Many industrial units are designed to leave some paint inside them, to reduce waste and costs. However, there are a few things you can do to extend the life of your spray equipment:
- Use TSL oil in the throat cups. This will prevent paints and other coatings from drying onto the displacement rod and in the packings.
- As the throat packings start to wear, tighten the throat cup gradually. This will stop paint leaking up and out over the top of the pump and help keep the pump clean.
Plural Component Machines:
- If you’re using a Plural component machine, make sure all mixed material is flushed out with the correct flushing agent/thinners before you come to the end of the pot life*. This will ensure that the mixed material will not set in the hoses and gun.
- Implement a regular maintenance schedule. For example, regularly checking pump filters and check and clean spiral mixers.
- Park all pumps when you’ve finished using them.
- All tanks containing moisture sensitive material need to be fitted with a desiccant drying cartridge to take the moisture out of the air going into the tank.
Air Purge Guns:
- Air is what purges the mixed material out of the gun when triggering off, so ensure there is sufficient air before you start spraying. When you’ve finished, ensure air is left on and the gun is greased with the quick-shot grease.
Finally, make sure your units are serviced regularly.
To book a service, get in touch today. The extension of our new site means we have even more capacity to service your spray machines, to keep them running for longer, and ultimately more cost effectively.
*Definition ‘Pot life’: Pot life is the time from mixing two packs of paint together to the point at which the mixed paint is no longer useable. It is also known as the ‘working time’ or ‘useable life’. Pot life is often thought of as the length of time that a mixed (catalysed) coating system retains a viscosity low enough to be applied to a surface.