with Mac, if you don't have the inbay dryer, bill acceptor or credit card I would invest in those. I have all three.
ScottV
Yes I'm using the 3X foam equipment to dispense the RainX. It's low pressure and foams. Does it cut into my supersealant sales, possibly. But anything was better than what we were seeing for revenue from the 3X foam option! I agree with Mac, if you don't have the inbay dryer, bill acceptor or credit card I would invest in those. I have all three.
ScottV
Ric
Cantree Member
Have credit cards,etc. I am looking at adding new meter boxes and 2 more functions since I will go from 8 position to 10 position rotary switches. Dryers are my #1 choice. I am looking for the second option. I am leaning towards a low pressure super sealant thru the trigger gun. For now I may just bring back the engine degreaser selection that I eliminated years ago to make room for something else. Our tire cleaner doubles as a great degreaser but like I said I had to drop the selection on the switch.
Scott - What dryers are you using? The Carolina Pride dryers caught my eye since they use a simple straight thru nozzle with no trigger. http://www.carolinapridecarwash.com/turbo-dry.htm I do have space to attic mount them also.
Scott - What dryers are you using? The Carolina Pride dryers caught my eye since they use a simple straight thru nozzle with no trigger. http://www.carolinapridecarwash.com/turbo-dry.htm I do have space to attic mount them also.
ScottV
Upstate NY
Ric,
Sorry for the late reply, I lost track of this thread. I have the Diskin Air Shammee's. Overall they work well, but I have had numerous problems with their manifold that attaches to the three motors. About once a month one would come undone and the dryer would lose it's pressure. We finally zipped some screws in through the rubber boot and manifold to help hold them in place. I have some in the bay's and some in the attics. If you have room, i would definitely mount it in the bay for ease of access in doing maintenance. Some people say it makes for a "cleaner" bay to have them in the attic, but my customers would never notice something like that.
Sorry for the late reply, I lost track of this thread. I have the Diskin Air Shammee's. Overall they work well, but I have had numerous problems with their manifold that attaches to the three motors. About once a month one would come undone and the dryer would lose it's pressure. We finally zipped some screws in through the rubber boot and manifold to help hold them in place. I have some in the bay's and some in the attics. If you have room, i would definitely mount it in the bay for ease of access in doing maintenance. Some people say it makes for a "cleaner" bay to have them in the attic, but my customers would never notice something like that.
