Canister System Tips & Tricks Series, Part 1: Strange Spray Patterns
The canister system is one of the simplest and most efficient adhesive system to use, but sometimes mistakes happen, and things go wrong. This article is part of a series outlining common industry mistakes, and what to do to ensure the same doesn’t happen to you!
Is your adhesive spray coming out in strange patterns? Are there tails, uneven patterns, no pattern or spluttering spray? There’s a variety of mistakes that could have been made, if you’re having any of these problems.
If there appears to be no pattern, check the front end of your gun to make sure a spray tip is installed. If the spray pattern is uneven, it could be that your tip needs to be cleaned. Remove the tip and apply a mild solvent, allowing it to soak before rubbing gently with a clean cloth. Ensure that the orifice (the hole in the center of the tip) is clean as well. If the tip isn’t coming clean, replace with a fresh tip.
If there appears to be tails on your spray pattern (when the adhesive has very heavy coverage at the top and bottom of the spray, but not in the middle), it could be that there is too much adhesive flowing through the gun. If this is the case, move the adjustment nut (the nut just behind the trigger) forward to reduce flow.
If your canister is delivering a spluttering spray, it could be that your canister and adhesive are too cold. If this is the case, move the canister to a warmer area until the temperature of the canister is above 60°F (15°). Agitate gently to bring the adhesive back into solution. To prevent this from happening, keep your canisters in a warmer environment. Store them off the floor, on pallet racking or on a cart, or use a heated canister blanket to keep the canister at a more reasonable temperature.
If these tips don’t fix the problem, or if you have more questions, contact us! We would be happy to help!
