In the process of construction and repair work, both professional and home craftsmen use a gun for mounting foam. It allows you to accurately and accurately blow out the seams on a variety of objects. This tool can save the owner a lot of money, as buying a spray can with a special mounting tube will cost more.

To serve for a long time, he needs proper care. Dried material on such equipment can prevent proper blowing into joints and seams. Therefore, every master, even before starting work, should know how to clean the foam gun.

There are several approaches to solving this problem. Which one to choose in each case, prompt the advice of experts. Responsibly referring to the need to maintain the cleanliness of the tool, you can significantly extend its service life.

The need for cleaning

A good foam gun is quite expensive. It pays off during operation due to the ability to use it several times. How long you can use this tool in your work depends on the quality of its service.

Foam remains in the gun after processing. It is not scary if you immediately remove it from the muzzle and other pieces of equipment. But sometimes even with a short delay, the substance freezes. It becomes harder to remove.

At the same time, inexperienced craftsmen may have a question whether it is necessary to clean the foam gun. Of course, if in the future it is supposed to be used for repairs, this process cannot be avoided. Otherwise, the purchase of the presented instrument simply does not make sense.

For single use, it is better to purchase a balloon with a special applicator. Although even home craftsmen, as experience suggests, use a foam gun more than once. Therefore, it is more beneficial to clean regularly.

Professional installers know the importance of keeping the foam gun clean. They give advice to novice craftsmen using this tool in repairs. It is very important to remove traces of dirt immediately. This will simplify the maintenance that the foam gun needs so much. How to clean it depends on the degree of contamination, as well as the residence time of the material on the instrument. The faster you wipe off the foam, the less effort you need to spend on it.

Various types of cleaning are used chemicals. Experts advise to purchase them immediately together with mounting foam from the same manufacturer. Special means show top scores than generic varieties.

Each manufacturer produces mounting foam with different properties and chemical composition. A cleaner from the same series takes into account all the features of this material and acts on it purposefully.

The main characteristics of the cleaner

All chemical solvents of polyurethane foam have a different composition. But they are characterized by almost identical properties. These are substances designed to remove contaminants both from the instrument and from other surfaces, the skin of the hands.

Getting acquainted with the technology of how to clean a foam gun, it is necessary to consider the principle of exposure to funds. These are substances of medium toxicity. They are not dangerous to humans, but if they get on the face, mucous membranes can cause irritation. Therefore, if the chemical comes into contact with the skin, it must be washed big amount water. In case of accidental contact with the eyes or inside the body, seek immediate medical attention.

In a container, the substance is under pressure. It has high level flammability. Therefore, do not spray it near an open flame or overheat. Compliance with these elementary rules will help to avoid trouble in the process of work.

Timely cleaning

When studying the question of how to clean the mounting gun after foam, you should consider this procedure in detail. If the product has not yet dried, the process is quite simple.

The balloon, which was used by the master and no longer contains foam, is twisted out of its socket. In its place is a container with a solvent. Before that, the protective cap must be removed from it.

Then the lever of the tool is pressed several times. Flushing is continued until pieces of mounting material appear in the jet. After that, the agent is removed from the equipment. If there is still some substance left in the bottle, you can screw the protective cap back on and store the cleaner for some more time. If repairs are not planned in the future, the chemical is best disposed of.

If the foam is dry

Sometimes it happens that the flushing was not carried out in a timely manner. In this case, the mounting foam hardens right inside the gun. In this case, the trigger cannot be moved. How to clean the gun for in this case? There are a number of recommendations.

Under no circumstances should you pull the trigger. This is guaranteed to lead to the breakdown of expensive equipment. Instead, it is necessary to scrape off the dried foam at the base of the trunk. This should be done carefully so as not to scratch the metal.

In this case, the cleaning work is considered completed. But if it was not possible to reanimate the instrument after carrying out the above actions, you will have to resort to another method.

Cleaning the main valve

If, after the manipulations listed above, the trigger is still not pressed, it means that the foam has hit the main valve. It will take more time and effort to clean it up.

How to clean the mounting gun in this case, experts will advise. There is a small ball on the top node of the tool, where the balloon is screwed into. It requires a few drops of solvent to be applied to it. Next, you need to wait 10-15 minutes.

The chemical flush bottle is screwed onto the valve and the trigger is pressed. The remains of the dissolved foam should come out of the barrel of the mounting gun. After that, you can continue to work on applying foam to the seams.

But sometimes there are more neglected blockages. In this case, the work becomes much more difficult.

Full flush

If inside the instrument is frozen a large number of foam, you will need to disassemble it into its component parts. This must be done carefully. Delving into the topic of how to clean a foam gun, you need to understand the design features of the presented device.

First you need to unscrew the crown of the valve to which the balloon is attached. The solvent is introduced into the instrument. Moreover, it is also necessary to process the nest of the installation node.

To unwind the equipment more conveniently, you should hold it below the cylinder attachment point. The solvent is inside the system for about 25 minutes. Next, you need to press the ball of the main valve. Clots of dissolved foam come out.

The tool is assembled in the reverse order.

The foam has solidified completely.

Some craftsmen have a question about how to clean the foam gun if it is completely frozen. In this state, the material already has all its inherent qualities. However, solvents or other chemical substances won't help. You will have to act with brute force.

All parts that can be dismantled are removed from the gun. It is necessary to prepare a wire of the appropriate thickness and acetone. Having poured a few drops of solvent inside and after waiting for a while, small pieces of foam are taken out with a wire.

The action is performed until the wire appears on the other side of the muzzle. The gun is then assembled and washed with a chemical agent.

Experienced installers say that it is impossible to bring the equipment to such a state. Even after cleaning, the foam will be much heavier.

If the material to be mounted has not yet hardened, the whole procedure will be faster. The answer to the question of how to clean a foam gun is simple in this case. You need to use a special tool.

Experts advise keeping a can of rinsing with you during the performance installation work. This will avoid unpleasant consequences and unforeseen costs when the material solidifies inside the tool.

If you are sure that you will work with a gun within two weeks from the date of the last use, then you can not clean it at all, but simply leave the used foam can on it in a screwed state. If you remove the can, the gun will dry out.

Cleanliness before and after work

To clean the mounting gun, it is recommended to wash it with a special solution, which is sold in bottles. To do this, remove the can of foam, screw on the can of cleaning liquid. After that, substitute a bucket or other container where the liquid from the gun will drain, and gently press the hook for 3-5 seconds.

Wipe the edge of the mounting gun with a rag, wait 5-10 minutes and press the hook again for 5-10 seconds. And so on until the cleaning tank is completely used up. After that, unscrew the cylinder, shake off the remaining liquid from the barrel. The gun is cleaned and ready for storage and further work.

Chemical cleaning

Dried foam can be used with an acetone-based solvent or white spirit, as well as using the same cleaning fluid. Carefully cut off the dried foam from the muzzle of the gun and the hole where the can is connected. Then pour solvent into these holes and wait 10-15 minutes. Do not allow solvent to come into contact with the plastic parts of the gun. Clean the nozzles with a thin needle; it is almost impossible to wash them with a solvent.

mechanical cleaning

Attach the cleaning can to the gun and gently pull the trigger. If the gun has not started to be cleaned with a spray can or the trigger hook does not work, then you will have to disassemble the device.

First, try to carefully pour the solvent into the seat. If this does not help, carefully unscrew the crown of the seat and pour solvent into the crown and seat and wait 5-10 minutes. Using a wooden stick, remove the remaining dirt from the channels, drip more solvent and assemble the gun. Then connect a can of cleaning fluid and use it to clean the gun as described above.

If the foam is packed and the solvent does not take it, try the mechanical cleaning method, just pick it with a hard wire of a suitable diameter, periodically shaking out the remaining foam from the device. In the end, still pass the cleaning liquid through the tubes, dry and assemble the gun.

Answer:

Mounting gun- an indispensable 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 where the foam is supplied directly, but knowledgeable people prefer to use a pistol.

Firstly, the use of cylinders is unreasonably expensive, plus the quality of work done in this way is much worse. Secondly, the gun allows you to make neat and reliable seams, even if a beginner has taken up the matter.

But what if the mounting foam dried up right in the gun, and he was suddenly needed urgently? It’s worth saying right away that it’s better, in principle, not to bring matters to such problems, because flushing a foam gun is a laborious and slow process.

So, the gun is needed right now, but it is impossible to use it. What to do in this case?

The hook of the gun does not move. This suggests that the foam has frozen inside and it is absolutely impossible to 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, directing the gun so that it flows down. Make sure that the solvent does not get on other parts!

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

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

To remove the valve, unscrew the crown.

This must be done carefully, holding the gun exclusively under the socket, otherwise the plastic case will crack, and this is the certain death of the device. Then we drip the 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 to go. By the way, foam can come out at the seams, it's not scary, the foam will close these places, and the voids inside will be treated with a special liquid.

As you can see, flushing for a foam gun is a long and nerve-wracking event. All this can and should be avoided by constantly cleaning the gun after work. Then he will serve long term, and you will not need to suffer with the disassembly of the mechanism.

Also you can see video We clean the gun from foam

A foam gun is useful if you decide to do repairs or construction yourself. It sparingly consumes foam, but quickly clogs. Therefore, it is important to know how to clean it from fresh foam, whether it is possible to remove the hardened substance.

Types of foam guns

Cylinders with polyurethane foam are professional and household. professional require special pistol which is sold separately. The set of household models already has a plastic adapter with a tube put on it, through which foam comes out.

The design of all pistols is almost the same, but there are collapsible and solid models.

How to clean the nozzle on the cylinder

To remove any remaining foam, release the nipple on the canister itself (the place on the top of the canister where the nozzle is inserted) from the foam column.


After that, lightly press on the fitting: if you hear the hiss of escaping air, the cylinder is suitable for further use - the foam in it is under pressure.

Now we clean the nozzle itself:


To release the tube, lightly pinch it by squeezing with your fingers where the foam remains. The air bubbles remaining in the foam will come out and the column will decrease in volume.

If a professional gun is clogged: how to remove foam at home

It is better to clean the gun after each use. For this, there are special aerosol products produced by manufacturers of polyurethane foam. When buying foam, it makes sense to immediately buy a cleaner. This will always keep the tool in working order. It is recommended to use it in accordance with the instructions.


But even without cleaning the gun every time after use, you can avoid the foam from drying out if you leave the bottle with it in the gun and tighten the regulator until it stops. Air will not get inside and the foam will remain liquid. In this form, the tool will remain operational for up to six months.

If it doesn't move when you pull the trigger, the gun is clogged. Do not try to press the trigger in the hope that you will “break through” the blockage with an effort. This will not happen, and you will break the tool.

How to clean the tool from foam

Immediately after use, you can clean the gun of foam residues with acetone.

  1. First, we will free the barrel from the outside of the dried foam. This can be done with a regular or utility knife. It's okay if you scratch the outside of the barrel, it won't affect the tool's performance.
  2. We lower the gun to the ground and carefully dig a little acetone into the barrel hole near the trigger.
  3. We wait a couple of minutes and gently press the trigger. If the trigger gave way and foam began to come out of the barrel, then the problem was solved. We install a can of cleaner on the gun and clean the tool as usual. If the trigger still won't budge, move on.
  4. We check the main valve - a small ball near the installation site of the cylinder. We drip a little solvent on it and wait ten minutes. If, when pressed, the trigger began to move, we install a cylinder with a cleaner and try to clean it again. If this does not help, the gun will have to be disassembled.
  5. Carefully holding, unscrew the adapter, remove the valve.
  6. We drip the solvent inside the gun. After 20-25 minutes, press the ball with a wooden or plastic stick.
  7. Then assemble the tool, rinse, wait until dry and use immediately or leave until the next use.

If this does not help, it is time for brute force - mechanical cleaning.

How to clean a gun mechanically

For mechanical cleaning of the nozzle, we disassemble the tool completely.

  1. We unscrew and take out everything that is possible. Detailed instructions for disassembly are in the instructions for the tool. Try not to break or strip anything when disassembling.
  2. During disassembly, remove foam and wipe all removed parts with a clean rag. Remove the needle, clean the barrel. To do this, you will need an impromptu ramrod, such as wire or a knitting needle.
  3. Pour some washing or acetone into the barrel, then clean it from the remnants of the substance with a wire. Repeat until it moves freely in the trunk and shows from the opposite end. If the foam in the barrel of the gun has hardened for a long time, it will not work to remove it with acetone.
  4. Clean the barrel especially carefully, otherwise, during operation, the remaining foam flakes will interfere with the progress of the foam.
  5. After cleaning the tool, lubricate its connecting nodes, assemble and rinse with a cleaner.
  6. The tool is ready to work again.

How to properly clean a gun - video

Is it possible to wash the old foam that has long frozen

Mechanical cleaning of the gun is quite effective, but if the foam has long frozen inside the barrel, then it is unlikely to be completely removed. As a result, the next time you use the pressure of the foam will decrease, as it will be delayed by the remaining particles of the substance. The disadvantage of the method is the laboriousness and complexity of cleaning. Only help to solve the problem proper care behind the tool after use, i.e. regular and timely rinsing.

How to wash the tool after work - video

Do not try to save money by pumping acetone or other solvent into a used cleaner bottle. Is it dangerous! It is strictly forbidden to open a pressurized cylinder. Acetone is a corrosive and toxic liquid and must be handled with care.

The tool can be saved even with severe clogging, but you should not wait until the foam hardens. Long-dry material is difficult to clean. If you wash the foam gun in time after use, you will not have to resort to time-consuming cleaning methods.

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

Which foam guns can be cleaned

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

Mounting gun - an indispensable assistant in construction

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

The most popular pistols - gallery

The metal gun is not only reliable to use, but also easy to clean. It is easy to clean a Teflon gun, 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 tools at home

Exist special means for cleaning the mounting gun. It is better to purchase them together with the tool. Moreover, the manufacturer of the foam and the preparation for its removal must be the same. Otherwise, the procedure for getting rid of building material will be somewhat more complicated and take more time.

After the workflow is finished, do the following:

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

If the bottle of cleaner is not completely used up, close it with a protective cap and save it until the next time.

We comply with safety regulations

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

  • when cleaning, the nozzle must point downwards. This way you will avoid getting the solvent in your eyes or on your clothes;
  • store the cylinder away from open flames, heaters and direct sunlight;
  • do not try to open or burn an empty container from the cleaner;
  • do not smoke while using the solvent cylinder;
  • if liquid gets into the eyes, you should immediately consult a doctor;
  • in case of damage to exposed areas of the body, treat them with a solution of soda (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, acetone can be used at home. Pour it into the nozzle of the tool and use a wire or ramrod to complete cleaning device. You need to act carefully so as not to damage thin and vulnerable parts.

My gun with acetone - video

How to wash hardened foam

If the tool has not been cleaned immediately after use, the trigger must never be pulled before starting cleaning. The trigger mechanism may break. Here's how to properly clean the gun from the hardened polyurethane foam:

  1. Clean the barrel of adhering foam. You can use a knife. Be careful not to scratch the piston.
  2. Lower the gun with the nozzle down and drip "Dimexide" into the trigger mechanism. After a minute, gently pull the trigger. If he began to move and foam comes out of the nozzle, then the gun is ready to go. If this does not happen, then you need to proceed to the next stage of cleaning.
  3. Next to the device for screwing the balloon is a small ball. Apply a few drops of Dimexide to it. After 5 minutes, attach the cleaner bottle. Gently pull the trigger.
  4. If the previous methods do not help, disassemble the instrument. Holding it under the socket, carefully unscrew the crown, then remove the valve. Drop a chemical solvent or "Dimexide" into the socket and into all internal parts of the device. After 20 minutes, remove the remaining dirt with a cotton cloth. Then reassemble the gun and flush it with solvent. After such cleaning, the device can give less pressure during operation.

If more than 6 hours have passed since the completion of work, then it is better to carry out a 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 the cleaner and pulling the trigger - this is dangerous.

"Demiksid" - the most effective home remedy that will remove mounting foam in minutes

We clean the tool from dried material - video

Is it possible to do without cleaning the nozzle

The 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 not resort to this procedure and keep the nozzle in its proper form. To do this, you will need a plastic straw used for a disposable instrument.

  1. Get your plastic tube, wire, and gun ready.
  2. Attach the tube to the nozzle with wire.
  3. After using the gun, the tube can be removed, and then a new one can be used.

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 solidifying inside the device. If you clean the tool on time, it will serve you for more than one year.