Spray Foam Guns, Cleaners, Nozzles and Hoses

The documents do not say so, and none of the sheets we read prints a thread size or a fit standard for the connection between can and gun. The plainest statement is TYTAN’s: its Thermospray sheet says the can "is not compatible with all Tytan Professional gun applicators," so not even one maker’s own guns are interchangeable for it. Kraken Bond’s FastCoat sheet warns that "The quality and condition of the applicator gun can affect the final foam performance and yield," and Stanley’s gun-foam sheets name one gun, the PRO FG-1, under "BEST TO USE WITH." The site’s Magic Chems record carries buyer reports that some can threads "seat poorly in certain guns," so the only fit the documents vouch for is the gun each can’s maker names.

The documents say more about how a gun gets blocked than how to unblock it: foam cures inside it during a pause, builds up on it, or the can is stored the wrong way up. Kraken Bond’s FastCoat sheet says not to stop "for more than 5 minutes, as foam may cure inside the applicator," TYTAN’s Thermospray sheet says foam that "accumulates on the applicator blocks spraying," and Stanley’s SuperCoat sheet says storing the can upright on the gun "may cause propellant to leak from the foam applicator and become inoperative." While the foam inside is still wet, the cleaner sheets from Stanley, Kraken Bond, Akfix and Sprayman all say to screw the cleaner can onto the gun adapter and flush it for at least 5 seconds, and DAP’s Touch ’n Seal sheet says to swap cans quickly and spray the basket with cleaner "to prevent foam from hardening in the gun." For poor flow, the Y’allCanDIY manual’s troubleshooting table says to check that the nozzle is attached properly and to adjust the flow knob gently, "no more than 2 turns."

Some makers say yes and set a limit, others say to clean the gun instead, so the answer depends on whose can is on it. DuPont’s page for its PRO 14 gun says "Always leave a can of foam attached to the gun with the flow control screw closed" and use the can within 30 days, and DAP’s Touch ’n Seal sheet allows the same with the flow knob closed for a "Maximum Storage: 15 days." TYTAN’s sealant sheets instead say to clean the applicator with cleaner "After completion of work" and to use an opened can within 1 week, and the Stanley, Akfix and Sprayman cleaner sheets say that if more than a week passes between applications, take the can off and clean the gun adapter. The makers also disagree on which way up: DAP says to store the can "in upright position (with gun still attached)," while Stanley’s SuperCoat sheet says to store it "with the can valve pointing downwards" and warns that upright storage "may cause propellant to leak from the foam applicator."

The documents name acetone for applicators, tools and surfaces, but none of the gun-foam sheets we read names it for flushing a gun. Acetone is the main ingredient of at least one branded cleaner: the safety data sheet for Great Stuff Pro Foam Cleaner lists acetone at 60.0 to 100.0 percent and propane at 10.0 to 30.0 percent. The cleaner sheets from Stanley, Kraken Bond, Akfix and Sprayman all describe one method, screwing the pressurized cleaner can onto the gun adapter and pulling the trigger for at least 5 seconds, and none of them describes pouring or injecting a loose solvent. DAP names acetone as an alternative to its foam cleaner for the wide-spray applicator on its Wall & Cavity can, its Touch ’n Seal sheet allows "Foam Cleaner or acetone" for uncured foam on surfaces, and Loctite’s straw-can sheet says to clean tools "immediately with acetone," but for the gun itself DAP’s Touch ’n Seal sheet says to spray the basket with "polyurethane foam cleaner."

For two-component kits the documents treat a nozzle as spent once foam has sat in it: DuPont’s Froth-Pak manual says to replace a nozzle unused for more than 50 seconds, down to 30 seconds at 85 F, and HandiFoam’s instructions say to trigger again "WITHIN 30 SECONDS" or fit a new nozzle and not to clean one "more than twice." For one-component insulation cans, TYTAN’s Thermospray sheet says "The spraying tip is designed for single use," and the FastCoat, SprayCoat, ThermCoat and SuperCoat sheets say each can comes with its own two spray nozzles, one for walls and one for ceilings. For straws and gun adapters, the cleaner sheets from Stanley, Kraken Bond, Akfix and Sprayman say they remove uncured foam from both. The only time limit a straw-can sheet in our set prints is TYTAN’s "Use opened foam packaging within 1 week" on its 12 oz Fire Block Extreme sheet, and Loctite’s TITE FOAM sheet mentions a "straw plug" to block foam from leaving the straw.

Longer-barrel guns are sold, and one gun ships with extension tips, but none of the documents we read says how barrel length changes the foam. In the site’s records, Kraken Bond lists a standard gun, an 8 in swivel-tip gun, a 24 in long-nozzle gun and a 40 in long-reach gun, Stanley sells a 24 in PRO-FG24 beside its 8 in PRO-FG2, and an unbranded metal gun on Amazon comes with nine extension tips; the Y’allCanDIY manual lists a "Long Nozzle" and a "Short Nozzle" among its kit parts. The only related line in the data sheets is Kraken Bond’s FastCoat warning that "The quality and condition of the applicator gun can affect the final foam performance and yield."

No, and you cannot use one: a straw can has no thread and a gun can has no straw. A straw can dispenses through its own tube, and how long it stays usable after that first press is a per-product statement. DuPont says a Great Stuff can with the straw applicator will seal shut if it sits more than two hours, and that a PRO can may stay on the gun for up to 30 days with the flow screw closed. Other makers set their own limits, so read the can.

Solvents and a propellant. The Stanley T244 safety data sheet lists ethyl acetate at 30 to 40 percent, acetone at 20 to 30 percent and liquefied petroleum gas at 1 to 15 percent. It classes the can H222 extremely flammable aerosol, H319 causes serious eye irritation and H336 may cause drowsiness or dizziness, under the signal word Danger, and prints a flash point of 24 C, which is 75 F. Kraken Bond and Akfix say "solvent mixture" on their technical sheets without a breakdown. The sheet asks for gloves and chemical goggles or a face shield, good ventilation, and respiratory protection where the ventilation is not enough. Keep it off skin, keep it away from any ignition source, and do not pierce or burn the can even when it is empty.

The four cleaner sheets we hold all say no. Stanley T244, Kraken Bond TE 101, Akfix 800C and Sprayman describe cleaning uncured foam; each says cured foam has to be removed mechanically. Stanley and Akfix warn that the solvent may damage sensitive surfaces, and Kraken says to test before use. Read the sheet for the cleaner you buy; the cleaner is for fresh foam and for flushing the gun.

Kraken Bond, Sprayman, Akfix and Stanley each sell a brand gun, with 23 to 53 ratings each. Kraken Bond and Akfix describe theirs as aluminum with a PTFE coating; the other two sheets do not say what the body is. On Amazon the four ran $25.72 to $51.61 on September 8, and $29.90 to $29.99 on their own stores. Great Stuff PRO 14 has 572 ratings at $55.90. The generic guns that lead the category on feedback, Preciva with 8,044 ratings at $16.34 and Lytool with 2,177 at $14.62, are the same design class at a lower price and with no maker document.

Vega Bond says its nozzles fit only Vega Bond gun and hose assemblies. Froth-Pak sells 25-packs of its own helical cone and fan nozzles. Its operating manual says to replace a nozzle after more than 50 seconds idle at 70 to 75 F, 35 seconds at 80 F, or 30 seconds at 85 F. Treat two-component nozzles as system parts.