Cleaning spray foam gun

[branimal]

Anyone have experience cleaning out spray foam guns? I borrowed one from a friend and it refused to shoot anything out. My friend always keeps a can of spray foam attached to the gun and sprays it once every 4 weeks to keep it from clogging.

I'm pretty sure something dried up either at the trigger or in the nozzle that's preventing it from spraying.

I picked up a can of gun sprayer.

Any tips would be appreciated.

 

[tinmanwpk]

What did he use it for, car washes? If so, let it soak in warm water. It all depends on what went through that nozzle that bugged it all up.

 

[jrsavoie]

I've had to disassemble them for a thorough cleaning. They can be a pia if not used regularly.

 

[branimal]

What did he use it for, car washes? If so, let it soak in warm water. It all depends on what went through that nozzle that bugged it all up.

Insulation, Foam glueing down subfloors.

I've had to disassemble them for a thorough cleaning. They can be a pia if not used regularly.

Easy job?

 

[egdede]

Take the foam can off. use the little button that came with the cleaner to spray the place where you couple the foam can. Sparay a little on the trigger and linkages. spray the tip of the gun then use your nail to scratch the outside of the tip clean. Attach the can of cleaner to the gun and hope it works. As said above, disasembling the guns is a *****. try and figure out if the tip or coupling isn't opening when you pull the trigger.

Maybe the inside is a block of foam and you're focked. If you get it working, store it woth a can of cleaner and NOT with foam.

 

[wssix99]

Anyone have experience cleaning out spray foam guns? I borrowed one from a friend and it refused to shoot anything out. My friend always keeps a can of spray foam attached to the gun and sprays it once every 4 weeks to keep it from clogging.

This is 100% the wrong thing to do.

You need a can of gun cleaner:


The cleaner is mostly acetone. This is the only thing that will dissolve the foam.

Once done using the gun, one needs to put the gun on the can of cleaner and spray it out per the instructions. Then it can go on the shelf.

If your gun has been on the foam can, it may not be completely dried up. You may be able to put it on a can of cleaner and try spraying it a few times, letting it sit in between. If you can get to a point where a little bit of cleaner trickles through, you will eventually be able to blast cleaner all the way through and clean it out all the way. (BTW - do this outside. ... Because you are spraying acetone.)

If this fails, you can disassemble the gun (as pointed out above). Pull the rod out and then you can clean everything with gun cleaner or acetone. No need to get it all the way clean - just enough to you can get the gun cleaner can on and run the cleaner through properly. That will blast it perfectly clean.

 

[wssix99]

Easy job?

I've done it before. It's not fun. Last resort. Sometimes the parts get galled or destroyed.

Since your gun has been on a can, I'll bet you can use a can of cleaner and let it soak through after a few sprays and eventually the cleaner will work through.

 

[jrsavoie]

Take the foam can off. use the little button that came with the cleaner to spray the place where you couple the foam can. Sparay a little on the trigger and linkages. spray the tip of the gun then use your nail to scratch the outside of the tip clean. Attach the can of cleaner to the gun and hope it works. As said above, disasembling the guns is a *****. try and figure out if the tip or coupling isn't opening when you pull the trigger.

Maybe the inside is a block of foam and you're focked. If you get it working, store it woth a can of cleaner and NOT with foam.

Even that is no guarantee

 

[jrsavoie]

Insulation, Foam glueing down subfloors.

Easy job?

Not terrible. Mostly time consuming. Lots of different sized drill bits

Be careful not to lose the spring if you have to clean the little ball where the can screws down.

I've never had any luck with acetone/ foam gun cleaner eating dried foam. It seems there was another product that did a good number on dried foam.

how to clean dried foam gun foam at DuckDuckGo

DuckDuckGo. Privacy, Simplified.

duckduckgo.com

 

[nadogail]

I have had good luck using Xylene, repackaged as Goof Off, and sold at Home Depot. I have found it to be an aggressive solvent.

 

[vwpieces]

I use acetone to clean after using mine.
Never bought the can of cleaner.

Guess I should grab a qt of xylene to have in the shop.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

The cleaner will do nothing to cured foam.
I've cleaned my guns several times after they have sat for months. It's not difficult if the gun was made to be cleaned. Cleaning is done by scraping and physical means of removal. The new guns seem to be made to be throw away. I havent tried to clean one of those yet but will be soon.

 

[branimal]

If your gun has been on the foam can, it may not be completely dried up. You may be able to put it on a can of cleaner and try spraying it a few times, letting it sit in between. If you can get to a point where a little bit of cleaner trickles through, you will eventually be able to blast cleaner all the way through and clean it out all the way. (BTW - do this outside. ... Because you are spraying acetone.)

Got the cleaner on the gun and sprayed it. A couple spurts came out. I'll let it sit for a half hour and try it again, every half hour until its working. (hopefully).

 

[NUTTSGT]

I used that Great Stuff gun cleaner in along gun. It worked. . . . a little bit. After I had it cleaned, 2 cans worth, foam still came out of it later. Maybe one day I will try to tear it apart or toss it in the trash.

 

[branimal]

Can I leave the can of cleaner attached to the gun overnight? Don’t really see an alternative.

The cleaner is no longer coming out.0

 

[wssix99]

Got the cleaner on the gun and sprayed it. A couple spurts came out. I'll let it sit for a half hour and try it again, every half hour until its working. (hopefully).

Great news. You are on your way. Just let the cleaner sit in there and it will eventually do it's job. It takes longer on dried foam, but will eventually dissolve it.

If you are lucky tomorrow, you'll pull the trigger and a nasty stream of foam will come out the consistency of yellow puss. ...Then a bunch of cleaner. If not, just spray and lit it sit another day. It should eventually come.

Can I leave the can of cleaner attached to the gun overnight? Don’t really see an alternative.

The cleaner is no longer coming out.0

Yes, for this dirty gun, keep it on the can for a while. After using, spray the cleaner and leave it on the can so the gun stays full of cleaner. Once you get it clear, keeping it on the can should help polish out any remaining residue.

When you get to a system of proper cleaning, you should be able to keep it stored off the can.

 

[dogdog]

Check if acetone dissovle those dried foams , if it does, just disasemble and let it soak in a pan covered... everything metal should be ok, just not rubber or plastics in there too long.

 

[PoorUB]

For the $40 or $50 these sell for it isn't worth a whole bunch of time!

Many of these foams do not desolve very well once they set up. But I might give it a hour and some acetone and see where it leads.

 

[The Cobbler]

probably all of this has already been mentioned.
acetone will not dissolve cured foam.
you need to take the gun to pieces and scrape all of the dried foam out . a bit of heat will help loosen in off the metal parts .
on a borrowed gun, I would pass on cleaning it tho, in the event you break something.
spend $30 on your own gun, buy a can of cleaner and when you're done your project , shoot the cleaner thru it .
if the guns are regularly used you seldom/never need to clean them...

 

[branimal]

I let it sit overnight, and nothing is coming out when I spray it.

 

[jack stand]

No matter how careful you are, they all seem to eventually (months to years) clog up and they've become widely available for under $50.
I would just replace it for your buddy unless it's become a personal challenge for you.

 

[egdede]

When they work and then they don't I find the tiny tip valve to usually be the problem. Leave the can on, hold the trigger and use a pick to gently push the valve open at the tip. DON'T HAVE IT AIMED AT YOUR FACE WHILE YOU DO THIS! If it's gooed up elsewhere it really is a ***** to take them apart and clean them.