Line striping is the most in-demand asphalt maintenance service that exists today. Line striping is a tremendous opportunity for anybody looking to get into a highly profitable business because it is everywhere, including roadways, grocery stores, and shopping malls. Roadways and parking lots have lines for traffic flow, parking stalls, and blocked zones. Line painting is essential to keep things safe and call attention to the regulations of the space.
You will find line striping literally everywhere and in multiple colors. To create the many designs and patterns that you see, there are numerous tips and many paint colors involved. If you want to create crisp, clean outcomes, you need to make sure that you properly clean your device between colors and at the end of the day’s projects.
To keep your line striping machine in tip-top shape, it’s important to clean and store your line striping machine after each use. Cleaning the machine helps prevent clogs, as clogs can lead to clumped paint and other print quality issues. Storing the machine adequately protects it from rust and corrosion. Here’s our best advice on everything you need to know about how to clean and store your line striping machine.
Line striping machines have many functions; they are not just for painting lines on parking lots. You can use them to paint designs on many surfaces, including field markings for school sports teams and much more. If you own one of these machines or plan to own one of these machines in the future, you must understand how to clean and store it, as well as how to maintain it so that it can provide you with years of quality use.
All the Small Things
Your machine needs to last for years and provide quality results time after time. To do this, your line striping machine and all its parts, including the hose, small connecting parts, and filters, need to be cleaned thoroughly after each use. If you fail to do this, it can lead to clogs and seriously mess up the performance of your machine. You will need to rinse off the parts and place them into cleaning solution or run the solution through the tubing multiple times to cleanse it thoroughly. Don’t skip out on any parts.
Step by Step
Before cleaning, it is vital to be sure that you perform the pressure relief process first. After all the pressure has been relieved, start by removing the tip and guard and placing them both in the appropriate cleaning solution. While they are soaking, place the return hose into a waste container.
Start the machine and slowly turn the pressure control knob to increase the pressure until the fluid begins to come out of the hose. There will be a lot of pressure, so be sure to keep a firm grip on the return hose so that it doesn’t cause paint splashback. Allow the pump to cycle for a minute or two.
Now you’re ready to flush the hose and gun. Hold the gun’s trigger while moving the prime spray valve to the spray position. Turn the pressure control knob to increase the pressure and continue to empty the gun into the waste container until the paint is completely flushed out of the hose. When you see a clear stream of cleaning solution coming out of the gun, that is a sign that the color has been cleared.
Remove the siphon hose from the cleaning solution and continue to spray out the rest of the product. Once complete, turn off the machine and inspect it thoroughly. You want to check the outside of the machine for cracks and other damage. You also want to check and clean any filters. The machine and gun filter can be cleaned much like the tip and guard. Place the filter into a suitable cleaning solution and then clean, rinse, and return it to your machine.
Once you’ve cleaned off your machine, use a towel or rag to dry it thoroughly. Do not use leaf blowers, hair dryers, heat guns, or other heat sources. Cleaning and storing your line striping machine properly between uses ensures that your equipment will last for years of dependable use.
Storage Matters
Keeping the machine clean is important because there are several places where dirt and debris can collect, causing damage to your line striping machine. When storing your line striping tool in between uses, try to keep the area cool and dry, avoiding direct sunlight as well as extreme temperatures or humidity levels. A dusty or humid place can also cause problems with corrosion over time, so it’s best to avoid these conditions.
Suppose you are going to use this machine daily and need it to be mobile. You can store it inside of a trailer. However, if you have a personal shed or a more permanent storage facility you can use instead, that would be ideal. Once inside, do not store anything on top of your line striping machine.
Paint stripping machines are a very valuable tool to have, whether you own your own personal device so that you can update your parking lot without needing to hire professionals or if you own a business that provides parking lot painting services. You need to make sure that your machine is clean and running in tip-top shape each time you utilize it for a project.
Routine Cleaning
Creating a cleaning routine and maybe even going as far as printing that cleaning routine and providing it to your employees or anyone who will be using the machine is a great best practice. Providing a guiding document will ensure that all steps are followed by all team members each time, on top of keeping all the parts and tubing clean and clear from debris. You also want to ensure that it is stored in a way that will not damage the machine, expose it to the elements, or allow any critters to damage the wiring and tubing. Taking a few extra steps at the end of each day will ensure that your machine is packed away correctly to last for years.
