The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Paint and Body Shop cleaning a HVLP gun

I am trying to get everything ready to spray some primer and I am wondering what to use to clean the HVLP gun with. After I am done spraying do I use acetone or laquer thinner? or is there something else that I should use? I have heard something about not dipping the entire gun in the cleaner but what is the right way?

Thanks in advance for your replies

Been using Laquer thinner here, disassemble the gun, clean all small parts with a tiny wire brush(may have come with the gun, mine did) clean the cup out. I sometimes let the nozzles soak in thinner for a few min., and reassemble. Then I put the clean cup back on, and pour some thinner in the cup, and spray it thru, while opening and closing the air/paint adjustments, so far no problems with it... do it once, and you'll have it down pat after that.

not sure if this is the right way, but it works for me, after shooing primer or paint.

Mike

Watch the Laquer thinner, very, very!! flammable !! it works great though, but ya definately wanna turn on the "NO SMOKING" sign in the shop.

Mike

If you have the manufacturer's manual it might have a suggestion for cleaning-solvents that can be used (and that should be avoided).

I have used lacquer thinner on an AccuSpray HVLP gun. Be careful if your gun has any kind of plastic parts. You might OK rinsing plastic with lacquer thinner but do not soak plastic parts for any length of time (unless the manufacturer says OK).

I got into the habit many years ago before gravity guns became so popular, to clean my guns, and before I store them, fill the cup half full with mineral spirits and drop the nozzle and soft parts in the cup. I then reattach the cup and set it on the shelf. I have pulled a gun off the shelf after several years of not using it and the mineral spirits have kept the cup gasket and packing in great shape. Before an old painter gave me that tip, I could count on replacing the soft parts in my guns if they sat too long between uses.

If I ever break down and get a gravity rig, I'll probably have to change my habits, since they now come in nice cases that kinda force you to break them down before putting them away.

I always put lacquer thinner in the cup of my gravity feed gun and put my finger over the vent hole and shake it real good with no air line attached. Keep your finger over the hole as it will build some pressure and then pull the trigger and let it flow until it is clear. Saves alot of cleanup time when you pull it apart.

i never take my guns apart except when they need rebuild just spray gun cleaner rinse and put some oil on the trigger rods some of my guns are 30 years old and havent been apart yet man how time flyes

What do you mean by gun cleaner rinse?
Sounds like laquer thinner is the way to go, thanks everybody

they make a real cheape laquer thats sold as gun cleaner

Cheap lacquer thinner is the way to go...
One of the most important things to do to clean
a spraygun is to turn the fan off tight, then with
a cup of thinner, pull the trigger wide open then
put it over the nozzle...this call back-flushing
the gun, skip Your finger back and forth blocking
the nozzle, then take You finger away...If I have
an overall paint job to do, I will use a 2 quart
pressure pot, and complete a paint job in 30 minutes....Bill B