Dude. I watched your videos back in 2017. I was hatching a plan to build my own house and I would scour TH-cam for people building houses. You were a part of my life. And now this year I have finally dried in my own house. And in the final stages of the build my gun jams. Lo and behold it’s none other than you who shows me how to fix my gun. There’s something so cosmic about that. You started me off and now you meet me at the finish line.
Well that is the best comment on here ;) Pinned to the top. I have a tone more pics and video to share if I ever get the time to edit the clips. In the mean time, maybe you could toss me a picture of your project on our Facebook page? facebook.com/HomeintheEarth/
THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!! You saved me from either destroying my gun, or going to buy a new one. I didn't properly clean my gun the last time I put it away. The cleaner started to work, then everything jammed solid. Following your directions, the gun is working like new!!!!
Thanks man. Even though I cleaned the gun with the great stuff cleaner every time I used it, the valve still managed to get clogged. But thanks to your detailed valve disassembly instructions, I was able to clean out the ball and spring. A hard thick coating dried around the spring in the valve. Thanks a lot.
Thank you so much the check valve and ball were pretty much one piece of spray foam, Took it apart and was going ok that's why, even though the cleaner was flowing fine. Thanks again, Sean.
This is EXCELLENT! Thank you! Such great camera work clearly showing each part at each step and how you removed them. It seems no detail was left out. So many videos skip over "small" things and they're often just what I wanted to see. I'm totally confident I can unclog my gun with this video. 5 stars!
Dude I've tried to clean out the old guns so many times, and must have just bought 3-4 new ones after giving up in despair. This hack is huge! THANK YOU! It was the spring in the ball valve that must have been clogging mine up. I watched your video, ran to the garage and in 15 mins had mine working again. Really appreciate you!
I was 5 min away from jumping in my car and buying a new one. After seeing the video I saw this it really does need to be taken apart and cleaned. I disassembled mine like in the video and got it working. On mine the wand part was clogged. It was clogged for about 2 years in a closet.
I always store my guns well cleaned with no can attached. But my latest gun is clogged after I only used it twice. And I thought I had cleaned it well. This video is a big help. !
Spent good money on this gun and they put a plastic ball in the most vulnerable part. couldnt get mine out as the brass fitting was just crumbling so my gun is useless. glad you were able to fix yours and not loose money thanks for the video
Blocked my second gun, (first was a Hilti, second is the Great Stuff gun). Thanks, for making this video--great help. Also, thanks to J. Martin for the tip on applying heat to the barrel threads. I'll try to clean my guns as soon as my cleaner order from Amazon comes in.
if you have a friendly dentist you may get some of the pick tools from them. they are great for cleaning out grout lines and other small hard to reach areas.
Thank you for making this video. Also I hope you secured your vice down to the bench by now, I narrowly avoided a major foot injury from a poorly fastened vice as a kid.
Yea, my shop was in flux (I was still building it). The "workbench" was just 2x12s left over from forming the footings set across home made saw horses. I re-arranged the place with each new task and didn't use the vice often enough to mount it permanently... But things are settling down now and getting more setup. I even have dust collection and power distribution now ;)
pro tip, try pipe wrenches if you have a stuck, partially stripped head. Pipe wrenches grabs tighter as you try to turn the stuck fastener. You can get mini ones.
This video is destined for glory as these guns skyrocket in price. Just payed @80$ in rural Wisconsin hardware store. 56$ on Amazon today. I remember paying maybe 35$ a few years back and feeling hurt. Thanks, my gun is better now.
Great Video! It helped me save my gun. I was very upset at myself for seemingly bricking this tool but your video saved my gun and it works better than before. Thank you. Probably should wear gloves though, that cleaner has to be super carcinogenic/caustic to work so well.
The cleaner is really just 100% acetone. It is the exact same stuff that women use to remove nail polish, etc. If it is bad for your skin, then women would be dying younger than men ;)
You can disassemble the gun and soak the parts in NMP to dissolve the hardened foam and blow it out with air. Dynasolve CU6 works better, but it’s a bit pricey to save a $40 gun. If you’re lucky you can wire the trigger open and soak without having to disassemble
@@SimonASNG Acetone and gasoline will do absolutely nothing. NMP will dissolve foam, CU6 will completely melt. Polyurethane is extremely stable and hard to get to react.
@@anthonyasher6348 Acetone melts it pretty well and gasoline will melt xps and eps instantly. Also, the primary ingredient in the gun cleaner is acetone. Those work well when they can get to the foam, but if the foam is stuck in the gun, the solvent can't get to it to disolve anything. I'll check out dynasolve if I get a chance one day.
Thanks for the breakdown. My gun was in use for about 3 years, maybe 10 cans of foam with good results. During that time I used one can of the acetone cleaner to keep things good. However, I set the gun aside for too long (a couple years) with a can attached and it froze up so bad that I can't get the brass valve screw out. I bore down on it pretty hard but it wouldn't turn. I was concerned maybe it was reverse threaded but your video shows it's not. At this point I've rounded off the shoulders of that internal screw so no chance of getting it out. Too bad because the barrel and tip and trigger mechanism are all in good shape. Wish Dow would sell that valve as a replacement part.
Yup, you are exactly why I made the video. I had the same doubts about trying to take it apart. I had pretty much given up and decided it would be OK to destroy it trying. When it worked, I was so surprised, I decided to make a video.
To remove the barrel apply heat where the barrel threads into the body. The barrel will unthread easily (semi permanent heat release thread locker is used on the threads) after heat is applied.
That doesn't work for me when it gets to the point of how much gunk (which is inevitably the case) with these trash guns. And even if that is the case, they need to have a proper 1/2in square to fit a wrench properly.
Definitely easier said than done, especially when you are up on a windy roof or down in a dirty hole trying to get as much work done as you can. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
If you do all this into a scrap bucket, the cleaner should evaporate and just leave the gunk in the bucket. I used to remove can and run the cleaner anytime I wasn't using for a few days or more (store gun clean and naked). Used toothbrushed are also great for scrubbing nubs with solvent, imo. Never had to dissasemble, but only used over few months on one project. Also, maybe soaking the tube connection with solvent? zipties, plastic baggie? ... TL:DR; Keep it clean ;) p.s. thanks for the teardown. I luv me a good teardown.
Thanks so much buddy!! This is Exactly my problem and after watching your video i can tackle this great stuff gun cleaning job.. Great stuff is Awesome but nasty at the same time huh!! Thanks again!
Thank you for this video. My foam gun started to just dribble out with a full can of foam. I took it apart and found gunk on the valve spring and globs in the barrel. Cleaned it out and it's like new. I'm going to tear into my old gun and see if I can bring it back.
Believe that this brand is made by Stanley which owns many other brands among them Black & Decker, symbolic of their junk and proprietary attachments etc. The Tip & Barrel and Top Can Attachment have Locktite on the threads. 20 sec of propane torch will melt the Locklite making it possible to immediately take off the fitting. 5/16 (8mm) for tip and used vise grips for Barrel. As per other comment, take off the rear knob, unscrew the brass fitting (removing it) and extract the rod.
after disassembly as above unable to get the tip to reseat completely to seal when trigger released. My theory was that the barrel was extremely set into the body originally so I tried shortening the barrel length at the body end grinding off 3-4 threads (brass tube) which did not solve anything so then tried grinding tip and that did nothing. If anyone solves please post.
@@tg-bh2up No help here but I'm having the same problem. Tip started acting plugged so I flooded it with cleaner and wiped away external gunk. Saw a tiny fleck of material on the seat at the tip and picked it way and used more cleaner. Now it leaks cleaner past the tip without the trigger being pulled. And this gun had way less gunk to it than the OP's guns. I can attest to the crap material used for the barrel and tip --- like it needs its own special sized wrench to fit and then it still would round over. I have honestly wasted more cleaner and foam than I have actually applied. Only 1 step better than the crappy Great Stuff cans with a straw.
Thanks for showing how to clean those. I got curious to what is in the cleaner so I looked up the MSDS. It looks like it is just acetone using propane as a propellant. Good to know if you have to clean up foam and don't have a can of cleaner that nail polish remover or hardware store acetone will do the trick.
Oh yea, I actually mentioned that in my original cut (when fixing the other gun), but it was too long, so I ended up cutting it out. I figured someone would freak out that I was letting it get on my hands, so I wanted to mention that it is just nail polish remover. ;)
Gumout carb and choke cleaner. #1 ingredient is Acetone, #2 is toluene. Toluene will soften silicone. You may be able to soak cured foam and melt it off, Idk but worth a try.. This stuff is much less expensive than the cleaner, but it doesn't screw on the gun. Makes clean up easier as after use, you can spray the gun tip. Something else that may work on metal parts is pvc pipe primer. That stuff melts styrofoam quickly. I'll have to try it.
Me too, until I decided that it would rather bust it trying to take it apart than have it sit there useless. I really don't think the great stuff people wanted us to fix them. Planned obsolescence.
Most of what I am doing is far too unique to be of that sort of detailed interest. Lets figure out if it is a good idea before showing anyone how to copy me ;) But I figured lots of people use Great Stuff Pro guns ;)
simon hi next time the back of the gun the skrew take it of and queese the gun pul the rod out of it clean the gun and the rod thats easyer greetings from belgium nice vids like always
Heck, I think I got those for free. They usually have something for "free" if you visit with their flyer in hand. I don't go often, but when I do, I always get my free thing. It turned out that I eventually needed this one ;)
Great video. Can you give a guesstimate on spring size that holds the plastic ball in place? I used a dental tool to pull mine free and it was so gummed up I destroyed it in the process.
The nozzle pin come out the back. Remove the adjustment knob using a Phillips. Be careful. There is a spring and ball bearing hiding there. The barrel wasn't designed to be removed. Pull the rod and insert a barrel brush. Don't crush that barrel.
After using the gun, instead of leaving the spray foam can attached until you use the gun again, why not fully clear the gun with cleaner and store the gun with cleaner attached? This method would prevent any foam from clogging the gun. You should never have to disassemble the gun again to clear it. Your thoughts?
If the can is sealed against the gun, and the plunger is closed, it doesn't cause trouble. If you take it off after each use, you pretty much have to throw away the rest of the can. Being able to stretch a can across a few hours or days is half the benefit of using this system. I wouldn't want to leave a bottle on for months though. That said, I do try to end my day (or job) on an empty can, and then I attach the cleaner can to the gun, spray that thru a bit and leave the cleaner can on until the next day I need the gun (which might not be for weeks or months). However, buildup still happens. Even if you always shoot the can thru, you will still get a little residual buildup that the cleaner doesn't dissolve. I know some pretty meticulous people who still end up with a fouled up gun.
@@SimonHomeintheEarth I always use up a gun foam can too. For small applications I use a one time small hand can of foam. Until I watched your video I did not know you could take apart the gun without breaking it. So I took apart my oldest gun and you are right, there was small amounts of foam still around the spring. Even though I always store the gun with the cleaner attached. Good video. Thanks.
The cans were fine. You can easily feel when they are empty. You can also have a situation where the can isn't empty, but the top of the can is clogged. Neither was the issue in my case.
It depends how set the foam is. When it is fresh, it works pretty well. But over time, even with regular cleaning after each use, the crud can still build up. Gasoline also works, but even that has limits.
I don't know man, I tried cleaning my gun yesterday and I could not unscrew the barrel. I ended up bending it and breaking it. In any case, I think a proper use and right away cleaning the gun is the best advice - too much of a hassle to clean the gun after the form has hardened. But all in all good information.
Oh yea, I always tried to keep them clean. But go thru 20 or 30 canisters over several months of building and your chances of not having this problem go way down... I figured it was a risk that I would destroy it, so I might as well try.
I have a new Pro14 and I have not been able to get any foam out the Great Stuff Pro can. I noticed that the white ball that is supposed to engage the foam cans does not move up and down when the trigger is pressed, is this normal?
if you watch the video, he disassembles the valve. The ball won't disengage with the trigger. it is on a light spring and disengages with the pressure from the foam can. This was the problem with my gun, but following his disassembly instructions later in the video, I was able to get my spring working again underneath the ball. You should be able to lightly push down on the white ball in the valve from the top though if you want to check it and it should go up and down. just use a cut part of a wire coat hanger.
Was hoping for a more thorough breakdown. I'm wondering if there o-ring seals on the trigger side. Because I think a torch could be an effective way to clean out a dried up gun. Also you can take the check ball out as in this video and instead of wasting the $9 of acetone cans. Just soak it in gasoline. At your own risk of course.
I did also use gasoline to soak a really stubborn gun. I found it is more effective on the inflated foam and didn't do much to compacted build up. Several others on here have mentioned using heat to help loosen things up, but I had several guns and got them all working with this method. When I was doing this, there were no videos of anyone taking one of these apart. I eventually opened it blindly figuring that the worst that could happen was I would need to trash it, but it was trash if I couldn't open it up anyway. If all the video does is show you what to expect inside, that is good enough for me. You can come up with your own ways to fix it.
I think that is usage dependent. I built a whole house with mine and insulated another and had to fix 3 guns over 5 years. I have not had to fix these guns since I did it for this video.
"Size is somewhat between 13mm and 1/2." Ha ha! 13mm was too big and the spanner was just rounding off the section; 12mm was too small. The Goldilock's size for me was 1/2". Gun secured in vice, heavy lump/ club hammer to smash the spanner -- took time but eventually came free with minute movements. (Everything removed and soaking in white spirit overnight. We'll see. If NG will try acetone, then in ultrasound bath.)
What is"the cleaner"because you never say what it is and I haven't caught a label on it yet. Are you using rubbing alcohol a name brand cleaner what is it?
The cleaner is from the manufacturer. It's is the great stuff gun cleaner. It's the black can in the video. It can be screwed on but also has a tip to spray it. It's only acetone, so if you have that laying around you can use that instead. That's what I use.
The cleaner is just acetone (nail polish remover) and the spray foam just picks off. The worst is that if you get any glue on your fingers, and then get some dirt on the glue, it is hard to get that glue off for a couple hours and your fingers are "permanently" dirty. ;) But yea, I did expect this comment and mentioned the glove thing somewhere near the beginning ;)
I was disturbed watching this video that you were not using gloves and you were getting the gun cleaner on your hands. These cleaners contain powerful solvents (e.g acetone, butane & propane) which not only damage the skin but can be absorbed through the skin. These solvents are akin to the early anaesthetics (e.g chloroform ) and thus such cleaners come with warnings about inhalation causing drowsiness & giddiness with advice to avoid using them in spaces that are not well ventilated + to remove all clothing that gets gun cleaner on it and wash your hands immediately if any gets on your skin. The best advice is to read the safety data sheet for such products before use (better yet before buying as some may be less hazardous than others of a a different make).
That brand of gun cleaner is 100% acetone. Women use this directly on their hands as nail polish remover every day. While it can cause dermatitis with prolonged exposure, it is considered skin safe for daily use. I personally had no issues with redness or dryness on my skin. I also had no breathing problems from this level of exposure, which I rate as less than the exposure I get when my wife does her nails in the car.
Last ditch effort….remove the check valve piece of crap plastic ball completely if nothing comes apart easily. Gun will still work just need to be more careful when removing can. If it does come apart easily then replace the piece of crap plastic check ball with a metal bearing. Will last longer and be less of an issue .
Yea, I wouldn't buy it for spray insulation. Cans are fine and more economical (but not environmentally friendly). But the spray glue is only available with the gun dispenser and that stuff is really great.
Dude. I watched your videos back in 2017. I was hatching a plan to build my own house and I would scour TH-cam for people building houses. You were a part of my life. And now this year I have finally dried in my own house. And in the final stages of the build my gun jams. Lo and behold it’s none other than you who shows me how to fix my gun. There’s something so cosmic about that. You started me off and now you meet me at the finish line.
Well that is the best comment on here ;) Pinned to the top. I have a tone more pics and video to share if I ever get the time to edit the clips. In the mean time, maybe you could toss me a picture of your project on our Facebook page? facebook.com/HomeintheEarth/
THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!! You saved me from either destroying my gun, or going to buy a new one. I didn't properly clean my gun the last time I put it away. The cleaner started to work, then everything jammed solid. Following your directions, the gun is working like new!!!!
You are the man! This is a must have video for people with these guns that hardly ever use them! Thank you VERY much!
Great review for cleaning. Anyone who uses one of these guns will need this information eventually.😊
Thanks man. Even though I cleaned the gun with the great stuff cleaner every time I used it, the valve still managed to get clogged. But thanks to your detailed valve disassembly instructions, I was able to clean out the ball and spring. A hard thick coating dried around the spring in the valve. Thanks a lot.
These guns are such a pain!
Thank you so much the check valve and ball were pretty much one piece of spray foam, Took it apart and was going ok that's why, even though the cleaner was flowing fine. Thanks again, Sean.
This is EXCELLENT! Thank you! Such great camera work clearly showing each part at each step and how you removed them. It seems no detail was left out. So many videos skip over "small" things and they're often just what I wanted to see. I'm totally confident I can unclog my gun with this video. 5 stars!
Dude I've tried to clean out the old guns so many times, and must have just bought 3-4 new ones after giving up in despair. This hack is huge! THANK YOU! It was the spring in the ball valve that must have been clogging mine up. I watched your video, ran to the garage and in 15 mins had mine working again. Really appreciate you!
I was 5 min away from jumping in my car and buying a new one. After seeing the video I saw this it really does need to be taken apart and cleaned. I disassembled mine like in the video and got it working. On mine the wand part was clogged. It was clogged for about 2 years in a closet.
I always store my guns well cleaned with no can attached. But my latest gun is clogged after I only used it twice. And I thought I had cleaned it well. This video is a big help. !
Spent good money on this gun and they put a plastic ball in the most vulnerable part. couldnt get mine out as the brass fitting was just crumbling so my gun is useless. glad you were able to fix yours and not loose money thanks for the video
Blocked my second gun, (first was a Hilti, second is the Great Stuff gun). Thanks, for making this video--great help. Also, thanks to J. Martin for the tip on applying heat to the barrel threads. I'll try to clean my guns as soon as my cleaner order from Amazon comes in.
Thk you sir! Best GS gun repair on TH-cam
Thanks! It sucks that you have to essentially shred the nozzle to get it off. But I finally did and my gun is flowing again.
Big thank you. Just what i need to know to clean my gun. Excellent video.
if you have a friendly dentist you may get some of the pick tools from them. they are great for cleaning out grout lines and other small hard to reach areas.
Learned a lot. Thanks!
to stop grips damageing the metal I have seen other TH-camrs put gluegun glue on the jaws to stop damage and keep the grip it seams to work.
Great idea!
Great diy fix video for anyone that has use these guns.
Thanks for sharing
Thank you for making this video. Also I hope you secured your vice down to the bench by now, I narrowly avoided a major foot injury from a poorly fastened vice as a kid.
Yea, my shop was in flux (I was still building it). The "workbench" was just 2x12s left over from forming the footings set across home made saw horses. I re-arranged the place with each new task and didn't use the vice often enough to mount it permanently... But things are settling down now and getting more setup. I even have dust collection and power distribution now ;)
Thanks, cleaned a couple guns this morning!
pro tip, try pipe wrenches if you have a stuck, partially stripped head. Pipe wrenches grabs tighter as you try to turn the stuck fastener. You can get mini ones.
Nice! That is great info, thanks for sharing it!
This video is destined for glory as these guns skyrocket in price. Just payed @80$ in rural Wisconsin hardware store. 56$ on Amazon today. I remember paying maybe 35$ a few years back and feeling hurt. Thanks, my gun is better now.
Great Video! It helped me save my gun. I was very upset at myself for seemingly bricking this tool but your video saved my gun and it works better than before. Thank you. Probably should wear gloves though, that cleaner has to be super carcinogenic/caustic to work so well.
The cleaner is really just 100% acetone. It is the exact same stuff that women use to remove nail polish, etc. If it is bad for your skin, then women would be dying younger than men ;)
Thanks, I will try that in the morning.
You can disassemble the gun and soak the parts in NMP to dissolve the hardened foam and blow it out with air. Dynasolve CU6 works better, but it’s a bit pricey to save a $40 gun. If you’re lucky you can wire the trigger open and soak without having to disassemble
I tried that long before going to the drastic step of disassembling. A week in acetone didn't work. I even tried gasoline.
@@SimonASNG
Acetone and gasoline will do absolutely nothing. NMP will dissolve foam, CU6 will completely melt. Polyurethane is extremely stable and hard to get to react.
@@anthonyasher6348 Acetone melts it pretty well and gasoline will melt xps and eps instantly. Also, the primary ingredient in the gun cleaner is acetone. Those work well when they can get to the foam, but if the foam is stuck in the gun, the solvent can't get to it to disolve anything. I'll check out dynasolve if I get a chance one day.
I hoped someone had a good video about unclogging these things : ) Thanks
You're welcome!
Thanks for the breakdown. My gun was in use for about 3 years, maybe 10 cans of foam with good results. During that time I used one can of the acetone cleaner to keep things good. However, I set the gun aside for too long (a couple years) with a can attached and it froze up so bad that I can't get the brass valve screw out. I bore down on it pretty hard but it wouldn't turn. I was concerned maybe it was reverse threaded but your video shows it's not. At this point I've rounded off the shoulders of that internal screw so no chance of getting it out. Too bad because the barrel and tip and trigger mechanism are all in good shape. Wish Dow would sell that valve as a replacement part.
Yup, you are exactly why I made the video. I had the same doubts about trying to take it apart. I had pretty much given up and decided it would be OK to destroy it trying. When it worked, I was so surprised, I decided to make a video.
Unless it's a rotational piece that rotates counter clockwise. You should never encounter a reverse thread.
Just letting know.
Yeah I had a little old pre pipe wrench pipe wrench from my grandpa that worked for the barrel. They definitely are not meant to be cleaned
To remove the barrel apply heat where the barrel threads into the body. The barrel will unthread easily (semi permanent heat release thread locker is used on the threads) after heat is applied.
That doesn't work for me when it gets to the point of how much gunk (which is inevitably the case) with these trash guns. And even if that is the case, they need to have a proper 1/2in square to fit a wrench properly.
always keep the guns clean :)
Definitely easier said than done, especially when you are up on a windy roof or down in a dirty hole trying to get as much work done as you can. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
@@SimonASNG Or under a house in a crawl space.
If you do all this into a scrap bucket, the cleaner should evaporate and just leave the gunk in the bucket. I used to remove can and run the cleaner anytime I wasn't using for a few days or more (store gun clean and naked). Used toothbrushed are also great for scrubbing nubs with solvent, imo. Never had to dissasemble, but only used over few months on one project. Also, maybe soaking the tube connection with solvent? zipties, plastic baggie? ... TL:DR; Keep it clean ;)
p.s. thanks for the teardown. I luv me a good teardown.
👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾
My trigger sticks. Oil the outside with WD-40?
Thanks so much buddy!! This is Exactly my problem and after watching your video i can tackle this great stuff gun cleaning job.. Great stuff is Awesome but nasty at the same time huh!! Thanks again!
Thank you for this video. My foam gun started to just dribble out with a full can of foam. I took it apart and found gunk on the valve spring and globs in the barrel. Cleaned it out and it's like new. I'm going to tear into my old gun and see if I can bring it back.
Helpful.😎
Believe that this brand is made by Stanley which owns many other brands among them Black & Decker, symbolic of their junk and proprietary attachments etc. The Tip & Barrel and Top Can Attachment have Locktite on the threads. 20 sec of propane torch will melt the Locklite making it possible to immediately take off the fitting. 5/16 (8mm) for tip and used vise grips for Barrel. As per other comment, take off the rear knob, unscrew the brass fitting (removing it) and extract the rod.
after disassembly as above unable to get the tip to reseat completely to seal when trigger released. My theory was that the barrel was extremely set into the body originally so I tried shortening the barrel length at the body end grinding off 3-4 threads (brass tube) which did not solve anything so then tried grinding tip and that did nothing. If anyone solves please post.
@@tg-bh2up No help here but I'm having the same problem. Tip started acting plugged so I flooded it with cleaner and wiped away external gunk. Saw a tiny fleck of material on the seat at the tip and picked it way and used more cleaner. Now it leaks cleaner past the tip without the trigger being pulled. And this gun had way less gunk to it than the OP's guns. I can attest to the crap material used for the barrel and tip --- like it needs its own special sized wrench to fit and then it still would round over. I have honestly wasted more cleaner and foam than I have actually applied. Only 1 step better than the crappy Great Stuff cans with a straw.
Thanks for showing how to clean those. I got curious to what is in the cleaner so I looked up the MSDS. It looks like it is just acetone using propane as a propellant. Good to know if you have to clean up foam and don't have a can of cleaner that nail polish remover or hardware store acetone will do the trick.
Oh yea, I actually mentioned that in my original cut (when fixing the other gun), but it was too long, so I ended up cutting it out. I figured someone would freak out that I was letting it get on my hands, so I wanted to mention that it is just nail polish remover. ;)
Gumout carb and choke cleaner.
#1 ingredient is Acetone, #2 is toluene. Toluene will soften silicone. You may be able to soak cured foam and melt it off, Idk but worth a try..
This stuff is much less expensive than the cleaner, but it doesn't screw on the gun. Makes clean up easier as after use, you can spray the gun tip.
Something else that may work on metal parts is pvc pipe primer. That stuff melts styrofoam quickly. I'll have to try it.
Thanks I was just about to buy another one. I have 3 non working. I always thought they weren't able to disassemble
Me too, until I decided that it would rather bust it trying to take it apart than have it sit there useless. I really don't think the great stuff people wanted us to fix them. Planned obsolescence.
Noce to see you doing a diy video(now time to do detailed diy's on the different tasks in building the house 😝😝
Most of what I am doing is far too unique to be of that sort of detailed interest. Lets figure out if it is a good idea before showing anyone how to copy me ;) But I figured lots of people use Great Stuff Pro guns ;)
Simon is back
Thanks for saving me $50 on buying a new gun!
Thank u know I can try to fix mine
simon hi
next time the back of the gun
the skrew take it of and queese the gun
pul the rod out of it
clean the gun and the rod
thats easyer
greetings from belgium
nice vids like always
5:50 Gotta shutout harbor freight, you can get a pack of hook and pick tools for like $7, extremely handy for many things 👍
Heck, I think I got those for free. They usually have something for "free" if you visit with their flyer in hand. I don't go often, but when I do, I always get my free thing. It turned out that I eventually needed this one ;)
Any suggestions for a gun that will not shut off? I followed your video and cleaned everything out real well, but it still won't stop dispensing.
Thank you!
You are a fucking genius!!! followed your instuctions exactly and my dead gun works now like a charm. THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!
I think my little white ball is jammed. Is it supposed to move down when pushed on?
Yup, it moves out of the way so the foam can flow around it.
Anybody have any idea if there’s a specialty wrench available to take that barrel off?
Great video. Can you give a guesstimate on spring size that holds the plastic ball in place? I used a dental tool to pull mine free and it was so gummed up I destroyed it in the process.
Sorry, nope. Didn't look closely enough.
Any idea on why my gun won't stop leaking when a cleaner can or foam can are attached? I have cleaned the white ball. Thx
Maybe the ball isn't round anymore and it is leaking around the flat spot?
The nozzle pin come out the back. Remove the adjustment knob using a Phillips. Be careful. There is a spring and ball bearing hiding there. The barrel wasn't designed to be removed. Pull the rod and insert a barrel brush. Don't crush that barrel.
After using the gun, instead of leaving the spray foam can attached until you use the gun again, why not fully clear the gun with cleaner and store the gun with cleaner attached? This method would prevent any foam from clogging the gun. You should never have to disassemble the gun again to clear it. Your thoughts?
If the can is sealed against the gun, and the plunger is closed, it doesn't cause trouble. If you take it off after each use, you pretty much have to throw away the rest of the can. Being able to stretch a can across a few hours or days is half the benefit of using this system. I wouldn't want to leave a bottle on for months though.
That said, I do try to end my day (or job) on an empty can, and then I attach the cleaner can to the gun, spray that thru a bit and leave the cleaner can on until the next day I need the gun (which might not be for weeks or months).
However, buildup still happens. Even if you always shoot the can thru, you will still get a little residual buildup that the cleaner doesn't dissolve. I know some pretty meticulous people who still end up with a fouled up gun.
@@SimonHomeintheEarth
I always use up a gun foam can too. For small applications I use a one time small hand can of foam. Until I watched your video I did not know you could take apart the gun without breaking it. So I took apart my oldest gun and you are right, there was small amounts of foam still around the spring. Even though I always store the gun with the cleaner attached. Good video. Thanks.
Did you ever consider the possibility that the pressure in the can(s) had been depleted to the point of useless?
The cans were fine. You can easily feel when they are empty. You can also have a situation where the can isn't empty, but the top of the can is clogged. Neither was the issue in my case.
I’ve switched to the disposable cans. The guns are just too much trouble and not with the hassle.
Me too most of the time, but if you are doing a bigger job, you get the tools the pro's use.
Thanks for a great How-To video. Keep up the good work!
Does acetone not work for cleaning?
It depends how set the foam is. When it is fresh, it works pretty well. But over time, even with regular cleaning after each use, the crud can still build up. Gasoline also works, but even that has limits.
I don't know man, I tried cleaning my gun yesterday and I could not unscrew the barrel. I ended up bending it and breaking it. In any case, I think a proper use and right away cleaning the gun is the best advice - too much of a hassle to clean the gun after the form has hardened. But all in all good information.
Oh yea, I always tried to keep them clean. But go thru 20 or 30 canisters over several months of building and your chances of not having this problem go way down... I figured it was a risk that I would destroy it, so I might as well try.
So, I tried that, and the ball valve is stuck and damaged. I can't fine replacement parts. Do I need to just buy a new gun?
Yea, I guess. Sorry it didn't work out for you.
I have a new Pro14 and I have not been able to get any foam out the Great Stuff Pro can. I noticed that the white ball that is supposed to engage the foam cans does not move up and down when the trigger is pressed, is this normal?
if you watch the video, he disassembles the valve. The ball won't disengage with the trigger. it is on a light spring and disengages with the pressure from the foam can. This was the problem with my gun, but following his disassembly instructions later in the video, I was able to get my spring working again underneath the ball. You should be able to lightly push down on the white ball in the valve from the top though if you want to check it and it should go up and down. just use a cut part of a wire coat hanger.
Bryan is exactly right. The gun mechanism pulls a wedge out of the way so that the pressure in the can is free to move the ball out of the way.
Was hoping for a more thorough breakdown. I'm wondering if there o-ring seals on the trigger side.
Because I think a torch could be an effective way to clean out a dried up gun.
Also you can take the check ball out as in this video and instead of wasting the $9 of acetone cans. Just soak it in gasoline. At your own risk of course.
I did also use gasoline to soak a really stubborn gun. I found it is more effective on the inflated foam and didn't do much to compacted build up. Several others on here have mentioned using heat to help loosen things up, but I had several guns and got them all working with this method.
When I was doing this, there were no videos of anyone taking one of these apart. I eventually opened it blindly figuring that the worst that could happen was I would need to trash it, but it was trash if I couldn't open it up anyway. If all the video does is show you what to expect inside, that is good enough for me. You can come up with your own ways to fix it.
How often do these guns clog?
I think that is usage dependent. I built a whole house with mine and insulated another and had to fix 3 guns over 5 years. I have not had to fix these guns since I did it for this video.
"Size is somewhat between 13mm and 1/2."
Ha ha! 13mm was too big and the spanner was just rounding off the section; 12mm was too small. The Goldilock's size for me was 1/2". Gun secured in vice, heavy lump/ club hammer to smash the spanner -- took time but eventually came free with minute movements. (Everything removed and soaking in white spirit overnight. We'll see. If NG will try acetone, then in ultrasound bath.)
Manufacturing tolerances. For me, the 1/2 inch was just too small and I couldn't get it on.
You wondered if Dentists use their oral tools and UV glue to do small repairs at home? Of course they do - Duh! Good vid
What is"the cleaner"because you never say what it is and I haven't caught a label on it yet. Are you using rubbing alcohol a name brand cleaner what is it?
The cleaner is from the manufacturer. It's is the great stuff gun cleaner. It's the black can in the video. It can be screwed on but also has a tip to spray it. It's only acetone, so if you have that laying around you can use that instead. That's what I use.
@@ajsemtb
Sweet thank you
Exactly right.
Where some gloves. Save your skin. Great video! Thanks for sharing!
The cleaner is just acetone (nail polish remover) and the spray foam just picks off. The worst is that if you get any glue on your fingers, and then get some dirt on the glue, it is hard to get that glue off for a couple hours and your fingers are "permanently" dirty. ;) But yea, I did expect this comment and mentioned the glove thing somewhere near the beginning ;)
Home in the Earth “just acetone” will wreck your skin. Don’t ask me how I know.
USE ANTI-SEIZE ON THE BARREL THREADS.
Cannot unscrew the nozzle... it's a shame that it is so weak. I'll b call them I think...
apply heat, as another commenter mentioned, it uses a light glue that is heat sensitive.
sdjustable wrenches anyone?
Tried it, but It isn't just an issue of fit. The metal is just too soft and the corners of the hexagon just round off.
I was disturbed watching this video that you were not using gloves and you were getting the gun cleaner on your hands. These cleaners contain powerful solvents (e.g acetone, butane & propane) which not only damage the skin but can be absorbed through the skin. These solvents are akin to the early anaesthetics (e.g chloroform ) and thus such cleaners come with warnings about inhalation causing drowsiness & giddiness with advice to avoid using them in spaces that are not well ventilated + to remove all clothing that gets gun cleaner on it and wash your hands immediately if any gets on your skin. The best advice is to read the safety data sheet for such products before use (better yet before buying as some may be less hazardous than others of a a different make).
That brand of gun cleaner is 100% acetone. Women use this directly on their hands as nail polish remover every day. While it can cause dermatitis with prolonged exposure, it is considered skin safe for daily use. I personally had no issues with redness or dryness on my skin. I also had no breathing problems from this level of exposure, which I rate as less than the exposure I get when my wife does her nails in the car.
Last ditch effort….remove the check valve piece of crap plastic ball completely if nothing comes apart easily. Gun will still work just need to be more careful when removing can. If it does come apart easily then replace the piece of crap plastic check ball with a metal bearing. Will last longer and be less of an issue .
hb
h
Its not worth buying the gun too many hassles spend more time fixing it than using
Yea, I wouldn't buy it for spray insulation. Cans are fine and more economical (but not environmentally friendly). But the spray glue is only available with the gun dispenser and that stuff is really great.
I hate these guns. I clean them immediately after use and they still fail. It doesn't matter if its a "good" one or a cheap one.