Cleaning etch primer from suction fed gun

[Boris113]

I'm having trouble cleaning etch primer out of my spray gun before using it for top coat. Thinners tend to turn the primer into a lumpy mess but don't actually thin it enough for it to come out.

At the end of each use I run thinners through until it blows clear then dismantle the gun and leave the bits in a pot of thinners. The main problem I have is cleaning the chamber that the needle runs through, where it is met by the paint. I've tried using cotton buds and a tooth brush but it doesn't seem to remove it all.

Any suggestions?

Cheers, Harry

 

[jayg]

to clean the chamber after spraying just turn the air pressure down completely, loosen the aircap and put some clean thinners in the cup then pull the trigger in and slowly open the air regulator (this can be done at the gun if you have a cheater valve) open it just enough so you can hear it bubbling inside the cup, then empty out the thinners and the chamber should be clean.

if the paint has dried in the chamber just strip the gun and leave it stood in gunwash (not thinners) for 1/2 hour or so.

that's how i do it anyhow.

 

[rtbcomp]

Try and find a thinners that's compatible with the paint, for example cellulose thinners can make non-cellulose paints go lumpy.

 

[jonnyBMX]

yeah i normally just fill the paint pot with thinners and spray it out to clean it out

 

[eil]

Remove the needle packing/seal and get yourself a plastic bottle and cut it up so you can put just the head of the gun immersed in thinners into it to soften up the primer, don't soak all the gun body as it will get primer everywhere, then keep going at it with your cotton bud, soft brush untill clean

 

[Chipper]

I strip and clean every time, partly because some guns get metallics / pearls as well as straight and clear.
Proper paint cleaning brushes are cheap (some of the really cheapo ones fall apart PDQ though).
Celly thinners or gunwash takes care of every paint I've come across so far, but old cured 2k can be a right pain to shift.

I normally:
Pour out excess, wipe out with lint-free paper towels. Maybe some uses thinners too.
Swill some used thinners, might wipe again. Spray out.
Strip gun and clean, with brushes. On the suction gun I run a brush up the long tube and use the toothbrush types ones on lid insides.
Put together and blow a bit of fresh thinners through.

Takes longer to write than do!

I have a 5 litre can of used but cleanish thinners for the swill/first spray. Saves using fresh all the time. When I pour into that can it goes in via a funnel & paint strainer.

 

[Boris113]

Thanks guys that is very helpful, I think I am using celly thinners but I shall check later. I bought a couple of gun cleaning brushes so hopefully that will help Is gun cleaner particularly expensive in comparison? I might get a can of it and try if the soaking/scrubbing doesn't work

Harry

 

[steveo3002]

never seen it go lumpy ..always just used solvent gun wash /standard thinners