EPA Rules – Paint gun cleaning

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  • April 1, 2010 at 12:48 pm #20491

    I own a small shop but am trying at great expense to meet the new EPA regulations on air quality by Jan 11. I just purchased a cross flow booth that meets the requirements of the Air Quality act and it is being installed currently.

    My next concern is how to clean my spray guns in a way that meets the regulations. Is my only option the purchase of a “gun washer” or is there a more economical way to meet the requirements. I have been to the meetings sponsored by the government but come away uncertain of exactly what they require.

    If it is necessary to purchase a washer, are there any less expensive equipment options and where can I find them.

    April 1, 2010 at 6:05 pm #20492

    My understanding of the rules are that you can get away with “hand washing” the guns to be in compliance. What that would entail opens up a whole other set of questions that I can’t answer. I would think that if you would have some sort of enclosed container with thinner, disassemble your gun, rinse with thinner, clean passages, rinse with clean thinner, and reassemble that would satisfy the requirements.

    Basically, I don’t think they want you to be spraying thinner through it anymore to clean it.

    Autobodytoolmart has an astro cleaner for $560.

    Addendum: There are certain areas that do require gun cleaners specifically.

    April 1, 2010 at 8:58 pm #20494

    ya they require em here now but ive always had a gun washer thank goodness still think some of these new laws are getting ridicules though trust me dont do no more than you have to ta be legal cuz they are just going ta come back in an ask for somthing else ta be done :blush: ive even heard about one guy getting harassed over throwing his old paint strainers in the trash :blink: then that opens the door for the paint thats on the masking paper etc etc etc :cens :hunt

    April 2, 2010 at 1:16 am #20495

    Hobo freight has finally released their model (After 4 years of playing with it.)

    http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=94996&xcamp=google&utm_source=googlebase&utm_medium=cpc&zmam=13262200&zmas=12&zmac=112&zmap=94996

    As long as it will pass. it will look good in the corner rather you use it or not. :lol1

    April 2, 2010 at 1:35 am #20498

    [b]bondomerchant wrote:[/b]
    [quote] ive even heard about one guy getting harassed over throwing his old paint strainers in the trash :blink: [/quote]
    Yep.

    Over here we need to have sealed containers for throwing our paint slops in; they go through the roof if any tins with any kind of solvent are found without sealed lids; and even the rags we’ve used with solvent W&G have to be moved immediately after use to a suitable container in an air controlled environment (normally a spray booth with extraction filters) until they have fully dried out. Only then can they be thrown in the trash.

    I am also personally liable for a £10,000 fine if I’m found spraying any solvent containing material in the shop (outside the booth). Taking that to the extreme even a quick squirt of rattle can adhesion promoter or a tiny bit of rub through primer on a sliver of bare metal could cost me a whole lot of money!

    We have no problems with dried paint on masking though, it’s just anything ‘wet’ that could release solvents into the atmosphere in an uncontrolled manner.

    April 2, 2010 at 8:54 am #20504

    :pcorn:

    April 2, 2010 at 1:05 pm #20506

    Great tip on the Harbor Freight washer. Assuming it meets requirements, $99 is not a bad price to keep the inspectors off my back

    April 3, 2010 at 11:03 am #20520

    I just switched my solvent gun washer to acitone to comply…we also have a waterborn washer as well..

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