How to cheaply wash a gun from polyurethane foam. How to clean a gun from dried polyurethane foam A gun for polyurethane foam has dried out, what to do

Answer:

Mounting gun– an irreplaceable thing in a house where it is customary to do at least part of the home improvement work with your own hands. Of course, there are cylinders from which foam is supplied directly, but knowledgeable people prefer to use a gun.

Firstly, using cylinders is unreasonably expensive, plus the quality of work done this way is much worse. Secondly, the gun allows you to make neat and reliable seams, even if a beginner takes on the job.

But what to do if the polyurethane foam has dried right in the gun, and you suddenly need it urgently? It’s worth saying right away that it’s better, in principle, not to lead to such problems, because washing a gun for polyurethane foam is labor-intensive and slow.

So, you need a gun right now, but you can’t use it. What to do in this case?

The pistol hook does not budge. This indicates that the foam has frozen inside and you absolutely cannot put pressure on it in an attempt to correct the situation - you risk breaking the fragile frame.

It is necessary to carefully remove the foam with a knife from the beginning of the barrel, without scratching the piston, and then drop the solvent there, pointing the gun so that it flows downwards. Make sure that the solvent does not get on other parts!

Next, we gently try to set the hook in motion until it begins to give in, and at the same time we remove the foam that begins to come out along the rod. If everything went well, we blow out the gun by putting on a valid cylinder.

The above manipulations did not help. This means that the foam has cemented the gun's main valve. You can try carefully pouring the solvent (literally a drop!) onto the ball in the place where the balloon is inserted. After ten minutes, you need to clean the device with a special cleaner. If this does not help, you will have to remove the valve.

To remove the valve you need to unscrew the crown.

This must be done carefully, holding the gun exclusively under the socket, otherwise the plastic case will crack, and this is certain death of the device. Then we drip solvent into both the gun and the nest itself. After waiting 15 minutes, you need to press the ball, it is advisable to use a wooden stick, otherwise you will scratch or even split it.

After all the manipulations, we carefully assemble the gun and, in general, it is ready for use. By the way, foam may escape at the seams, this is not a problem, the foam will cover these places, and the voids inside will be treated with a special liquid.

As you can see, washing a spray foam gun is a long and nerve-wracking undertaking. All this can and should be avoided by constantly cleaning the gun after use. Then it will serve for a long time, and you will not have to worry about disassembling the mechanism.

And you can also look video Cleaning the gun from foam

A spray foam gun is a convenient device for construction work. The principle of its operation is to distribute a dosed amount of polyurethane foam.

Using this tool, various construction work is carried out to fill voids, holes and seams in walls, window frames, and doorways. Unlike conventional mounting cylinders, when using a gun, you get an even and high-quality seam without excessive consumption of sealant.

Installation gun device

The mounting device has a long metal rod for convenient distribution of foam along the seam. There is a ball valve inside that closes the outlet of the sealant. An adjusting screw is used to distribute the foam. It is advisable to choose pistol models made of reliable and durable metal.

When to clean the mounting gun

The installation tool is washed with a special strong solvent liquid every time after use so that it serves for a long time and properly. Moreover, polyurethane sealant is cleaned not only from the device itself, but also from hands, clothing and work surfaces. Aerosol cans with flushing liquid are sold by the same manufacturers that produce polyurethane foam.

Technical data for flushing from polyurethane foam:

• The main component is dimethyl ketone;
• The contents of the aerosol can are under pressure. Handle with care: do not disassemble, store out of reach of children;
• Does not tolerate direct sunlight;
• Do not allow the cylinder to overheat above 50 ° C. The recommended air temperature when working with the cylinder is +5 – +35 ° C;
• After use, under no circumstances should the container be burned or opened.

Instructions: how to use polyurethane foam cleaner

• Open the protective cap on the cleaner;
• Remove the used polyurethane foam container from the mounting gun gearbox;
• Install a flushing bottle on the gearbox;
• Pass the flushing liquid through the tool rod by pressing the adjusting trigger several times to supply the sealant;
• Remove the cleaner bottle;
• Check that all foam has been removed inside the instrument.

To clean work surfaces from dried polyurethane foam, tightly put on the special sprayer supplied with the washing aerosol and direct it to the contaminated area.

Do not bring your working tool to such a state that the sealant dries right in the gun, since washing it is a rather labor-intensive and lengthy process. If your adjusting trigger suddenly stops working, the tool may be dirty and it's time to clean it.

If this happens, remove the mounting bottle with polyurethane foam and carefully cut off the excess foam from the rod. Then lower the gun down and drip flushing into the gearbox. Make sure that the liquid does not spill or get on other parts of the installation tool. Gently press the trigger and squeeze out the dried sealant.

If this does not help, then carefully disassemble the gun and clean the main valve with solvent, dripping it onto it at the junction with the cylinder. If the mounting device is still clogged with foam, remove the valve and flush that part with solvent. Cleaning completed. Afterwards, carefully assemble the tool and it is ready for use.

Safety precautions when working with flushing:

• The composition is fire hazardous as it contains flammable substances, therefore, it must be kept away from open flames, electrical appliances, heated surfaces and spark-producing equipment. Smoking is prohibited in the premises where work is being carried out;
• Minimally toxic. In case of contact with the eyes or inside, you should immediately consult a doctor, because the components of the cleaning liquid irritate the skin, respiratory tract, eyes and can cause allergies. If inhaled for a long time, it is hazardous to health. Before use, it is advisable to cover your eyes with safety glasses and wear gloves;

• After cleaning the skin of your hands from foam using a cleaner, wash your hands thoroughly under running water and soap;
• Work carefully in clothes made of artificial fabrics so that there is no chemical reaction between synthetic fibers and washing;
• Spray in a ventilated area. If ventilation is not working satisfactorily, use respiratory protection.

The mounting gun will serve its entire intended life if you follow these simple rules and regularly use flushing liquid to remove polyurethane foam residues. This is why it will be useful

A spray foam gun is a special device that allows you to hermetically blow in seams in building structures. Purchasing such a device will save money, since regularly purchasing individual cylinders with a tube will cost much more.

Despite all the advantages of the pistol, it has an unpleasant feature - it clogs up at the most inopportune moment. The situation gets worse if the instrument is not properly cared for. What to do if dried foam clogs the hole and the gun no longer wants to work?

How to clean the mounting gun after work?

To ensure that the tool lasts as long as possible, it is important to clean it in a timely manner. The fact is that the foam dries quickly, clogging all the “insides” of the gun, as a result of which it becomes unusable. If it is easy to get rid of a fresh blockage by removing the dried compound by washing with special means, then removing the old blockage will take a lot of time and effort.

Professionals, who know better than anyone else how to clean a foam gun, advise washing it with a chemical cleaner immediately after use. It is advisable to purchase foam and cleaning liquid from the same manufacturer, since in this case the formula of the cleaner will be selected specifically to effectively remove the components of the mounting mixture.

You can clean the tool after use as follows:

1. The empty can is unscrewed, and in its place a bottle of cleaning liquid is installed, from which the protective cap is first removed.
2. After this, you need to press the trigger and continue until pieces of polyurethane foam stop coming out of the gun. As soon as the stream is clean, you can remove the cleaner bottle and put the tool back in place.

To prevent the question of how to properly clean a foam gun from becoming a headache, you need to prevent the formation of sticky plugs inside. In this case, the device does not even need to be disassembled for complete cleaning and you can safely continue to use it after washing.

How to clean a dried out foam gun?

If blockages have formed inside and completely blocked the barrel, do not put a bottle of cleaning fluid and mercilessly press the trigger in the hope that the dried plug will magically dissolve.

It is better to use the following action plan:

1. Clean any debris from the outside of the barrel. This can be done with a knife, but it must be used very carefully, avoiding damage to the mechanism.
2. Lower the gun down and drop some solvent into the barrel at the base. It is important to ensure that the caustic cleaning liquid does not come into contact with other parts, as this may damage them.
3. Wait a couple of minutes and try to pull the trigger. If the solvent has worked, the dried mixture will become softer and begin to gradually come out. The main thing is to use force carefully.

If the situation has not yet become catastrophic, then the problem of cleaning a clogged foam gun can be solved in 10-15 minutes.

Cleaning the Main Valve

Sometimes the mixture dries out so much that it blocks the trigger and the tool becomes unusable. To solve this problem, you need to find a small ball at the place where the balloon is attached, drop a little solvent on it and leave for 10 minutes. After waiting the allotted time, you need to install a bottle of chemical cleaner and press the trigger. Clumps of foam should begin to come out of the barrel; if this does not happen, then complete disassembly of the device, complete washing and subsequent reassembly are required.

Full flush

In particularly difficult cases, heavy artillery will have to be used. To completely eliminate dried residues and subsequent normal functioning, it is necessary to disassemble the tool into parts and clean each separately.

First of all, the valve crown, which is located at the point where the cylinders are attached, is unscrewed. The solvent is poured inside and the removed part is treated with it. The device is left in this form for half an hour, then you need to try to press on the ball of the main valve. If clumps of polyurethane foam come out, it means everything worked out; there is no further need to disassemble and clean the tool. Assembly is carried out in reverse order.

Otherwise, you will have to dismantle all the removable parts, pour acetone inside the gun barrel, wait a little and start cleaning with wire. As soon as the tip of the wire appears from the other end of the barrel and pieces of foam no longer come out, you can reassemble the gun and wash it again with a regular cleaning agent.

If you rinse and carefully clean the mounting gun in a timely manner, it can be used for many years to come.

The mounting gun is an indispensable tool in construction. But what to do if it gets clogged? How to clean it from hardened foam?

Which polyurethane foam guns can be cleaned?

A mounting gun is a tool for sealing cracks and holes with special foam, which requires special attention and care. Methods for cleaning it differ depending on the type of device.

The mounting gun is an indispensable assistant in construction

1. Metal. The most reliable and durable. Its service life can be up to 5 years. It is easy to clean.
2. Teflon. It is of very high quality. In it, metal surfaces are protected with a Teflon coating. As a result, it is easy to clean. The procedure for removing foam is the same as for a metal tool.
3. Plastic. Most often disposable, so cleaning it is impractical. If it has not run out of foam, then immediately after finishing work its nozzle should be washed with solvent. This will prepare the device for further use.

The most popular pistols - gallery

The metal gun is not only reliable to use, but also easy to clean. Cleaning a Teflon gun is easy, the main thing is to take care of its coating It is important to clean the plastic gun immediately after completion of work.

How to clean your instrument at home

There are special products for cleaning the mounting gun. It is better to purchase them together with the tool. Moreover, the manufacturer of the foam and the product for removing it must be the same. Otherwise, the procedure for getting rid of building material will be somewhat more complicated and will take more time.

After finishing the workflow, follow these steps:

1. Remove the used foam canister from the device.
2. In its place, fix the cleaner with the cleaner, having first removed the cap from it.
3. Press the trigger until no more foam comes out of the nozzle.

If the cleaner canister is not completely used up, close it with the protective cap and save it for next time.

We follow safety precautions

The solvent, like any chemical, is not very beneficial to health. When using a cylinder, basic safety precautions should be observed:

• When cleaning, the nozzle should be directed downwards. This way you will avoid getting the solvent in your eyes or on your clothes;
• keep the cylinder away from open flames, heaters and direct sunlight;
• Do not attempt to open or burn an empty cleaner container;
• do not smoke while using the solvent canister;
• If liquid gets into your eyes, you should immediately consult a doctor;
• If exposed areas of the body are affected, treat them with a soda solution (1 teaspoon of soda per glass of water at room temperature) or laundry soap, and then rinse thoroughly with water.

How to remove foam with acetone

If you do not have a special liquid, you can use acetone at home. Pour it into the tool nozzle and use a wire or cleaning rod to completely clean the device. You need to act carefully so as not to damage delicate and vulnerable parts.

Cleaning the gun with acetone - video

How to wash hardened foam

If the tool has not been cleaned immediately after use, then under no circumstances should you pull the trigger before starting cleaning. The release mechanism may break. Here's how to properly clean a gun from hardened foam:

1. Clean the barrel of any adhering foam. You can use a knife. Be careful not to scratch the piston.
2. Place the gun with the nozzle down and drop Dimexide into the trigger mechanism. After a minute, carefully pull the trigger. If it starts to move and foam comes out of the nozzle, then the gun is ready for use. If this does not happen, then you need to move on to the next cleaning step.
3. There is a small ball next to the device for screwing the cylinder. Apply a few drops of Dimexide to it. After 5 minutes, attach the cleaner bottle. Squeeze the trigger smoothly.
4. If the previous methods do not help, disassemble the tool. Holding it at the bottom of the socket, carefully unscrew the crown, then remove the valve. Place chemical solvent or Dimexide into the socket and into all internal parts of the device. After 20 minutes, remove any remaining dirt with a cotton cloth. Then reassemble the gun and clean it with solvent. After such cleaning, the device may produce less pressure during operation.

If more than 6 hours have passed since the completion of the work, then it is better to carry out complete disassembly immediately. In this case, the foam has had time to dry, so the tool needs to be cleaned only mechanically, without experimenting with screwing in the cleaner and pressing the trigger - this is dangerous.

"Demixid" is the most effective home remedy that will remove polyurethane foam in a matter of minutes

Cleaning the tool from dried material - video

Is it possible to do without cleaning the nozzle?

A mounting gun is an irreplaceable thing. At the same time, it has one drawback: in order for the tool to retain its properties, it must be cleaned after each use. However, there is a method that allows you to avoid this procedure and keep the nozzle in proper condition. To do this, you will need a plastic tube used for a disposable tool.

1. Prepare a plastic tube, wire and gun.
2. Use wire to attach the tube to the nozzle.
3. After using the gun, the tube can be removed and a new one can be used in the future.

How to avoid gun clogging - video

Each type of mounting gun requires its own approach. The main thing here is to prevent the foam from hardening inside the device. If you clean your instrument on time, it will serve you for many years.

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.

To expend less effort, the gun should be cleaned every time after finishing work. If this is not done, the material will dry out very firmly.

Remove with acetone or other solvent

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

In this state, it is extremely susceptible to the active chemical effects of the 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. The effectiveness of this method depends on how quickly the solvent is used - the more it 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 contamination, while being absolutely safe for the skin of the hands and the fabric used to apply it 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

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 packed under pressure from a cylinder, combined with its strong 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 it from the gun.

Remains are removed with a knife

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.

Note!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.

Disassembling the pistol

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.

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