How to Clean a Spray Gun "Properly"

Learn the 3 methods for Cleaning a Spray Gun, How to Clean a Clear Coat Gun, a Basecoat Gun and how to Dismantle Soak and Reassemble, I am Demonstrating on a DeVilbiss GTI Pro and Tenka Pro Lite, Removing Air Cap Pot and all spray gun Parts that is required to give a Full Clean and an Everyday Clean.
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[@critstixdarkspear5375]

After having kids I put my love of restoring cars and helping people with repairs and resprays aside. Now both of my kids are in school and the eldest is nearly ready for a licence. Today I went to Malaga and Wangarra to price up my guns an compressor. A big thank you for the quality content and refreshing my memory in the old and showing me the new. Your channel and content are pure fucking quality.

[@ericp.9497]

THANK YOU! It's a relief to see that a basic clean is all you need. I'd been pulling the gun apart *between every coat* and cleaning it out! Your videos have inspired tons of confidence in me. Thanks!

[@sethellis9770]

Thanks mate. I'm about done spraying cabinets and wanted to do a final clean of my gun. No prior experience, so this was super informative.

[@lachlangrogan8153]

Mate was going to ask you to do a vid like this but thought everyone just knew how to clean a gun (except me). Been painting prototype parts this week using a de-beer two part paint, the results over machined plastic was unreal but found I had to strip the gun between each color as it git clogged despite running gun wash through. Guess next time ill try the back pressure trick. Awesome video collection, thanks for posting you've taught me heaps this week.

[@g3ase]

Great vid mate, thanks for taking the time to post. Never heard of that product before, definitely going to try. Keep up the good work.

[@TheGunmanChannel]

Thanks Mate.

[@steveh653]

Thanks for posting this video!

[@frankmartire2174]

Awesome it is mate...thanks from Canada 😉👍

[@SarcastSempervirens]

Thanks, man, gonna need this!

[@robf9722]

Other channels push their products. They never give practical info, even if title of video states they do. I like the facts, just the facts. I meant my comment as a compliment.

[@nixonn3]

Much appreciated. Thanks!

[@jlp5137]

I had a friend that painted drop dead one day from liver failure because he would wash his hands at the end of every day in thinner. The doctor said that the thinner goes straight through the hands and into the other organs. I like your videos Bro so please cover yourself

[@TheGunmanChannel]

Thanks for the concern mate and since making this video I have stopped doing that thanks to other concerned neticens.

[@nikolaiownz]

Glad you started using gloves.. you might not get side effects now but futher down then road they might come.. Thanks for your videos !

[@mikebonge7206]

I put some Vaseline on spring cuz I don’t use my gun much Great video

[@MrStevenakachico]

@@mikebonge7206 why would you do that? I'm new to this stuff so I would like to know.

[@MrStevenakachico]

I though about the thinner on hands too man. I though that would fuck you up. I use Nitrail Gloves but they seem to disintegrate. Can you please give me any suggestions?

[@jakeflumerfelt6326]

Thanks man. Tup from Elvis, the All Black New Englander

[@titletowndips1890]

Keep it up brother!

[@johnconnolly8191]

Thanks man, found it.

[@FoundationElectronics]

great vid! i use 3m PPS, cuts the cleaning time alot

[@rabbit290670]

Thank you for the great vid. Really useful information

[@robf9722]

Great videos ! It's nice not watching one big infomercial pushing products :)

[@TheGunmanChannel]

LOL why do you think I care what or who you buy from? I personally like these guns which is why I bought them.

[@gavinbroad1743]

That's a great vid and a great help - thank you. The kind of thinners used for cleaning depends on the type of thinners used with the paint, - is that right?

[@P5ykoOHD]

Haha, love the nitril gloves getting dissolved to pieces xD

[@GaryEnjoy]

Hey Gunman thanks for sharing your knowledge! I'm beginner and after watching this gives me confidence to start and keep trying. I notice all my guns doesn't has that flat thin gasket when you take off the spray tip and also where the tank twists onto the gun that little filter? Is that a must have? I don't understand why none of my guns have those pieces?

[@s1914]

Really useful vid 👌

[@danoutdooroz6580]

Hey Gunman, love your vids and thanks for spending time making vids for us. How did bending over and picking up the airline not pass you off everyday? I've made enemies at work cos I hate doing repetitive excessive movements haha hang it off the wall and you'll never ever have to bend down haha. Hope your well bro

[@mechanickb4350]

I enjoyed your video man. Thanks for the insight. I am really new to painting. I shot some black epoxy primer this weekend and used mineral spirits immediately when I was done. I had a really hard time getting it out of the gun and I have these little snot balls in the cup that I cant get out. Is this just because its epoxy primer? What would you do? Thanks

[@printexsprasadprintex3561]

Super cleaning.

[@pauldolman]

hi gunman, great video, thankyou, for me i'm a hobbyest painter in my home garage which are not used on a daily basis like yourself, i'm never sure if i should leave some thinners in the paintpot with the aircap, i'd be interested to know what you think about this if they are not being used daily?

[@gregsullivan7408]

Thanks. I'm a newbie and have just bought the LPH50 mini gun. The instructions say never to fully immerse in thinners. Other than that, would the daily procedure be the same? Just FYI, I will be using it not for paint, but for a highly durable tire coating, which I have reason to believe is acrylic based. Very occasional/infrequent use.

[@liontitties]

I was wondering if you need to use any sort of lube to maintain spray guns? If so do you need a special lube or will some universal grease work? And thanks for all the awesome vids! I learn a lot from you and you give me a lot of confidence lesrning to paint at home.

[@and1globetrot00]

Hey Gunman, something I've always wondered is when to replace the needle on these devilbiss guns? What type of wear to look for that would necessitate replacement? Thanks!

[@Velvethamma]

That gun cleaner/ paint stripper is some tough stuff. Eats up gloves quick for sure. Nice vid

[@TheGunmanChannel]

Its killer stuff hey, Have you ever used it?

[@Velvethamma]

We have one by Kleen Strip called Naked Gun. It is sort of a yellowish orange and is mean. I run it thru my clear gun to flush it and then use normal lacquer thinner to rinse it out. Never had any issues with a plugged fluid tip after using that stuff :)

[@420livetoride]

Velvethamma that naked gun stuff is pretty good. The one in the spray can works awesome two.

[@Velvethamma]

420livetoride That's what I use

[@neukg689]

Hey Man, love and appreciate the videos. I paint bicycles for a living and after every gun use I shoot a little bit of thinner through it to clean. Is that the standard or should I be using a different media after use? Thanks.. Gmello Cycles

[@1873Winchester]

Grettings from Finland! I used hammerite style paint (not the brand hammerite) in a spray gun (just a cheap small LVLP gun), it was overall a failure, in order to thin it enough to make it sprayable it ran way way too easily. I cleaned it out with thinner and some acetone too, did the back pressure thing, but I am not sure now. I read hammerite style paints contains silicone and now I am worried about silicone getting onto other stuff I'd like to paint and ruining the results. Is soaking the gun in stuff like that gun wash stuff going to be enough to completely clean a gun from silicone residue? Also does an ultrasonic cleaner have any place in gun cleaning?

[@emmanueltwesigye6205]

Hallo mate, Thanks for that video,really interesting. Just want to know weather you need to use different sprey gun with primer and paint. Or you use the same on both?

[@mactoe1]

I guess I'm just a very particular painter, but I always break all my guns down and hand clean with a really nice cleaning kit from Eastwood. Comes with everything needed to give your guns a great clean. Those guns are hundreds of dollars but as long as you keep them nice and clean, they'll make you thousands!

[@mura0]

I'm wondering when you back pressure the gun wouldn't you send paint residual inside the air part of the gun or the body of the gun?

[@alexandrer6860]

Great! Thank´s!

[@macbud100]

Fella gloves please

[@crispernator]

This is one thing that i had to do properly when spraying my 2 pack for my boats ,every time i finished i would strip the gun completely down ,now i am no pro by any means and my gun is only a cheapie of ebay but it is still in good nick for what i paid for it,i i didnt have any gun wash so i just used thinners but as i said im no pro or gun painter but i can get by ,great vid and glad to see i was doing it right.

[@TheGunmanChannel]

Thanks for watching mate :-)

[@larrybondar1395]

Hey so I have a sata 4000 I used maybe a dozen times and I have a problem with the fan of the spray and also have some bubbles coming up into the paint can and when pressure is high it sprays inconsistent. Kinda flashes the spray pattern. Help would be greatly appreciated thanks 🙏

[@lcpm2]

The Gunman love ur videos but i will like to know what product is it the one u use to clean the gun, i been looking for it here in the usa, do u have any product u recommend for here in the USA, is it the same as Naked Gun VOC Compliant Gun Cleaner, that the onlything i can find

[@seasonedtoker]

what do you do when 2k goes hard in your gun? is it possible to let it dry for a couple of hours and then just remove it as one piece? only the paint chamber and needle get in contact with the paint, right? I did some tests and poured some leftover 2K CC in a plastic cup. after a couple of days it shrinks significantly and it is not hard to remove it completely in one piece. it is like hardened gellatine, not hard as a rock.

[@BobbyGeneric145]

Hey Gunman... on the everyday clean, you just run thinner thru it til it is clean? You don't take the aircap off or anything?

[@martindeysel5221]

Hi, new to spray painting as I do a lot of steel work. Problem I found with my spray gun is tat it's pushing air back into my gravity feed container and that causes the paint to splatter all over the place. I did try to clean it but think I am missing something. Any idea what could cause something like this as it's only the second time that I am using it now. Thanks in advance.

[@sirsteinhotterbech1656]

Hei. Thanks for the lesson. Looks very easy but U are a pro and I just got my gun. I have tried it with both water based painting and oil based paint. And I didn't clean so well between, and now it has not been used for 3 weeks before I yesterday picked it upp again and will only use oil based. It isn't a very expensive lphv gun. Is that okay, with probably better cleaning in-between the different or can that destroy the gun? And can I use a toothbrush and q-tips to clean it? The oilpaint I bought ( a bit cheap one) was recommended to thin with white spirit, from 10% to 25%! But I used paint thinner to start with( It contains aceton, 2-metylpropan-1-ol and etylacetat) but after abit more reading it said I should use white-spirt. So I did and got better results, but still not a perfect (I) shape! I am painting my kitchen cabinets, and enjoying the satisfaction to spray vs use a brush. And finally Is ther a big difference from a cheap gun to a decent gun? Thanks for a great video, Br from Stein , Norway

[@ZBrink11]

Do you have a link to the pressure gauge and filter you used?

[@pain_inthe_bass]

where do you get that brush that you're cleaning the gun with a bat or what are they called I can't find them anywhere in the US

[@richardyip4466]

Hi Gunman , my spray gun leaking air from the nozzle area , I do change the air valve kit but the problem didn’t solve, what should I do next ? The gun that I have is the red gti pro same as the one you have . Pls give me some advice, thanks

[@fd5445]

Hello, How do you deal with water base products? Would thinner work since they are not compatible? Thank you

[@tristanburleton2508]

Any suggestions to gun cleaners available in the uk?

[@OldSchoolNoe]

Spray my urethane base coat, run some lacquer thinner through the gun without dismantling it, then spray the clear coat. Finished then dismantle the spray gun and clean it with lacquer thinner. I'm using the 3m Disposable cup system so this method might work for me.

[@fortuner123]

Thinners stings my skin. I don't know how you can stand it. Must do some long term damage. What problems occur if you clean the guns out too often as you state in the vid?

[@TheBriandonnelly]

Please explain back pressure mate, newbie to this game.

[@glytch5]

What do you mean by "back pressure" the gun? Putting your finger on the top and spraying thinner?

[@eyeballdude]

I use a harbor freight gun with enamel paint at work. Some weeks I paint every day and some weeks, nothing. But I strip out needle and fluid tip after every use otherwise the chance of clogging up is to big. Awesome vid though!

[@luismaryland2305]

You are totally right. A good full clean after every use. Period

[@edwardpeter2652]

Hi, i have an urgent question: is it possible to clean spray gun using an ultrasonic washer tank?

[@heribertochavez5962]

Yo gunny, is the Devilbiss nebula available for sale in the U.S.? if not can i buy one from a european provider. Or you.

[@jimmydelaroca459]

Yeah, you should use a gloves, expecially when you working with paint and solvents, it goes right in to your skin and your skin is one of the bigest organs, then it goes in your blood ect.

[@ramonmejias2178]

What do you think of the sprayit sp-33000

[@285625417]

i have the same guns for beginner setup :-D

[@peteydog9037]

This is a long shot. Do you by any chance know the name of a good gun and where I can buy it in Bangkok, Thailand??? The import tax in Thailand makes any imported gun quite expensive compared to a Thailand manufacturer.

[@jasoneyes01]

Can you do a video on how to prepare the paint before putting it in the gun? The types of products you use. Tell the differnce between products like 1K and 2 K. Acronyms confuse the amateurs... I see so many products in the paint store and quite confused. Thanks!

[@TheGunmanChannel]

Great idea for a vid mate and I'm already coming up with ideas of how I will put it together, Stay tuned.

[@jdub1922]

Great! I always forget to use my gun wash machine, I mean I have three or four of them lying around, dunno why I don't use 'em...

[@fd5445]

Can you please share what brand your gun wash machine is? Also I use water based products

[@jdub1922]

@@fd5445 Sorry, I was being facetious. Nobody has (well, most people don't) have a gun washing machine. It's kinda dumb for the OP to post a video called "How to Clean a Spray Gun "Properly," that reads like a DIY but requires specialized equipment costing thousands of dollars, without some kind if caveat like "you have to have a $2500 piece of equipment" to follow this "how to." Nobody buys a $2000+ piece of equipment if they don't already know they need it (and therefore how to use it!)...

[@fd5445]

@@jdub1922 Thank you, I noticed they are expensive, I got you !!! Thank you for your reply

[@Alex_Kennedy]

is that water or tinner that u used to clean the air brush?

[@carlisleguinnip3691]

How long do you wait after spraying primer till you can put color on.

[@marty3553]

What thinners are you w?

[@joestella401]

hi i have iwata wd400 clear cote gun only 3 months old but when I clear cote a lot of dust spraying out. Is that normal or is it because i used recycle thinners to wash it out?. How can i fix it please

[@woodrowmorrison7951]

Question. Any differences for water based (exact same but with water not thinner?) or polyurethanes? (I guess no thinner will strip a polyurethane once dry?). I'm a woodworker guy, so I'm thinking wood finishes. Thanks for the videos, awesome content.

[@brandonbruno3875]

if using water based it's "recommended" to clean the gun out with distilled water but realistically its not the end of the world if not. most guys i know in the trade just use tap water including or your normal thinners that you would use for cleaning , even at the shop where i work the gun wash machine for our base coat guns is just filled with regular tap water and have 0 issues with it. the tekna prolite we use for base coat is atleast 6 years old now and still spraying fine with no signs of corrosion or degradation in the gun

[@fd5445]

What is the brand of the spray gun cleaner machine? Thank you

[@adi2200us]

I strip the gun and clean it after each job (yeah I'm a freak lol).I have a 7 year old sata 3000rp which is still working good.Also have a4000 which is definitely an improvement from 3000 series.

[@TheGunmanChannel]

Yeah I know some people do like to strip each use but I've found it not necessary plus I clean a gun at least 10 times a day so I'd end up spending an hour stripping my guns each day, do you run gun filters too?

[@adi2200us]

The Gunman yes I do run gun filters.Iclean it after the job so that will be the flash off time before baking :)

[@TheGunmanChannel]

Yeah its a good idea and I guess it probably wouldn't take that long.

[@adi2200us]

The Gunman 5 minutes top

[@type2523]

Can I clean it only with paint thinner?

[@paddymuppy]

If you're useing only waterbased paints, do you only clean with water ?

[@ajganey5934]

How can I take the filter out if it gets stuck

[@johnmiller9219]

use lacquer thinner or acetone?

[@garethtilbury7594]

Can you use acetone to clean a spray gun? Will I damage it?

[@Rellderrick777]

What if the paint is dry inside of the gun I bought a pair clogged

[@andrewquesnel2359]

I've got the iwata super Nova I'm planning on doing a full clean as you did but I'm worried the cleaner may damage/remove some of the finish or green on the cap/adjustment knobs, is this a concern?

[@intraw831]

Andrew Quesnel it shouldn’t remove the color on parts

[@donraabe3529]

So gunman, what should I use for everyday cleaning of my guns? Lacquer thinner, enamel reducer??

[@TheGunmanChannel]

Either of them would do but I always use a gunwash thinner, it's just cheaper.

[@danjohnson6292]

Gunman, just watched this and have a question: What can you do if you go to use your gun and it doesn't work. I'm just a hobbyist I guess and don't use my very often. I thought I cleaned it well after the last use but now I question how well it was actually cleaned. The gun is what you would call "cheap" I plan to buy a better gun at some point but I'm on a tight budget. I'm not really sure if I should try to save it or just put it in the rubbish bin. For now, it is all I have and was going to run some primer on a few 1965 VW Beetle fenders I have been working on. Thanks in advance. Dan

[@TheGunmanChannel]

The gun has probably done the seals and a throw away item unfortunately, hard to say without seeing it but if not that then the most common reason a gun wont spray is the air cap being blocked so give it a good soak in thinners, the other thing is to make sure the fluid chamber is free of any old paint, does thinner come out when you pull the trigger?

[@danjohnson6292]

+The Gunman nothing happens ATM, but the aluminum cap did suck down and the dome became concave. I think it may be done. Time to get out the pocket book and buy something new. The little lady is going to love hearing this... Thank for the note. Love your channel. You should come on a spray painting tour of the USA. Stop in Denver and paint my 1965 Beetle. LOL I have a lot of metal work to do before "real" paint can be done.

[@TheGunmanChannel]

Man I can't wait to come to the US

[@victorsanchez820]

The Gunman when is that

[@JasonHoningford]

Looks like I need a huge bucket and maybe a way to strain back the thinner into the can.... then I'm left with a bucket I can't use for much else...

[@ejitrafik2380]

ive got an question. pretty silly but anyhow. when u wait between the coats you need 2 clean the gun n mix new color every coats?

[@vadimnesen8060]

No. Between every type of liquid. When you switch from primer to paint and from paint to clear

[@matthewgreeson358]

when you say back pressure the gun, do you mean spray the thinner or cleaner thru the gun?

[@TheGunmanChannel]

Yes, and hold your finger over the nozzle then release a few times to blast the thinner through the chamber.

[@eddiemartinez265]

Remember paint some sit & and bog that car!

[@kuharua54]

Hey bro, what is "gun wash" compared to the stuff in your video?

[@TheGunmanChannel]

Gun wash is just standard gun cleaning solvent, it'll do the job. But this stuff is like liquid paint stripper. Very strong stuff.

[@BC5391]

Liver damage, birth defects. Use Personal protection Equipment.

[@ForSaKeN0TeARS]

Birth defects can happen if you wash your balls with thinner.

[@molecules2034]

Has anyone figured out if the air cap of a good brand gun fits on the Harbor Freight knock off gun?

[@TheGunmanChannel]

I would guess they won't

[@osvaldorodriguez9502]

hey gun man.aqui estoy con mis 2 ninos.biendo sus videos.pero.vendame una gun.para.pintar.delas suyas.gracias.

[@RicardoMorenonx]

Why do you install cup micro filter upside down, Is there any benefit.? Wouldn't the large pin will interfere with flow.? I used to install it that way too but now I'm confused. Nice vid. I've used my clear gun (sagola 4500) for about 50 whole car repaint and never dissasembled my gun, just flow a little thiner and then some wd40 after each job, my gun still looks like new just a little chip on handle after a shock with my table. My cheap guns failed after I drowned them in cleaner or thinner, too much ruber seals to fail, now I'm using 3 sagolas and 1 Tekna prolite and none gets dirty, just a mf towel and get ready to next job.

[@UrbanCynic101]

+Ricardo Moreno Yeah. I agree about the filter. I was painting some shit today and my Mini Star just stopped putting out paint. After a pull down the filter with the little bulb on the end had dropped all the way in and blocked the flow. It came installed that way from new. I turned it around and it now seats nicely into the gun and just the little bulb is sticking up giving me something to grab onto to pull it out. This is the reason I hit up the gunmans site to see what he recommends. I did notice the second gun he washed did not have one. What's the go gunman? PS Love your youtube vids. Simply the best way to learn.

[@TheGunmanChannel]

+UrbanCynic101 Just watched the whole vid again myself and I did have a filter in the pro lite but just didn't pull it out. I honestly found in a full sized gun it makes no difference at all which way up the filter is. I don't usually run a gun filter in my mini guns, just filter the paint and keep them clean. Thanks mate, appreciate it.

[@asksteevies4941]

I never run filter , screwed up a paint job once , once was enough

[@bennymarshall1320]

I just spray my gun through with soapy water or turps after I use it.

[@AaronUnknownPerformance]

how do you not get ill from them chemicals with no gloves, if i use thinners without ppe i get high af 😂

[@BigG616sts]

The thinners is that lacquer thinners

[@mimiayumizx2364]

can the camclean be reuse for another time after that?

[@TheGunmanChannel]

Absolutely, we reuse it many times.

[@mimiayumizx2364]

is it safe to soak the gun like that?..i was worried about the seal inside

[@shivamsahu-th7wr]

Regular paint cleaner no body problem sir ?

[@jigsawpulse1139]

shivam sahu very bad for you

[@Brad_hj2tuff]

Cam clean makes my hands tingle even thru thick dishwashing gloves. Its awsome stuff but very bad at the same time lol

[@AlbasataKhaledElsheikh]

جميل جميل

[@denne22222]

As i guy that works with industrial grade epoxy paints and thinners, it makes me nervous watching you clean out the gun without gloves, hopefully its not as harmful.

[@lauraward551]

Your video is very helpful. However, tip for the future, keep that darn camera still.

[@juliusvalentinas]

With all those fumes and no protection do you still feeling ok today 2019?

[@reviewplanet9603]

what does that can with gun cleaner cost?

[@TheGunmanChannel]

+Marijn R & G about $50

[@reviewplanet9603]

The Gunman damn!! i was thinking 50 dollars for an half liter

[@slamab9350]

كيف ذلك

[@danrasmussen4125]

What is the point of gun lubercents

[@edwardzx7]

A lot of people don’t clean their paint gun. If using clear coat when it hardens up, your trigger get stuck. Then you clean it, and lubricant the trigger and pivot points.

[@remyleouf]

Can I use water to clean it ? or will it damage de gun

[@TheGunmanChannel]

remyleouf Depends what gun you have and what paint you've been using.

[@remyleouf]

The paint is plastic dip, and the gun it's a basic one that came with the air compressor

[@TheGunmanChannel]

water won't touch it, you need to use gun cleaning thinner (solvent)

[@shaunhaehn5211]

Do you use lubricant on your spray guns?

[@TheGunmanChannel]

***** No, I find these good quality guns don't even need it.

[@broken1965]

no gloves?

[@TheGunmanChannel]

Hardcore \m/

[@AwakeDude911]

+Jon A ....yeah like the good old days no gloves !!!....the old law of if its on you its in you rule means nothing here ...move along people nothing to see here !

[@AwakeDude911]

+Jon A ....yeah like the good old days no gloves !!!....the old law of if its on you its in you rule means nothing here ...move along people nothing to see here !