How to Clean Your HVLP Spray Gun 

I really appreciate the audio quality, and a nice steady video, makes a huge difference. Pro quality video.

Nice video. I'm about to spray laquer for the first time and wanted to know how to clean gun after doing so. This is the best video on how to do so. Thank you so much for taking the time to explain step by step.

I always clean out my HVLP gun after every use but I did learn some great tips on your video. Thanks for sharing.

Thanks again for sharing this and the one with Jay, Matt! Watched this and its companion back when you both posted them but just came back for a refresher as I'm about to have a lot of projects to spray. Super helpful! And spraying is totally the way to go! For some reason I'm terrible at brush painting unless I think the paint, and it just drives me nuts and takes forever, haha!

Thanks again for a great instructional video Matt. Helps to have the RU-vid community to boost my confidence👍

The first upload was removed due to poor audio quality. Sorry for the inconvenience!

Great instructions well done video. Thanks

Thanks, Matt. Very comprehensive.

Awesome I just ordered a cleaning kit. I'm glad you talked about what to do when using the gun several times throughout the day, I was going to ask about that. What do you do with the container full of dirty thinner?

Great video. For quite a few years I used a detail sprayer to do apply finish to small parts and to do some pin stripping. I decided to get an HVLP to do larger stuff and to help around the house. So I bought myself a Harbor Freight to see what I wanted and figured I would just throw it away when it broke down. Well the little thing keeps trucking and a lot of the reason is because I use the same process you do to keep the guns clean. I break them all down. I have a half dozen Harbor Freight guns that actually worked a lot better than I thought and a few very nice ones that friends who work on custom cars gave me. When I use a gun multiple times a day I will pull a trick I saw in barber shops. When they use combs they thrown them in a disinfectant bath until they need them again. I figured why not. So I got a steel pot from a dollar store and when I was done with the gun I stuck it in the pot with my hand on the trigger and moved it around. Then I just left it in there with a cover on it. Works like a charm.

Fuji says to never fully immerse the gun body in any kind of solvent because you'll bugger up the seals. They have a very detailed video on their channel that shows how to properly clean their guns.

Gracias muy buena información.

Great walk through Matt. Thank you. I'm assuming this process is also the same for automotive paint. I use lacquer thinner to clean...but never have used a lubricant.

Really good job Matt. Thank you.

Very helpful, thank you.

Awesome tutorial Matt! Great tips. Thanks

Excellent! thanks for sharing, well done.

Really helpful, thank you!

Thanks for sharing this Matt.

great video matt.thanks for the info

Thank you Matt. Very informative.

Great info Matt , thanks a lot!

never own or use one of these before. what type of thinner do you use to clean it? also can i use the same thinner to clean the unit that is covered with overspray?

I would love to hear a breakdown of finishes oil vs water catalyzed vs not etc. If that fits into your knowledge base!

Thanks Matt, I'm curious why you don't use compressed air, just before putting the gun back together to clean any hard to see pathways?

Thanks!!

Got a question for you , How to you dispose of all that used lacquer thinner?

Matt, I'm having issues with spraying oil polyurethane. What gun and tip do you recommend?

nice both videos are realy good ! I just have questions about the tip sizes can you make a video or article when to use what.

Thank you.

I like your tidy working area.Like a pharmacy.

Tnx a lot, very useful information

Thank you bro.

Good info Matt!

Thanks so much!

Where did you get those plastic measuring cups from?

I don't know what you call it, but there is a piece you left inside the gun. Should it be removed and cleaned ?? Also curious what you do with the cleaner.......I've used laquer thinner for cleaning, but because it is so expensive I'm reluctant to use very much. Do you save this material or discard it ?? Thanks for great video !!

Great tips....thanks

good video, well covered.

thanks - helpful

What fluids can be used in it for wood working?

Great video!

Hey Matt thank you for the great tutorial on cleaning a spray gun. Perfect for me I'm a newbie to HLVP. What gun would you recommend for a guy like me who is just starting out and on a budget? Thanks again great video.

I have really been debating on that ketchup squirt bottle for a while now, I think I'll go ahead and pull the trigger on it...

The glasses really are important. Last week, I worked all day with mine and took it off for just a couple of minutes and had thinner spiled in my eye. That thing burn like hell!

Great tutorial Matt, only question i have... Is there packings in the gun body that could be affected by immersing the whole gun? Or are they imperviouss to thinners and such? Thank you

where should i buy so much laquer thinner...

Just used a HVLP gun for the first time today, I apparently went overkill, I took the whole thing apart. The flow control valve, I took the internal part where the needle goes out (and there was an o-ring that came out with it. I am assuming next time I can leave more of it together. I only had a can of cleaner I picked up that was made for cleaning these, so I didn't have a bucket to soak in. Assuming Laquor Thinner is the best stuff to use? A last step for me was using compressed air to blow everything out from every direction. I'll have to see how well I did next time I go to use it.

nice vid what do u do with the "used" thiner ? can u recycle it for another clean ?

good share bro!.. can we wipe out the bottle, then ad PT to it. then while its still hooked up the the air supply pull the trigger to get a better wash out? newbie here! larry

We switched to spraying over brushing because of the time and product savings. Question: what's a good way to clean dried on Varathane water based clear from the gun? I do wash it thoroughly but seems the water based is hard to get off once it dries.

Great tutorial. I've learned something every time I watch a video of yours. I saw the link you posted and I've seen some $100 guns from IR and others. Is there a big difference in quality? Ex., if I want to buy just one gun that will last YEARS, is the price difference worth it? Thanks again!

Hey matt, Great videos. after years of always hand painting and hand applying finishes ive decided to take the plunge into spraying, after your video with JB. I just picked up a compressor. I saw the 35$ gun you recommend in the link. I was about to pick up the 70$ harbor freight pro gun today. do you think that one is better then the one on amazon you recommended. thanks

Hi Matt, I asked this also on the HVLP video I have a small Sata Minijet HVLP 2 with a 0.8 nozzle I don't want to invest in a new nozzle and would like to use it for wood finishes. My intention is to use it on the roof of an apartment building so noise matters a great deal.. What size compressor do you think is the minimum required for usage once a month in terms of tank and CFM? Do you think a similar to Dema's compressor can be used?

So I actually spray thinner through gun with air a couple times, then strip it apart... is this bad to do? It seems to clean it very nicely. Just about all manuals say not to dunk the gun in thinnner. There are plastic and sometimes paper seals in there this will destroy. If there is ANY sort of gasket, I keep that way from thinner.

How much

GREAT video Matt! Where in the world did u get that ShowCar® Ketchup Bottle! I know the Owners of that Company (The Barns from Grant Alabama) Great Bunch!..What City are u in? Thanks!.....Gus

are you using paint thinner or laquer thinner? (or are they the same thing?) thanks!

Thanks Matt Now we know how it's done by a Pro.

is that back storage area based off of John Heinz design?

Ever try the Critter?

WHAT DO YOU WITH USED THINNER? HOW DO YOU DISPOSE OF IT?

How much of the needle do you lube? I'm guessing you don't want lube near the tip.

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