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Professional Painters => Professional Painters and associated Trades Forum => Topic started by: PowerPainterUK on December 20, 2007, 12:48:17 PM

Title: Airless rig storage routines
Post by: PowerPainterUK on December 20, 2007, 12:48:17 PM
Hi guys, I want to find out how we all store our rigs when they're not in use. I store my 2 rigs (oil & water) both with white spirits(solvent thinner) at the moment but I've just bought some graco pump armour to try out on the latex rig and would like to know if any of you use it? Do you dilute it at all? Also, do you guys take your hoses off the unit for storage? Both my rigs are stand mounts but I like to keep the hoses connected for ease of use really. I keep them filled with storage fluid too but I think that will be expensive using pump armour in my water based rig as pump armour over here is £15 a quart (thats $30US)..
So please, allow me to 'pick your brains' guys, how do you store yours?
thanks for your help :)
regards, Phil
Title: Re: Airless rig storage routines
Post by: Chip McCheckellson on December 20, 2007, 01:39:54 PM
I'm not saying i know anything about what I'm about to say, but...   :)

When i used to spray cars, we'd clean out our guns with Lacquer thinner for about 10 - 30 seconds. We'd try and protect ourselves with latex gloves, but they would be disintegrating off of our hands after we were done cleaning the guns. Have you checked with the sprayer manufacturer/s to see if the thinner your using is ok for the seals?

...aren't they supposed to be clean when your done....um...err...cleaning it?  ;)
Title: Re: Airless rig storage routines
Post by: PowerPainterUK on December 20, 2007, 07:12:00 PM
I'm not saying i know anything about what I'm about to say, but...   :)

When i used to spray cars, we'd clean out our guns with Lacquer thinner for about 10 - 30 seconds. We'd try and protect ourselves with latex gloves, but they would be disintegrating off of our hands after we were done cleaning the guns. Have you checked with the sprayer manufacturer/s to see if the thinner your using is ok for the seals?

...aren't they supposed to be clean when your done....um...err...cleaning it?  ;)
white spirit is nothing like a lacquer thinner though, you dont need protection from it. Over here it is used to thin out oil based gloss etc but it's not at all like you're suggesting and yes it's fine to store in the rig. Lacquer thinner is strong stuff but this white spirit is more like a very light oil.
Title: Re: Airless rig storage routines
Post by: rmichael on December 20, 2007, 07:39:38 PM
Phil,

For the oil rigs we pull up Kerosene,  LT will eat the seals if it is allowed to soak for a long period.

For latex rigs we pull up auto antifreeze, main ingredient Glycol, same as in pump armor...  ;)

rmichael
Title: Re: Airless rig storage routines
Post by: PowerPainterUK on December 20, 2007, 07:44:06 PM
Phil,

For the oil rigs we pull up Kerosene,  LT will eat the seals if it is allowed to soak for a long period.

For latex rigs we pull up auto antifreeze, main ingredient Glycol, same as in pump armor...  ;)

rmichael
cool, kerosene is much like white spirit is here.  :) Great tip on the auto antifreeze ;D do you use it neat or diluted? Would you use this pump armour diluted?(seeing as I might as well use this quart) After this quart of pump armour I'll be getting some antifreeze ;)
thanks again rmichael
Title: Re: Airless rig storage routines
Post by: rmichael on December 20, 2007, 07:54:01 PM
The quart should fill the pump and line... I'd just use it as is ....  ;)

I pull up the antifreeze undiluted in the pump and line for cold storage, I suppose you can dilute it at least up to 50/50, unless you live in the Arctic ... or Eric's Minnesota...   :D
Title: Re: Airless rig storage routines
Post by: PowerPainterUK on December 20, 2007, 08:02:03 PM
Thanks mate, I appreciate your advice 8)
Title: Re: Airless rig storage routines
Post by: Workaholic on December 21, 2007, 05:49:54 PM
I usually use the thinner. I too have come across a few quarts of the pump armor, and will be giving it a try.
I hear people say to use the antifreeze, just haven't let it up my pump though.
Title: Re: Airless rig storage routines
Post by: Roadog on December 21, 2007, 07:24:51 PM
anti-freeze. works great. cheaper. White spirits is similar to our paint thinner or mineral spirits. Is your white spirits the same as turps?
Title: Re: Airless rig storage routines
Post by: PowerPainterUK on December 21, 2007, 07:30:23 PM
white spirits is a mineral spirit. It is similar to turps but not the same. It can thin paint but it's not really damaging to anything..
Title: Re: Airless rig storage routines
Post by: BrushJockey on December 21, 2007, 09:34:54 PM
I just learned about the anti freeze trick from here and have begun using it. I use my airless almost exclusively for spraying ceiling latex, so switching to spirits all the time for storage was a drag, and I always ended up with that 1/2 quart of mix that I never could figure out what to do with.
 
Title: Re: Airless rig storage routines
Post by: PowerPainterUK on December 22, 2007, 04:06:45 AM
I just learned about the anti freeze trick from here and have begun using it. I use my airless almost exclusively for spraying ceiling latex, so switching to spirits all the time for storage was a drag, and I always ended up with that 1/2 quart of mix that I never could figure out what to do with.
 
It's one of the best tips I've learned from this forum ;D
Title: Re: Airless rig storage routines
Post by: Bushman on January 07, 2008, 10:45:02 AM
Great tip...anti-freeze.

I might be wrong, but I thought one of the reasons to use mineral spirits for extended storage was to keep the innards(that's virginia speak) from rusting.

I also use my one rig alomost exclusively for spraying ceilings...expecially popcorn ceilings which have the potential to roll off in sheets when using a roller.
Title: Re: Airless rig storage routines
Post by: BrushJockey on January 07, 2008, 05:15:26 PM
Anti freeze for radiators has rust inhibitors in it, I believe.

Title: Re: Airless rig storage routines
Post by: Vin on January 08, 2008, 01:08:00 AM
I sleep with my airless she stays warm cozy and well loved that way, never have a break down ;D
Title: Re: Airless rig storage routines
Post by: PowerPainterUK on January 08, 2008, 03:01:29 AM
Obviously anti freeze has rust inhibitors in it or they wouldn't put it in car engines, I'll be using it unless we're talking about very long term storage in which case i'll use mineral spirits.. :)
Title: Re: Airless rig storage routines
Post by: MarkSindone on November 16, 2015, 02:50:14 AM
It's really important to make sure that your equipment is properly taken care of before putting them aside into storage. Thanks forsharing all your tips guys. I'm sure I'll be better prepared with all your input!