Crap spray gun no worky … no surprise!

[N2ae86]

I have a Clarke spray gun with came in an accessory kit. It’s a siphon tube set up but for some reason I can get it to work.

It’s going to be cheap rubbish I know but I was planning on just using it for trying to spray gel coat – hence why I didn’t want to use anything decent. Strange thing is I can get it to spray anything even water – you fill the pot, you pull the trigger and air comes out of the nozzle but nothing else, cant see any blockages or anything obviously wrong. Anyone got any idea or am I just being dumb and missing something really obvious?

Cheers

James

 

[ajlelectronics]

Air bleed hole in the cap blocked?

 

[tux]

IS the gel coat thin enough to be atomised? I have no idea how thick it is, but I suspect it may be a bit gloopy.
What size air cap and needle is fitted?

 

[danelectro]

sounds to me like you could have a banana stuck up the syphon tube....or something similar to a banana. Put some thinners in the pot, clean the air hole in the top on the pot lid, then try, one other thing to try is take the gun off the pot, put your finger over the fluid tip and pull the trigger, that might release something stuck.

Just an aside thought, but i assume the pulling of the trigger is actually pulling the fluid needle????? pull the trigger and see if you can see it move

 

[mike os]

has it only got 1 control valve?

 

[pedrobedro]

How far is the trigger coming back, if it is only opening enough to let air through the liquid will stay put.

 

[N2ae86]

Thanks for the suggestions guys - gives me something to look for.

I havent tried to use it spraying gel coat just yet, it wouldnt even pull water through - going to have to have a closer look at it as see if there is any suction on the draw pipe or not. To be truthful I got bored and trying to figure it out and went on and used another gun I had.

Anyone got an idea on how I can open the needle size up - its a 1.8 but I think I am going to need something bigger to properly spray gelcoat.

 

[langy]

I would of thought you would need a very big nozzle for gel coat, The only time i've seen it sprayed is at my mates laminating shop and he had a big nozzle and a very big compressor.

Thanks for the suggestions guys - gives me something to look for.

I havent tried to use it spraying gel coat just yet, it wouldnt even pull water through - going to have to have a closer look at it as see if there is any suction on the draw pipe or not. To be truthful I got bored and trying to figure it out and went on and used another gun I had.

Anyone got an idea on how I can open the needle size up - its a 1.8 but I think I am going to need something bigger to properly spray gelcoat.

 

[N2ae86]

Well stripped the gun to bits and put it together and it now seems to work? No obviously reasons as to why it would though - weird.

Langy - How do I get hold of bigger nozzles, cant seem to find anything online. Apparently with a 2.5 / 3 nozzle I "should" be able to spray gelcoat. Trying to look into its possible to thin it down to help with spraying.

 

[langy]

When i'm painting 2.5 metalflake i just get the biggest nozzle i can find which is usually 2.2 and drill out to 3.0, its not ideal but i only use it to put the flake on.
Don't know what gun you have so not sure if bigger setups are even available.