Cleaning the gun from dried foam. How to cheaply wash a gun from polyurethane foam

The spray foam gun has to be cleaned of two types of contaminants. Immediately after construction work, cleaning is carried out to remove foam that has not yet hardened. It will be effective to use paint solvents, acetone or gasoline, which perfectly wash all parts and passages in the adapter, preparing it for the next job. If contaminants from hardened polyurethane foam cannot be removed with a solvent, you can try mechanical cleaning with a knife and wire. In extreme cases, you may need to disassemble the gun and clean each part individually using available means.

The other side of the coin when using polyurethane foam is the dirt it leaves behind. The gun that comes into direct contact with it suffers the most. To expend less effort, cleaning should be carried out every time after finishing work. If this is not done, the material will dry out very firmly. Anyway, main goal- find outhow to clean a gun from foammost efficiently and quickly.

Remove foam with acetone or another solvent

Acetone, like any other solvent, is fine , which has just begun to dry out.

In this state, she is extremely susceptible to active chemical exposure liquid solvent.

In addition to acetone, you can use paint solvents white spirit, xylene, solvent, 646, 647, 649, 650 and P-4. Galosh gasoline, kerosene and turpentine, which have similar properties, are also suitable. Water, including hot water, does not help in cleaning at all.

Attention! All of the above liquids have a strong, specific odor and are highly flammable. Therefore, you need to follow safety precautions when using them.

It is best to use solvents to regularly clean the gun from foam residues. Cleaning it with solvent after each use can save a lot of time at home later on.

Immediately after the work is completed, you must carefully disconnect the cylinder.

Using a clean piece of cloth, fresh pieces of foam that have not yet hardened are removed.

Another piece of rag is moistened with solvent, it is necessary to wipe the adapter (if available), the cylinder mounting collar and immediately wipe the tip of the gun.

The foam also needs to be wiped off around the trigger. If it has time to freeze there, it may make it difficult to use the gun in the future.

Also causing problems is the drying of the foam in the “barrel” of the gun - a narrow channel through which material under pressure from the cylinder is supplied to the required location.

To wash it, you need to carefully pour the solvent into the hole located in the place where the cylinder is attached.

Possessing high chemical activity and increased fluidity, the solvent will very quickly make its way through the uncured foam, exiting along with it through the tip of the gun. Efficiency this method depends on how quickly the solvent is used - the more the foam dries, the more difficult it will be to clean it.

If the foam still has time to cool, then the solvent can be applied directly into the channel from the tip side. To do this, you can use a regular syringe with a thin needle. You will most likely only be able to use the syringe once and very quickly, because the solvent is very aggressive towards the soft plastic from which it is made. With a quick movement, you need to draw a full syringe of liquid, insert the needle into the canal the entire length and release it inside. This will greatly facilitate cleaning the expensive gun, allowing you to do it quickly and without much expense.

Aggressive solvents can also be used to And .

Pharmaceutical dimexide has properties similar to solvents.

It has a destructive effect on foam, but is absolutely safe for the skin of the hands and the fabric with which it is applied to the gun. The washing method is similar to that described above. If necessary, dimexide can be used And .

Cleaning the gun using a special cylinder

Similar to a foam cylinder, you can connect a special cylinder to the smeared gun, for example, Penosil Cleaner, which is filled with a cleaner under high pressure. This cylinder is designed for regular maintenance of a pistol that has just been used. It effectively flushes the valve, trigger and barrel bore with solvents that corrode and squeeze out the foam that has not yet dried.

Mechanical cleaning

The mechanical cleaning method is used in the second case - when the pistol was not regularly maintained, and after several uses the foam near the connecting thread, trigger and in the channel hardened and literally turned into stone.

Removing foam that has turned to stone

The density with which it is filled under pressure from a cylinder, coupled with its durable physical properties makes the material in this case practically invulnerable to any solvents. The liquid poured inside the gun is not even able to make its way through the channel, which makes this cleaning method impossible. To do this, you need to use a mechanical method.

Cleaning the bore

Mechanical cleaning involves physically removing foam or sealant from the gun.

You need to arm yourself with a sharp shoe or stationery knife and a very thin wire with a pointed end. Using a knife, hardened pieces are cut off and access to the hole from which the foam was supplied is cleared as much as possible.

Then the wire comes into play - the harder the metal from which it is made, the better. With careful but confident movements, the wire is screwed into the bore. The metal makes its way towards the cylinder mount. The deeper the wire goes, the easier it will be to clean the gun later with a solvent.

Advice! It is not advisable to clean a pistol barrel using a Karcher - too much pressure can damage fragile parts.

Cleaning the cylinder and valve mount

Using the same knife, you can largely remove dried foam from the surface of the fastening and thread, thereby freeing up space for adding solvent. It is necessary to carefully remove all remaining sealant from the valve and threads, then moisten them generously in liquid.

Pay attention! Together with cleaning the barrel bore, you can restore the gun, even if the foam has accumulated and dried very strongly.

How to disassemble a pistol

As a last resort, when the methods described above do not help, you must resort to disassembly toclean the parts of the spray foam gun individually.

Using pliers or an adjustable wrench, you need to unscrew the mechanism that is responsible for supplying material from the cylinder - it is located in the recess for its fastening.

After this, the trigger mechanism is disconnected and the gun barrel is pulled out, if necessary, all the corresponding nuts and bolts are unscrewed. After disassembly, each part can be individually treated with acetone, after removing any large remaining foam with a knife. The Kraftul and Stayer models are assembled in the reverse order.

Below is a video that showshow to clean a dirty nail gunfrom dried foam.

Larisa, July 2, 2018.

For any construction, repair, installation of window openings and interior doors, you cannot do without mounting gun. However, like any other tool, it requires regular cleaning. To quickly clean the spray foam gun, you can use a special wash or improvised means such as acetone, white spirit, gasoline and other similar solvents. In advanced cases, when the mixture has dried out and it is almost impossible to dissolve it, you will have to disassemble the gun into parts and clean each part separately.

Everyday Cleaning

When starting to work with a professional gun for dispensing polyurethane foam, glue or silicone, you must remember that you will have to clean it after each use. It would be a good idea to rinse the instrument both when changing the canister and when switching to a mixture from another manufacturer. The fact is that the compositions of various sealing agents differ significantly from each other and, when found inside the barrel, can turn into a mixture that is difficult to wash off.

It is recommended to buy both sealant and flush from the same manufacturer. The specialists who have developed this or that composition of polyurethane foam know exactly how to dissolve it in order to thoroughly clean the gun.

To put the construction gun in order after a working day, you need to do the following operations:

instead of a balloon, attach an aerosol with a cleaning composition;
gently press the trigger of the gun until a completely clear liquid comes out;
check the mobility of the lever - if it gets stuck, wash it again.

When rinsing the gun, hold it in such a way that the solvent cannot get into exposed skin or eyes. Otherwise, the caustic substance may leave burns that are slow to heal.

If there is no industrial washing

If for some reason you don’t have a special remover at hand, you can use improvised means: gasoline, kerosene, acetone, turpentine or other substances with similar properties.

It should be remembered that even very hot water is not able to dissolve particles of polyurethane foam, and it is impossible to wash the gun with its help.

To clean the tool used to supply the building mixture with a solvent, you need to do the following:

carefully remove the can;
using a cotton napkin, remove clumps of foam that have not yet hardened - treat the adapter, the attachment point, the tip of the barrel, the area around the trigger mechanism;
pour the dissolving liquid into the hole located at the point where the cylinder is attached.

Foam solvent is a substance with high chemical activity. It will quickly dissolve the foam stuck in the gun channel and flow out through the outlet hole. The effectiveness of this method depends on how soon the cleaning was started - the more the composition hardens, the more difficult it will be to dissolve it.

If the mounting agent has already “set”, you should try pouring solvent into the bore from the tip side. To do this, you need to take a medical syringe, draw a solvent into it and inject it into the instrument channel, piercing the hardened foam along the entire length of the needle. You must act as quickly as possible, otherwise the solvent will corrode the soft material from which the syringe is made.

The antiseptic "Dimexide", which can be purchased at any pharmacy for little money, will successfully replace any solvent. In addition to its destructive effect on foam, the product is safe for skin and fabrics. You can not only clean the gun with it, but also wash your hands from foam and glue, and also wipe off soiled clothes.

How to clean dried foam from an instrument?

The first desire that arises when you see a mounting gun stained with dried foam is to throw it in the trash. It seems that it is simply unrealistic to clean such an instrument, but you should not rush. It is possible to cope with such complex pollution, you just need to be patient. The main thing is not to press the trigger, trying to revive the tool, and act carefully so as not to damage the mechanism.

How to clean the bore?

First of all, you need to clean the outer surface of the barrel from frozen foam. To do this, you can use a sharp knife. Pieces of the frozen substance are cut off, being careful not to damage the metal of the gun.

Then, lowering the nose of the tool down, pour it into the barrel near the trigger small quantity solvent and carefully press the trigger. If the gun has only been uncleaned for a day or two, foam will ooze from the barrel when the trigger is pulled. As soon as the trigger is completely unlocked, you need to attach a cylinder with a special flush and clean the device in the usual way.

If a dirty instrument has been left for more than a week, you will have to mechanically clean the barrel. For work you will need sharp knife and a piece of wire.

Using a knife, clean out the hole from which the foam was supplied as best as possible.
The wire is screwed into the bore. The further it goes, the easier it will be to clean the dried layer of polyurethane foam with a solvent.

When working with aggressive chemicals, it is necessary to protect the skin of your hands with rubber gloves, and your respiratory organs with a respirator or gauze bandage.

Cleaning the Valve and Mounting

Cleaning one barrel is not enough. If the trigger still does not want to be pressed, you need to free the trigger mechanism from the foam. To do this, first use a knife to remove the protruding growths of the frozen substance from the threads at the point where the can is attached and on the trigger, and then generously moisten the entire mechanism with solvent.

Particular attention should be paid to cleaning the small metal ball located on the gun body near the cylinder mount. It is this valve that is responsible for the movement of the trigger. If you free it from the mounting foam, the trigger mechanism will certainly work.

Disassembling the pistol

In the most hopeless cases, when the tool is left dirty and forgotten for several months, it will be necessary to disassemble the gun and soak all the parts individually in a solvent. At this point, it would be nice to find the manufacturer’s instructions, which indicate the sequence of actions and nuances that arise when disassembling the tool.

IN general outline the work is as follows:

unscrew the mechanism responsible for supplying foam from the cylinder;
disconnect the trigger mechanism;
pull out the barrel of the gun;
unscrew all nuts and bolts.

Each part is cleaned with a knife from hardened foam, and then washed with a solvent.

The gun for dispensing polyurethane foam requires special care and daily cleaning. If the tool has not been washed and some amount of construction mixture remains in it, you need to prepare for long and tedious work, which does not always end in success. After mechanical cleaning, particles of dried foam remain inside the barrel, adhering to the metal surface. They interfere with the passage of the train, so the gun does not work as efficiently as a new one. Taking into account all these nuances, we can conclude: it is better to wash an expensive tool in a timely manner, which will come in handy more than once during construction or repair, than to spend half a day cleaning it later.

A mounting gun is an indispensable tool in repair and construction. It simplifies the process of installing interior and entrance doors, window systems, sealing of intra-apartment communications, installation of slopes, insulation of facades and other things. But, the device often becomes clogged and it becomes necessary to clean the foam gun.

Is it worth using a spray foam gun?

It is not necessary to distribute polyurethane foam using a specialized mechanism - many types of applicator balloons are sold in hardware stores. In case of a one-time need, using this product is more profitable than buying a mounting gun. But when repair and construction is an industry professional employment person, special mechanism for distributing sealing compound - a bargain. This mechanism has the following positive aspects:

accurate dosing of the volume of supplied composition;
foam supply speed control;
instantaneous shutdown of the train supply when the lever is released;
the sealant remaining in the cylinder does not harden;
ease of distribution of sealant with limited access to the work area;
Daily use eliminates the need to clean the instrument.

When manipulating the foam gun, the composition for repair and construction work does not harden, since the supply system blocks access to oxygen. At the edge of the instrument tube, a small ball of the composition ensures tightness, and on the side of the cylinder, the trigger mechanism seals. But, during a long “rest”, the tool must be cleaned using a specialized device sold in hardware stores.

For reference!

When using several cylinders in a row, cleaning the spray foam gun is not necessary for 2-3 weeks, since it is enough to cut off the ball of the frozen composition and you can continue foaming the necessary areas.

Types and possibility of cleaning

Foam guns are divided according to the conditions of use into household and professional. The models that are constantly used by builders are dismountable and it is possible to clean their structural elements after dividing the tool into main parts. Models for household use generally have a non-separable design, which makes them difficult to clean from dried foam and reuse. When choosing a tool, you need to take into account technical specifications, which determine the ease of use of the pistol. The main characteristics are the ability to maintain tightness, the material of the mechanism body and its key structural elements.

Ensuring tightness is a parameter that determines the quality of the device and its operating parameters: dosing accuracy and the likelihood of the mounting compound hardening in the tool. As a base material, in case professional models, metal and impact-resistant plastic are used. There are 3 main categories of materials from which the mechanism is made:

Metal is the most durable option. The operating period of models with a metal body is the longest. The average duration of use of such a mechanism is 5 years. These models are also easy to clean, as the body is impact-resistant and the likelihood of damage is minimal.
Teflon – the tool has metal surfaces that are coated with a protective Teflon layer. This coating simplifies the process of cleaning the mechanism from hardened polyurethane foam. But during the manipulation, great care is needed. Otherwise, the cleaning method is no different from that used for metal models.
Plastic - when the material is not impact-resistant, such a tool is disposable and it is impractical to clean the mechanism.

Attention!

The simplicity of the design of professional models of mounting guns is not a reason for refusing to follow the rules for cleaning the tool. Timely cleaning avoids inconvenience and difficulties during subsequent applications.

The easiest way to clean the gun from foam is to prevent contamination and hardening. It is necessary to think about the cleanliness of the instrument in advance - you need to buy cleaning products before the need to use them arises. In order to quickly and easily clean the gun from dried foam in the supply system, you need to fulfill 2 conditions - speed and forethought.

Purifier characteristics

When using solvents, it is necessary to wash the feeding mechanism of the instrument, observing safety precautions. When removing frozen building composition, you need to remember that all liquids are caustic and if they come into contact with open skin or mucous membranes, they can leave severe chemical burns. If during care the solvent accidentally gets on the skin, it is necessary to rinse the affected area with a large volume of running water. If cleaning compounds for mounting guns get on the mucous membranes, in addition to rinsing, you should go to the doctor - to prevent possible complications.

In addition to being caustic, cleaners can be flammable, so manipulation can only be carried out away from sources of open flame. Flushing the gun due to increased danger ignition of the cleaning composition is also not recommended in areas where smoking occurs. It is better if the entire process of cleaning the instrument is performed outdoors, when the temperature environment does not exceed 25 ̊С.

Attention!

When cleaning the gun, regardless of the cleaning composition used, it is necessary to ensure that the barrel of the tool is not pointed towards animals or people.

The importance of timely cleaning

The gun must be washed immediately after use - it is not recommended to delay cleaning, since the sealant will have hardened in a few hours and it will be much more difficult to remove the hardened building compound. In addition to difficulties with cleaning, the most common cause The reason for tool failure is that it is clogged and maintenance of the gun was not carried out in a timely manner. The most frequently clogged areas are:

balloon spout;
stop ball;
supply valve

These areas are mechanical limiters and in order to clean them, you need to disassemble the gun and clean it. When the building compound hardens in the barrel of the mounting gun, you need to use a specialized solvent that copes well with such blockages. When the instrument has not been used for a long time, it is recommended to carry out preventive cleaning once every few months. This extends the service life of the spray foam gun.

How to clean the nozzle on a cylinder

To remove the mounting foam, remove it from the fitting directly on the cylinder ( upper part, where the nozzle is fixed) a column of sealant. Carefully screw in a self-tapping screw whose diameter is smaller than the hole. Next, pull the screw - foam will come out with it. After this, lightly squeeze the fitting - when the hiss of escaping air is heard, the cylinder can be used in the future, since the foam in it remains under pressure. The nozzle is cleaned according to the following algorithm:

The nozzle consists of an adapter and a long tube, which is disconnected from the second part. This manipulation is not difficult, since the elements are inserted into each other.
The tube is cleaned using a long self-tapping screw, which is used to pull out foam columns in turn from 2 sides. The remaining foam can be pushed out with a knitting needle.
The adapter is cleaned of mounting foam in the same way as the tube.

For reference!

To release the tube, this element is gently kneaded - fingers are squeezed in the areas where foam remains. Air bubbles in the foam will come out and the column will decrease.

If the foam has dried out

Dried foam is a mistake in handling a mounting gun, which is made by people who are unprofessionally involved in repairs. This problem occurs even when the need to clean the gun is forgotten for 1 day - during this period the sealant manages to “grab” inside the tool and does not allow the start lever to be pressed. It is not recommended to apply more force, since the pressure will not be enough to squeeze out the frozen sealant in the barrel, and the parts of the mechanism may not withstand the load and will become unusable. To rid the instrument of foam, perform the following steps:

Remove any building compound that has hardened on the outer parts of the tool. To do this, use a construction knife, which is used to carefully cut off the adhering compound. It is important not to scratch the piston.
Wear protective gloves and fill the syringe with acetone. The tool is lowered towards the floor and solvent is dripped into the initial part of the barrel, near the trigger. It is necessary that acetone does not get on the plastic parts of the mechanism.
Carefully and smoothly, without sudden movements, pull the trigger. When time has not been lost too much, liquefied sealant will begin to come out of the nozzle.

During the procedure, you must be careful and not rush. After completing the cleaning of the hardened building composition, connect a cylinder with a specialized solvent and rinse the tool mechanisms. After washing - when the barrel and other mechanisms of the mounting mechanism are cleaned - the tool can be used further.

Cleaning the Main Valve

When the trigger of the gun remains motionless after applying acetone, this indicates that the ball valve is jammed with dried foam. Cleaning this mechanism of the mounting gun is more difficult than other parts, since the procedure requires disassembling the tool. To free the main working systems when the valve is stuck, you need to follow the algorithm:

Near the clamp for cylinders with polyurethane foam, you need to find a valve with a metal ball.
The area is carefully filled with acetone or dimexide and left alone for 8-10 minutes.
Install a bottle of cleaner for mounting guns and pull the trigger several times.

Attention! After filling the valve, it is necessary to position the device so that the liquid does not spill out.

Full flush

If, after releasing the valve, it is not possible to flush the device channels with foam remover, you need to try pouring the solvent deeper. To get to the inside of the mounting gun, partial disassembly is carried out. Before starting, fix the device in a stationary position and clean off all visible polyurethane residues. To remove the valve, you need to follow the instructions:

The crown for fixing the cylinders is carefully unscrewed counterclockwise and the ball valve is removed.
The solvent is poured through the crown socket so that the liquid stands inside the device and left for half an hour.
The valve is put in place to check the effectiveness of the method - you need to press the ball several times. If the mass is dissolved, it will come out of the nozzle along with the solvent.
The gun, after cleaning from clots, is assembled in the reverse order and washed with a washing solution.

You can wash the gun using these methods only when the polyurethane foam has recently hardened in the system - the polyurethane has not yet hardened completely and can be dissolved with simple compounds. If you leave the device for a period exceeding 7 days, the methods will not be effective enough for cleaning, since fully cured polyurethane is not susceptible to household solvents.

The foam has completely frozen

When the polyurethane has completely hardened, it cannot be dissolved; it is easier to throw the gun in the trash. The only method, if necessary, to clean the device is mechanical action. To do this, you need to prepare stiff wire, pliers, gloves, a respirator and acetone to wash off polyurethane residues from parts. The procedure is carried out according to the following algorithm:

The tool is completely disassembled - the main thing is not to damage the threads on the connections.
Large pieces, if they become accessible, are gradually cut off with a knife.
The wire is used as a cleaning rod for the barrel of a gun - adding acetone.
When the foam plug has already been cleaned, a solvent is poured inside for 15-20 minutes.
After cleaning is completed, the device is reassembled in reverse order and washed with cleaner.

Attention!

Mechanically cleaning the gun from polyurethane foam will take at least 1 hour - there is no need to rush, as there is a risk of damaging the threads on the joints.

If the sealing material is cleaned from the gun in a timely manner, the tool will last a long time. Therefore, it is recommended to put it in order immediately after use. While the mass has not yet hardened, it is not difficult to remove it - it will be enough to use a cleaner in a bottle from a hardware store. But, you need to ensure that the product is produced by the same manufacturer as the foam. Different companies have differences in the components of polyurethane foam and solvent.

How to clean the foam gun after use. In the repair and construction business, the mounting gun has become something so common that it is already difficult to do without this tool. Without it it is not so easy to carry out various important processes– install plastic windows, install interior and entrance doors, install slopes, seal engineering systems in the house, insulate the facade and much more.

But this device often gets clogged due to the use of polyurethane foam, and for this reason, when purchasing, you should immediately figure out how to clean the gun from dried polyurethane foam.

Using a sealing compound and construction pistol To supply it, you can seal various cracks, as well as voids, and this helps to perform all sorts of manipulations. But still, despite the simplicity of the design, such a device requires special care and attention.

Can you identify several types of devices that will help you determine how to clean them?

A pistol made of metal. This variety is the most durable and reliable. Its operational life is on average about 5 years. It is also easy to use and clean.

Teflon. This type of device has metal surfaces, but they are coated with Teflon for protection. This makes the gun easy to clean. The method for removing sealant is similar to that of a conventional metal gun.

Plastic. This device is positioned as disposable, so you shouldn’t even clean it.

Please note that the mounting gun is usually used more than a dozen times, and so that future work with this tool does not cause you trouble, you should ensure that it is cleaned in a timely manner.

Let's look at several options that will help remove sealant from the gun:

Now that the cleaning methods have been determined, let's take a closer look at the means by which cleaning can be performed.

How to carry out the procedure

How to cleanse

The degree of contamination of the construction gun will determine which cleaning method you use. The simplest and, moreover, accessible option for everyone will be the one that is used when it is possible to eliminate contamination immediately after using the unit. In this case, it is necessary to remove visible particles of the gun, as well as to force out the residual mass of sealant from the barrel.

M Mechanical cleaning involves complete disassembly of the instrument:

You need to unscrew and get out everything that is possible. The instructions that come with the device must include detailed instructions on how to clean the gun from stuck foam. When working, you should carefully remove and unscrew everything so as not to tear or damage the threads.

When disassembling the pistol, you should clean all existing parts from foam, and then wipe them dry with a soft cloth, and also blow out the barrel. For such purposes, it is better to use a ramrod, and you can make it yourself from any available means, for example, from wire.

Pour a special liquid into the barrel, “flushing”, and then clean the tube from any remaining foam using an improvised rod. Repeat all the manipulations until the cleaning rod moves easily in all directions and its tip appears on the other side. If the foam has dried in the barrel, then remove it with just one chemical substance you won't succeed.

The barrel should be cleaned very carefully so that in the future, residual foam does not interfere with the passage of the new polyurethane foam type sealant.

When cleaning the tool, you should lubricate its connection points and perform assembly.

After all manipulations, the tool is ready for use.

Please note that such actions should only be performed if you have an idea of how the device was designed. If you do not have such information, we recommend that you seek help and advice from specialists.

Disassembling a pistol is an extreme case, and it is better to avoid putting all equipment through such procedures. Even after thoroughly cleaning the gun new sealant may not come out well through the nozzle, in which case the gun becomes useless.

There is another cleaning method, and it is used if the gun barrel is completely clogged, and in addition to this, the adjustment lever (i.e. the trigger) is not pressed. In this case, you should carefully clean the nozzle from foam and sealant in general, and then lubricate everything with a solvent. The barrel must be down. After a few minutes the lever should begin to move. If everything worked out for you, then you can continue cleaning further.
If it turns out that the adjusting mechanism cannot be moved, then use the third method. There is a small ball in the area where the container with the foam enclosed in it connects to the gun. It is this that should be treated with a solvent. Such actions can really help with cleansing if the foam is heavily clogged in the bottle of cleaner, and then clean the barrel with all the contents.

So, based on everything listed above, you can conclude that when starting work with a gun for installation and sealing with foam, you should always have a “gun first aid” with you, namely a bottle of cleaner. Forethought will help you timely clean expensive equipment from remaining foam that has not hardened, as well as extend the service life of the device. If the sealant has already hardened, keep in mind that using brute force can damage the gun, especially if you have a Teflon type. In such a case, the device will simply become unsuitable for subsequent use.

If, after completing the work, the tool still remains dirty, and there is also a possibility that the foam will have time to harden, then before performing the procedures for cleaning the mounting gun from foam, you should never pull the trigger, as this may break mechanism.

You should clean the gun from the mounting foam that has managed to harden as soon as possible, following certain rules:

Immediately clean the barrel of any sealant that has stuck to it. For these purposes, you can use a knife, but keep in mind that cleaning should be done extremely carefully so that the valve is not damaged.

The gun nozzle/valve must be positioned straight down. The trigger mechanism should be filled with a substance such as Dimexide. Next, after a minute, try to lightly press the adjustment lever, and if it begins to oscillate and the sealant flows from the nozzle, the gun can continue to be used. If nothing like this happens, then you will need to proceed to the next step of removing the sealant that has accumulated in the hole.

There is a small ball near the place where the balloon connection is made. It is necessary to apply a little product (Dimexide) to it, and then attach the bottle containing the cleaner. After a couple of minutes, try to pull the trigger.

Please note that if for some reason none of the methods described above helped, you should completely disassemble the instrument, and then drip solvent (or the same Dimexide) into the socket and into each internal part of the device. Next, after 1/3 of an hour, all the remaining mass that has hardened will give in easily, and you can wipe everything off with a rag. After assembling the gun, you should wash it with a reagent.

This removal method should only be used when more than 8 hours have passed since completion of work. During this time, the foam can dry 100%, and therefore the instrument should be cleaned mechanically after eight hours. After such cleaning, the device will be able to produce much less pressure than before. For this reason, you should take care of the device and its cleanliness in advance, remove all foreign matter as quickly as possible, before it has time to dry.

But there is another method that makes it possible to avoid mechanical cleansing and full analysis devices, due to which the gun nozzle will always be in working condition. To do this, you will need a tube, preferably a plastic one (you can remove it from the tool for one-time use), good wire, and the gun itself.

Using a wire, you should hook the plastic tube and attach it to the nozzle of the device, and after working with the gun, simply remove it. For further use of the gun, you should take a new plastic tube, and thus the tool will always be ready and clean for new work.

How to wash a gun

The mechanical method is sufficient in an effective way in order to clean the gun from polyurethane foam. But if the foam has time to harden in the cavity of the barrel, then it will be difficult to remove it completely, just all the particles. As a result, with each further use, the pressure of the foam will become less and less, since the new sealant will constantly cling to the remaining fractions of the substance. To solve the problem, you should promptly remove residual foam, and if you have started the situation, wash the equipment.

You will be able to perform high-quality cleaning of the gun from hardened polyurethane foam by washing if you can follow two basic rules - speed and forethought. Such moments mean that you should buy special cleaning products and quick use. Experts advise buying cleaning products from the same company as the manufacturer of polyurethane foam, and working only in tandem of the same name.

Important! When the application of the sealant is completed, you should immediately, without delay, begin to clean the tool. Remove the used container, and if there is still foam left in it, do not throw it away - the substance in the container will retain its positive properties for a long time.

Washing the mounting gun is carried out according to simple rules:

Remove the bottle containing the sealant, and instead, fix the bottle containing the cleaning aerosol.

Pull the trigger. At the same time, liquid should begin to drip from the spout of the device. Keep it pressed until the stream becomes clear - this is the main sign that the cleaning agent has managed to dissolve the hardened sealant.

The cylinder should be removed and triggered again. If for some reason it moves jerkily, it means that it was not possible to wash off all the dirt and you need to repeat the procedure again.

Please note that then, according to safety rules, when washing, the barrel of the instrument must be directed away from the person so that the cleaning composition does not get on his skin and mucous membranes.

The fact is that the solvent can leave a burn on the body, and therefore when working with it you should be extremely careful and attentive. Please note that you should not smoke near the cylinder, store it in the sun, near a fire, or open the container. If the substance gets into your nose, mouth or eyes, you should definitely and immediately seek help from a doctor.
If you wish, you can replace the aerosol remover, and if you don’t have any product at home, you can use acetone instead. Pour it into the nozzle of the device, and then use an iron wire to clean the gun. It should be washed slowly so that all parts remain undamaged and intact.

So, the main thing that is really worth remembering when buying a foam mounting gun is that this type of equipment should be cleaned after each use, and also try not to waste time. The main reason The failure of such devices is the hardening of foam.

Blockages can form in the following places:

Such breakdowns can be classified as mechanical, and to eliminate them immediately, you should simply clean the tool; do not throw it away immediately. But if, due to something, sticking occurred directly in the barrel of the gun, then cleaning will not help, and repair work will also not be possible. In a simple way In order to prevent this kind of trouble, it is necessary to follow the operating rules and proper care. Repair work on the gun is usually not carried out; the most common procedure is mechanical cleaning and lubrication.

Craftsmen with extensive experience know better than anyone else how important it is to keep your tools clean. For this reason, experienced craftsmen give recommendations to beginners who have just begun to use this type of auxiliary equipment for repair and construction work.

It is important to ensure that any contamination is removed immediately after the work is completed. Due to timely cleaning, the sealant gun will last much longer than it can. The cleaning method will depend on how complex the contamination is, as well as on the time the sealant spent in the device. If the foam has not yet dried, it will not be difficult to wipe it off.

Useful advice! Substances chemical type For cleaning, experts advise buying it together with polyurethane foam. Ideally, both substances should be from the same manufacturing company.

If you plan to replace a cylinder with a can from another manufacturer, the sealant in which has different characteristics, then you should definitely remove the gun and rinse it thoroughly. Sealing foam varies from company to company chemical composition, and if substances begin to interact with each other inside the device, then material may appear that simply cannot be removed. For this reason, it is better to always take cleaning and sealing from the same trademark. Special chemicals will work much more effectively than universal liquids. Each company will produce polyurethane foam with different characteristics. A cleaner from a similar series will adapt to the characteristics of the polyurethane foam, and therefore the cleaning result will always be ideal.

To carry out repair and construction work, a spray foam gun is often used. The mechanism for using the device is very simple, so it is used by both professional craftsmen and amateurs.

The gun allows you to accurately and efficiently fill the seams using polyurethane foam. But every instrument needs care. This rule especially applies to the gun, since dried sealant can affect the operation of the tool.

Peculiarities

Modern manufacturers of construction equipment offer a wide range of high-quality and convenient guns for working with polyurethane foam. The rules for cleaning this instrument depend largely on its type.

Currently offered for sale the following types mounting guns:

Plastic. They are generally considered disposable, since plastic is an intolerable material. This tool does not need to be cleaned. If the work of filling the seams is completely completed, and there is still foam in the balloon, then it is necessary to wipe the nozzle of the gun from any remaining sealant, and in the future the gun with the balloon can be used again.

Metal. They are characterized by durability and reliability. A pistol made of high-quality metal can be used for several years. This option can be easily disassembled for thorough cleaning of foam residues.
Teflon. This variety is the most durable, high-quality and expensive. Each metal part is protected with a Teflon coating. Cleaning this gun is quite easy. The tool can be disassembled to remove the sealant.

The mounting gun offers many advantages:

produces an accurate dosage of foam;
regulates the speed of sealant supply;
allows the use of foam even in places with limited access;

It is enough to release the trigger to stop feeding the material;
allows you to use only part of the container with sealant, while you can be sure that the foam will not harden until the next time;
If you use the gun every day, there is no need to remove the frozen material.

The peculiarity of the mechanism of the mounting gun is that during pauses between work it guarantees complete protection of the sealant from oxygen, so the foam is not prone to drying out. The tightness of the valve is ensured by the foam residues that remain at the end of the tube, and the closed trigger mechanism is responsible for the tightness of the cylinder.

To start working again, just cut off the foam ball on the tool nozzle.

When should you clean?

When choosing a high-quality spray foam gun, you should focus on the material and price of the tool. Expensive options characterized by a long service life. There is no need to buy a new tool every time, so an expensive gun can easily pay for itself.

The lifespan of a mounting gun depends on its maintenance. After work, sealant remains inside the tool. It will not damage the product if you quickly clean the nozzle, barrel, adapter and other elements of the mechanism.

It is not always possible to clean the foam gun after finishing work, so many encounter hardened foam. In this case, eliminating it will take more strength and time.

Inexperienced craftsmen do not always understand why they need to clean the gun, so they ignore this procedure. As a result, with further use it stops working, because the foam has dried out and the barrel is clogged. The tool requires cleaning if the repair and construction work has already been completed. Next time it will be ready for use.

If you need to seal the seams with foam once, then there is no need to spend money on buying a gun; then you can get by just with a bottle of sealant with a special applicator.

According to experience, even home craftsmen prefer pistols, since they will have to be used more than once.

If you clean it correctly and regularly, it will last for many years.

What can I wash it with?

To ensure that the gun is always ready for use, ideally it should be washed after each use. Experts recommend washing the tool, even if you plan to change the container with sealant from one manufacturer to another, or want to use foam of a different heat resistance.

Usually materials from various companies have different impurities in their composition, and if they come into contact, they can turn into a mixture that no cleaner can help eliminate. The tool will have to be thrown away.

When purchasing a sealant, you should immediately purchase a cleaner so that they are from the same manufacturer. This approach will allow you to clean the gun quickly and easily, since the company has produced the most effective cleaner for personally produced sealant.

In reality, you don’t always have a cleaner or free time about washing tools, so washing the gun is usually carried out at the end of the working day.

If not special means to clean the tool from foam, then you can use improvised means.

One of the most effective home methods is to use Dimexide. With its help you can dissolve the foam in a few minutes.

How to clean it properly?

To ensure high-quality cleaning of the foam gun, you should follow the following procedure:

It is necessary to remove the empty sealant bottle from the gun, with the tool located at the top.
To clean the instrument you will need a special bottle of cleaner.
The flushing agent must be fixed in the same place where the sealant was located, but before using it, the cap must be removed from it.

Need to bring the gun to working condition, while the cleaner bottle will be located at the top.
Gently pull the gun trigger and continue this action until foam stops coming out of the tool nozzle.
Remove the chemical container.
If after cleaning the product has not run out, then it should be closed with a lid, and the composition can be used for the next cleaning of the instrument.

If it was not possible to clean the gun immediately after finishing work, then before cleaning it is forbidden to pull the trigger of the tool, because this can break the entire mechanism.

You need to do the following:

Using a sharp object, remove the remaining frozen foam from the instrument barrel.
You can wash the gun with Dimexide or acetone.
You should lower the device with the nozzle down, and drop a few drops of solvent into the trigger mechanism.
Leave the tool in this position for one minute until the foam inside the tool begins to soften.

Squeeze the trigger with ease.
If the pressure is gentle and foam comes out of the nozzle, this means that the product has worked and the gun can be used for work.
If the sealant does not appear from the nozzle, then you need to drip a few drops of the cleaner onto the ball located in the device adapter.
After five minutes, screw on the cleaner bottle and gently pull the trigger.

If the methods described above for cleaning the gun did not help eliminate the frozen foam, then all that remains is to disassemble the tool:

it must be held from the bottom of the nest;
first unscrew the crown;
remove the valve;
drip the cleaner into the socket and onto the remaining internal parts of the tool;

leave in this state for 20 minutes;
with the help cotton fabric remove remaining foam;
Next you need to assemble the tool;
wash with solvent.

If more than six hours have passed since you finished working with the gun, you can immediately begin mechanical method cleaning, since during this time the sealant hardens tightly inside, so ordinary washing cannot cope with the task.