should a paint gun be cleaned between coats?

[onesojourner]

I got my primer sprayed last night. I did 3 coats. I cleaned the gun between eac coat. is that what I should have done or could I have just left the primer in there for all 3 coats? Do I need to clean it between paint and the clear?

 

[marz831]

What's the pot life of the primer? As long as you layed down all three coats within the pot life, there's not really a reason to clean the gun between coats.

I would def clean between the paint and the clear.

 

[Mouthfulloflake]

as long as it didnt set up in the gun you dont have to clean between coats of the same stuff, but for sure clean before the next process.

 

[onesojourner]

clean before the next process.

I got that part. So as long as I am under the pot life I should be good to leave the paint in there. You guys made me a little paranoid about running primer through a new gun so I cleaned it after each coat.

 

[Mouthfulloflake]

well, better safe than sorry, once you have to clean dried primer out of it, you will understand!

haha

 

[thegoldenboy]

I always spray the wall first (test shot, clean out nozzle) before hitting the item. If anything has started to crustify in the nozzle or needle (airbrush) than it usually spits it out first on the wall instead of an ugly patch on the ski/item

 

[Mark44]

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I always spray the wall first (test shot, clean out nozzle) before hitting the item. If anything has started to crustify in the nozzle or needle (airbrush) than it usually spits it out first on the wall instead of an ugly patch on the ski/item

Same here always check the spray pattern.

Mark44

 

[yamasaki]

yup. when i painted my ski, i only waited about 15-20 min between coats for the single stage stuff i was using.

 

[#ZERO]

Small carb dip tanks work great for cleaning spray guns that have dried catalyzed paint or gel coat inside. :biggrin:

 

[onesojourner]

I think you would have to be out of your mind not to spray the wall first. What if there was a little thinner left in it... you would be screwed.

 

[#ZERO]

After the chemical dip you have to rinse it with hot water and then dry it out.

Checking the spray pattern on a piece of cardboard should always be done before use.