Storing guns between uses

[Arron]

How do you guys store your guns between uses?

I'm talking here mainly about clear lacquer.

I don't typically fully clean the gun after use - especially if I'm going to use it the next day. I usually just swill around some thinner, spray a bit out, take the nozzle off and hang it up.

Even when I know I will be storing for longer, I still miss bits unless I'm prepared to sacrifice a LOT of thinner in the cleaning.

So how do others do it. Do you always clean it back to spotless after use ? Do you take bits off and store them in thinner. Something else ?

I don't like having to deal with little crusty filter-evading bits of dried finish gathered around the screw thread of the paint pot, etc.


cheers
Arron

[Opelblues2]

I mite be a little bit over the top, but I paid a lot for my guns, the spray ones. the others a dear too. but not the same finish. full strip at the end of job, cleaned fully, reassembled. foam ear plug goes in the air connection, gladwrap or condom over the spray head - paper and mud wasps around here. I don't leave any part soaking I thinners I found I stuffed the o-rings.

[Evanism]

Never.

I only clean them when changing fluids.

I've 3 big HVLP Iwatas and a generic, the all sit in a rack I made, tips down, with the lids and barrels screwed tight. I put a bit of bluetac over the cap air hole. The bluetac sits in my pocket to get squishy from body heat while I spray.

It never, ever goes off in the can. I last sprayed Wattyl Stylewood 8 weeks ago, but I did a job yesterday - grabbed the gun, tested the trigger (good), gave it a blat and sprayed. Topped it up to second coat and put the bluetac on the half remaining can when done.

This also applies to the Haymes ultra white oil in one and Haymes Tricoat in the other.

Seals are dead easy to change and cheap if needed, but I've never needed, ever... I've a range of good gear from spraying cars, including smaller pot Iwatas, Devilbiss touchups and a few small Iwata airbrushes...I ALWAYS clean the automotive paints very very very thoroughly.

[Pittwater Pete]

I spray two pack polyurethanes and polyesters so cleaning is essential as it goes very hard overnight or less. Ditto, not leaving anything soaking in thinners except for the front cap.

Pete.

[Rod Gilbert]

Single pack clear the gun only gets full clean when I run out, obviously any 2 pack must be done at end of each spray or will set in the pot and the nozzle and the everywhere else.
Regards Rod.

[Master Splinter]

Splosh leftover thinned paint into a suitable container, slop in some thinners to the now almost empty paint cup, swish it around, spray it out into a rag, slop in some more thinners, loosen the air cap slightly, cover the air holes/tip with a rag and pull the trigger to back flush the gun, slop any thinners left into a container. Use thinner-sprayed rag from earlier to wipe out pot/surface of spraygun.

[Arron]

... spray it out into a rag ... Use thinner-sprayed rag from earlier to wipe out pot/surface of spraygun.

Never thought of that
Cheers
Arron

[Arron]

Never.

I only clean them when changing fluids.

I've 3 big HVLP Iwatas and a generic, the all sit in a rack I made, tips down, with the lids and barrels screwed tight. I put a bit of bluetac over the cap air hole. The bluetac sits in my pocket to get squishy from body heat while I spray.

It never, ever goes off in the can. I last sprayed Wattyl Stylewood 8 weeks ago, but I did a job yesterday - grabbed the gun, tested the trigger (good), gave it a blat and sprayed. Topped it up to second coat and put the bluetac on the half remaining can when done.

This also applies to the Haymes ultra white oil in one and Haymes Tricoat in the other.

Seals are dead easy to change and cheap if needed, but I've never needed, ever... I've a range of good gear from spraying cars, including smaller pot Iwatas, Devilbiss touchups and a few small Iwata airbrushes...I ALWAYS clean the automotive paints very very very thoroughly.

Are you saying that you leave the leftover product in the gun ?
Am I reading it right that you store the gun with the Stylewood in it, the tip pointing down, and the airhole in the paint cup lid blocked up ?

[Evanism]

Are you saying that you leave the leftover product in the gun ?
Am I reading it right that you store the gun with the Stylewood in it, the tip pointing down, and the airhole in the paint cup lid blocked up ?

Correct.

I should have mentioned that I also use a rag to wipe the nozzle, but it's only minor... Blowing some air through the gun without depressing the trigger is good enough.

As other have said, my actions apply only to nitro, poly and paints. 2 pacs are a totally different issue (I never use them, my setup is too small)

[Arron]

Correct.

I should have mentioned that I also use a rag to wipe the nozzle, but it's only minor... Blowing some air through the gun without depressing the trigger is good enough.

As other have said, my actions apply only to nitro, poly and paints. 2 pacs are a totally different issue (I never use them, my setup is too small)

OK, I'll have to give that a try.
What about sealer - like Wattyl Readiseal - would you leave that in the gun? Thinking about the sediment here.

Thanks for the replies folks - I've got a lot out of it. Shows it always pays to open a discussion on something - whatever it is.

Cheers
Arron

[KBs PensNmore]

How do you guys store your guns between uses?

I'm talking here mainly about clear lacquer.

I don't typically fully clean the gun after use - especially if I'm going to use it the next day. I usually just swill around some thinner, spray a bit out, take the nozzle off and hang it up.

Even when I know I will be storing for longer, I still miss bits unless I'm prepared to sacrifice a LOT of thinner in the cleaning.

So how do others do it. Do you always clean it back to spotless after use ? Do you take bits off and store them in thinner. Something else ?

I don't like having to deal with little crusty filter-evading bits of dried finish gathered around the screw thread of the paint pot, etc.


cheers
Arron

Bugger, I thought this was about storing guns, between shooting pollies
Kryn

[Bob38S]

Bugger, I thought this was about storing guns, between shooting pollies
Kryn

Nah, they are too thick to be used as a pull through.