Can Lacquer thinner cause fish eyes

[gsracer]

Well one of my buddies was at my house to day and was looking at my cheapy spray gun which i was soaking in thinner cause i used it yesterday. Anyway he told me that soaking it in thinner was a bad idea because if there was any residue or thinner left over in the gun, it could cause fish eyes in the paint or clear. Is this true?

I had always wash and soaked it in thinner but if this is true what is the best fluid to clean your gun with, reducer?

Jerry

[alaskajeff]

Soaking in lacquer thinner is bad for some rubber or plastic parts, but I think everyone uses it for gun cleaning. I do. I can't see how it would cause fisheyes, unless it is contaminated thinner and you allow it to evaporate dry and leave behind some oil or silicone. I sometimes use dirty thinner for a first pass cleaning (but not with oil residue) but finish up w/ fresh.

[88GT]

thinner will not cause fish eyes. tell your buddy hes full of crap:rolleyes:

[Len]

I agree that lacquer thinner won't cause fish eyes but it will destroy your packings, O-rings, bushings and other soft parts. Never soak your gun in thinner. Clean the gun with thinner then leave it apart until dry then lubricate and reassemble.

Gun Cleaning Link

[regg187]

I sometimes use dirty thinner for a first pass cleaning (but not with oil residue) but finish up w/ fresh.

I do the same except I have 1st wash pretty dirty thinner, 2nd wash slightly dirty thinner, 3rd wash clean thinner... and 2nd wash stuff goes to 1st wash container and clean goes to 2nd wash container. that way there is always a good supply of each.

[MARTINSR]

I agree, your friend is dreaming.

Brian

[bunkystrimline]

yup....FOS....i clean my Iwatas with laquer thinner and they work perfectly fine....as for LEAVING them in the thinner, its not a great idea, as Len pointed out. for the most part, i shoot clean thinner through the gun to get any color/clear out, and break the guns down once a week (or every 10 uses or so) to give it a FULL cleaning. hasnt caused fish eyes yet. Not saying that i HAVENT had fish eyes, but i can eliminate the laquer thinner as a cause since it doesnt happen EVERY job. normally comes from a helper going to lunch, coming back with crap on his hands, sanding greases into the panel, NOT cleaning it properly, and telling me its ready to spray...or atleast thats MY assumptions

[motomann883]

i usally clean my guns with thinner, like the others use kinda dirty thinner for the first cleaning spray and run clean thinner the second shot and usally leave a little clean thinner in the cup and put the tip in the cup. give it a good cleaning and lube like Bunky mentioned every couple of days or paint jobs, i do give my primer gun a good cleaning more often because primers tend to be a little more nasty than base and clears.