Polyurethane foam: useful tricks for the DIYer. How to use polyurethane foam correctly: choice of composition, application techniques Extend the tube of the spray can with polyurethane foam

Polyurethane foam is a means used for sealing during full-scale home repairs and for urgent patching of a small defect in the house. The easiest way to work with it is by using a special pistol, but it is not always required.

In everyday life, for minor repairs, you can do without additional tools, saving time and money. But in order to obtain a high quality of work performed, you should first familiarize yourself with how to use polyurethane foam without a gun. This and the features of the material will be discussed in the article.

Where is polyurethane foam used

The material is an excellent sealant. In addition, it is used to seal the joints between structural elements.

It can be:

Seams between floor panels;
Seams of facade systems;
Butt seams between the timber;
Voids and cracks in concrete, in brick walls;
Seams when installing windows and doors.

There are also non-standard ways of using polyurethane foam. For example, insulation of wooden floors arranged on logs. In this case, the composition "blows out" the space between the floorboards and the base of the floor.

After that, the floors stop creaking and become really warm. The advantage of this method is that there is no need to disassemble the wooden covering for insulation and strengthening.

Polyurethane foam without a gun is simply pumped into the floor through a special tube into a slot or a small hole made in an inconspicuous place.

Seal properties

The wide scope of use of the material is explained by its unique properties, which no other composition has. In its original state, it is a foamy liquid mass. Foam is packed under high pressure in small cylinders.

After exposure to the open air, the foam has a reaction - it greatly increases in size, and then quickly begins to solidify. As a result, a porous, reliable and very warm materialthat performs several functions simultaneously. In this case, the surface acquires the properties of a tough, dense and waterproof film.

Features of polyurethane foam:

High performance in heat and sound insulation;
Good resistance to moisture;
Safety and environmental friendliness;
Resistant to fire;
Low electrical conductivity;
The ability to fill with the composition hard-to-reach voids;
Bonds securely to each other various materials;
Ease of use.

Types of material

Before purchasing polyurethane foam, you should get acquainted with its types and features, which are presented in the table:

Type of polyurethane foam	Features:
	The capacity of the can is produced in a volume of 600 - 800 ml. The kit with a spray can for working with foam necessarily includes a special tube. Moreover, its technical characteristics are similar to professional ones. Foam blowing guns are also suitable for cylinders of this volume. This type of composition is used to fill small depressions or seams with your own hands. Its price is much lower than the professional one.
	The mixture is produced in cylinders quite large sizes, with a volume of more than 1.5 liters. A fairly high pressure is created to release the foam from the package. For manual use, the can is sold complete with a special gun.

Advice: It makes no sense to buy foam for professionals without a gun. Due to too much head, there will be a strong waste of material.

Rules for using the sealant

Despite the seeming ease of working with modern seals, before starting the process, it is worth getting to know how to use polyurethane foam without a gun with a tube. Without studying the technology of using the product, you can make a large number of mistakes that will increase the consumption of material and significantly reduce the quality of the joint.

There are several ways to apply professional makeup without a gun. Before starting the repair, a suitable sealant is selected.

It is necessary to take into account:

The scale of the planned activities, which affects the required volume of the sealant;
Household products may differ from professional ones with the worst technical characteristics;
If it is necessary to carry out large-scale and complex events, on which the comfort and ease of use at home depend, it is better to choose more expensive and high-quality products.

The selected polyurethane foam can be applied to the treated surfaces without a gun in different ways:

The use of household compounds... This material is applied without a gun. To do this, a tube is fixed on the cylinder valve and repairs can begin;
Tube application professional material ... A small-diameter tube is fixed on the cylinder valve, through which the sealing compound is fed to the closed slots. But with such a simple method, often, due to high pressure, there is an excessive release of the sealant from the cylinder;
The professional sealant is fed through two tubes with different diameters. In this case, it is supposed to attach a tube of large diameter to the valve, and then insert a tube of a smaller section into it and fix it firmly. With such sealing, foam consumption is reduced, which reduces the cost of repair work.

After choosing the materials, to create a good effect from the use of foam, you must first carry out a number of measures:

The treated surfaces are cleaned. All dust, dirt, all foreign objects are removed from the seams and crevices being closed;
Large seams are filled with foam. This will reduce the consumption of polyurethane foam, increase the thermal insulation characteristics of the object.

Tip: It is imperative to fill openings more than 80 mm wide with foam.

The area to be filled is moistened with water. For this, it is better to use a spray bottle.

Filling gaps or joints must be carried out at an ambient temperature that complies with the manufacturer's recommendations. The optimum air temperature for work is from 5 ° C to 20 ° C above zero. With more high temperature, above 30 ° C, repairs should be postponed, and if negative, use special frost-resistant materials.

Foam technology

The principle of operation without a gun is the same as with special tools. And before starting the process, it is worth watching a video on how to work with polyurethane foam without a gun.

After preparing the surface to be treated, the instructions attached to the materials suggest the following order of work:

The can is shaken well. To ensure the uniformity of the release of the composition from the package, it is recommended to shake the can vigorously for 30 to 40 seconds;
The protective cap is removed;
A PVC tube is attached to the valve, which is used to complete the household product. Professional tube sold separately;
The free end of the tube is brought to the closed opening;
The gap is filled with foam, from about 30% to 40%, but not more than 50% of its value, which is associated with a significant increase in the volume of the sealant during hardening. Partial filling reduces repair costs.

Tip: If there is not enough sealant after drying, an additional layer of material should be applied.

Pressurized foam is released from the cylinder when the valve is pressed, which, when triggered, facilitates the flow of the sealant into the tube and then to the seal. The sealant dries completely in 8 hours. After drying, strongly protruding areas of the foam are cut off with a clerical knife.

Disadvantages of using polyurethane foam without a gun

When choosing a method for sealing gaps, it is necessary to take into account the positive and negative aspects of each. It is clear that working with a specialized tool is much easier.

There are several disadvantages to the sealing process without a gun using a tube:

Increased material consumption. During operation, you need to constantly monitor the force on the valve and the duration of pressing on it. This is due to the fact that due to the high pressure, an excessive amount of foam appears. As a result, 2-3 times more material will be needed for the treated area than with a pistol;
When planning to use professional foam, keep in mind that it is not always possible to install a tube;
It takes more time to work. To keep flexible tube in the correct position with the cylinder valve, it takes more time. At the same time, you constantly need to control the volume of material that will appear at the exit. Using a pistol, sealing can be completed in 10 - 15 seconds, and self-sealing without a specialized tool will take about 15 minutes;

Tip: A disposable can of polyurethane foam should be purchased in the required volume. This will avoid unnecessary costs - the rest of the material is thrown away.

There are also disadvantages when using a pistol. The biggest one is cleaning it after finishing work. There is a special care product for the device, and the instructions attached to it indicate the technology for using the composition.

And how to rinse a polyurethane foam gun without special rinsing?

If there is no special liquid, acetone is used at home. The liquid is poured into the nozzle of the tool, and then the device is completely cleaned with a wire or a cleaning rod.

All actions must be careful so as not to harm delicate and vulnerable structural elements. This is one of the ways how and how to flush the polyurethane foam gun without special flushing.

Despite the fact that behind a special pistol there should be good care, to Work with professional tool much easier.

Polyurethane foam is a unique material that allows you to perform a large amount of work. How to use polyurethane foam without a gun, you can consult a specialist or watch the corresponding video.

Polyurethane foam can be used as a sealant and thermal insulation material. It can be used when installing various window and door designs, when carrying out repair work different types... With its help, the tightness of structures is restored, cracks and joints are closed.

Polyurethane foam is sold in aerosol cans, which must be shaken before use. Immediately after application, the substance begins to harden, as a result of which it turns into a yellowish material. The material is lightweight, has good thermal and sound insulation characteristics. Depending on the manufacturer's recommendations, the foam can be used indoors and outdoors.

Conventional polyurethane foam has a number of positive characteristics:

Resistance to moisture, providing heat-insulating and sound-insulating properties.
The possibility of using a sealant in the construction of electrical equipment due to low current conductivity.
Fire resistance (special fire-fighting types of polyurethane foam).
A significant increase in volume immediately after leaving the can, filling of distant microcracks located in hard-to-reach placesoh.
Possibility of gluing various homogeneous and dissimilar materials.
Environmental friendliness, absence of toxic substances in the composition, chemical inertness.

Before using polyurethane foam and applying it on surfaces, it is recommended to check its performance characteristics on the packaging. Typically, the packaging contains data on the volume of the substance after leaving the container, the level of viscosity and other characteristics.

Release form

Manufacturers produce polyurethane foam in different forms and types. The choice will depend on the intended use and operating conditions of the sealant.

It is customary to distinguish:

Professional polyurethane foam, which is made in special large cylinders that must be inserted into the gun to spray the substance. An economical consumption of sealant is ensured by the gun. Used by builders when carrying out a large amount of work.

Household polyurethane foam, which is produced with a tube (with its help, cracks, joints, gaps are usually foamed). Designed for domestic use for minor repairs and gluing surfaces.

Also on the spray can with polyurethane foam the recommended temperature regime use of sealant. Distinguish between summer, winter and universal (all-season) polyurethane foam. When buying, it is recommended to pay attention to the flammability class of the material (B1 - fire-resistant materials, B2 - self-extinguishing materials, B3 - combustible materials).

Scope of application of polyurethane foam

Conventional polyurethane foam cylinders, which are sold in hardware stores, find their application in the installation of door and window structures, as well as when installing electrical equipment and pipes.

The sealant has a sufficient level of thermal insulation characteristics so that it can be used to seal gaps and cracks in heating systems, defects in the roof threshold, as well as to provide partial insulation of ceiling, floor, wall structures and ceilings. Also, with its help, wall panels and polymer plates are often fixed to the rough surface, which allows for a decorative and waterproof function.

Polyurethane foam is used to treat the external surfaces of metal baths (made of steel or cast iron), which makes it possible to reduce the heat transfer of the metal.

If we talk about how to properly use polyurethane foam and how to work with it, then you need to clarify whether a gun is used or not. If you plan to carry out a full repair in the house, you will have to use both professional and household foam for foaming joints, seams, gaps, installing windows and doors.

You can install the gun on a professional sealant as follows:

First, the can with the substance needs to be slightly warmed up in warm water up to 20-25 degrees. Then it must be shaken several times so that the substance becomes as homogeneous as possible, comes out of the can smoothly and easily.
In the upper part of the pistol, it is necessary to remove the protective cover, then turn it with the handle down and twist the sealant cartridge. It must be screwed in until the characteristic hiss appears, which will indicate the beginning of the flow of the substance into the pistol.
If the gun is not new and has already been in use, then it is necessary to inspect it before screwing in the can, so that it is well washed. If after screwing in the hiss does not appear, then the gun is dirty and you need to buy a new one.
Before starting work with polyurethane foam, according to the rules, shake the gun with the cylinder again, turn the adjusting screw ¼ of a turn and, holding the trigger, start processing.

To work with a pistol, there is no need to have any skills and abilities in the field of construction and installation work. The work is usually performed in the following sequence:

The first step is to clean the surface where the sealant will be applied from contamination, and then moisten with water from a spray bottle to ensure good adhesion.

4. If the surface to be treated is wide, fill it with zigzag movements, but no more than 1/3 of the volume, because the foam will increase in size.

5.If there are any unprocessed areas, you can fill them later.

If it is necessary to carry out processing in remote areas, it is recommended to additionally buy a special extension hose, since it is unlikely that it will be possible to foam hard-to-reach places with polyurethane foam without using it.

The can usually indicates how long it takes for the composition to harden. Despite the instructions, it is recommended to wait 10-12 hours. Once the sealant has completely hardened, you can remove the excess with a knife or saw.

When using household sealant, a pistol is not provided. It's okay if the polyurethane foam is without a gun, since you can use it with a straw. The tube is made of polymer materials - you just need to put it on the adapter. The work is carried out in the same sequence as in the case of the pistol, but when using the tube, more effort will have to be made.

You can easily use polyurethane foam without a gun, if there is a corresponding tube. But in hardware stores, the sealant can be sold without a tube (cheap models), so you have to buy it separately. You should also pay special attention to this when choosing a suitable polyurethane foam.

The use of a tube is relevant if a small amount of work is expected to be performed. It is recommended to use polyurethane foam with a straw if you need to fill joints, gaps, seams, glue various materials. Household sealant is rarely used in the construction of door and window structures, when processing large surfaces. For thermal insulation and sound insulation, professional counterparts should also be chosen.

In the video: Using polyurethane foam without a gun.

Cons of applying polyurethane foam without using a gun

The use of a pistol when applying a sealant is a guarantee of a uniform release of material from the cylinder, the possibility of saving substances, and full control over the surface treatment.

If ordinary household polyurethane foam is used in a package with a tube, then the workflow will have certain disadvantages. The most notable ones are:

Substantial consumption of sealant. The overrun occurs because the user must control the intensity and duration of pressing the valve. For a long time, this is quite difficult to do, therefore, almost always when processing with a tube, an excess volume of polyurethane foam appears, which leads to a significant overrun. A professional sealant using a pistol is usually consumed 1.5-2 times slower. This leads to small, but noticeable financial costs (especially if a large amount of work is expected to be carried out).
If a professional sealant was purchased, then there is a high probability that using an ordinary tube that is suitable for household polyurethane foam will most likely not work. The can simply won't dispense sealant. This point must be clarified during the purchase of the material.
It is much more difficult to use polyurethane foam without a gun than with it. The tubing is made of polymer material, so it is flexible - more difficult to hold in position for a longer period than a gun.

At the same time, there is no point in purchasing professional polyurethane foam, a gun for applying it, if it is supposed to carry out small renovation work: fill in gaps, seal joints and cracks between plates, in thermal insulation material. In this case, you need to buy a household sealant with a tube, use it once and throw it away.

For home and household repair work, one can of polyurethane foam is enough. If all work has been completed, then the cylinder is usually thrown away as unnecessary, because after opening the substance has a limited shelf life.

Manufacturers of household polyurethane foam note that their products are designed for single use. Therefore, if a few months after the first use the sealant in the cylinder has frozen, you need to understand that this is a completely natural process.

You can give the following advice to those people who are working with polyurethane foam for the first time:

Before starting work, it is recommended to first prepare a spray bottle with water and a knife to remove excess sealant (this is done after the applied composition has solidified).
It is also recommended to stock up on a regular sponge and acetone (or a similar solvent) in advance. They will be required if you need to wipe off sealant that accidentally gets on other surfaces (for example, on the floor or on clothing).
You should not try to remove excess polyurethane foam immediately after application - this should be done approximately 8-10 hours after processing. During this period, the sealant will harden, so it can be easily cut with a sharp knife or hacksaw.
If wallpaper has not been glued in the room, then it is strongly recommended to carry out work on applying polyurethane foam (regardless of the amount of sprayed material), systematically ventilating the room.
If, during the application process, the sealant begins to gradually darken, then this will indicate that the substance is under the influence of ultraviolet radiation (direct sun rays). This should be excluded when carrying out work.
It is strictly forbidden to treat surfaces with polyurethane foam if they are located in the immediate vicinity of open flames or incandescent objects. Regardless of the type, the sealant almost always contains flammable substances in its composition, which, in an uncured state, are quite capable of flaring up if suddenly exposed to an open flame.
Before starting work, it is necessary to clean the treated surface as thoroughly as possible. If it is dirty and greasy, then the polyurethane foam will not correspond to the characteristics indicated on the package during operation.

Can you use a polyurethane foam cylinder several times?

On the Internet, you can find information that professional foam can be used repeatedly, while household models are suitable only for single use.

This is a common misconception, because if you use household foam, you can clean the nozzle after using it, remove the tube and block the outlet for the substance. To be able to reuse the sealant, it is recommended to do everything in the following sequence:

It is necessary to slightly release the foam from the can, and, letting it come out, bend and tighten the tube with a metal wire. At the end of the tube, the sealant will begin to solidify, but the presence of a fold will not allow the entire volume of the substance that remains in the cylinder to solidify.
With the subsequent application of polyurethane foam, you just need to cut off the part of the tube with the solidified substance and continue to treat the gaps and seams with sealant.

It should be borne in mind that you can store a sealant bottle in this way for 2-3 weeks and no more. After several months of storage, the substance will almost completely harden and solidify inside the package, so it will not be possible to use it again.

Can expired polyurethane foam be used?

Regardless of the type of sealant chosen, the shelf life of the substance usually does not exceed 1-1.5 years from the date of production. At the same time, if during its use a delay of several days or weeks was found, then you should not curtail the work - most likely, the polyurethane foam has not lost its main working and operational characteristics.

If the expiration date is significantly exceeded, it is strongly discouraged to use a sealant, even for minor household repairs (especially for installing windows or doors). This is due to the fact that at the end of the expiration date, the sealant begins to rapidly lose its basic properties, therefore, when the package is opened, anything can happen.

Terms of use of polyurethane foam after application

Leading manufacturers of sealants declare that high-quality polyurethane foam, which was applied to the surface in accordance with all the rules, is protected from ultraviolet exposure and moisture, and is capable of performing all its functions for 10-20 years.

If the applied substance is in negative operating conditions: outdoors, in direct sunlight, rain, snow, etc., then the service life of the sealant is reduced to 2-3 years (even in cases where moisture-resistant compounds were applied).

Conclusion

Professional and household polyurethane foam - both materials have a right to exist, because they usually have different areas and features of use. For a small home renovation household models with a tube for applying the substance are quite suitable, and for performing large-scale work it is best to buy professional sealants and a gun. Construction and installation skills are not required for surface treatment using polyurethane foam from a tube or a gun.

How to use polyurethane foam (2 videos)

Application of polyurethane foam (21 photos)

Almost everyone has at least once used polyurethane foam - a modern tool for sealing, repairing, installing windows and doors, sealing cracks and joints. It is quite simple to use polyurethane foam. There is a special gun for this, but sometimes you can do without it for small repairs in the house. But even simple work must be done correctly in order to achieve high quality.

Features:

A huge assortment of polyurethane foam in specialized retail outlets makes you think when choosing the necessary material. Each of us wants to choose a high quality and inexpensive formulation. Currently, specialized outlets offer customers two types of this material: household and professional. Consider the features of each.

Household

The main distinguishing features of household polyurethane foam are the volume of the cylinder. Manufacturers produce this material in small containers (about 800 ml). The package includes a tube small size with a small cross section. In cylinders of household polyurethane foam, the pressure level is low, this is necessary in order to significantly reduce the consumption of material when performing repair work. To perform them using household polyurethane foam, you can use a special gun. The cylinder valve is designed to hold the tube and the assembly gun.

Professional

To install doors, windows, plumbers use a professional type of polyurethane foam. Manufacturers produce such material in cylinders with a capacity of more than 1.5 liters. The sealant is in the bottle under high pressure. It is recommended to carry out work with a professional sealant using a special gun. To make the use of the material most convenient, the cylinder is additionally equipped with fasteners for firm fixation inside the gun. A large amount of sealant in a container is designed for large-scale work.

These types of sealants have similar technical characteristics.When choosing the necessary material, you need to consider for what purposes the foam is needed. In addition, the amount of work is also important.

Distinctive feature compositions is the possibility of reapplication.

Operating rules

To perform high-quality repairs or assembly work using a sealant, you need to know a few rules for applying the material.

Using a special assembly gun guarantees more quality result executed works.
It is necessary to use a professional version of the sealant that has useful property: sufficiently low secondary expansion.
It is recommended to carry out installation and repair work in the warm season: this will speed up the foam hardening process and maintain all its technical qualities.
When performing work, you must use personal protective equipment.

It is recommended to use a sealant in order to seal minor cracks with a width of about 8 cm. If the width of the cracks exceeds this indicator, it is advisable to use other materials (brick, wood, plastic).
To fill cracks and crevices less than 1 cm wide, it is more economical and practical to use a putty.
In the process of work, the cylinder with polyurethane foam must be held with its bottom up.
Fill the gap with sealant one third of the depth.
After the sealant hardens, you need to remove the excess polyurethane foam using a special knife.

After completing all work, it is necessary to cover the frozen layer of foam with special means to protect it from exposure to sunlight.
To perform work on the ceiling, you need to use special foam: such a sealant bottle can be used in any position.
To fill deep gaps or cracks, you need to use special extension adapters.
In the process of work, the foam cylinder must be shaken and the nozzle of the assembly gun must be cleaned of excess sealant.

How to apply?

Before starting work with this sealant, you need to study all the subtleties of its use. Otherwise, the quality of work will suffer, the consumption of the sealant will significantly increase, which will lead to additional financial costs. First, you need to choose the right polyurethane foam. The choice of material depends on the scope of work.

If you are planning large-scale work on the installation of doors, windows or plumbing, or a large amount of repair work, it is better to opt for professional polyurethane foam. The cost of materials of this kind is much higher, but the result of the work performed will pleasantly please.

Small indoor repairs (for example, filling gaps) involves purchasing a household sealant.

There are several ways to apply sealant without a tool to a surface.

For minor repairs, you can do without a gun. A special small tube is installed on the cylinder valve. Next, they begin to start repair work.
Professional foam can be applied using a tube, but this method will lead to a large waste of material and unnecessary financial costs.
If it is not possible to use an assembly gun when working with a professional sealant, you can use two tubes of different diameters. To do this, a large-diameter tube is fixed to a cylinder with professional foam, then a second (smaller) tube is attached to this tube, carefully fixed. This method will significantly reduce material consumption and reduce financial costs.

After you have decided on the way to apply the foam, you need to prepare the surface. In some cases, the surface of the sealant may become false. The quality of the seam sealing depends on how carefully the surface is prepared. The surface is thoroughly cleaned from dust and dirt. Particular attention should be paid to the crevices that need to be foamed. Sometimes the surface needs to be degreased.

Large cracks are pre-filled with foam or others suitable material... Only then can they be filled with foam. This will significantly reduce the consumption of foam, increase the quality of thermal insulation. Before starting work, the surface must be moistened. A simple spray bottle is perfect for these purposes.

Now you can start sealing. Foam must be at room temperature for correct work. Shake the balloon thoroughly before starting the process. Only after that a tube or a pistol is fixed on the cylinder. Now you can apply the composition.

If you decide to use foam without a special gun, you need to consider the disadvantages of this process.

Due to the high pressure in the cylinder, the foam consumption is significantly increased (sometimes two, three times).
Some cylinders are not designed with tubing.

Performing sealing work with a pistol saves a lot of time. Foaming the surface with polyurethane foam with a gun is not difficult at all.

It is enough to learn how to dose the foam output. In this way, you can glue any objects, without forgetting about surface preparation. Then we start applying the sealant. It is important to remember that the vertical gap must be filled with sealant from the bottom, smoothly moving up.

After finishing work, it is necessary to thoroughly clean the gun from foam using a special flushing liquid. It must be poured into the instrument. If a small amount of sealant gets on your hands during work, it must be removed with a solvent. Excess foam from contaminated areas must be removed during work with a sponge soaked in solvent. If the sealant has time to harden, it will have to be removed mechanically.

You cannot work with expired foam. Care must be taken when handling the spray can. You cannot bring it to the fire. If the expiration date of the polyurethane foam has passed, the material loses its properties.

When choosing a polyurethane foam, remember that the cylinder can only be used once. Therefore, before buying, you should carefully calculate the required volume. If you have any doubts about this, it is better to consult a specialist.

Take note of some helpful tips.

Before starting work, you should prepare a spray gun to spray water on the surface before applying the foam, a knife will be needed to cut off excess material.
In the process of doing the work, you will need a sponge or a soft cloth soaked in acetone or solvent.
Correct dosage of sealant will significantly reduce material consumption.

It is more convenient to remove excess sealant from the surface after four hours after application; after complete curing, this process will become much more complicated.
Be sure to use personal protective equipment (respirator, goggles, gloves).
It is necessary to ventilate the room during work.
After the completion of all work, it is necessary to treat the frozen foam with a special agent to protect it from sunlight. This must be done before the foam darkens.
It is strictly forbidden to use the cylinder near an open flame.

When it becomes necessary to fill cracks, holes, seams, various voids, during repair or construction works first of all, polyurethane foam is used. This material is widely used as a heater. Polyurethane foam can be used almost in conjunction with any material: stone, iron, wood, plastic. We will consider instructions on how to use construction foam and its properties in the article below..

Polyurethane foam properties

The main property of the substance, which ensures its widespread use, is a high degree of filling and excellent adhesion. The expansion coefficient in this case varies from 10 to 60%. Hardening occurs due to the interaction of the material with moisture and air. Gas is also added to the cylinder, with the help of which pressure is created to displace the substance. The main components are methylene diphenyldiisocyanate (MDI), polyol, blowing agent, and catalyst.

Varieties

The material can be divided into one-component and two-component, as well as household and professional. The quality does not differ greatly from this, but the way the foam comes out of the container is different. When using professional cylinders, an assembly gun is required: a device that controls the flow of the substance. While household ones are equipped with PVC guide tubes, which are sprayers. In addition, the material has differences in application temperature:

The disadvantages include sensitivity to ultraviolet rays, under the influence of which it is destroyed and a long solidification time. The setting time of a substance is characterized by the duration of polymerization and depends on the volume. The hardening period is from 8 to 12 hours.

Correct use

A cylinder with household polyurethane foam is intended for single use, so you should think about its effective use, since unused material will be lost. Polyurethane foam is usually produced in cylinders, tubes, on the surface of which information is applied about the conditions of use and preparation for use.

The capacity is 600-800 milliliters. Included with a non-professional balloon is a disposable tube with special PVC notches. Thanks to the notches, the length of the tube can be shortened, and in the case of hard-to-reach places, an extension adapter in the form of a flexible hose is put on it.

Before starting work, the cylinder is vigorously shaken and the cap is removed, which serves as a kind of safety lock. Then it remains only to screw the plastic tube that comes with it and has an internal thread onto the threaded part of the cylinder.

It is important to note that the straw can be used several times. It has a collapsible design and Lego is cleaned with a ramrod or a piece of thick wire from the foam frozen in it.

To improve the degree of expansion of the solution and its hardening, the required amount of moisture contained in the air may be insufficient, therefore additional wetting is applied.

How to use polyurethane foam without a gun? Consider the recommendations:

The process itself is as follows. The end of the tube is positioned approximately five centimeters from the point to be filled. I would like to draw your attention to the fact that about half of the required volume is filled due to the expansion of the substance. The material is squeezed out in wavy movements. As the substance increases in size, excess forms are formed, which are cut off with a sharp knife after hardening.

Precautions for use

Construction foam is not easy to use. Since it contains toxic substances, the working area should be well ventilated. It is flammable and should not be exposed to flames. When applying it, it is necessary to regulate the force of pressure, it is necessary to press evenly so that the contents come out in an equal amount.

The substance, when it gets on the surface, is very difficult to remove and can subsequently damage the coating. In case of contact with unwanted areas, you must wait for it to harden, and only then try to remove it. Residues can be removed with acetone and, on solvent-sensitive coatings, treated with special detergents.

It is extremely important to protect the organs of vision. To do this, wear transparent glasses. Gloves are used to protect the hands, as the foam has excellent adhesion to the skin.

Disadvantages and advantages of household construction foam

The following can be noted:

increased material consumption due to the impossibility of accurate metering of its output;
difficulties during work: the balloon has to be held upside down, with a girth, which puts a load on the arms and leads to fatigue;
the cost is usually cheaper compared to professional;
satisfactory work result.

Thus, if there is no assembly gun available, there will be nothing left but to use polyurethane foam with a straw. The video process of the work can be viewed on numerous sites on the Internet dedicated to construction.

instrument.guru

For professional builders, the question of how to use polyurethane foam without a gun probably never arises: they work with it so regularly that this is their first purchase when starting any repair. However, for people with a different profession (and doing repairs from time to time), interest in the problem becomes very relevant.

For serious editing(installing doors and windows) they call specialists. Few have everything building tools for all repairs.

Of course, there are those who like to do everything themselves (often they are forced to become like that due to lack of money or for some other reason), but they also reserve for themselves mainly those repairs that do not require any special equipment or special skills. So even such enthusiasts may not always have a construction gun.

Call the master to patch up a small hole - not seriously... Most builders will not come for such a call: the road will take more time than work (the cost is penny), and it’s simple - a professional is not interested in performing such primitive actions. And all sorts of agencies ala "Husband for an hour" will take a lot for it.

How to use polyurethane foam without a gun? Solving the problem becomes unambiguously important. Since something needs to be done, and I don't want to save up minor imperfections so that the master would agree to come. You will have to master the procedure yourself.

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In the hardware store, if you do not take into account the manufacturer, 2 types of cylinders are sold:

Professional foam... It is pumped into cylinders with a volume of one and a half liters. It comes out of the package under high pressure, although sometimes it is completed with straws for manual use. It is irrational to take it for use without a gun: the flow rate due to the pressure will be too high.
Foam for household use... Volume from 600 to 800 ml. The tube is included in the kit. All technical characteristics correspond to a professional one, and the cylinder may well be adapted to work under a gun. For filling small recesses and correcting installation flaws - this is it.

The household option will cost a little less than the professional one, although the volume of foam is less. But these are already production costs.

It is not much different from a professional construction one - we just put the gun out of the brackets.

Protective gloves are put on - unless, of course, you are going to look after advice on how to remove polyurethane foam from your hands.
The blown out place is cleaned. All dust and accumulated debris is removed. If the gap is large (or deep), foam scraps are stuffed into it. If you are dealing with a door or window frame, insert additional wooden spacers. When they become unnecessary, they can be removed or cut down flush.
The balloon is shaken for 30-60 seconds, as indicated in the instructions. This will make its contents more homogeneous, and the foam output will become much more intense.
The inner planes of the slit are wetted. They should be well soaked, but no moisture should drip off.
The protective cap is removed from the cylinder. A tube attached to it is pushed onto the corresponding protrusion.
The outer hole of the nozzle is brought at a distance of 5-7 cm to the desired place and the valve is pressed. The hole is filled by 30-50%: the foam expands not only at the moment it leaves the balloon, but also for some time after that, so that it will fill the gap sufficiently.
After 30 minutes. the sealed place is inspected again. If there are visible cavities, foam is blown into them again. But usually, with manual filling, the opposite occurs - the foam crawls out significantly beyond the set limits, so that repeated approaches are not required.

8 hours laterWhen the foam has completely hardened, bubbles formed outside the sealed hole are trimmed with a sharp knife.

Unfortunately, you can't do without an excess of foam. Even with a pistol, a lot of foam turns out to be superfluous. When manual way its application usually turns out to be much more such surplus.

Perhaps they will outweigh your reluctance to buy this. In any case, they will convince you to think about the instrument, if there are still minor works for repair.

Consumption... The gun releases foam in a metered dose, under one pressure and an even stream, precisely directed to the right place. At the same time, the jet is so thin that the foam bulges out in huge bubbles only if you hold your hand over one place for a couple of seconds. The manual method does not provide these factors.

As a result: if the door installation requires only 1 cylinder with a pistol, then without it the same work will take from you 3 (and sometimes more). In addition, not all professional cylinders can operate without a pistol. That is, you will have to buy household ones, smaller in volume, but costing about the same. In recalculation, the volume of used foam becomes 1.5 times more expensive.

Time spent... The pistol is a fast-acting device. An even seam 2 meters long is carried out with its help in 10-15 seconds (it will take even less time for professionals). Manual blowing will require an order of magnitude more time from you - up to a quarter of an hour, since the hand gets tired, you stop to check how smoothly you are leading, and the tube periodically tries to leave the trajectory.

Of course, you shouldn't buy equipment for random moments, since you can still use polyurethane foam without a gun. But if you have to change all the doors in the apartment, and you are going to do it yourself, then it is better not to reinvent the wheel and buy yourself the appropriate equipment.

remtra.ru

Foam with a straw - the threat of expansion

The main disadvantage of household foam with a straw is a significant secondary expansion. When hardening, it can increase several times, so it is extremely important to comply with all conditions of use.

The instructions for using household foam can be seen on the back of the cylinder, but we will consider it in more detail and step by step:

Surface cleaning and preparation. Before applying the foam, it is necessary to carefully check all cracks and holes for small debris and, if necessary, degrease the surface with acetone.
Moistening the surface. Polyurethane foam needs contact with humid air for hardening, therefore, before using the spray, the surfaces must be moistened - a conventional spray gun is quite suitable for this purpose.
Preparing the foam cylinder. A little trick - before using the foam, you need to hold it for several hours in water with a temperature of about 20 ° C - after such a procedure it will lie down better. Before starting work, shake the can for a minute so that all components are evenly mixed, this will ensure maximum foam yield.

Attaching the tube or gun to the cylinder. The tube is simply screwed onto the valve, but with a pistol the situation is somewhat more complicated - we will consider the issue of its choice and use below.
Foam handling. According to the correct technology, the polyurethane foam is applied in small sections (about 10 cm) from bottom to top - this helps to avoid unnecessary spread of the material. It is necessary to ensure that the gap is not filled by more than 50% - during hardening, the volume will greatly increase, which can lead to damage to the treated structure. It is extremely important not to touch the uncured foam - any physical impact and violation of the structure worsens solidification and negatively affects the volume and density.
It is necessary to ensure that the balloon is always in the upside down position to ensure the most complete consumption of foam.

Difficult moments:

Problem when using	How to solve
Foam opening more than 3 cm wide	Polyurethane foam must be applied in several steps, waiting for each of the layers to harden. Moisten the hardened base before reapplying the foam.
Through slots	In no case should such holes be filled with foam from both sides - this can lead to severe deformation of the structure. Foam is used on one side only, the back side is usually filled with silicone sealant.
Installation of door and window frames	To reduce the pressure on the structure, it is recommended to use dowels and additional spacers (they are removed after hardening). Otherwise, the foam, expanding, can fundamentally warp the frames of doors and windows.

A cylinder of household foam must be used completely, otherwise the composition will harden during storage and will be unusable. There are no such problems with professional foam, but there are some nuances.

Assembly gun: price or quality

A professional gun provides precise and metered application of polyurethane foam, reusable cylinder use and accuracy during work. There are many modifications of such a tool, however, the scheme of the device and the principle of operation are approximately the same:

The tip of the gun - as a rule, its diameter is several times smaller than the diameter of the tube itself. This feature allows to increase the pressure at the exit of the foam many times, which, in turn, guarantees a good volume.
The trunk (tube) is the channel through which the foam comes out. It can be one-piece or collapsible (two-piece), which simplifies instrument maintenance.
Adapter - an adapter for connecting to the neck of the foam cylinder. Teflon coated in quality models.
Adjustment unit - allows you to meter out the foam and its pressure.
Mounting nut - with its help the barrel is attached to the handle. This design allows the tube to be removed for cleaning or replacement.
The trigger - serves to adjust the supply of polyurethane foam.
Handle - made of different types plastic and metals. Aluminum handles are considered the most reliable and comfortable.

The principle of operation of the assembly gun is based on simple mechanics: after attaching to the cylinder, the foam passes through the supply valve into the barrel, where it is until the trigger is pressed. Pulling the trigger opens the valve on the tip, releasing foam. The regulating mechanism allows you to control the volume of foam delivery.

Since there is nothing superfluous in the design of the pistol, choosing such a tool is quite simple. There are only a few factors to consider:

The quality of the materials from which the gun is made. It is best if it is made entirely of hard metals. There are high-quality plastic models, but this is very rare.
Collapsible design: monolithic pistols are cheaper, but the price of a collapsible tool will pay off many times when cleaning and replacing parts.
Working pressure in the gun. This characteristic cannot be checked in the store, but there is a little trick. When buying a gun, immediately purchase a spray can of cleaner (it contains acetone). At home, you need to screw the pistol onto a bottle of cleaning liquid, pull it inside by pressing the trigger, then remove it and leave it for a couple of days. If, after this time, acetone is fired when the trigger is pulled, the pressure is normal. If not, you can return low-quality goods to the store, acetone does not leave any traces on the surface of the barrel.

Gun Foam - Professional Use for Beginners

With the right gun and related products (foam remover / cleaner and petroleum jelly) selected, you're ready to go.

Initial installation of the gun

To install the gun, unscrew the fastening screw all the way, lubricate the socket with technical vaseline and secure the cylinder. It is important to ensure that the adjusting unit is at a minimum foam consumption. Then the cylinder is turned over to the working position (upside down) and the composition supply is regulated - a couple of test presses are made to release excess air and check the pressure.

The rules for applying the foam remain the same: in small stripes from bottom to top. However, professional foam has practically no secondary expansion, which greatly simplifies the calculation of the required volume. The main thing is to make sure that the cylinder is not in a horizontal position both during use and during breaks.

Replacing the foam cylinder

Before you put a new cylinder or put the gun in storage, you must thoroughly clean all surfaces from the remnants of old foam. For this purpose, a cleaner (wash) is used:

to release the pressure, pull the trigger of the pistol;
fix the bottle with the cleaner to the gun;
turning the cylinder over, press the trigger for 10 seconds;
repeat several times until clear liquid comes out of the tube;
lubricate the gun parts with petroleum jelly.

When storing the assembly gun, it is necessary to repeat the lubrication procedure approximately every one and a half to two months.

When working with foam, it is important to consider such points as its chemical composition and increased "stickiness" to different surfaces... Therefore, it is imperative to use protective equipment - work suit and gloves.

Sweeping the traces

Polyurethane foam is one of the most difficult to remove materials: once it gets on fabric, leather or other surfaces, it is quite difficult to clean them. But it's worth a try.

Surface	Fresh foam	Cured foam
Hand skin	Gently removed with a sponge, residues are removed with improvised means - scrub, acetone, solvent, gasoline, saturated saline solution	It can be removed only mechanically. Usually loses its properties and falls off after 2-3 days
the cloth	It is collected with a stick, the remains are removed with a cleaner. Important! Stains may remain during fabric processing!	If possible, large pieces are cut off, and the remains are treated with a special solvent for cured foam, white spirit or gasoline. Remove stains that appear with stain removers
PVC (frames, window sills)	Carefully removed, the surface is wiped with a special cleaner for PVC	Carefully cut, the surface is wiped with a special cleaner for PVC (usually marked - for installing windows)
Floor covering (linoleum, laminate, parquet)	Remove foam with a spatula, collect the rest with a sponge and cleaner. Stains may appear! FROM wooden surfaces they are removed by grinding, the varnished coatings cannot be cleaned - they will have to be replaced.	After cutting off the foam, the residues are carefully dissolved with a special cleaner or the drug "Dimexid" (sold in pharmacies). It is necessary to work with such substances with gloves - strong components can cause burns!

As you already know, polyurethane foam is not intended for sealing holes smaller than 1 cm - it is better to fill such gaps with silicone sealants.

Alexander Birzhin, rmnt.ru

rmnt.mirtesen.ru

Rules for working with polyurethane foam

Whatever type of material is used, the main nuances that must be taken into account are always the same.

Determine at what temperature the work will be performed. This is necessary in order to select the correct foam, because if the thermometer is less than +5, then a special winter composition will be required. On average, the normal temperature for using foam is +20 degrees.
You will have to give up work if the temperature in the room is above thirty degrees or the air is noticeably humid. Both of these factors have a negative effect on adhesion (setting). IN normal conditions (at normal temperature and humidity) before working with foam, it is even recommended to spray a little water on the joint surface - this accelerates the reaction with oxygen.
After removing from the balloon, the foam increases in volume by about 3 times, therefore, the foamable areas are filled by no more than a third.

Excess application

If the gap to be closed is wide (8-10 cm and more), then the use of foam will not give an effect. The resulting surface will be brittle and break easily. In addition, do not forget about the cost of this material, so it is important to weigh whether you want to get an expensive and unreliable seam, or it is easier to reduce it with bricks or large rubble and then foam it.
The correct position of the cylinder, with or without a pistol, is upside down. Otherwise, the foam will come out of the wrong consistency, and it is likely that not all of it will be used, because the pressure is created by compressed air and if it comes out immediately, further work with this cylinder will become impossible.
If the foam has not expanded enough and has not captured all the necessary space, then after the initial hardening, which takes about half an hour, add a second layer on top. Complete solidification occurs after about eight hours.

Before further work, the surplus is cut

When the polyurethane foam completely solidifies, this material will not be susceptible to moisture or temperature, but in any case, the seam will have to be protected from direct sunlight, because under the influence of ultraviolet radiation the material will shrink, become brittle and fall off the surface.

How to handle foam when there is no gun for it

There is no difference in the work itself - the question is how to extract the foam from the cylinder. There are two options - there is an ordinary "household" cylinder at hand, or one designed for use with a pistol.

In the first case, the issue has been decided in advance, because manufacturers supply containers with special valves and tubes. It remains to connect and use everything.

Remember to protect your eyes and hands

If you have to use a professional cylinder designed for a pistol, then the question is more complicated, because you will have to find a tube for the foam to escape and decide how to press the valve. Figuratively, this can be represented as follows - you need to release air from the bicycle chamber so that it all gets to the right point (without catching your hands).

In such cases, the tube is taken from three parts: flexible-solid-flexible. The firm part pushes the valve, the first soft part does not allow the foam to spray, and the tube already brings it to the treatment site.

For any work, do not forget to protect your hands and face, because the foam is difficult to wash. It's cheaper to buy an extra pair of gloves than to buy solvent or walk around with dirty hands.

Such a design will have to be assembled for a professional cylinder.

When and why to look for toluene-free foam

When working with concrete walls or brickwork, the presence of this substance in the composition does not play any role. Problems will begin if you foam the areas insulated with foam, because the latter begins to melt under the influence of toluene. As a result - the layer of foam "eats" a hole and falls into it - the work will have to be redone.

If you need to stick the foam to the surface, then this property of toluene is only good for you, because it literally "welds" the sheet to the wall. By the way, this is widely used when leveling walls with plasterboard without a frame - by gluing the sheets directly onto brick or concrete with a "mounting".

That's the whole difference - if you need to work with materials similar to foam, then you need to choose - you need to melt it or it is better to look for foam without toluene, the choice of which is represented by polyurethane and similar compositions.

The advantages of using a foam gun, how it works

Choosing a gun is simple - the more metal parts in the device, the better. Pay special attention to the places that are subject to the greatest stress - this is the connection point of the cylinder and the foam release valve.

Professional pistol

In general, the design is simple:

Cylinder mount with valve pin. The balloon is put on either by screwing on the thread, or by a latch;
A trigger mechanism that opens the feed;
Screw - regulates the feed;
Delivery tube through which the contents of the container are discharged to the outside;
Lever.

Before you refuse such a purchase, weigh all the pros and cons of its use, because there is only one obvious drawback for a professional pistol - the cost of an average-quality device will be the price of 2-3 cans of foam.

There are much more positive sides:

Convenience. Whatever tube the "household" cylinder is supplied with, it will play in comparison with a specialized instrument.
Consumption. The professional gun is equipped with an adjusting screw, which is convenient to tighten during operation. You will have to withstand the exit from the household cylinder yourself, pressing the valve, which inevitably leads to an overrun by 2-3 times.
Accuracy. The gun nozzle is much narrower than any tube, so it is convenient for them to handle even small seams without losing foam.

Of course, you can do without a pistol if global work is not foreseen. But if you purchase 3-5 cans of foam, then it is more correct to stock up on an application device.

In everyday life, the need for special tools does not always arise. If you suddenly need to repair the seal or insulation in a small area, and you don't have a foam gun at hand, you can try to do without it. This will avoid unnecessary spending. However, you should first find out how the polyurethane foam will behave without a gun and how to use it correctly.

There are two classes of polyurethane foam:

domestic;
professional.

By technical specifications both types of materials are similar, however, differences still exist. First of all, the volume of the cylinders should be noted. So, household foam is usually offered in small quantities (up to 800 ml). The kit includes a small section of a tube with a small cross section. The pressure level in the vessel is relatively low. This allows you to reduce material consumption in cases where you plan to use a polyurethane foam cylinder without a gun.

Professional material can be purchased in volumes from 1.5 liters, in addition, it is used for large-scale tasks: sealing the seams of window and doorways, sealing large gaps. The foam is contained under high pressure, so it is very difficult to apply it correctly without a gun. There is one more nuance. So, the outlet of a professional cylinder is equipped with a fastening element: a screw cap (bayonet). The pistol is positioned at this point.

Subtleties of application

First, you need to determine what type of material to use: household, professional foam. If you plan to process a large area, you need to take into account the volume of the cylinder. Household products from some manufacturers sometimes differ in worse quality than their professional counterparts. For this reason, for more serious tasks, it is better to choose the latter option. Possible ways foam application without a gun:

Professional grade material is used, for which a tube is used. You should be prepared for the fact that under high pressure the foam will come out in excess.
Use household material by attaching a tube to the valve, which is complete with the cylinder.
Professional foam is used by attaching two tubes of different sections: first a larger one, then a tube of a smaller diameter is inserted into it and well fixed. This will reduce material consumption.

Preparation for work

The site to be processed needs to be put in order. Having figured out how to work with polyurethane foam without a gun, they perform simple manipulations:

Remove any dirt: dust, dirt. If the gap is rather large, it is pre-filled with foam, which will provide improved thermal insulation properties in this area and reduce foam consumption. Using a material such as foam, it is recommended to seal gaps no more than 8 cm in width.
The area is moistened with water, for which it is better to use a spray bottle, then the surface will be moistened evenly.
Control the environmental conditions. It is better to carry out work at an air temperature of +5 to +20 degrees. The maximum upper limit is +30 degrees. But in cold conditions, a different type of polyurethane foam is used - frost-resistant.

The procedure must be carried out in protective equipment. Gloves and glasses are usually sufficient.

Tip: If the material contains toluene, you should also wear a respirator.

Foam application instructions without a gun

The principle of performing work is the same as when using a special tool. If polyurethane foam will be used without a gun, how to use the supplied tube correctly? Step-by-step instruction:

It takes an average of 8 hours to completely solidify the foam. Do not worry if, after this period of time, swelling appears on the treated area. They can be cut off with a clerical knife or a regular sharp knife.

Tip: After drying and removing excess foam, be sure to cover it with a putty or other material, otherwise the composition will gradually collapse under the influence of sunlight.

Disadvantages of the no-gun foam application process

When deciding which method to choose, you need to take into account both positive and negative aspects in each of the cases. Of course, using a specialized tool greatly simplifies the task. But the sealing process using a tube without a gun has its drawbacks:

Large consumption of material. It is necessary to control the intensity and duration of pressing the valve. Even so, significant pressure creates excess foam. As a result, the area requires 2-3 times more material, while professional foam is consumed less intensively. This factor determines the financial costs - they increase.
If you plan to use professional foam, remember that it will not always be possible to install the tube. The balloon will simply not produce foam.
Time wasted. It will take more time to hold the flexible tube in the correct position, and with it the cylinder valve. In addition, you need to remember about the need to constantly monitor the volume of foam that appears at the exit. If the use of a pistol makes it possible to complete the sealing in 10-15 seconds, self-processing without a specialized tool will take about 15 minutes.

There is one more nuance. So, disposable polyurethane foam should be purchased in the right amount, which will avoid unnecessary waste, otherwise the rest of the material will simply be thrown away. For this reason, it is sometimes easier to buy a small bottle and fill the cracks with foam using the supplied tube.