Gunsmithing Cleaning a HVLP gun

[SSC]

I bought an hvlp spray gun to help with some projects around the house and to cerakote with and trying to establish a good cleaning regimen so it will last. It seems that te more I take it apart te dirtier it gets. I am using mineral spirits And that works where I can wipe
It down but the parts I can't get too just don't get clean enough.

Any thoughts??

 

[hero's machine]

Re: Cleaning a HVLP gun

Use the solvent that cuts the product. Water cuts latex, mineral spirits cuts oil based paint, laquer thinner/xylene, mek, acetone....all cut catalized and laquers.

Get familiar with the disassembly of the gun, a little buildup in the wrong circut can wreak havoc on your finish.

 

[lsm62]

Re: Cleaning a HVLP gun

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: hero's machine</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Use the solvent that cuts the product. Water cuts latex, mineral spirits cuts oil based paint, laquer thinner/xylene, mek, acetone....all cut catalized and laquers.

Get familiar with the disassembly of the gun, a little buildup in the wrong circut can wreak havoc on your finish. </div></div>

+1

i use lacquer thinner for the gun but have found that break clean works great in the hard to get to arias such as the spray cap and fluid tip. just stick the straw in and give it a good hose down then blow it out with air.

 

[SScott]

Re: Cleaning a HVLP gun

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: hero's machine</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Use the solvent that cuts the product. Water cuts latex, mineral spirits cuts oil based paint, laquer thinner/xylene, mek, acetone....all cut catalized and laquers.

Get familiar with the disassembly of the gun, a little buildup in the wrong circut can wreak havoc on your finish. </div></div>
+1
This is the answer to your question, pick up a can of laquer thinner and run it through the gun at the end of you project. As a note, never store paint in your paint gun. One other tip is that I use those little measuring cups that you get with your jug of laundry detergent to mix your paint in, when your done, just throw away.
SScott

 

[heycorey]

Re: Cleaning a HVLP gun

Harbor Freight makes a fairly cheap spray gun washer. They can be a little finicky to get working, but do a good job once they're going.

And here's another alternative to small, disposable measuring cups.

 

[gunnergirl81]

Re: Cleaning a HVLP gun

You're on the right track. The father in law was an aircraft restoration wrench and his take on painting gear was "put it up like you picked it up" and his son (the hubby) is the same. We use HVLP for auto, motorcycle, and gun finish work. Acetone or MEK is the clean-up solution of preference around here, and he used to have straight iso alcohol he'd use too, just for how fast it evaporated for between color change cleanings.

The care you put into your gun will be refelcted in the quality of the result it returns.