How to clean paint spray gun?

If you are using a low-pressure paint station or spray gun, it is important never to neglect their cleaning. And for good reason, paint guns can get dirty very easily, and forgetting to clean them can go so far as to make them unusable. Do you have questions about cleaning the paint gun? This article explains everything you need to know about it!

Why clean your paint gun?

As you probably know, being able to paint with a spray gun like fuji voted as no1 is HVLP category allows you to paint quickly and without a trace on the largest surfaces.

But the speed of application of the paint should not make you forget to devote some time to the maintenance of the equipment. And for good reason, cleaning a paint station is essential to its proper functioning.

The importance of cleaning a paint sprayer

After painting, it is essential to clean your equipment to guarantee its durability and prevent the paint from drying out. If this is something already important for the maintenance of brushes and brushes, it is even more vital for a paint sprayer, especially when you know the cost of this device.

As a reminder, forget to clean your paint gun:

• Risk of fouling the duct and causing a decrease in device performance,
• In the worst case, the gun may become unusable.
• If cleaning may seem complicated at first, it will not take you more than ten minutes once you are used to it.

If the paint dries in a paint station, cleaning will be very laborious, and you risk damaging the device by trying to clean it. Hence the interest in carrying out cleaning as soon as your work is completed.

When should you clean your paint station?

Cleaning your gun allows you to clear the paint, but also and above all to prevent it from drying out inside the device.

Consequently, you must clean your paint spray gun as soon as you no longer use it. If you have to resume work the next day to paint a wall or ceiling with a spray gun, it is essential to empty the tank at night (keep the remaining paint in a closed container, so as not to spoil it) and clean the device.

It is also necessary to clean the paint station if you change the paint it contains. It is therefore essential to go from one paint to another when you paint in two colors, or to go from paint to varnish.

Which product should I use to clean a paint station?

Regarding the cleaning products to use, it is important to understand that the choice of cleaning product depends only on the paint you use:

• Acrylic paints (water-based) require simple cleaning with water.
• Solvent-based varnishes or paints (glycerol type) require the use of a suitable thinner.

Consult the instructions for use of the paint or product used to find out which cleaner to use.

How do I clean a paint gun?

It should be understood that the cleaning of a paint station depends above all on the model which you will have chosen (see on this subject our advice of choice for such a device).

First, have the reflex to consult the instructions for your paint station. It informs you in detail about the disassembly of the device and the cleaning of its different parts.

To give you more information, here are some details on how to clean your sprayer:

Tank cleaning

First, you will clean the tank and the base of the device. Here's how to do it:

• Unscrew the tank, and pour the remaining paint into its pot or another closed container.
• Press the gun trigger on a tarp or piece of cardboard to clear the paint left in the duct.
• Fill the tank with water or thinner (depending on the type of paint used).
• Screw the reservoir back in and operate the gun. This allows the entire duct to be cleaned.

Continue to squeeze the trigger on the sprayer until all paint is clear and the gun spits water. Then unscrew the tank again and clean its seal.

Rinse (if necessary) and allow the various parts of the appliance to dry.

Cleaning of nozzles and needles

Particular attention should be paid to cleaning the nozzle and the needle. And for good reason, these elements ensure the perfect dispersion of the paint.

Here's how to clean them:

• Disassemble the device to isolate the nozzle, following the manufacturer's instructions.
• Clean all parts of the appliance with a brush and the appropriate product.
• Take the opportunity to clean up any traces of paint in the station.

Once the different elements are clean, rinse, and then allow the different parts to dry. Once everything is dry, you can reassemble the device and put it away.

Exterior cleaning

Finally, do not forget to pass a damp cloth over the gun so as to release the paint that may have attached to the outside. This is a purely cosmetic cleaning, which allows your paint station to keep a new appearance.