Polyurethane foam gun

[hemdale]

Hi guys,

I'm in the market for some proper PU expensive (expansion) foam. I made some research and I saw that some of the PU foam can be applied directly out of the spray can, or other can be applied via a foam gun screwed on the can.

Any recommandation towards one or the other ? Any PU foam and a gun manufacturer you would recommand ?

Thanks chaps.

 

[rst]

I sell and install commercial steel doors and frames.  For masonry openings the manufacturer provides steel inserts that are to keep the frame from collapsing,  The problem is that these are pressure fit in the u-channel of the frame.  On retro fits the frame often needs "persuaded" into the openings.  I use Dow Great Stuff Foam with their gun applicator.  Dow makes different foams... large gap, door and window (low expansion) and also a construction glue.  They have a pressurized gun cleaner but I also use acetone to clean up with and to keep the gun functional.

 

[JSlovic]

Look for a Dow Great Stuff Pro #14 gun
HD sells some pro products I get mine from Kentec - they are an Amazon dealer

 

[Dan Clark]

+1 for Great Stuff Pro.  The gun gives you excellent control.

Dan.

 

[hemdale]

Hmmm I'm in France...

[crying]

 

[Rip Van Winkle]

Hilti sells a few different types of foam under their name. They also sell a couple different foam guns for applying the foam. It looks like they may sell the foam guns slightly differently in France/Europe, but in Europe their line seems to be slightly more extensive.

Foam guns.

https://www.hilti.fr/chimie/accessoires/sc-CLS_ACCESSORIES

Foam.

https://www.hilti.fr/chimie/mousses/sc-CLS_FOAMS

 

[Deansocial]

Only use gun foam, the can stuff is wild and unpredictable.

 

[jmbfestool]

Never use spray can foam its rubbish complete rubbish.

A spray can foam  is often a lot more airy so less dense and expands a lot more plus the spray is more difficult to control the amount of foam you want to come out, so like Dean said  they are unpredictable and uncontrollable.   

Finally once you are finished you might a swell throw the remaining foam left in the can away or try and find somewhere you can use it all because after a bit it won't be any good.

Best way is buy a foam gun applicator and buy the foam cans for it.  No need to buy a expensive foam gun just a decent one will do. I have had many over the years.  Best one one I found and I have had it for a long time is Bondit Teflon coated foam Gun. I bought them for £12 a gun bargain! They gone up to £24 I think now or more.

You will want a foam cleaner to hand always.  Just incase!!!  Not to so much for  cleaning the gun but if you end up getting covered or some foam lands somewhere you didn't want it.

A big mistake people make with foam guns are once they are finished or think they might not use the foam gun for a while they remove the foam can and then stick some
Gun cleaner on give it a spray and then remove the cleaner and put the gun away.

1. If the foam can you remove still has foam in and you remove it you basically just thrown the can away

2. The chances are your gun might not work that well once you stick a new foam can on.

Best thing is NEVER NEVER REMOVE a foam can from a foam gun applicator until you can have a new can ready to put back on even if you have ran out of foam leave the foam can on. 

What I do do is when I remove the empty foam can to replace it with a new one I just quickly give the gun a spray with foam cleaner so that it keeps the valve clear.

I have left a foam can for an entire year and I have come back and the gun still works.

After so long your trigger might stick over couple years but just take it all apart give it a clean it not to scratch any parts while cleaning it and it will be as good as new.

 

[andyman]

Only use gun foam, the can stuff is wild and unpredictable.

+1

 

[wow]

It looks like the Bondit Teflon coated foam Gun is NAINA. Do any of the US folks have a recommendation? Is the Great Stuff Pro foam any good?

 

[jmbfestool]

It looks like the Bondit Teflon coated foam Gun is NAINA. Do any of the US folks have a recommendation? Is the Great Stuff Pro foam any good?

Just had quick search can't find only UK.

Thought they gone up but only by £2

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Bond-It-Heavy-Duty-Teflon-Foam/dp/B0052CEQ42

Oh I would recommend Bondit foam or hilti.  I found they are nice a creamy and more dense than some other foam brands plus you will find although the cans are the same size cheaper brands don't go as far or just produce more airy foam than others.

 

[wow]

It looks like the Bondit Teflon coated foam Gun is NAINA. Do any of the US folks have a recommendation? Is the Great Stuff Pro foam any good?

Just had quick search can't find only UK.

Thought they gone up but only by £2

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Bond-It-Heavy-Duty-Teflon-Foam/dp/B0052CEQ42

Oh I would recommend Bondit foam or hilti.  I found they are nice a creamy and more dense than some other foam brands plus you will find although the cans are the same size cheaper brands don't go as far or just produce more airy foam than others.

Hilti is certainly available here, but they have a buttload of different foams. Do you have a preference or can you steer me in the right direction?

 

[jmbfestool]

It looks like the Bondit Teflon coated foam Gun is NAINA. Do any of the US folks have a recommendation? Is the Great Stuff Pro foam any good?

Just had quick search can't find only UK.

Thought they gone up but only by £2

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Bond-It-Heavy-Duty-Teflon-Foam/dp/B0052CEQ42

Oh I would recommend Bondit foam or hilti.  I found they are nice a creamy and more dense than some other foam brands plus you will find although the cans are the same size cheaper brands don't go as far or just produce more airy foam than others.

Hilti is certainly available here, but they have a buttload of different foams. Do you have a preference or can you steer me in the right direction?

Just the normal hilti foam will do doors and window.  I don't personally buy hilti I get Bondit I have just used hilti because I worked on job which have it which is really rare.

Most the time I have everbuild or fisher because that's what most people have on the job rather use theirs than use mine.

I was told hilti gun is good but I can't see it because its got plastic case over it which foam sticks to.

 

[SMJoinery]

I've found that as long as the gun is all metal they seem to be fine.
I've had a few plastic ones (with metal nozzle) but lasted only a couple of weeks.
As others have said only take foam can off the gun when your changing them over.
A readily available brand here is Soudal. There foam is very good, expands and dries quick especially when area is sprayed with water first. (Most cans recommend this).
A light mist spray works best.

 

[joiner1970]

+1 for soudal

Another tip is to screw the adjust down tight when you've finished and then when you want to use it again you just have to clean off the nozzle and undo the adjuster. That stops it going off in the gun

 

[SMJoinery]

+1 for soudal

Another tip is to screw the adjust down tight when you've finished and then when you want to use it again you just have to clean off the nozzle and undo the adjuster. That stops it going off in the gun

+1 for screwing the adjuster down between uses.  [big grin]

 

[CrazyLarry]

Only use gun foam, the can stuff is wild and unpredictable.

That's a very nice way to put it! no %%$$ £&&&@@ at all!

 

[jmbfestool]

+1 for soudal

Another tip is to screw the adjust down tight when you've finished and then when you want to use it again you just have to clean off the nozzle and undo the adjuster. That stops it going off in the gun

Yes forgot to mention that  so yes +1 always screw down the nozzle after use not only just for keeping the gun usable later one but also for you own safety!  Lol you don't want to end up foam everywhere because the trigger has been accidentally pressed when loading up your van or something

Plus +1 for soudal foam

 

[joiner1970]

My mate had a nail go thru a full can in the back his van. Lovely mess that made lol

 

[jmbfestool]

My mate had a nail go thru a full can in the back his van. Lovely mess that made lol

I threw a hand saw into my tool bag and it punctured the foam can it covered everything.

Also I had crapy foam gun which was part metal part plastic which I have learnt are crap. Any way I was removing the foam can from the gun but the bracket on the gun snapped off, the foam can shot out off my hand over the top of my head and squirted foam all over my face, head and hands I was covered in foam and all I could do was wait till the foam had set because I didn't have any foam cleaner. 

Happened twice  with a crapy part plastic part metal gun I was inside a house and it snapped off didnt know what to do! The foam just kept coming out so I threw the gun and foam can out the window lol.