How to care for your polyurethane foam gun. How to choose a gun for polyurethane foam

Among the considerable number of tools in demand in Everyday life almost any homeowner, there is an inexpensive and uncomplicated tool - a gun for polyurethane foam.
Can you do without it?

I guess, yes. The reader probably knows that there are cans with polyurethane foam for domestic use. In this case, the use of polyurethane foam is possible without the use of an assembly gun. But my personal experience working with such cylinders (assembly seam in the photo on the left), as well as the subsequent experience of performing work with an assembly gun (assembly seam in the photo on the right) gave me the following thoughts:

1. To use polyurethane foam without a gun, even with infrequent, but fairly regular performance of work, "is more expensive" in terms of money, quality and time.
   For example, when performing the work shown in the photo on the left, I used up three household cylinders (door frame width 300 mm). At the same time, it is very difficult to ensure the uniformity of the assembly seam and the subsequent high-quality one. The photo on the right shows a construction joint obtained when a polyurethane foam gun was used. The assembly seam turned out to be of better quality, one cylinder was enough to complete the work.
2. Taking into account the ratio of the price (at present) for assembly guns and for polyurethane foam, the question from the point of view of cost savings is also in favor of using an assembly gun, since the gun will pay off after using three or four cylinders of polyurethane foam.
   So, there was little left to do: choose and buy an assembly gun from the countless set that are on the shelves, and at the same time not make a mistake with the purchase. But at first very short info for those who have not used this tool.
   Note: this reference is provided for the correct perception of the text material in the article. The main structural elements of the assembly gun (and their purpose) are shown in the figure below.

Taking into account the fact that the manual is usually attached to the pistol, the information presented above will be sufficient for reading and understanding the article.

SELECTION AND PURCHASE OF MOUNTING GUN

The reader probably knows or has heard about the law of "the transition from quantity to quality." But, unfortunately, this law does not apply to those "mountains" of assembly guns that are on our counters. Even the purchase of a relatively expensive pistol cannot be a guarantee of its quality and serviceability. Therefore, the only correct solution is to check the functionality of the assembly gun when purchasing it. It is not difficult to check the gun when buying, the only thing we need for this is a polyurethane foam cleaner. You need to either take it with you to the store, or buy it directly from the store, since it is still needed when doing work.
There are two possible scenarios for the development of events.

We need to check the performance of the pistol, as well as the quality of its assembly (the presence of leaks, gaps), without spoiling its presentation. So, for example, if you immediately start using polyurethane foam, and it turns out that the foam gun is faulty, it will be much more difficult to prove the marriage (in reality, it is practically impossible). That is why a polyurethane foam cleaner is used for testing.

HOW TO USE THE FOAM GUN

For high-quality work using an assembly gun, you will need the following materials and tools, which are almost fully shown in the photo below:

• The assembly gun itself
• Cylinder with polyurethane foam for a gun
• Polyurethane foam cleaner
• Nozzle (on a container) for moistening the surface with water
• Thinner No. 646
• Rubber gloves
• Rags and a construction knife (not shown in the photo)

In addition, in the process of performing work, situations sometimes arise when it is difficult or impossible to perform foaming at the place of work (access to the foaming place is limited, it is required to foame an extended internal cavity, etc.). In this case, it is convenient to use a flexible extension - a nozzle for the gun. It can be either included in the kit or purchased separately or made independently. The photo below shows a pistol with an extension - a nozzle.

SELECTION OF CONSUMABLES

There are enough articles and debates on the Internet about the choice of polyurethane foam. Based on practical considerations, when choosing a foam (for beginners), I will note the main thing:

For the assembly gun, you need to buy the entire kit (a can of polyurethane foam and a can of foam cleaner). If, for example, you do not buy a foam cleaner in advance, it may happen that the gun turns out to be disposable, and you have to throw it away after the first use. The main explanations and features of the cylinders are shown in the photo below.

When choosing a polyurethane foam, it is imperative to pay attention to the weight of the cylinder, which may differ markedly from a nearby cylinder of another manufacturer. You need to take those products that are larger in weight.

Important! Be sure to check the date of manufacture and the permissible shelf life. I do not recommend buying stale products.

Polyurethane foams are summer and winter. Depending on the time of year and the place of work, this should also be noted.

In most cases, if we are not talking about specific requirements for the work performed, compliance with the above points when choosing Supplies will allow you to buy normal high-quality polyurethane foam suitable for work.

FEATURES OF WORK PERFORMANCE

Since the instructions for the assembly gun for its use are attached, I will note only those moments when performing work that I personally adhere to.

1. The timing of the work (which is usually rarely paid attention to).
   Since the polymerization process of the polyurethane foam occurs due to the moisture in the air, it is highly undesirable to perform work on a hot, dry, sunny day, and even, for example, at noon. Therefore, if there is an opportunity to shift the work in time, then it is better to do these works in the late afternoon.
2. Preparation for work.

Everything that is necessary for the performance of work must be prepared and located near the place of work. It is also necessary to check and make sure that there is a sufficient supply of the product in the foam cleaning cylinder, which will allow you to thoroughly rinse the gun after completing the work.

TECHNOLOGY OF WORK PERFORMANCE

• The place for foaming (filling the assembly seam) must be free of debris, dust, etc.
• Before starting work, I moisten the prepared place (but do not fill it) with water from a spray bottle.
• Before using the foam, shake the can, installed on the gun, thoroughly. And do not forget to do this periodically in the process of performing work. When performing work, hold the pistol with the cylinder up.
• Usually, the foaming process is done from the bottom up. But, if there are "overhead" works, when the assembly gun cannot be used in a vertical position, then I will be the first to do these works. Since there is a possibility that even if there is foam in the cylinder (for example, an incomplete cylinder), it will not be possible to perform work in this place.
• If there is work using an extension nozzle, then it is also better to do them first, as long as there is enough foam in the cylinder and the foam outlet pressure is good.
• In a typical case, we start foaming from the bottom up, we “move” the pistol from left to right, with swinging movements. The trajectory of these movements in shape should resemble a circle at its bottom.
• In no case do we fill the entire seam with polyurethane foam. Maximum 30-40% of the seam volume. Causes? First, it is not known how much the foam will expand, and with such a performance of work, we will receive visible information about the real expansion of the foam. Secondly, cutting off excess foam (in addition to increased consumption) violates the structure of the assembly seam (creates open pores), which degrades the quality of the work performed.
• Important! Do not set a large foam flow rate, especially if you do not have working skills.
• Important! To get an even (uniform) and neat assembly seam, it is necessary to fulfill two conditions during the work:

a) The flow (output) of foam from the gun must be stable and constant (and small).
b) The movement of the gun along the seam must be uniform.

In words, this is easy to do, but in deeds - only after gaining practical work experience.

Note. All the slowdowns in the movement of the pistol, and even more the stops for "supposedly more thorough foaming", actually worsen the quality of the assembly seam and work.

• After foaming (the final or first layer), we moisten the assembly seam (foam) again, from the sprayer and interrupt the work (I usually leave it overnight). Or, if there are other objects, we go to another place of work.
• The next day we check the quality of the work performed, if necessary, add foam (or apply a second layer) using the specified technology.

It is important to understand that after completing the work, it is impossible to leave the assembly seam (foam) unprotected from atmospheric influences (moisture, ultraviolet light) for a long time. Therefore, only after taking protective measures, the work can be considered completed. What to use as protection?

Depending on the specifics of the work, this can be painting, plastering, the use of special tapes, etc. We will talk a little more about this below.

EXAMPLES OF WORK PERFORMANCE

Since the range of application of foam and an assembly gun is huge, from construction work to design and even auto-tuning, we will consider the most typical (popular) examples in relation to the needs of an ordinary homeowner.

The most typical and common application of the assembly gun and foam is for window and door assemblies. The execution of work in this case is very similar, with the exception of some peculiarities, so we will consider them in more detail separately.

EXAMPLE OF PERFORMANCE OF INSTALLATION OF WINDOW STRUCTURES

Consider the example of installing a plastic window, which was partially discussed in my previous article. In this case, we need a gun with polyurethane foam to perform three operations:

• Foaming window profile around the perimeter
• Window sill settings
• Low tide installations.

A brief description of these operations is shown in the photo below.

• Foaming the window around its perimeter is done in two stages, first from inside the room, and then outside. Foaming is carried out only after the profile is mechanically fastened to the supporting structures of the wall. A fragment of the work is shown in the photo below.

• Installation of a window sill indoors. As a rule, the window sill is installed at the bottom of the window profile (in a special groove on the profile), and the very fastening of the window sill to the base of the window opening of the wall is best done with the help of foam and a pistol. That is, fast, easy and simple. There are, of course, alternatives. Planting the window sill on the mortar (there is a special groove of the "dovetail" type at the base of the window sill), fastening the window sill using special brackets, etc. But the best way- foam and gun. An example of performing work on the installation of a window sill (and finishing the slopes) is shown in the photo below.

• Installation of an ebb from the street side. The ebb (in this case, a self-made ebb from galvanized roofing steel was used) is attached to the bottom of the window profile with self-tapping screws (point fastening). But the fastening of the ebb plane itself to the supporting structure of the wall (window opening) is also carried out using polyurethane foam and a pistol. A fragment of the work on the installation of the ebb is shown in the photo below.

Some important points that need to be understood and taken into account before starting work on the installation of window structures:

Window openings in brick wall in a constructive sense, they can be different, for example, a window opening with a quarter (external or internal) or without a quarter.
Depending on this, there may be significant differences, both in installation and in the choice of materials used.

The photo below shows how the protection of the assembly seam is implemented using the example of windows installed by me in a brick building. In the photo on the left - from inside the premises, in the photo on the right - from the side of the street.

Explanation of the photo:

The protective tape inside the room during the work is also protected by plaster, as well as the surface of the window opening.

Learn more about the installation features plastic windows when doing work on your own, an inquisitive reader can look in my previous

When installing plastic windows in wooden house, the system of interaction of the window profile, window frame and load-bearing wall very different from the previous version.

Two fundamental mistakes are possible here:

• Thoughtless transfer of PVC window installation technology without taking into account the peculiarities of the wooden structure
• Thoughtless (excessive) use of polyurethane foam.

The photo shows some points regarding the installation of plastic windows in a wooden house.

In this case, the plastic window cannot be installed directly into the wall opening (as in a brick wall). And when installing (fixing) the window boxes themselves to the wall, you cannot use mounting foam (nails or screws) either. A window block in a wooden wall cannot be rigidly fixed and it must be movable in relation to the wall. But the installation of the plastic window itself in the window frame must be performed, as in a brick wall. That is, with the use of mechanical fastening and subsequent foaming with polyurethane foam. A fragment of the work is shown in the photo below.

More details about the features of installing plastic windows in a wooden house can be found in

EXAMPLE OF PERFORMANCE OF INSTALLATION OF DOOR STRUCTURES

The use of polyurethane foam when installing doors is now widespread due to its simplicity, convenience and significant time savings when performing work. Since the process of installing door structures is in many ways similar to the process of installing window structures, we will consider only certain points (features) when performing these works. The photo below shows fragments of door installation work at the very beginning of work and at the final stage. It is important to note that the door (doorway) in the photo on the right is an interior door, and the other door is an entrance door.

The main differences front door(in addition to weight and size indicators) are in the conditions of its operation. That is, a significant temperature difference acts on the front door, in contrast to interior doors. Therefore, after foaming, the assembly seam for the entrance door must be protected, both from the inside of the room and from the outside.

Before foaming, mechanical fastening of the door block of the front door must be performed, more reliably and thoroughly than when installing interior doors. The photo below shows the corresponding fragment of the work performed before foaming. Dowel length 180 mm, installed in the amount of 8 pcs. on the sides of the block.

For interior doors, the operating conditions are much easier, so there is no objective need to protect the assembly seam (foam). Another question is that from the point of view of aesthetics, it is quite logical to seal the seam (foam). The photo below shows a fragment of the installation work. interior door inside the house.

USE OF MOUNTING FOAM IN THERMAL INSULATION WORKS

When performing thermal insulation works using expanded polystyrene insulation, the use of polystyrene foam allows you to minimize heat loss (eliminate cold bridges), which can occur if it is impossible to accurately fit the joints of thermal insulation sheets, at the joints of thermal insulation sheets with building structures, etc. moments of performing thermal insulation work. In most cases, modern insulation can be easily adjusted at the joints using a mounting knife. At the same time, for example, due to the irregularity of the geometry of the room to be insulated, inaccuracies in the fitting of sheets, especially in the corners, cold bridges may appear in the heat-insulating layer, when fitting mechanically is impossible. In this case, the use of polyurethane foam makes it easy and simple to eliminate such defects.

In some cases, without the use of a gun and polyurethane foam, the volume and complexity of thermal insulation work would have increased markedly. The photo below shows an example of insulation of the lower building structures of a house.

Photo No. 1 shows the insulation of the site with polystyrene foam at the border of the insulation between the wall of the house (cotton wool) and the basement of the house (expanded polystyrene). Without the use of foam, it would be simply impossible to fix the foam under the basement drain without the formation of cold bridges.

Photo No. 2 shows the use of polyurethane foam for fixing thermal insulation under a galvanized drain (protective cover).

Photo No. 3 shows the sheets of thermal insulation of the basement of the house, which tightly (without the formation of a cold bridge) adjoin the base of the house, including the thermal insulation installed under the protective visor of the base.

Photo No. 4 shows the installation of thermal insulation for the blind area of ​​the house, which is also adjacent to the thermal insulation of the basement of the house. The result is a monolithic (de facto) thermal insulation cake at the bottom of the house that protects the lower building structures of the house.

On the distant approaches to the house, protection is provided by a warm blind area, the bottom of the house is protected by an insulated basement, the wall of the house is protected by wadded insulation, and the border between cotton wool (house wall) and expanded polystyrene (house basement) is reliably protected using polystyrene and polyurethane foam.

FOAM AS A UNIVERSAL ADHESIVE

Two important properties of the polyurethane foam: adhesive ability and the ability to expand during polymerization (hardening) allow the use of polyurethane foam as a universal construction adhesive. In this case, the versatility also lies in the fact that the polyurethane foam allows you to connect completely different (in their properties) materials.
The photo below shows fragments of work performed when I used polyurethane foam in this capacity. The photo on the left shows the arrangement of niches in a brick wall. Installation is made using polyurethane foam. The photo on the right shows similar work done to install multimedia equipment in the room (projector and rear speaker speakers).

The photo below shows a fragment of the work performed when the foam was used to fix the colored window sill used in the decoration of the room for the spatial delimitation of the basement part of the wall (dark stone) and the wall of the room (light stone).

FOAM AS A BUILDING SEALANT

The properties indicated above make it possible to effectively use polyurethane foam as a construction sealant for filling voids in technological holes in the presence of cracks in the mating structure, etc. The photo below shows fragments of work performed using polyurethane foam in this capacity. In the photo on the left, the gap between the brick structure and the wooden wall of the house is closed with a foam seam.

In the photo on the right, the through hole in the wall is also covered with foam.

Let's summarize:

The use of polyurethane foam (and a polyurethane gun) allows you to simply and efficiently solve a variety of tasks that the owner of the house has to face. And how not to be mistaken when choosing a pistol, we now know.

By the way, when I somehow rejected a pistol when I bought it, the sellers put it back in the general "pile", which means that it will wait for its buyer. Good luck with business!

The simple truth that no editing is done without a professional tool is not disputed. Repair work with the participation of polyurethane foam is unthinkable without an appropriate device - a gun. The device facilitates application, saves building materials, makes seams neat and accurate.

The models presented in a variety will make a novice master get confused. What to rely on when choosing - we will find out now.

The device and principle of operation of the assembly gun

The mechanism is a complex structure, which during operation will have to be disassembled more than once for cleaning and adjustment. In order not to break the fragile inner part, you should know how the pistol works, so that later there is a chance for repair or replacement of components - this is another item of saving the family budget.

So, any model of an assembly tool consists of the following:

• Barrel with needle bar and nozzle. The composition moves along it and is sprayed.
• Housing with integral ball gear.
• Handle and trigger for a comfortable fit in the palm of your hand.

Internal structure: compression spring, control valve, sleeve and through hole for creating a vacuum.

The work is as follows: the composition from the cylinder falls on the ball gear and seeps into the rod. The thrust force is generated by a control valve that pushes the foam into the barrel. The trigger gives the foam access to the outside.

Classification of nail guns

Having mastered the purpose of the tool and the principle of operation, you can go directly to the choice of the model. Any option can be classified according to many criteria that facilitate the work of the master, prolong the operation of the device, and its payback. So, what are the criteria for making your own choice:

Manufacturing material

Typically, pistols are made of metal, plastic, or Teflon. What is the difference, advantages and disadvantages? Consider:

• Metal... It is durable, the service life with constant use is up to 5 years, of course, with proper care. Rare breakdowns will pay off the purchase of an expensive device. The gun is repairable, therefore, it is easy to replace components without purchasing the entire device.
• Plastic... This is a budget and usually a one-off option. The product is lightweight, fits comfortably in the hand, but the advantages end there. The foam pressure is low, which is guaranteed to ensure poor-quality seams, the nozzle clogs more often. The use of flushing liquid will negatively affect the internal structure of the device, since cheap plastic is not able to withstand chemical reagents.
• Teflon coated metal- the prerogative of professional craftsmen who use the unit every day. For household work, where the foam will be applied, God forbid, once a year, the acquisition is irrational. The gun has great quality and performance, its use is durable. Easy cleaning of the remaining foam from the Teflon coating is another advantage for which they make a choice.

There are also models made of durable plastic. However, there is a high risk of acquiring a fake for a high price. Only a professional can find flaws, and in order not to "run into" such a product, it is better to prefer a proven metal to it.

Pistol design

There are only two options - a collapsible and non-collapsible model. Therefore, the choice is also easy - it is preferable to choose a non-disposable pistol with a monolithic body. After work, they simply throw it away and acquire a new one for further installation. The collapsible version is easily cleaned of foam, the details change, which means that such a purchase is much more profitable - as you know, the repair cannot be completed, but can only be postponed.

Manufacturer

It is impossible to completely ignore the Chinese production - among them there are worthy specimens. Likewise, European production is not always preferable to Russian quality. The main condition for choosing is not to consider pistols from unknown companies. Not to be mistaken, below is a list of brands tested over the years.

So:

• Hilti... The products are equipped with a locking mechanism that blocks the supply of foam. The body is made of a tough polymer with impact and wear resistance characteristics.
• Soudal... Teflon gun coating, needle adjustment, precise filing of the assembly.
• Blast... Hybrid models for easy handling - metal body and plastic handle. The low weight of the device will allow you not to get tired with a large amount of work. The pistol is notable for the presence of different attachments, which is why the thickness of the seam varies.
• Bison... Metal models with Teflon coated elements. The guns are completely sealed thanks to the sealing material system. Due to this feature, the foam consumption is strictly metered, and the parts are less clogged with the substance.
• Kraftool... In addition to the body metal, the inner filling is made using brass - a needle valve, for example. This feature will extend the service life. Models have a very accurate feed of the assembly composition.

With a specific list, choosing your own tool won't be difficult. The buyer should inspect the device for integrity and check the mechanism - this service is provided to the client in reputable hardware stores. How this happens - we will describe below.

Practical tests of the pistol for suitability

Naturally, only reusable models are tested - cheap plastic, even if it works, will be unsuitable for further use. As a composition, not a foam balloon is purchased, but a container with cleaning acetone or any other solvent, whose action is inert to the material of manufacture.

The procedure is divided into two stages:

• Short-term... The connected container is weakened to release the solution and the customer makes 2-3 pulls of the trigger. This will fill the device, which, when properly manufactured, will not leak. The jet comes out even, under pressure.
• Long term... The pistol filled with solution remains in this position for several days. Then it is again checked for pressure by pulling the trigger. If the pressure has not eased, the model is suitable for use. Otherwise, a weakly leaking jet will indicate a malfunction and leaks.

It will be useful to recall that the purchase of a gun for polyurethane foam is accompanied by the preservation of the receipt and the packaging. In this case, there will be no delays in refunding or replacing the model.

How to use a pistol

This is not difficult. A proven and reliable pistol is turned over so that the handle is at the top. A nozzle is screwed onto the cylinder to the body, and a plastic or metal cap is preliminarily removed from the container. It is important to shake the assembled gun vigorously several times to build up pressure.

Further, the device is turned over and the control valve is opened several turns - if more pressure is required, it is gradually brought to the desired one. Direct the barrel with the nozzle to the sealed place and pull the trigger. Work is carried out from the bottom up, filling only a third of the voids - the resulting foam will complement everything else. If there is not enough installation composition, the cycle is repeated.

The remaining foam, unfortunately, is not used again, so it is important to calculate the amount required in advance to avoid unnecessary waste. They must be released from the cylinder at the end of the work, since the gun will need to be cleaned and stored until the next time. Installation of the next cylinder is possible only with a qualitative release from the previous composition.

How to clean a gun from polyurethane foam

It can be done in two ways. If you use a pistol, it was decided the next day, then proceed as follows:

• Instead of a used bottle, a container with acetone or other solvent is screwed onto the gun.
• A few pulls on the trigger will fill the inside of the pistol. Then the amount of solvent is released completely, having previously unscrewed the balloon.
• Next, reattach it, refill the gun and leave the solvent inside for at least an hour.
• After that, the procedure is repeated and the devices are left until the next use.

Better cleaning, in the event that the gun is left for storage and is to be used from time to time, is as follows:

• You will need soft cleaning "tools" - cotton pads, sticks, rags or gauze. You cannot pick the frozen foam with sharp objects - an awl, a knife. In this case, loss of sealing is common.
• First, external cleansing is performed. The barrel, nozzle and outer parts of the gearbox are freed from foam residues. It is important to clean it up to the movable ball element.
• The unscrewed parts are disconnected from the gun and cleaned from the inside. Clean the barrel and nozzle in the same way. It is important to pay special attention to the core.
• Next, the bolt holding the body is removed. It remains to clean the internal parts in it, which are impossible to get. By the way, the influx of foam inside, where they should not be, speaks of the depressurization of the device. It should be replaced.
• After final assembly, the gun is filled with solvent and handled as described above. The device can now be preserved.

To summarize: right choice and the use of a nailer are described in detail.

The recommendations are simple to implement, as well as the prevention of the purchased device. Self-repair with a quality tool will save a large part of the family budget, as opposed to spending money on the services of professionals.

Where is it used? Perhaps it will be easier to say where it has not yet been used. Installation of windows, thermal insulation of premises, elimination of cracks and gluing of all kinds of materials. Soundproofing of steel and acrylic bathtubs and kitchen sinks. Garden sculptures and decorative elements.

This is not a complete list of the possibilities of using polyurethane sealant, which we know as polyurethane foam.

Foam is sold in containers in the form of cylinders.

Moreover, the latter are of two types:

1. Household... They are supplied with tubes that are screwed onto the outlet. They do not require additional tools to work. However, the material consumption is quite high. This is due to the fact that the foam comes out of the cylinder uncontrollably.
2. Professional... Usually they have a larger displacement and require the use of a special pistol, which allows you to economically and fairly accurately distribute the foam. Savings are achieved by activating the foam in the tube. It has a smaller extension. As a result, the consumption is more economical. In addition, professional packaging contains more material.

It is about this device and there will be a speech in this article. What is the construction of the pistol? What to be guided by when choosing it? How do I use it? We will try to find the answer to these questions together with you.

The principle of operation of the pistol and its structure

The principle of operation of a gun designed to work with polyurethane foam is based on the simplest mechanics.

It consists of the following nodes:

• The tube through which the foam is discharged. It is equipped with two valves.
• The hammer mechanism.
• A pen.
• Cylinder fasteners.

From the cylinder, the foam is fed through a ball valve into the supply tube. By pulling the trigger, a double valve is opened, which is located in the tube. This allows the foam to escape. At the other end of the tube there is a mechanism that regulates the volume of the supplied foam. A special nut, by unscrewing or twisting, increases or decreases the foam output.

What to look for when choosing a foam gun?

Due to the fact that the principle of operation and the device of polyurethane foam guns are almost the same for all manufacturers, the choice is much easier.

When choosing a pistol, we look at:

• The material used in the manufacture specific model... The abundance of plastic parts will shorten the life of the tool. At the same time, it is worth paying attention to how the main working units made of metal, their high quality will increase the chance for a long pistol service. However, there are exceptions to every rule. Some manufacturers have recently been using high-strength plastics that can withstand existing loads.
• Can the gun hold the pressure inside itself. Unfortunately, you won't be able to check this moment when buying. When buying a tool, it is enough to purchase a package of flushing liquid for it. As a rule, it is made from ordinary acetone.

How to check if a gun is holding pressure? At home, a can of acetone is installed in the gun, and the solvent is launched inside. Then the balloon is removed and the instrument is left for a couple of days. After that, you can determine the quality of the device. To do this, just pull the trigger. If the acetone that remains in the pistol comes out under pressure, as in a shot, then the purchased product is of proper quality. If there is no cotton, then you can return the pistol to the store. It retains its presentation and can be exchanged for another model without any problems.

In fact, there are no secrets and nuances when working with a pistol. Everything is extremely simple.

First of all, the instrument needs to be charged. To do this, lift the ring holding the balloon up along the thread until it stops. After that we screw in a full bottle. We return the ring to its original position. In this case, you can hear the hiss of the compressed gas escaping under pressure.

After that, you can get to work. It is enough to direct the pistol tube to the desired place and pull the trigger.

Foam may spray in a thin stream at first. If there is a need to increase the flow, you need to unscrew the nut located at the end of the tool. You need to regulate smoothly. Experimentally, you can select the material consumption that is required.

With proper handling, this device can protect the foam inside itself from drying out. To do this, simply leave the balloon on it. If the packaging with foam is removed, then the inside of the polyurethane foam will solidify. And pretty quickly. To avoid this trouble, you can either rinse the instrument with a solvent, or install a new foam cylinder and activate it. And one moment. If you store the gun with the cylinder down the tube, then it will be in working order at any time. The foam will not solidify.

Gun cost and manufacturers

As for the prices for this instrument, they can cost $ 10 (and there are no guarantees that it will work out), and $ 20-50. In the latter case, you will purchase a professional quality product. And of course, it is advisable to purchase it not on the market, but in specialized stores.

Among the manufacturers, one can mention Zubr (Belarus) and Workman (Canada). They are followed by Stayer, Hilti and Kraftool. The latter group of manufacturers produces fairly good products. However, there are many fakes. Original models last a long time. And fakes are handed over after the first use. Therefore, it is advisable to be on the alert and purchase pistols in trusted stores.

We wish you success and pleasure from using a professional quality tool. May every day bring you satisfaction from work and joy from the results obtained.

Even the most expensive professional tool can be damaged by inept application attempts. Well, in order to get significant savings and achieve high-quality sealing of window or door blocks (and not only) during installation, you need to know about how to use a foam gun, without such knowledge there is a high probability of getting only a headache.

Safety engineering

First of all you should remember about safety measures when working with polyurethane foam.

1. Never point a gun with a cylinder connected at a person or animals. Eye contact can lead to serious injury, besides, it is very difficult to wash the foam from the skin, and it is almost impossible to remove it from clothes.
2. Despite the apparent simplicity of the gun, it is designed to work with a pressurized vessel (foam cylinder). Therefore, do not forget about the impact high temperature... Do not operate the gun near an open flame or under a heat gun. Even to warm up a cylinder wound on a pistol (brought from the cold) should be in water with a temperature of no more than 30 degrees.

Using a pistol

The fact that the pistol must be held with the cylinder upward is known to many, this is the basic rule. In addition, you should know some others. regulations.

• After preliminary shaking of the cylinder (15-20 seconds) it must be screwed onto the gun adapter until it is fully fixed (only by hand). The connection will be confirmed by a hissing sound, indicating that the gun is filled with foam.

If there was no such sound, this indicates a malfunction (sticking) of the inlet ball valve, in some cases this may indicate the expired shelf life of the foam itself. To eliminate this problem, you will have to disassemble the gun and clean it of old dried foam, or replace the foam.

• After connecting the cylinder, it is necessary to turn the foam flow regulator no more than a quarter of a turn and pull the trigger of the gun, while directing the barrel into the garbage bag. Only after the consistency of the foam becomes normal, you can start working.
• Foam consumption must be adjusted depending on the volume of the space to be filled, while it is necessary to start with precisely the minimum parameters. In addition, one should take into account the expansion of the foam in volume, at least 2-3 times (depending on the quality).
• It is necessary to apply foam deep into the opening (cracks, crevices), while filling no more than one third of the space. For uniform filling of the cavity with foam, it is necessary to make zigzag movements with the nozzle of the pistol, filling the entire width of the seam layer by layer. With the minimum possible supply of foam and the step of zigzags, the highest possible quality of filling the cavity will be obtained.
• Care should be taken when replacing the cylinder, because even an empty switch-off element can significantly splash clothes and hands due to the residual foam pressure. In this case, in place of the removed cylinder, it is worth winding a new one without delay in order to avoid foam hardening.

Completion of work

After all work is completed, the following steps should be performed:

1. Close the flow regulator completely.
2. It is not recommended to clean the nozzle of the gun, the fact is that the cured foam can provide additional sealing, especially if there is a suspicion of a leak in the outlet valve.
3. It is strongly not recommended to remove the balloon in which the foam remains. This will lead to the need to rinse the instrument and the inability to use the substance remaining in the cylinder.
4. In such an assembled state, a pistol with a wound cylinder can be stored for several months, but this of course depends on the quality of the foam and the device itself. If there is any doubt about any of these parameters, it is recommended to pull the gun trigger every 3-4 days and renew the foam in the barrel.

Reapplication

In order to use a pistol with a wound cylinder after a break, especially a short one, you do not need to make any special efforts. Clean the nozzle from the layer of hardened foam, it is best to use a sharp knife for this, it will be more convenient and faster.

After that, shake the can, as in the initial use, and then you will need to bleed off the stagnant foam. This usually takes 5-10 seconds, after which you can start working.

Pistol repair

First of all, it should be remembered that the gun must be regularly flushed. If the tool is used regularly (professional installation of windows, doors), it is worth installing cleaning after using 3-4 cans of foam. In this case, it is necessary to first skip the flushing through the entire device of the pistol (by pressing the trigger), after which the tool should be postponed for 1-2 hours so that the acetone dissolves all the foam inside. Then you should press the trigger again and rinse the instrument for 5-10 seconds.

The main malfunctions of the gun for polyurethane foam:

• When the balloon is connected, no characteristic sound is heard and no foam comes out. The reason lies in the sticking of the ball inlet valve. Most often, this problem occurs when the cylinder is disconnected from the pistol, so the device should be stored together with the foam.

To eliminate it, you will have to unscrew the cylinder adapter and release the valve ball, while liquid flushing (foam solvent) may be needed. It must be poured over the valve and wait a little. When removing the ball, be careful not to damage the surface or lose the valve spring.

After cleaning the assembly, the tool usually recovers.

• Another common problem is the spontaneous flow of foam from the nozzle of the gun. Most often, the problem lies in the clogging of the nozzle itself or the needle of the control mechanism.

To eliminate the malfunction, you will have to disassemble the pistol almost completely. Unscrew the regulator, disconnect the gun barrel, unscrew the nozzle (in some non-separable models, the operations may be different, but the meaning remains the same - to disassemble the foam supply unit).

The needle and the nozzle itself should be handled with particular care; any damage to these parts will entail the need to replace them. After it is necessary to process all the details by flushing, the barrel can even be soaked in it. At the end of processing, all parts should be wiped with a soft cloth.

After assembling the gun, the spontaneous flow of foam usually stops. Otherwise, the parts or seals themselves will most likely have to be changed.

• Sometimes you have to face such a problem as the inability to unscrew an empty cylinder (most often after a long break in operation). The way out can be unscrewing the cylinder together with the adapter, this allows you to relieve excess pressure. After that, the balloon is twisted, but the adapter will have to be held with a key. In the most severe cases, they even resort to cutting the cylinder with a grinder (in this case, you should be extremely careful) and twisting its head after pre-soaking in a solvent.

In order to prevent this situation, you should remove the remaining foam from the adapter when replacing the cylinder.

When operating a gun for polyurethane foam, the main thing to remember is that any tool loves a neat and careful attitude towards itself, do not forget about it.

When performing work with the use of polyurethane foam requiring increased accuracy, subtlety and accuracy, a gun will become an excellent assistant, with which the material is consumed much more economically, and the accuracy of foam application increases. One of the main rules of the gun for polyurethane foam is how to use, you should protect your eyes and hands with goggles and gloves.

Shake the can vigorously at least 20 times immediately before installing. Remove the protective cap from the cylinder with polyurethane foam, screw the cylinder into the gun holder, holding the tool handle with one hand, and screwing the foam cylinder with the other.

When screwing in, the cylinder is in an upright position, and the gun is turned with the handle down. Then it is necessary to unscrew the adjusting screw half a turn back, which will translate the cylinder with the gun into working condition. When the trigger is pulled, the barrel of the tool will fill with foam. For a better understanding of what a polyurethane foam gun is and how to work, we recommend watching the video instructions prepared below with this tool.

The design of the tool is quite simple and they are all designed according to the same principle:

• the gun is a tube equipped with special valves located at both ends;
• a pistol grip and a trigger with an outlet valve drive in the form of a rod are attached to the tube;
• a drive passes through the entire length of the pistol pipe, which gives additional convenience when performing work;
• on the tube through which the foam is supplied, there is a ball valve with a ring, to which a cylinder with polyurethane foam is attached.

Thanks to this simple design, charging the tool is the simplest procedure and is produced in a matter of minutes.

How to disassemble a gun for polyurethane foam

Despite the simple device and ease of use, this tool requires careful attitude and care. Before using a foam gun, you need to know and follow a number of requirements:

• when storing the tool, completely close the valve;
• do not allow its storage for more than 7 days with a charged cylinder;
• do not leave a gun filled with polyurethane foam without a cylinder;
• do not press the trigger in the absence of a cylinder;
• flush the reducer and gun nozzle during operation when replacing the cylinder;
• after each use, immediately rinse, avoiding drying of the polyurethane foam on the surface of the instrument and inside;
• do not allow the tool to fall, or hit or shake it.

If you do not clean the gun poorly or forget to do it after completing the work, it will most likely stop working. Dried foam remaining in it is the main cause of tool failure.

How to properly clean a gun from dried polyurethane foam video

If the gun does not work or begins to pass foam poorly, it is necessary to inspect it and establish the cause of the malfunction (see video).

The trigger is easy to squeeze, but no foam comes out. Check the foam cylinder, perhaps the problem lies in a poor-quality cylinder.

How to use a foam gun. If the problem is with the instrument, remove the can, insert the cleaner and try again. In the absence of operability, the likely cause will be a wedge or contamination in the ball valve gearbox:

• the gearbox must be washed with a cleaner, the inlet in it must be cleaned with a cotton swab moistened with a cleaner;
• then slightly twist the valve ball or press on it. Metal objects can damage the ball and the valve will lose its tightness.

If this procedure did not return the foam gun to work, it means that the foam has hardened inside, where it will be necessary to completely disassemble the tool for its further cleaning. To do this, you will need keys, foam cleaner, wooden sticks, a screwdriver, a soft rag:

• carefully, so as not to damage the parts of the tool, covered with a special compound, clean the frozen foam from the gun body;
• using a screwdriver, pushing it between the knitting needles and using it as a lever, unscrew the adapter, clean it from the inside with a match, toothpick, cleaner and soft rag;
• unscrew with a key and clean the shut-off valve;
• unscrew the key and remove the pistol rod from the rod. We clean the rod and rod from the inside. You can use a wooden skewer;
• take out the gasket bolt;
• we take out the end of the rod from the body by pressing on its end, having previously cleaned it from hardened foam;
• remove foam from all removed parts. If necessary, all parts should be soaked in acetone for several hours. We thoroughly clean the inside of the case, avoiding the use of metal objects.

Comparison of guns for applying polyurethane foam video

After removing all the dried foam, we assemble the tool in the reverse order.

A gun for polyurethane foam how to use it correctly: step by step instructions

When working with assembly guns, it must be prepared, after which, for correct use, observe simple instructions: (see video in detail)

• shake the foam can 15-20 times and screw it onto the gun;
• unscrew the adjusting screw half a turn back and turn it over, bring the tool into working condition;
• pull the trigger and fill the outlet channel with foam;
• we soak the cleaned surface with a sprayer, where it will be applied. Moisture contributes to the uniformity of the structure of the polyurethane foam and its better swelling;
• adjust the required foam output speed;
• bring the tip to the place of work and monitor its constant presence in the process of foaming inside the foam layer;
• vertical seams are processed from bottom to top, the rest from left to right;
• the seam must be free of holes and tears. Try to remove your finger from the trigger of the pistol as little as possible;
• for long-term work, it is recommended to periodically shake the cylinder;
• in the absence of subzero temperatures, after the completion of the work, the foam must be sprinkled with water from the sprinkler.

Rules for using polyurethane foam video

How to properly clean a foam gun

The tool needs periodic cleaning not only after completion of work, but also during its process when replacing a used foam cylinder with a new one. The cylinder is replaced in the same way as the first cylinder is installed:

• the gearbox soiled with foam must be cleaned with solvent or acetone;
• in the course of work, periodically remove foam adhering to the tip with a soft cloth soaked in solvent;
• at the end of work, if foam remains in the cylinder, remove it with a cleaner and screw the valve. In this state, the pistol remains charged for several weeks. If you do not need a balloon with the remaining foam, then you need to throw it out, since storage long time he is not subject;
• after unscrewing the bottle, install the bottle with the solvent and clean the assembly gun from the remaining foam - a clean cleaner should flow from the tip.

How to use a foam gun video

The cleaned instrument is stored with the cleaner screwed on.