Hello, I’m pretty new to spraying finishes but I think I’m getting a pretty good grasp on it. I’ve tried different types of finish with it but right now I’m using the gun for some shellac. Thus far, I’ve always disassembled the gun after every use and cleaned it. I was wondering if I had to take the gun apart and clean it after every use or can I leave the shellac in there if I plan to do more coats after about an hour or so of drying? I don’t want the shellac to ruin the gun but I thought it would be okay if I came back after about an hour so I could do another coat. Thanks for any replies.
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Replies
I think everyone will want to know the exact model/type etc. I think some guns can and some can't.
An hour with shellac in the cup isn't going to ruin the gun or require complete cleaning and take apart of the gun.
Why not spray a blast of alcohol through the gun after spraying shellac then leave it for an hour. It only takes a second to run thinner through and your safe - you can also use lacquer thinner.
SA
If you follow west's advice
If you follow west's advice you will be safe with most finishes .I usually wash through with the appropriate solvent then do a rinse with lacquer thinner.If the breather in the gun can be closed I have left pre -cat in for a couple of days before washing the gun .However I don't recommend using it on a job after standing so long.Two part finishes are another story,get them out as soon as you are done as partly cured bits in the gun will give you trouble.Shellac is one of the easier finishes as it readily redesolves in alcohol.Don't be frugal with the solvents and you should not have to strip the gun down for months.I leave some lacquer thinner in the pot and put the cap in the pot with it and there it stays for months ready for use.
Thanks for all the comments. I figured it would be safe with shellac. Didn't know about the other types though. Nice to know I don't have to keep tearing it apart after each use. Thanks again.
My thought is you could leave shellac in all day. Jeff Jewitt's new Spray Finishing book and dvd suggest flushing and cleaning water borne finishes after four hours.
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