Official Luthiers Forum!

Is it really necessary to flush out a spraygun (Fuji Q4) between coats. I'm using Stewmac's water based varnish, repeating coats every 2 hours. I seem to waste a lot of varnish each time I flush it out.
Charles.

I use KTM9, also water based. I fill the gun once in the morning and spray 6-8 coats an hour or so apart. I just pull the trigger back to spray air only for a couple of seconds after I've sprayed a coat. I empty the gun back into the paint can at the end of the day and clean it. I have even left it full overnight with no problem. The gun is fine.

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Joe Beaver
Maker of Sawdust

I too have left finish in the gun all day, also USL. The one thing I did notice though is that sometimes finish would accumulate near some of the air nozzles and if I didn't clean them the spray pattern would be uneven. I'd also occasionally get a piece of finish that dried on the tip would break loose and fly on to the finish. I ended up wiping with a moist sponge before and after each session to make sure the orifices weren't blocked and that the tip was clean. This fixed all of the issues. Spraying air with the trigger only partially depressed is a good idea too.

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http://www.birkonium.com CNC Products for Luthiers
http://banduramaker.blogspot.com

Water based also and I only clean once a day. In between coats I spray some air with partial trigger, use a damp rag to wipe any residue off of nozzle, wrap nozzle with damp rag.

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Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"

I use a touch-up gun and one thing I've found very helpful with USL is to unscrew the butterfly nozzle ("air cap"?) & drop it in a jar of water between coats. It clogs easily otherwise. Quick brush with an old toothbrush & good as new.

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Dave
Milton, ON

unless the temp is really high in your shop one a day cleaning is all your ned on the fuji gun. but never leave it over night and you will always be a happy camper. Now if you switch to a catalized product then my opinion would change quick By the way i to have the Q4 great machine

I am interested in a Fuji system, just wondering if its worth it for someone on a budget to shell out for the bigger machines?

Thanks for all the advice. I tried leaving it tonight for two hours between coats and it seemed fine.

I'm a beginner ( 2 guitars and 5 mandolins) and have found the Q4 a great investment mainly because I work in a converted garage at the bottom of my garden, so noise is an issue. I have to spray outside since I don't have the room or extraction equipment.
It's a pain because I can only spray when the forecast looks good for a few days is succession, which in the north west of England isn't too often.
Charles.

I spray outside also, but in So Cal it is not a problem. 85-90 degrees, 40% RF and sunny as all get out!!!

Joe

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Joe Beaver
Maker of Sawdust