Im new to using a paint gun/compressor set up. I know how to mix my paint and reducer, and allowing my paint to flash properly and all that cruddola. My question is what is the best thing to use to clean my paint gun after each use? my mistake is i used fingernail polish remover, i figured it would evaporate over night before my next use... but i was wrong. The reason I ask is im planning to do some painting and i dont want it to turn out like my wifes old car.

heres the before and after of my wifes old car when i fixed it... just a little show off of my first body repair.









heres the after



heres the problem i had with the painting... im assuming is because of the acetone, if someone else has a suggestion please let me know.

 

When you finished take away the paint supply (cup or hose) and then use water while the gun is still connected. If your using the cup, just wash out the cup so its clean, fill it with water and pump it through the gun, do this 2 or 3 times and you should be set

 

ok, thanks. im not a professional painter, but i want my paint to look decent. do you know if the acetone is what did that spider web effect?

 

It does seem like it, it could also have been from a poorly prepared surface.
Considering you have a compressor, it might be worth going to lowes/home depot and getting a air release for the end of a hose, kind of like the tire pump. We use ours to clean dust off of tools/surfaces, but its also good to blow excess water out of the spray guns

 

I did that. some dust particles did stick to the surface, but this was all before i had a house and garage, so im putting up plastic curtains this time to kill the dust. but the car was worth all but 500 bucks so i wasnt to bummed with how it turned out. but my trucks a little more important ha ha. thanks for the advice.

 

No problem

 

Unless you're using acrylics, water won't clean the gun properly. You need to use laquer thinner to clean the gun. The spider webbing I'm not too sure about. I know the urethane bumper needs a special additive (don't remember what it's called) that allows the paint to dry softer so the flexing doesn't crack it. The other piece looks fiberglass which shouldn't have that problem. Since both cracked the paint might be too hot of a mix, but I'm not sure.

 

would i need this special mix to paint my lower valence? will just regular laquer thinner work, like from home depot, or should i get it from my paint supplier? thanks

 

Home Depot laquer thinner should be just fine. I used some of it to remove spray paint from the bosses truck when it was vandalized, and that stuff was dry for days. When painting anything flexible like urethane or plastic you should use the additive to make the paint flexible. If you don't then any flex of the valance can flake the paint right off. The only problem is that the sun fades the paint faster with the flex additive so it will fade before the rest of the truck will.

 

So long as you clear coat and protect it, I don't think paint fade should be an issue. Just make sure you get a clear coat that won't react with the paint.