Maintaining your line-striping machine is essential for having quality striper equipment on the job. Whether you’re choosing an airless or conventional striping machine, you can easily forget the maintenance required to keep it functional. Routine cleanings help keep your line-striping machine performing at its best and prevent you from having to replace equipment. Manufacturers suggest daily cleanings for a line-striping machine as part of a preventative maintenance plan. You must know how to safely clean your striping machine to avoid compromising the equipment’s functionality.
Explore the following guidelines to know how to safely clean a line-striping machine so that it operates more efficiently and gives you the best results.
Use Proper Solution
Ensure you’re using a proper solution to clean your line-striping machine, depending on the kind of paint used. Latex-based coatings require warm, soapy water and mineral spirits or paint thinner for oil-based coatings.
Clean the Spray Gun
The best way to clean a paint sprayer is to rinse it the same way you spray. Use the cleaning solution to flush the fluid section, hose, and tip of your line-striping machine until they appear clear.
Maintain the Filters
You must maintain quality filters to prevent them from clogging the machine or decreasing pressure output. Caring for the filters also extends the pump life and ensures adequate spraying power. Clean the filters with a bristle brush and an appropriate cleaning agent.
Use Proper Storage
You should have a maintenance schedule of when and how often you clean a line-striping machine. Some manufacturers suggest daily cleaning, while others advise cleaning select parts on a weekly basis. If a maintenance plan includes weekly cleanings, then you must properly store paint daily.
Run the Machine Properly
A critical factor in cleaning line-striping equipment is using prevention methods to minimize the cleaning process. Avoid running a line-striping machine with a dry tank to keep air from entering the system. If you run a line-striping machine on an empty tank, a “tree-ring effect” happens inside of the plumbing and requires dismantling the system for additional cleaning.
