Cleaning your paint sprayer is very important. Keeping it properly maintained by cleaning it thoroughly after each use will increase the durability of the sprayer. Each manufacturer issues specific instructions on how to properly clean their paint spraying equipment. You should read the instructions from the manufacturer and follow those instructions to the letter.
In this article, we will present you with generalized methods of cleaning your paint sprayer, but you are urged to consult your owner’s manual before you implement any cleaning ritual. The instructions below are basic, and if you have lost your cleaning instructions, they may help you in a pinch.
Step by Step Guide to Spray Gun Cleaning
Step 1 – You must empty all of the paint out of the material cup. You can spray the entire amount of paint out of the cup, or you can take the cup off and empty it. You should empty the paint into a disposable container, and if you put old newspaper, kitty litter, or paper towels in the container first the paint will be absorbed and will be less likely to leak out of the container.
Step 2 – Pour the appropriate cleaning solution into the material cup. If you are using water-based paint then warm soapy water is appropriate for cleaning and if you have been using an oil-based paint then mineral spirits, turpentine, paint thinner, lacquer thinner, or acetone. Slosh the cleaner around in the cup and clean out the remaining paint residue.
Step 3 – Put more cleaner in the spray cup and this time put the material cup on the device just like you would if you had just filled the cup with paint. You want to spray the cleaner through the gun like you would spray the paint through the gun. This allows the cleaner to reach all of the inner portions of the gun that the paint made contact with.
Step 4 – Once you have cleaned out the paint you have to run clean water through the unit to wash away any soapy residue. Just cool clean water will do the trick.
Step 5 – The gun must be taken completely apart, and each piece should be inspected to assure that all paints and residues have been effectively removed.
Step 6 – The pieces should be allowed to air-dry before you reassemble the device for storage.
Common Mistakes People Make While Cleaning Paint Guns
- They are too rough and they bend the needle or their fluid tips while taking the gun apart
- They toss all of the parts into a basin or large tub. Then the smaller and more delicate parts get lost. You should keep the small and discreet parts on top of a towel while you clean them so they do not get lost.
- They do not take the time to use the cleaning brushes or a toothpick to make sure that each orifice is completely cleared
- They do not take time to examine their air intake hose and make certain it is completely cleared so it can provide ample amounts of air
Important Things to Know about Paint Thinners
Whenever you use oil-based paint you will have to use a paint thinner or mineral spirits to clean up the paint sprayer and equipment. Some paint substances like epoxy require you to use a lacquer thinner to clean the equipment. Lacquer thinners are fabulous because they work for every paint substance and will remove even the most stubborn oil-based items.
Mineral spirits are the most frequently used paint thinner because it is inexpensive and is the gentlest on your equipment. The O-rings and gaskets of a paint sprayer are not capable of standing up to prolonged exposure to harsh agents like lacquer thinners for long periods of time. The harsh chemicals required to clean away oil-based paint cause the gaskets and O-rings on the sprayer to dry rot and disintegrate.
Things to Know About Paint Thinners:
- You should only use these substances in well-ventilated areas because of the fumes
- These substances can be highly flammable and should never be stored near an open flame source. Do not smoke near the containers or while you are using these items.
- Mineral spirits do have a shelf life. If you have had your container of mineral spirits for several months dispose of them properly because they will become ineffective over time
- Do not allow these substances to come into contact with acidic substances because an explosion can occur
How to Clean a Latex Paint Spray Gun
Supplies You Will Need to Clean Latex Sprayer
- Small brush that has soft bristles
- A garden hose
- Two – five-gallon buckets
- A pair of pliers
- Mineral spirits or paint thinner
Step 1: Start the cleaning by removing the nozzle of the gun. Pay special attention to where the tip slides into the small hole because in this area latex paint can be packed in. Use the soft bristled brush to scrub away any visible paint and this may even help remove paint that has begun to dry in place.
Step 2: Remove the filter and clean it thoroughly. You will have to clean the filter repeatedly then rinse it and clean it again until the water can run through the filter and come out clean and clear.
Step 3: Run pure clean water through the sprayer like you were running paint through it. You may have paint get into the nozzle and stop it up or into the filter and dirty it up again. The process requires you to repeat steps one and two over and over until you can run water through the unit and have clean water come out of it.
Step 4: Prime the sprayer using water. This is just one last-time check that will help you to be certain that all of the paint has been removed from the sprayer.
Step 5: Clean your inlet strainer located at the bottom of the siphon tube. Built-up latex paint may be adhering to the grate or to the siphon tube. The water process you just completed will have gotten the majority of the paint out of this area, but you always want to give it this last check to make sure that it is totally paint-free.
Things to Keep in Mind
- The longer you wait to clean your equipment the harder it will be to do. As you wait the paint dries and becomes harder to remove.
- Quick cleaning when you have finished painting may eliminate the need for any solvents
- Some paint sprayers have flush systems that allow you to connect the garden hose to the sprayer and spray out any paint or residue
- The best soap to use when cleaning is a common dish liquid like you use when you hand-wash your dishes in a kitchen sink
- Always reassemble the sprayer like you were about to paint again. This allows you to be certain that all parts are properly placed with the spray gun and will not be lost.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Do You Use to Clean a Paint Sprayer?
This depends on what the make-up of the paint was. If the paint had a water base then you clean up using water and soap. If the paint had an oil base, then you need mineral spirits or paint thinner. If the paint contained shellac or lacquer you need to use a lacquer thinner.
Can I Use Acetone to Clean Paint Sprayer?
Acetone can be used and it will thin the paint and dissolve it. The problem with using acetone is it poses health risks that mineral spirits and turpentine do not. To be safe do not use acetone to clean your paint sprayer.
Is One Paint Thinner Better than Another for Cleaning Purposes?
Commercial paint thinner is actually less expensive than mineral spirits or turpentine. They can be used to thin the paints before you paint and to clean the equipment when you are through. They are effective, cost-effective, and easy to use.
How to Clean a Spray Gun after Water-Based Paint?
You mix soap and water together and clean the gun using this mixture. After each section of the gun is clean then you rinse away the soap residue and let the components air dry.
Final Thoughts
Cleaning your equipment will probably take longer than painting with it did. You have to clean the equipment while the paint is still fresh because if you wait the paint will dry and many sections of your spray paint gun may be rendered useless.
A clean spray gun is a well-maintained tool that will provide you with great service for many years.
