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screen printing => Equipment => Topic started by: Mr Tees!! on August 24, 2011, 06:14:10 PM

Title: SPOT GUNs...WTF?
Post by: Mr Tees!! on August 24, 2011, 06:14:10 PM
OK everybody, do me a big favor...go to your spot gun and unscrew the fluid cup...touch the plastic tube that draws the fluid up. Is it STICKY? Like its being dissolved?

I have gone through THREE spot guns this summer, with the last one just petering out(which I just got in June).I just noticed the sticky/softened tube, so now I am suspicious that i got some effed up fluid, but I dont wanna call out any companies here. YET. If yours is like that, I guess PM me with the brand of gun and fluid. Somebodys gonna get the the riot act here when I figure this out.
Title: Re: SPOT GUNs...WTF?
Post by: mk162 on August 25, 2011, 10:18:09 AM
Umm, what brand fluid are you using?  The cup on mine got welded together.  Thinking about it, I might know the culprit.
Title: Re: SPOT GUNs...WTF?
Post by: Mr Tees!! on August 25, 2011, 10:55:10 AM
...Brad, its American Niagara Triple Blend, I know they are out of Atlanta area somewhere. Im suspicious of the fluid because now that I think about it, all this started happening right around the time I stocked up on this fluid (they were running a sale)...

...whatcha think?
Title: Re: SPOT GUNs...WTF?
Post by: rmonks on August 25, 2011, 11:13:58 AM
The same company probably sells spots guns also, be my guess.
Title: Re: SPOT GUNs...WTF?
Post by: Frog on August 25, 2011, 11:19:27 AM
I would think though that the feed tube is polyethylene which should be pretty darn impervious to pretty much anything we would put in there.

Have to say though that I've never used the stuff you mention.
Title: Re: SPOT GUNs...WTF?
Post by: mk162 on August 25, 2011, 11:27:29 AM
I've never had a problem at all with triple blend.  I've used it for years.  I just switched to Spot Buster from Xenon when my gun got glued together.

I am wondering if the manufacturers had to switch chems in them due to environmental concerns.
Title: Re: SPOT GUNs...WTF?
Post by: Mr Tees!! on August 25, 2011, 12:56:49 PM
NOW the damn thing is working again! Still, I dont think the plastic should be gettin gooey. Its one of the Expert sp100 guns that all the distributors sell sells for around 100 bucks. I wonder if they changed some of the parts on the gun, like maybe a cheaper tube?

Now I dont know wheter to buy new fluid or a new gun. Do any of you use a higher-end gun than this one? Maybe with more metal parts or something?

Crap, ANOTHER thought: could it be the heat back in the shop? Again, this only started happening in the summer, and I did get over 100 degrees back there yesterday. Maybe now that its cooled off its working again? I dont remember havin this problem befor though. Sheesh, I dunno.

Title: Re: SPOT GUNs...WTF?
Post by: blue moon on August 25, 2011, 02:03:24 PM
NOW the damn thing is working again! Still, I dont think the plastic should be gettin gooey. Its one of the Expert sp100 guns that all the distributors sell sells for around 100 bucks. I wonder if they changed some of the parts on the gun, like maybe a cheaper tube?

Now I dont know wheter to buy new fluid or a new gun. Do any of you use a higher-end gun than this one? Maybe with more metal parts or something?

Crap, ANOTHER thought: could it be the heat back in the shop? Again, this only started happening in the summer, and I did get over 100 degrees back there yesterday. Maybe now that its cooled off its working again? I dont remember havin this problem befor though. Sheesh, I dunno.

how often do you grease your gun? We had a similar problem and found out that it is supposed to be lubricated once a week!

pierre
Title: Re: SPOT GUNs...WTF?
Post by: ebscreen on August 25, 2011, 02:07:37 PM

how often do you grease your gun? We had a similar problem and found out that it is supposed to be lubricated once a week!

pierre

??    I was under the impression that the correct fluid contained the necessary lubricants?
Title: Re: SPOT GUNs...WTF?
Post by: Mr Tees!! on August 25, 2011, 02:50:08 PM
...do WHAT? Mine does have a litttle hole in the top labeled "oil-filled hole", but looking at the little pamphlet/instruction booklet says nothing about lubricating it.
Title: Re: SPOT GUNs...WTF?
Post by: Frog on August 25, 2011, 02:51:48 PM
I've never heard about greasing the gun (sounds like slang for something nasty)

And, yes, I have also heard that using incorrect fluids can lead to premature death of some wear parts like pisons and nozzles.
Title: Re: SPOT GUNs...WTF?
Post by: blue moon on August 25, 2011, 03:30:05 PM
I've had one go dead and after sparying some WD 40 in the little oil hole it started working again.
Title: Re: SPOT GUNs...WTF?
Post by: mk162 on August 25, 2011, 03:32:08 PM
I lube ours every time I remember it has a hole for it.'

I grease my gun just about daily.

Ours is a ZIM gun, it freaking rocks, there is no nozzle that busts.
Title: Re: SPOT GUNs...WTF?
Post by: Mr Tees!! on August 25, 2011, 03:44:52 PM
...lube it how, and with what?
Title: Re: SPOT GUNs...WTF?
Post by: mk162 on August 25, 2011, 03:45:36 PM
use a light oil, like a 3 in 1 or even an embroidery machine oil
Title: Re: SPOT GUNs...WTF?
Post by: blue moon on August 25, 2011, 04:07:05 PM
use a light oil, like a 3 in 1 or even an embroidery machine oil

'forgot about that! Yes, the last time I used embroidery machine oil!
Title: Re: SPOT GUNs...WTF?
Post by: Frog on August 25, 2011, 04:10:07 PM
My old grizzled soldier Expert 3000 has made it through fifteen years of battle, one fire, and one less than gentle toss by a fireman cleaning out the shop. I have not found any lubrication hole, nor is one mentioned in its small manual and instruction sheet.

Old fellow, we salute you!

Title: Re: SPOT GUNs...WTF?
Post by: Gilligan on August 29, 2011, 08:15:03 PM
Looking at getting a gun soon.

I know it is dry cleaning fluid... but is it basically straight dry cleaning fluid?  I know family that owns some cleaners in the area and I imagine they get it a bit cheaper than us "specialty" guys do.

Take any run of the mill product and brand it for a "special purpose/industry" and BOOM  instant markup! :)
Title: Re: SPOT GUNs...WTF?
Post by: Frog on August 29, 2011, 08:19:57 PM
Perhaps they can get you a deal on a gun as well.  ;D
Title: Re: SPOT GUNs...WTF?
Post by: 3Deep on August 29, 2011, 09:36:02 PM
I got two spot cleaning guns one is for spot cleaning the other I have filled with water to spray very fine halftones out with.  Call April Hoffman at American Niagra she is always trying to sell those guns.
Title: Re: SPOT GUNs...WTF?
Post by: prozyan on August 29, 2011, 09:58:21 PM
I got two spot cleaning guns one is for spot cleaning the other I have filled with water to spray very fine halftones out with.  Call April Hoffman at American Niagra she is always trying to sell those guns.

I have the same setup, D.  Though I honestly use the one with just water far more.
Title: Re: SPOT GUNs...WTF?
Post by: Prosperi-Tees on August 30, 2011, 12:22:57 AM
Acetone works just as well in a spot cleaning gun. I have never tried a screen print specific blow out fluid
Title: Re: SPOT GUNs...WTF?
Post by: mk162 on August 30, 2011, 12:48:54 AM
Acetone can be flammable, I am not a huge fan of it for this application.  I have been known to turn our gun into a flame thrower.  ;D
Title: Re: SPOT GUNs...WTF?
Post by: Prosperi-Tees on August 30, 2011, 12:57:10 AM
Lol Acetone can be VERY flamable. But people use lots of acetone daily. I believe its the only exempt solvent here in California for paint applications and metal cleaning.
Title: Re: SPOT GUNs...WTF?
Post by: Frog on August 30, 2011, 01:41:09 AM
Acetone in a spot cleaning gun is a fire waiting to happen. It is already flammable and now you are making it into a mist, adding to that danger.
I also don't think that it is a heck of a lot cheaper than the purpose-made stuff so what's the point?

It's not like the late Friday post where a newbie needs to blow out a misspelled word on 144 shirts and is out of fluid and looking for an emergency substitute.


Title: Re: SPOT GUNs...WTF?
Post by: mk162 on August 30, 2011, 02:03:26 AM
Yeah, but everybody LOVES a fireball!