I'm about to spray some poly on pre-made hardwood butcher block tabletops, but I'm really concerned about cleaning my HVLP spray gun. The cleaning instructions I've found all mention using soap and water in a sink, which makes me uneasy. I know that putting poly or paint down the drain is a no-go for plumbing and the environment. So, how do you all manage to clean your spraying tools without causing a plumbing disaster or harming the environment?
3 Answers
I usually spray some solvent through my gun into a separate container to reuse that solvent for cleaning until it's too dirty. After that, I do one final rinse with clean solvent. I'd just dispose of the dirty solvent with my other hazardous waste—my county has a pretty easy system for disposal. Since I often spray shellac, I even mix new batches using that used solvent!
Our team got an ultrasonic cleaner for the finishing department, and it's been a game-changer! You can often find them cheap on marketplaces—definitely worth it! They work on more than just spray gun parts, and they clean amazingly well.
After spraying oil-based poly, I take apart my gun and soak the tip in mineral spirits. I put those same spirits in the tank to swish around, then spray them into a container. Overall, it takes about 5 minutes to clean up! I used to rinse with warm water too, but I haven't noticed any difference when I skip that step. Just be sure to wipe everything down and let it dry. It's really simple!
Just the tip… really?