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Storing an airless sprayer

Karl | Posted in Tools for Home Building on September 30, 2008 10:42am

Hi All,
I have had an airless Wagner “pro” model sprayer for ten or more years and have ignorantly been storing it with clean water in the pump and hose.

I recently read guidelines to store it with a mix of mineral spirits and oil to keep the internals from rusting.

I only use it for water based paint and it seems counterintuitive to put oil and mineral spirits in if won’t be used for oil based paint. Also I only seem to use it every 4 or 5 years.

Is there a different “storage” liquid for those only using water based paint? What do those of you with an airless sprayer use when storing it between uses with water based paint?

Thanks,
Karl

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Replies

  1. User avater
    Sphere | Sep 30, 2008 11:41pm | #1

    I don't own one, but I'd think Glycol ( etheylene or propylene) anti freeze would be good. Just slippery enough to keep the parts from siezing up. Water soluble so it will rinse out easy.

    Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks

    Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations

     

    They kill Prophets, for Profits.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dj_oEx4-Mc4

     

    The world of people goes up and
    down and people go up and down with
    their world; warriors have no business
    following the ups and downs of their
    fellow men.
    1. Karl | Oct 03, 2008 05:46pm | #12

      Sphere, I bought some pump armour bottled by GRACO and didn't look at the ingredients until I brought it home. It is two kinds of glycol, I think ethelene and propylene.Good suggestion. I think antifreeze would be cheaper than 10 dollar a qt pump armor.Thanks to all for the continuing advice.Karl

      1. User avater
        Sphere | Oct 03, 2008 10:00pm | #13

        (G) I coulda told ya...oh wait, I DID..LOLSpheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks

        Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations

         

        They kill Prophets, for Profits.

        http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dj_oEx4-Mc4

         

        The world of people goes up and

        down and people go up and down with

        their world; warriors have no business

        following the ups and downs of their

        fellow men.

  2. Huntertn | Oct 01, 2008 01:02am | #2

    Hey karl,

    I worked for a guy about 10 years ago who used HERO brand sprayers. We always stored them with something called "Wonder Wash". It is a powder that you mix up as you need it. It is a HERO brand product but I am sure there is other stuff out there. There is probably something better available today. I would call the local paint store and ask.

    Steve

    1. Karl | Oct 01, 2008 07:43am | #6

      Thank you for all the suggestions. I will look for Wonder Wash or some other water soluble lubricant.Water soluble sounds a lot simpler than the paint thinner, oil options.Thanks again,
      karl

  3. TomT226 | Oct 01, 2008 01:55am | #3

    I've got a big old Wagner 3/4 hp airless, and I just lay it down and fill the cup with 3&1 and let it suck it up.  I drain all the hoses too.  Flip it back up and put a bucket under the PU so the oil won't stain the concrete in the shop.  When I fire it up after long storage, I just fill the cup up and use a dowel to activate the plunger to get it started.  Offhand, don't remember the model number, but it is a piston. 

    BTW, it's for sale...

     

  4. ponytl | Oct 01, 2008 02:57am | #4

    they make a product for that... i have a qt  you mix it 10-1 with water..   it keeps it from freezing and rusting... i spray it out into a clean paint can... and  reuse it... it's green  :) as in color    if that hlps  but  sure all good paint stores have it

    p

  5. Mooney | Oct 01, 2008 04:57am | #5

    Its hard to beat diesil.

    Oil and paint thinner sounds even better .

    Heres the deal.

    It needs the anti rust solution and lubrication to store it .

    Bring it out and flush it with laquer thinner, then water  . Youre good to shoot latex.

    Short time storage paint thinner . Before usage flush with soapy water and youre ready to roll.

    Tim

     

  6. maggie2142 | Oct 01, 2008 02:12pm | #7

    I accidentally left water in my airless for about 2 years of inactivity. The internal valves were shot from corrosion. An expensive lesson. The factory tech told me to store it with hydraulic fluid in the pump. Never a problem since then. Cheap, easy and purges right out. No problem with latex.

  7. KevinH | Oct 01, 2008 03:18pm | #8

    I was just using my airless yesterday (probably as you were posting)...I also use mine very infrequently.  

    Just look in the paint sprayer section of any of your local box stores - they have fluid for just such a purpose.  Usually called Pump Armor - or some similar name.  It's designed to maintain the internal seals, workings, etc. of the pump.  The brand they have at depot has a neck wide enough to insert the suction hose directly.  Then you just run th pump until the fluid runs through.  Just remember to flush the system good with water before loading up with paint for the next use.

    After getting one whole use out of my first cheapo airless sprayer - I vowed that I would take better care of the more expensive model I upgraded to.  My fee for anyone who borrows the sprayer is a new bottle of Pump Armor (at a minimum).

    1. thewaterpup | Oct 01, 2008 07:11pm | #9

      Pump armour is the only way to go. Available at ICI and Sherwin Williams paint stores.

      1. Karl | Oct 02, 2008 07:33am | #10

        I picked up a bottle of Pump Armor tonite. I will try it out tomorrowThanks for all the input.Karl

  8. toolbear | Oct 03, 2008 04:58am | #11

    I have a Campbell-Hausfeld airless and it was stored with some kind of blue Mouse Milk that HD carried for this express purpose. Pour some into the water bucket and run it thru the system.

    The airless did not get used for 8 years, then I had a pergola to paint. It came out of storage and into service with no problems.

    Look around at what they make for this duty. It worked for me.

    The ToolBear

    "You can't save the Earth unless you are willing to make other people sacrifice." Dogbert

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