5 Ways to Ruin a Paint Gun
Proper spray gun cleaning
1. Leave the Cap on the Paint Gun When You Clean It. This will make it impossible to clean out the paint inside the cap and on the fluid tip – – this stuff builds-up over time!
Do This Instead: Remove the cap and clean out the paint inside the cap and on the fluid tip with the flow brush – – -pay attention to the tiny holes in the “horns” of the air cap – -if they clog-up, your spray patterns are TOAST!
2. Don’t Worry About that Fluid that Gets Into the Air Passage When You Are Cleaning the Gun
When that water based cleaning solution dries inside the air passageways over-and-over – – it causes corrosion and when it eventually “sheds” flakes, they go right to your paint job… GOT DIRT?
Do This Instead: Always attach the compressed air quick-disconnect to the base of the gun during the cleaning process. This “seals-out” the fluid and when you trigger the paint gun during cleaning, it helps power flush the inside of the gun where the fluid and air come together to atomize the paint.
3. Go ahead and pre-rinse with solvent before you clean the Paint Gun. Using any kind of solvent (thinner, ammonia, Rain,degreaser, etc.) will cause the waterborne paint to become more sticky and harder to get out of the nooks-n’-crannies of the fluid passageways when you clean the gun with waterborne cleaning solution.
Do this instead: Always dump the paint left in the gun into a waste barrel after you disconnect the cup. Then pre-rinse the paint gun with water and dump that into the waste barrel too! Be sure to “trigger” the gun to let some of the rinse come out of the fluid tip.
4. Don’t worry If some paint remains in the fluid passageways after cleaning – – the next paint going through will flush it out. This is the way it works with a lot of painters shooting solvent based paints. Waterborne paint is totally different! When it dries out, it gets hard and it builds up, and it is nearly impossible to break loose with waterborne cleaning solution.
Do This Instead: If you see paint in the cup connector area or on the fluid tip after cleaning – – clean it some more! If the paint still won’t come off, tear the gun down and use some Acetone to do a Detail Cleaning as the Paint Gun Manufacturers recommend.
5. Always “chase” the clean gun with a little solvent when you are finished cleaning it – – and leave a little thinner in the gun to keep the seals, o-rings and leftover paint soft. This is the habit many of us have developed with the SOLVENT PAINT GUNS – the exact opposite is best for a WATERBORNE PAINT GUNS. Clean and dry is always best.
Do This Instead: When you are sure the paint gun is clean and dry (inside and out) hang it up – – it is ready for the next use.
A Properly Cleaned Spray Gun Changes Everything
Do You Have These Issues? Heavy Paint Application, Tiger Stripping, Long Dry Times, and/or Modeling
Thanks for the tips. Really help me a lot. I like the ideas. http://www.akinscollisioncenter.com/
Super! If we can help in any way, please let us know!
Thank you!
Um can I spray water thru my hvlp to practice without damaging the gun?
Absolutely! Water will not harm the spray gun. Although not at the same viscosity as paint, it will show the pattern of your spray gun….. a great way to confirm your it is spraying properly.
Make sure to blow everything dry with a blow gun.
I was very confused as to how to clean my spray gun properly, but your amazing article made it possible. I had a lot of fun with these easy tips cleaning the spray gun as soon as possible. Thank you for sharing this informative content with us.
Got my paint sprayer back after a year. Only to find it was not cleaned after use. Can I save it or should I consider it a lost and toss it in the trash.????
Esther,
You may want to try to clean it with some stripper. This may take some effort & time! It is up to you if your time is more valuable do something else!
Good Luck,
Barry Thomas