Do you have to clean your injector

[boyd]

When I first was looking in to this business I learned from someone who came highly reccommended. I was asking him about the different system and he told me about them (1994). He said what he liked about the resin he uses and the injectors is that you don't have to clean them in between uses.
So, that's what I have done for some 12 years. It wasn't until a few years ago I was reading some literature from another company and they were talking about after each use taking apart the injector and soaking the O ring in some solution and rinsing the injector. What a pain in the _ ss. I'm sure it only takes a minute or two. But I'm glad I dont have to. How many people do and how many don't. Just curious. I've never seen this topic discussed.
BOYD

[repare-brise]

Good question

I empty my injector after every repair and wipe the end of the piston, and the exterior. As for taking it apart and cleaning the bore and the piston I do that once a week, and I replace the seals as needed(about every 8-12 weeks).

At Your Service

[Sneck]

I do windshield repair part time. So basically it could be hours or even a day or two before my next job, so naturally I clean my injector after every repair. The only way I would not clean my injector after every reapair is if I had multiple jobs lined up and they were all at the same place.

Cleaning the injector after every repair might be overkill for some techs, but for me, I want to go to my next job with clean equipment - and I don't know when my next job will be.

It only takes a few seconds to clean my injector. I drop it into my cleaning jar and swish it around for a few seconds, then wipe it down with a paper towel and thats it. I'm all done cleaning and drying in about 15 seconds.

[Delta Kits]

As Sneck said, cleaning our equipment consists of dropping it into a jar, swishing it around. He takes it out and wipes it, you could just as easily leave it in there if you're in a time crunch.

Our seals aren't affected by resin or alcohol, so no problem leaving it in.

Oh yeah, not cleaning your injectors properly voids the warranty too

[boyd]

If not cleaning them voids the warranty then you all definatlely feel it needs to be done. If the equipment isn't effected by resin or alcohol why does it need to be cleaned? What do you guys clean it with? What's in the jar?
I think I pay about $1.75 for an injector assembley (Cylinder, piston and rubber tip). They usually last me about 6 months. I've never cleaned one.
Just curious.
BOYD

[Delta Kits]

The seals are not affected by resin or alcohol. That means that with ours, unlike rubber o-rings, they won't swell or harden in resin or alcohol. That's all.

Injectors need to be cleaned with denatured alcohol, which is what we recommend you put in the jar.

Injectors like yours, for $1.75, i'm sure you don't need to clean it. For professional grade equipment, you definitely want to clean it so resin does not cure inside your injector.

[boyd]

Gotcha. Thanks.

[Sneck]

I have been using ascetone to clean the injector for the last 10 years or so, but I am about to try denatured alcohol because that has been what Delta suggests using.

Hey Jeff... Just out of curiosity, why do you favor denatured alcohol over ascetone? The only reason I have been using ascetone is because that is what my old equipment supplier told us to use many years ago.

Is there a difference in...
Evaporation rate?
Odor?
Safety?
Cost?
Availability?
Reaction to parts surfaces being cleaned?

Is there a difference between denatured alchol and isopropyl (rubbing alchohol)?

[Delta Kits]

It's all in the water content. Isopropyl & acetone have more than denatured. Also, acetone has other things that aren't needed.

Denatured can be found at Home Depot or Lowe's, near the paint thinner.

[Sneck]

Thanks Jeff, I'll be picking up some denatured alchohol at Home Depot tomorrow.