Common Spray Gun Problems & Fixes

Your spray gun is one of the most precious tools you’ll use in the refinish business. If it’s not working the way it should be, you may be in trouble. Some spray gun issues can be easily fixed. Here we’ll detail some of the most common paint gun issues and how to fix them.

Problem: Gun leaking from fluid nozzle.

Causes: Fluid nozzle loose, foreign particle or dried paint keeping needle from seating.

Remedy: Tighten nozzle or remove and clean nozzle.

Problem: Gun is leaking from needle sealing area.

Causes: Teflon packing is damaged or missing.

Remedy: Replace Teflon packing.

Problem: Gun sprays sickle shaped to the left or right. ) (

Causes: Air holes clogged on air cap or air cap damaged.

Remedy: Clean air holes or replace air cap.

1- Determine if the obstruction is on the air cap or the fluid tip. Do this by making a test spray pattern. Then, rotate the cap one-half turn and spray another pattern. If the defect is inverted, obstruction is on the air cap. Clean the air cap as previously instructed.

2 - If the defect is not inverted, it is on the fluid tip. Check for a fine burr on the edge of the fluid tip. Remove with #600 wet or dry sand paper.

3 - Check for dried paint just inside the opening. Remove paint by washing with solvent.

Problem:Tear drop or oval shaped spray pattern.

Causes: Air cap clogged at fluid needle orifice.

Remedy: Remove and clean air cap.

Problem: Paint sputters from gun.

Causes: Insufficient material in cup, material not filtered, fluid nozzle loose, needle Teflon packing damaged, needle & nozzle dirty.

Remedy: Refill cup, filter material, tighten loose parts, and replace Teflon packing, clean needle & nozzle.

Problem: Incorrect atomization.

Causes:Inlet air pressure to low or material too thick; pressure too high or material too thin.

Remedy: Adjust air pressure and/or product viscosity.

Problem: Runs and sags

Causes: Too much material flow, material too thin or gun tilted on an angle.

Remedy: Adjust gun or reduce fluid pressure, mix properly or apply light coats or hold gun at right angle to work and adapt to proper gun technique.

Problem: Thick, dimpled finish, "orange peel". Too much material coarsely atomized.

Causes: Gun too close to surface, air pressure too low, improper thinner being used, material not properly mixed or Surface rough, oily, dirty.

Remedy: Check distance. Normally 6-8" - HVLP, "orange peel". Too much 8-10" - conventional. Increase air pressure or reduce fluid pressure. Follow paint manufacturer's mixing instructions. Follow paint manufacturer's mixing instructions. Properly clean and prepare.

Problem: Dry Spray.

Causes: Air pressure too high. Material not properly reduced (Suction feed). Gun tip too far from work surface. Gun motion too fast. Gun out of adjustment.

Remedy: Decrease air pressure. Reduce to proper consistency. Adjust to proper distance. Slow down. Adjust.

When to Buy a New Paint Gun:

Have you tried everything possible to fix your paint gun, but it’s still giving you problems? Before you bite the bullet and purchase a new paint gun, contact your spray gun manufacturer for further instructions that are specific to your paint gun model. They will be able to provide tailored advice, and they should be able to help you decide whether it’s time to buy a new spray gun.

If you would like any advice, please contact us today.

7 common spray gun problems and how to fix them

7 quick fixes for blocked spray guns

Know you could do better but need a quick fix solution for how to get your spray nozzle to work right now? Take a look at our 7 common spray gun issues and their quick fixes.

1. Why is my spray gun leaking from fluid nozzle?

You’re not alone, a leaking spray gun is a common problem amongst professional and amateur sprayers alike. It’s often caused by the fluid nozzle becoming loose or dried paint blocking the needle.

Solution: Remove your spray gun nozzle, clean it and then adjust. We told you it was simple!

2. Why is my spray gun leaking from the needle sealing area?

If your spray gun is leaking from the needle sealing area, it’s highly likely that your needle packing has become damaged. There’s an easy enough fix though, thankfully.

Solution: Replace the Teflon packing on your spray gun with a new needle kit. See gun kits here  or book in your gun for a service 

3. Why is my spray gun spraying to the left or right?

If your spray gun is spraying to either side and creating a sickle shape as it sprays then it’s likely that your air holes on the air cap are damaged. Thankfully, it should be easy to fix if the obstruction is on the air cap.

Solution: Clean the air holes on the cap.

If this doesn’t work then you may need to replace your air cap. See aircaps here  or book in your gun for a service 

4. Why is my spray gun painting in a teardrop spray pattern?

A spray pattern should be an even oval shape so if you’re noticing a teardrop effect with your spray, it’s likely that one or more holes on the spray cap are clogged.

Solution: Remove and clean your air cap.

5. Why is paint sputtering from my spray gun?

This is a common problem and will usually mean that your nozzle simply isn’t on tight enough.

Solution: Tighten nozzle on spray gun. Easy.

If this doesn’t work then check your air cap is properly matched and that your packings are still intact.

6. Why is my spray gun painting unevenly?

If you find that you’re getting uneven cover or even a paint splatter effect from your spray gun then it’s likely that the air pressure isn’t correct for the viscosity of the liquid you’re using i.e. air pressure is too low for thicker paint

Solution: Readjust the air pressure or the product viscosity until the gun sprays evenly.

7. Why is there an “orange peel” effect on my paint job?

Another fairly common scenario here and one that has a few different possibilities:

Gun is too close to surface being painted

Solution: Adjust distance between gun and surface.

Air pressure too low

Solution: increase air pressure or reduce fluid pressure

Incorrect thinner being used

Solution: Check paint manufacturer’s data sheets and remix quantities if needed.

Surface is rough, dirty or oily

Solution: Properly prepare the surface you’re working on, go back and clean or sand again if necessary.

Guide to Automotive Paint Gun Problems

Your paint gun is one of the most precious tools you'll use in the auto body business. If it's not working the way it should be, you might be in trouble.

But before you throw in the towel and buy a new spray gun, rest assured that some paint gun issues can be easily fixed. Here we'll detail some of the most common paint gun issues and how to fix them.

HVLP Spray Gun Problems

HVLP spray guns are the most popular type of spray gun on the market today. Here are some of the most common HVLP paint gun issues and how to fix them.

HVLP Spray Pattern Problems

If your HVLP spray gun is spraying inconsistent patterns (i.e. orange peel), check the consistency of your paint before you point the finger at your spray gun. Make sure the paint you are using is designed for HVLP guns. If you're unsure, check the paint's technical data sheet. You may need to add paint thinner in order to make sure the paint is the right consistency.

If your paint is the correct consistency but your spray gun is still producing inconsistent patterns, take a look at your air compressor. HVLP guns require high volumes of air (measured in CFM). If your air compressor is producing a low volume of air, this might be contributing to an uneven spray pattern.

When all else fails, examine your spray gun's nozzle. Try using a smaller nozzle to reduce the amount of paint that needs to dry, which can help reduce the orange peel effect.

Spray Gun Spitting

“Spitting” happens when your paint gun's nozzle is not properly screwed into place. If your paint gun is spitting or dripping paint, it is probably because the nozzle is not screwed on tightly.

If you've checked your nozzle and find that it is screwed on tightly, you may need to purchase a new nozzle altogether. Spitting and dripping can be a sign of a worn out nozzle.

Gun Not Spraying

If your paint gun is not spraying paint at all, it's most likely due to a clog either in the air vent hole or the hose. Clean any dried paint with a toothpick, and use a cleaning solvent to clear any remaining gunk.

If you've cleaned your paint gun and find that it still isn't spraying, take a look at the air supply. Make sure the air pressure and the fluid are on the correct settings, and examine your air hose to make sure it is properly connected.

Leaking Air

You might notice that air is escaping from the paint gun handle. In this case, you'll need to replace the soft seals on the paint gun. Replacement parts can be found in high-quality paint gun kits, or they can be purchased on their own -- consult your manufacturer for specific replacement instructions.

LVLP Spray Gun Problems

LVLP paint guns are less common than HVLP guns, but many favor LVLP for their low overspray and high finish quality. The same troubleshooting instructions for HVLP guns should apply to most LVLP problems.

When to Buy a New Paint Gun

Have you tried everything possible to fix your paint gun, but it's still giving you problems? Before you bite the bullet and purchase a new paint gun, contact your spray gun manufacturer for further instructions that are specific to your paint gun model. They will be able to provide tailored advice, and they should be able to help you decide whether it's time to buy a new spray gun.

Gaining purchaser gratification is our firm's intention eternally. We will make wonderful endeavours to build new and top-quality merchandise, satisfy your exclusive needs and provide you with pre-sale, on-sale and after-sale products and services for Graco Gun Filter Old,Wagner Gun Filters,Titan Gun Filters,Graco Suction Filters,stainless steel Suction Filters,Kremlin Type Filter,Airless Spray Gun Filters