Jen Smith
theHOTWAXroom
"So do you know how to clean your gun"
This is a question that is aimed at you spray tanning geeks but I am sure the majority of you know how to strip down your gun and thoroughly clean it as shown by your training provider ... however, after many people saying that they 'never' completely strip down their gun to clean it, then wonder why it stops spraying properly, I was asked to just go over the procedure for those that might be interested The machines which I am referring too are the Minimist (T100) and the Minimist Pro. But most guns will have a similar set up to these that I am describing. Check your manual if you are unsure.
Okidoki..
At the end of each day, you flush your gun and cup out with warm water, and spray the warm mist through the gun until the couch roll becomes clear. This shows you that there is not residue tanning liquids left inside the workings of the gun. Quick easy procedure, takes all of 5 mins and its done.
Ok.. once a month your gun needs to be stripped right down and thoroughly cleaned, including the needle. It is a very simple procedure that takes a little longer than the daily flush but necessary for your gun to work at optimum levels.
Have some hot soapy water in a wash basin to drop the parts that you take out of the mister gun to allow to soak for a while.
Over the draining unit of your sink unit, lay some couch roll or kitchen roll over the drainer and start by unscrewing the solution adjustment screw at the back until it is completely removed from the gun along with the coiled spring inside. Pop these together into the basin of hot soapy water and swish about a little.
At the front of the mister, unscrew the spray pattern adjuster and remove along with the plastic washer underneath and place in the hot water you have ready.
Now for the slightly tricky part. You will see the needle sticking out at the back of the gun where the solution adjustment screw was initially, it looks like a thin metal rod and there will be about one cm length to take hold of so have dry fingers at this stage so you can grip it. (you can make this is a little longer by pulling back the trigger on the gun and it will give you a further half cm to aid you in getting a good grip) You need to grip this metal rod and ever so gently pull it back out of the gun, taking extreme care not to bend or drop the rod/needle once its free of the gun. It is quite sturdy and there will be 'some' resistance'.. this is normal, just ease it out through the small holes it has to travel through behind the trigger handle.
Once free... you need to carefully place the needle into the hot water and using some kitchen roll, wipe the needle from the back to the front taking any stale solution with it. You must be careful with the pointed end of the needle as you don't want to damage this at all. An alternative to this is to place the needle into a container with some hot soapy water and soak it alone for around 15 mins to allow the solution to lift off on it own, but then it needs to be wiped as described above.. from the back towards the front. Place dry cleaned needle onto the kitchen roll on the draining board.
Now clean your beaker/tanning solution holder and the rest of the gun in the hot soapy water and rinse with clean fresh water. In the lid of the beaker you will see a white washer, this need to be taken out and swished about in the hot water and rinsed. Clean the underside of cup holder as a lot of residue tanning solution can lodge here. Replace the rinsed washer back into the rim of the cup holder. Press nice and firm so that it slips into place.
Take out the other parts that have been soaking and check that they are nice and clean from solution and rinse these through with fresh water. Dry all parts on some kitchen roll and start to re mantle your gun.
The needle is the only tricky part... just in reverse order start by very gently easing your needle back through the hole at the back of the gun where the needle came out of and easing it through the trigger hole and the hole at the front of the gun. Again there might be some resistance, be careful here that the needle has been lined up with all the holes ok before pushing forward against the resistance. Once the needle is in situ all other parts can be put back in order you took them off ending with placing the coil and solution adjustment screw fully back in situ.
At this stage I put some warm water back in the cup and place on the gun and spray through until you get the nice even flow again, adjusting your solution adjustment screw until you are happy with the spray output.
Hope this maybe of some help :hug:
This is a question that is aimed at you spray tanning geeks but I am sure the majority of you know how to strip down your gun and thoroughly clean it as shown by your training provider ... however, after many people saying that they 'never' completely strip down their gun to clean it, then wonder why it stops spraying properly, I was asked to just go over the procedure for those that might be interested The machines which I am referring too are the Minimist (T100) and the Minimist Pro. But most guns will have a similar set up to these that I am describing. Check your manual if you are unsure.
Okidoki..
At the end of each day, you flush your gun and cup out with warm water, and spray the warm mist through the gun until the couch roll becomes clear. This shows you that there is not residue tanning liquids left inside the workings of the gun. Quick easy procedure, takes all of 5 mins and its done.
Ok.. once a month your gun needs to be stripped right down and thoroughly cleaned, including the needle. It is a very simple procedure that takes a little longer than the daily flush but necessary for your gun to work at optimum levels.
Have some hot soapy water in a wash basin to drop the parts that you take out of the mister gun to allow to soak for a while.
Over the draining unit of your sink unit, lay some couch roll or kitchen roll over the drainer and start by unscrewing the solution adjustment screw at the back until it is completely removed from the gun along with the coiled spring inside. Pop these together into the basin of hot soapy water and swish about a little.
At the front of the mister, unscrew the spray pattern adjuster and remove along with the plastic washer underneath and place in the hot water you have ready.
Now for the slightly tricky part. You will see the needle sticking out at the back of the gun where the solution adjustment screw was initially, it looks like a thin metal rod and there will be about one cm length to take hold of so have dry fingers at this stage so you can grip it. (you can make this is a little longer by pulling back the trigger on the gun and it will give you a further half cm to aid you in getting a good grip) You need to grip this metal rod and ever so gently pull it back out of the gun, taking extreme care not to bend or drop the rod/needle once its free of the gun. It is quite sturdy and there will be 'some' resistance'.. this is normal, just ease it out through the small holes it has to travel through behind the trigger handle.
Once free... you need to carefully place the needle into the hot water and using some kitchen roll, wipe the needle from the back to the front taking any stale solution with it. You must be careful with the pointed end of the needle as you don't want to damage this at all. An alternative to this is to place the needle into a container with some hot soapy water and soak it alone for around 15 mins to allow the solution to lift off on it own, but then it needs to be wiped as described above.. from the back towards the front. Place dry cleaned needle onto the kitchen roll on the draining board.
Now clean your beaker/tanning solution holder and the rest of the gun in the hot soapy water and rinse with clean fresh water. In the lid of the beaker you will see a white washer, this need to be taken out and swished about in the hot water and rinsed. Clean the underside of cup holder as a lot of residue tanning solution can lodge here. Replace the rinsed washer back into the rim of the cup holder. Press nice and firm so that it slips into place.
Take out the other parts that have been soaking and check that they are nice and clean from solution and rinse these through with fresh water. Dry all parts on some kitchen roll and start to re mantle your gun.
The needle is the only tricky part... just in reverse order start by very gently easing your needle back through the hole at the back of the gun where the needle came out of and easing it through the trigger hole and the hole at the front of the gun. Again there might be some resistance, be careful here that the needle has been lined up with all the holes ok before pushing forward against the resistance. Once the needle is in situ all other parts can be put back in order you took them off ending with placing the coil and solution adjustment screw fully back in situ.
At this stage I put some warm water back in the cup and place on the gun and spray through until you get the nice even flow again, adjusting your solution adjustment screw until you are happy with the spray output.
Hope this maybe of some help :hug:
Last edited: