A good owner in the house, even if he does not work at a construction site, has tools. The gun for polyurethane foam is one of them. With this device, cracks and cracks can be repaired, but keeping the tool in its proper form is not an easy task. After use, hardened mounting foam remains. How to get rid of it at home and what measures to take so that the tool lasts a long time?
Training and safety
Before starting construction work, you need to think about safety measures. When contacting the foam gun, it is important to follow a number of rules.
- It is forbidden to use a supercooled spray can with foam. It should be at room temperature.
- At an air temperature of more than 30 and less than 20 degrees Celsius, do not perform construction work.
- Do not use the tool near an open flame or near a heat gun.
Before use, the can should be shaken several times by removing the protective cap on the nozzle. Then screw the gun.
The best tools for cleaning the gun and nozzle
Acetone
Specialists clean the instrument after using acetone. It happens as follows.
- To remove the dried foam from the barrel from the outside with a clerical knife.
- Drop a small amount of acetone into the hole in the barrel, and after a few minutes, gently pull the trigger.
- The gun should succumb and the remaining foam will come out without problems.
- If the first option did not help, the gun is disassembled into parts for deep cleaning.
White Spirit
For effective cleaning use white spirit. Before use, foam is cut from the hole on the gun and the agent is poured, then left for 15 minutes. The main thing in the use of white spirit is to exclude contact with the plastic part of the tool.
Mechanical way
The method is used when the foam has solidified. The device is completely disassembled. Use a screwdriver, needle or wire to remove excess material. Mechanical cleaning is a long and painstaking work, but effective.
Professional cleaners
The market is full of offers. If desired, the owner will be able to easily choose a special cleaner for the mounting gun. The tool will relieve excess foam, not only on the equipment itself, but also on window and door frames, clothing.
Removing polyurethane foam from different surfaces
MDF and wood
If the surface has recently been soiled, then you can remove the foam with a special cleaner. As soon as the composition is seized, there are difficulties in cleaning. What will help?
- With the help of a clerical knife, you need to cut off the frozen foam very close to the surface.
- Pour with solvent or vinegar. Wait a while for the contamination to soften.
- Use a scraper or a hard sponge to remove the mounting foam.
Glass
A flat scraper for ceramic panels is used to remove cured mounting foam from the glass. If the composition has recently stained the surface, you can use a professional cleaner.
Metal
Metal cleaning is similar to removing from a wooden surface. The top layer of material is removed, then the solvent is applied. The reverse side of the dishwashing sponge wipes the surface. If necessary, the process is repeated.
Plastic
When installing plastic windows, it happens that the foam falls not only on the glass, but also on the plastic. Fresh composition can be removed with a washing solution for mounting guns. And it is recommended to clean dried up with Dimexidum solution using a toothbrush or a hard kitchen sponge.
Linoleum
Foam is removed from such a surface with acetone or Dimexidum (sold in a pharmacy). The newly stained linoleum will clean a professional solution for cleaning the mounting gun and spatula. Scrape the frozen mixture with a clerical knife, moistened with acetone. After the procedure, wipe the surface dry.
Walls and wallpapers
To remove a layer of foam from walls and wallpaper, you need to apply a little kerosene. It is difficult to clean the surface if the wallpaper is made of paper and the figure is embossed.
How to use a gun so that the foam does not dry out
When working with a gun, it is necessary to learn the rule - do not unscrew the balloon until it is empty. If the work is completed today, an empty half spray can be used tomorrow.
To avoid problems with the mounting foam, so as not to have to rub for a long time, at the risk of damaging the surface, it is necessary to eliminate the moments of contact with the product. Cover the floor and window sill with oilcloth or cloth. Keep solvent on hand.
And most importantly - protect yourself. Take everything so that the solution does not get on the skin, clothing. Removing it will be difficult.
