How to extend the tube for polyurethane foam. How to use polyurethane foam - scope of application, recommendations for use, important tips

Polyurethane foam with a tube

First you need to determine what type will be used for repairs. In construction stores you can see two types of foam:

household;
professional.

In construction stores you can see two types of foam.

How to choose the right composition? To treat a large area, the volume of the cylinder should be taken into account. The quality of household products can be worse compared to professional brands. Because of this, major repairs require professional foam repairs.

Here are the basic settings for how to use polyurethane foam with a tube:

You must first shake the container for 30 seconds
, ensuring that the material inside it is mixed until homogeneous and thereby increasing the intensity of the output.
The cap is removed and a PVC tube is attached to the valve. It is included in the kit if it is a household type sealant. For a professional cylinder, the tube will need to be purchased separately.
The free end is brought to the place where the sealant needs to be applied. The gap is filled by 30–50%. The composition after application increases in volume
as it dries. Partial filling reduces consumption. If applied correctly, the gap will eventually fill 100%.
If the foam dries and it becomes clear that there is not enough of it, you can apply another layer. But it is better to carry out sealing without a gun the first time, because the composition comes out in excess and is less amenable to precise dosing.
The material flows first into the tube, and then to the desired place after pressing the cylinder valve.

If the gun is not at hand, this does not mean that the work will have to be postponed. You can use foam without a gun in the following ways:

Premium material requires a tube, but at high pressure a lot of excess material can come out, increasing flow and thereby costs. To avoid this effect, you can take two tubes with different lumen diameters
. First, place a tube of larger diameter on the cylinder, then securely fix a tube of smaller diameter in it. This reduces pressure and helps save material.
Household polyurethane foam without a gun is already equipped with a special plastic tube.

If the gun is not at hand, this does not mean that the work will have to be postponed.

Proper Use

A container with household polyurethane foam is intended for one-time use, so it is worth thinking 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 operation.

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

Before starting work, shake the cylinder vigorously and remove the cap, which serves as a kind of fuse. Then all that remains is 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: the straw can be used several times. It has a collapsible design and can easily be cleaned with a cleaning rod or a piece of thick wire from 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, so additional wetting is used.

How to use polyurethane foam without a gun? Let's consider the recommendations:

The inner surface of the seam, on which the substance is applied, is thoroughly cleaned and moistened.
When filling a deep seam, make several passes. At the same time, wait for the previous one to harden.
When working with a balloon, before applying a new suture, it must be shaken vigorously to mix the components.
During operation, the cylinder is positioned strictly bottom up.
When working vertically, the seam is filled from the bottom up.

The process itself goes as follows. The edge of the tube is placed approximately five centimeters from the place that needs 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 using wavy movements. As the substance increases in size, excess is formed, which is cut off with a sharp knife after hardening.

Rules for working with polyurethane foam

Working with foam is quite simple. The main thing is to follow the detailed instructions:

Wear gloves on your hands to prevent the sealant from getting on your skin, as it is difficult to remove.
The place where the sealant will be placed is first carefully cleared of debris and dust
. When the gap is large in depth and width, it is first filled with small pieces of foam.
Shake the container as recommended in the instructions, usually 30–60 seconds. Thanks to this, the composition becomes homogeneous and comes out better, which simplifies the work several times.
The planes inside the recess are wetted, but moderately; water should not flow along the walls.
The cap is removed from the cylinder
, which limits its operation unnecessarily. A tube is put on the ledge, replacing the gun.
The free edge of the plastic tube is brought to the hole at a distance of 5 cm, now you should press the valve. The hole is filled halfway or a little less, since the volume increases as it dries.
After 30 minutes, you should carefully inspect the foaming area. If pits or empty cavities are visible, solution should be added.

Before foaming the gap, you need to make sure that the ambient temperature complies with the recommendations in the instructions for the sealant. It is necessary to carry out work when the ambient air temperature is within 5–20 degrees Celsius

Before foaming the gap, you need to make sure that the ambient temperature complies with the recommendations in the instructions for the sealant.

Important!

In heat over 30 degrees, work should be postponed, and in severe frost, you can use a special

When applying, you need to constantly adjust the pressure so that it is uniform and the contents come out of the container in equal parts. If it gets on any surface, the composition is poorly cleaned, and there is a risk of damage to the coating. When applied to the desired areas, it must be given time to harden, only then cut off the excess. The composition contains toxic components, so the work area must be thoroughly ventilated

Complete hardening of the composition occurs after 8 hours. There is no need to worry if swelling has formed at the treatment site - they can be easily cut off with a stationery knife.

How to remove foam from floors or walls where it shouldn’t be? After hardening, this can be done using acetone. As a precaution, you should protect your eyes by wearing clear glasses. To protect your hands, gloves are suitable, because the composition has excellent adhesion to the skin of the hands.

. Removing it will be painful and traumatic.

When applying, you need to constantly adjust the pressure so that it is uniform and the contents come out of the container in equal parts.

Precautions for use

Construction foam is a difficult material to use. Since it contains toxic substances, the work area must be well ventilated. This is a flammable material and should not be exposed to flame. 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.

Once the substance gets on the surface, it is very difficult to remove and can subsequently damage the coating. If it gets into unwanted areas, you must wait until it hardens, and only then attempt 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 clear glasses. Gloves are used to protect hands, as the foam has excellent adhesion to the skin.

Reusing the cylinder

If you need to reuse the cylinder without a gun, for example, within a month, then you need to bend the tube, securing the bend with tape. Then press the valve to maintain pressure in the tube

. So a container with polyurethane foam can be used for 2 months without any problems.

If the cylinder is needed again only after 5-6 months, there is another storage method. You can use acetone. The tube is carefully removed from the cylinder and washed with acetone. They are also dripped into the valve hole. Repeat the manipulations two or better three times. So the cylinder will last up to six months.

To work with a professional-type cylinder without a gun, you will first need to select a suitable plastic tube and figure out how to press the valve.

For this purpose, a DIY tube made of 3 parts is suitable:

the first is flexible;
the second is hard;
the third is flexible.

The first part presses on the valve, the second helps prevent splashing, and the third directs the foam stream to the desired location.

To work with a professional-type cylinder without a gun, you will first need to select a suitable plastic tube.

Prices for polyurethane foam with a tube

polyurethane foam with tube

A little about spray gun adjustments

It is very important to know what certain valves on the spray gun are responsible for. This is exactly what we will talk about now. If you look at the gun, everything is simpler here - there is one valve that regulates the intensity of the foam supply. With a spray gun it's a little more difficult.

The valve at the back is responsible for the intensity of the supply of foam from the cylinder to the spray gun (in the photo below the red arrow points to it). If it is completely blocked, then when you press the lever, only compressed air will come out of the nozzle. It turns out that if you turn it out too much, the foam from the spray gun nozzle will fly out in clumps. Therefore, I advise you to completely screw it in before starting work, and gradually unscrew it during the adjustment process.

The valve on the side is designed to adjust the spray (indicated in the photo by a yellow arrow). When it is in the closed state (fully twisted), the polyurethane foam practically flows out like a stream, dissipating only a little. When unscrewing, air, in addition to the nozzle, begins to flow into the holes located on the sides, thereby inflating the foam on the sides. The layer becomes thinner, but the spray area increases.

Making a gun with your own hands

You can make a gun for polyurethane foam from a pneumatic spray gun and a broken gun

. They are combined and a well-functioning device is obtained. Here's a little instruction on how to make a foam gun:

The essence of connecting these structures is to replace the paint tank of the pneumatic spray gun. Instead, a bottle of sealant is screwed on. To do this, first attach the connector for the cylinder, removed from the broken foam gun.
But the threads of the connections do not match, so to fix and secure the connection you should use epoxy
, having first cleaned both threads.
To ensure that the glue fills the threads and does not fall into the required holes, they are first plugged with hot glue. When the necessary holes are plugged, you can design further.
Epoxy glue is diluted according to the instructions: 10 parts of resin per part of the hardener. A regular 10 ml syringe is filled with 10 ml of heated resin, and then 1 ml of hardener. Mix everything thoroughly, heating as needed. First, the resulting glue is applied to the threads of the connector so that there are no empty spaces left.
The body of the spray gun is securely installed, and the connector is glued
. All is ready.
The final step in how to make a foam gun is to heat the joint to a temperature so that the hot-melt adhesive that plugs the holes melts and flows out.

Important!

The sealant is a flammable material and should not be exposed to fire.

What can be used as a very long tube - a sprayer for polyurethane foam?

Hello professionals! I need some advice. What can be used as a very long tube - a spray gun for polyurethane foam? I need to foam the hole that I can’t reach by a meter - 1.3 meters. What do you advise me to do?

Hose? (In Ob, different diameters are sold per meter.)

If you need a rigid structure, tape it to the reinforcement with some kind of electrical tape.

Is there such a thing in Leroy? Is a hose of such a thin diameter sold?

Useful video: how to reuse a can of polyurethane foam with a straw

To quickly carry out repair work efficiently and at the lowest possible cost, sealant is used.
But first it is important to calculate the approximate volume of material required. For simple housework, sometimes even one household cylinder is enough - it is used with a tube that comes with the kit, which greatly simplifies operation and reduces work time. If the finishing is large-scale, it is recommended to purchase a professional composition. In any case, it is most convenient to use such a sealant with a gun, but if you don’t have one, then improvised structures will do. Craftsmen began using polyurethane foam without a gun long before manufacturers began producing special, so-called “household” cylinders. Some were forced to do this by the price of the device, while others had to get out of the situation due to a breakdown, but ultimately, demand nevertheless gave rise to supply, and the market now, along with conventional polyurethane foam, sells one that does not require additional components for operation.

The end result is the same as with a pistol

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

Determine at what temperature the work will be performed. This is necessary to choose the right foam, because if the thermometer shows 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 refuse work if the room temperature is above thirty degrees or the air is noticeably humid. Both of these factors have a bad effect on adhesion (setting). Under normal conditions (at normal temperature and humidity), before working with foam, it is even recommended to spray a little water on the surface of the seam - this speeds up the reaction with oxygen.
After removal from the container, the foam increases in volume by about 3 times, so the foamed areas are filled no more than a third.

Excess application

If the gap that needs to be sealed is wide (8-10 cm or more), then using foam will not have an effect. The resulting surface will be brittle and break easily. In addition, we should 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 is it easier to first reduce it with bricks or large crushed stone and then foam it.
The correct position of the cylinder, with or without a gun, is upside down. Otherwise, the foam will come out with the wrong consistency, and there is a possibility 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 covered all the necessary space, then after initial hardening, which takes about half an hour, add a second layer on top. Complete hardening occurs after approximately eight hours.

Before further work, the excess is trimmed off

When the polyurethane foam has completely hardened, this material will not be susceptible to moisture or temperature, but the seam in any case 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.

Angle nozzle (nozzle) Polinor.

To apply sprayed polyurethane foam insulation Polynor to the ceiling, special corner nozzles are used. The guns used are the same as for polyurethane foam. The difference between working with Polinor and working with polyurethane foam is only in the use of attachments that are placed on the tip of the gun.

Nozzles for Polinor come in two types: - standard nozzle (in the photo it is on the left) for normal application (it is present on every cylinder); — an angled nozzle for applying Polinor to the ceiling (it’s on the right in the photo). The nozzles are responsible for the orientation of the torch (emerging from the nozzle) during application and make the application of Polinor more uniform and efficient. The standard nozzle is used when applying to walls and floors. If the “ears” of the standard nozzle are located horizontally, then the torch will have a vertical orientation, and vice versa: the “ears” are vertical, the torch is horizontal. The angled nozzle (in the photo it is on top) directs the torch emerging from the nozzle vertically upward, at an angle close to 90°. It makes it convenient to apply Polinor to the ceiling. Without the use of an angle nozzle, the nozzle of the gun has to be lifted up to the ceiling, which helps lower the bottom of the cylinder and the release of propellant gas from it, instead of foam. Thus, Polinor consumption increases sharply, and work productivity decreases significantly. When stopping work on applying Polinor for a short time, it is recommended to rinse with cleaner not only the application gun, but also the corner nozzle itself. There is no point in rinsing the standard nozzles with cleaner, since each cylinder has its own nozzle. The corner nozzle for Polinor is an indispensable attribute of professional work when applying sprayed polyurethane foam insulation.

This nozzle is intended for use in conjunction with Polinor cylinders. The main difference from the straight nozzle, which comes with the kit, is that with the angular one you can get a torch at an angle of 45 degrees relative to the gun barrel.

The main purpose is simplicity in insulating the ceiling, floor below, as well as hard-to-reach places.

The proprietary angled nozzle is designed exclusively for use with Polinor cylinders.

The manufacturer does not recommend its use with conventional polyurethane foam.

Periodically, when working with sprayed insulation, it is necessary to wash the corner and straight nozzles with polynor cleaner or another analogue.

The main mistake when using direct polynor nozzles is when the can is placed in a horizontal position to spray onto the ceiling or floor from below. As a result, the gas will escape from the cylinder, but the material will remain. The best solution for spraying on the ceiling is to use a polynor corner nozzle. The cylinder will be in a vertical position, which will ensure maximum pressure and a uniform torch, and the polynor insulation will come out of the cylinder completely.

How to work with foam if there is no gun for it

There is no difference in the work itself - the question is how to extract the foam from the container. There are two options here - you have a regular “household” cylinder at hand, or one designed for use with a pistol.

In the first case, the issue is resolved in advance, because manufacturers supply containers with special valves and tubes. All that remains is to connect and use.

Don't forget to protect your eyes and hands

If you are going 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 come out and decide how to press the valve. You can figuratively imagine this as follows: you need to release the air from the bicycle inner tube so that it all gets to the desired point (without catching your hands).

In such cases, a tube is cut out of three parts: flexible-hard-flexible. The hard part presses the valve, the first soft part does not allow the foam to splash, and the tube already brings it to the treatment site.

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

This design will have to be assembled for a professional cylinder

When and why you need to look for foam without toluene

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 plastic, 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 glue foam plastic to a surface, then this property of toluene is to your advantage, because it will literally “weld” the sheet to the wall. By the way, this is widely used when leveling walls with plasterboard without a frame - gluing the sheets directly onto brick or concrete with a “mounting tool”.

That's the whole difference - if you need to work with materials similar to foam plastic, then you need to choose whether 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 compounds.

If a person types the query “spray foam without a gun how to use” into a search engine, then most likely he has never held a can of foam in his hands. Accordingly, this person did not have the opportunity to read the instructions printed on the cylinder. Well, let’s fill this gap in the knowledge of beginners and provide detailed instructions on the topic “How to use polyurethane foam without a gun.”

No super actions are required - everything is extremely clear, simple and understandable.

Briefing

- the area must be clean from dust, dirt and various types of contaminants.

Anything that might fall off is removed. Dust must be cleaned up. It is the main enemy for foam-surface adhesion.

— immediately before applying the foam, the area must be moistened with water. We advise you not to neglect this point and the adhesion will be simply excellent.

— if we are talking about installing windows or doors, then they need to be secured so that the foam does not deform the structure. Spacers must be installed in advance, but not after foaming - polyurethane foam is afraid of vibration until it hardens.

Polyurethane foam has unique properties. Use it without a gun or with it - in any case, you will get excellent results if the manufacturer does not let you down with quality. But sometimes it also happens that the user himself made several or even one mistake, so he will complain not about his crooked hands, but about the brand of foam. Read everything written below and try to remember - these rules, tips and recommendations will be useful to you:

Instead of a conclusion

Polyurethane foam without or with a gun - the main thing is that the rules of use are fully observed. Then the result will be wonderful. As a last resort, if you don’t know how to use it and don’t remember our recommendations and advice, carefully read the instructions on the cylinder - everything is also written there in an accessible manner.

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

Peculiarities

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 composition. Currently, specialized retail outlets offer customers two varieties of this material: household and professional. Let's look at the features of each.

Household

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

Professional

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

Sealants of these varieties have similar technical characteristics.

When choosing the required material, you need to consider for what purposes the foam will be needed. In addition, the amount of work is also important.

A distinctive feature of the compositions is the possibility of re-application.

Let's summarize the work done

I had no experience in making and using a sprayer for polyurethane foam, so the work was a pleasure. The main thing I liked about this thermal insulation is the filled seams between the bricks. If you use polyurethane foam and other insulation materials, these seams will have to be pre-filled, which requires additional time. And one moment. Before applying polyurethane foam to a brick wall, it makes sense to thoroughly prime it using a regular spray gun. Then the coating will lie smoother and adhesion will be better.

Perhaps this article will help some of the readers make their home or garage warmer. At least I really hope so. Your opinion is also very interesting whether it is worth making thermal insulation using a similar sprayer for polyurethane foam or whether it is better to use materials specially designed for this. Leave your feedback or questions (if any) in the discussions below the article. If you found it interesting to read, give it a thumbs up. Thanks to everyone who finished reading.

The Homius editors invite home craftsmen and craftsmen to become co-authors of the “Stories” section. Useful first-person stories will be published on the pages of our online magazine.

Operating rules

To perform high-quality repair or installation work using sealant, you need to know several rules for applying the material.

The use of a special mounting gun guarantees a better result of the work performed.
It is necessary to use a professional version of the sealant, which has a useful property: fairly low secondary expansion.
It is recommended to carry out installation and repair work in the warm season: this will speed up the hardening process of the foam and preserve all its technical qualities.
When performing work, it is necessary to use personal protective equipment.

It is recommended to use sealant to seal minor cracks about 8 cm wide. If the width of the cracks exceeds this figure, it is advisable to use other materials (brick, wood, plastic).
To seal cracks and crevices less than 1 cm wide, it is more economical and practical to use putty.
During operation, the container with polyurethane foam must be kept upside down.
Fill the gap with sealant to one third of the depth.
After the sealant has hardened, you need to remove excess foam using a special knife.

After completing all the 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 a special mounting foam: such a container with sealant can be used in any position.
To foam deep crevices or cracks, you need to use special extension adapters.
During operation, the foam container must be shaken and the nozzle of the mounting gun must be cleaned of excess sealant.

The result of converting a spray gun into a spray gun for polyurethane foam

Once the sprayer was adjusted, I got to work. As it turned out, with the help of such a device, the polyurethane foam is laid down in a very even layer, and installing thermal insulation takes very little time. When applying the first layer, there were unclosed spaces in the cracks between the bricks, but the second layer completely covered them, and now I will explain why. The fact is that before making thermal insulation with foam, it was necessary to blow all the cracks with compressed air, removing accumulated dust from them. When I sprayed the first layer, it was she who flew out in different directions. Well, when applying the second one there was no more dust. That’s why he lay down flat, filling all the voids with foam.

If we talk about the consumption of polyurethane foam, then everything will depend on the magnitude of its secondary expansion. The larger it is, the thicker the layer on the surface will be after polymerization. At the same time, today the manufacturer is chasing a reduction in this parameter, which means that polyurethane foam with low secondary expansion will cost more, which again indicates that such thermal insulation will be profitable. On average, one can of polyurethane foam is enough to cover 2.5-3.5 m² of surface with a layer 1 cm thick.

Polyurethane foam lies on the brick wall in an even layer

How to apply?

Before you start working with this sealant, you need to learn all the intricacies of its use. Otherwise, the quality of work will suffer, the consumption of sealant will increase significantly, which will lead to additional financial costs. First you need to choose the right mounting foam. The choice of material depends on the volume of work.

If you plan large-scale installation of doors, windows or plumbing, or a large volume 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 you.

Minor indoor repairs (for example, sealing cracks) require the purchase of household sealant.

Applying sealant to the surface without a mounting gun can be done in several ways.

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

Once you have decided on the method of applying the foam, you need to prepare the surface. In some cases, the sealant surface can become a false wall. The quality of seam sealing depends on how thoroughly the surface is prepared. The surface is thoroughly cleaned of dust and dirt. Particular attention must be paid to cracks that need to be foamed. Sometimes the surface needs to be degreased.

Large cracks are pre-filled with polystyrene foam.

or other suitable material. Only after this can they be filled with foam. This will significantly reduce foam consumption and 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. To perform the job correctly, the foam must be at room temperature. Before starting the process, shake the container thoroughly. Only after this a tube or gun is attached to 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, foam consumption increases significantly (sometimes two or three times).
The valve design of some cylinders does not provide for the use of a tube.

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

It is enough to learn how to dose the foam output. In this way you can glue any objects, not forgetting about preparing the surface. Then we begin to apply the sealant. It is important to remember that you need to fill the vertical gap with sealant from the bottom, smoothly moving upward.

After finishing work, you must thoroughly clean the gun from foam using a special washing liquid. It needs to be poured into the tool. If during work a small amount of sealant gets on your hands, it must be removed with a solvent. Excess foam from contaminated areas must be removed during operation with a sponge soaked in solvent. If the sealant has hardened, you will have to remove it mechanically.

You cannot work with expired foam. The spray can must be handled carefully. You can't bring it near the fire. If the expiration date of the polyurethane foam has expired, the material loses its properties.

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

Take note of some useful tips.

Before starting work, you should prepare a spray bottle to spray water on the surface before applying foam; you will need a knife to cut off excess material.
While doing the work, you will need a sponge or soft cloth soaked in acetone or solvent.
The 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 hardening, this process will become much more difficult.
Be sure to use personal protective equipment (respirator, goggles, gloves).
It is necessary to ventilate the room during work.
After completing all work, it is necessary to treat the hardened foam with a special means to protect it from sunlight. This must be done before the foam darkens.
It is strictly forbidden to use the cylinder near an open fire.

In everyday life, the need for special tools does not always arise. If you suddenly need to repair a 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 expenses. However, you should first find out how polyurethane foam will behave without a gun and how to use it correctly.

There are two classes of polyurethane foam:

domestic;
professional.

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

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

Life hack: how to do without a foam gun

If you don’t have a mounting gun on hand, or it breaks down during work, you can use improvised methods. We invite you to pay attention to a simple alternative to the tool. To do this you will need a wire braid. To use it, we take out the core. After this, we will need a dowel of a suitable diameter, cut it to the cut. After this, it becomes shortened and convenient to use. We put the dowel on the end of the braid. As a result, the slot on the dowel will disappear. Otherwise, foam will leak out during use. If you can’t put it on tightly, trim the dowel a little more.

The dowel fits perfectly due to its tight fit. We tear off the lid of the cylinder, attach the dowel and gradually begin to press. The polyurethane foam begins to come out of the container. When working with such a homemade device, be sure to use protective gloves.

VIDEO: How to use foam without a gun

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-grade products from some manufacturers are sometimes of worse quality than their professional-type counterparts. For this reason, for solving more serious problems, it is better to choose the last option. Possible methods of applying foam 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 foam will come out in excess.
Use household material, attaching a tube to the valve, which is equipped with a 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 fixed well. This will reduce material consumption.

Preparing for work

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

Remove any contaminants: dust, dirt. If the gap is quite large, it is pre-filled with foam, which will provide improved thermal insulation qualities in this area and will reduce foam consumption. Using a material such as foam, it is recommended to seal cracks 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.
Monitor environmental conditions. It is better to carry out work at air temperatures from +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 wearing protective equipment. Gloves and goggles are usually sufficient.

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

Instructions for applying foam without a gun

The principle of performing the work is similar to that when using a special tool. If polyurethane foam is used without a gun, how to properly use the tube included in the kit? Step-by-step instruction:

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

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

How to apply, order of work

Violation of the foam application technology will result in minimal effect from the use of sealant. To avoid problems and difficulties, you must strictly follow the instructions . Recommendations for the use of their own products are provided not only by large manufacturers (such as Makroflex, Soudal, Tytan, TECHNONICOL), but also by small enterprises. Since, despite the generality of some tips, each option has specific parameters that determine the scope of application and the order of work. The process of applying foam to the base (working surface) is as follows:

Foam Soudal Construction and Repair 500 ml. Photo Petrovich

The performer must prepare for the work by wearing gloves, goggles and a respirator (or using a mask), it is better to wear long sleeves. The surface also needs to be prepared, i.e. clean from dust, debris, old coating using a soft brush, brush, or rag. If there is frost, ice, or snow on the surface, it is necessary to remove them mechanically. If the surface is too dry, moisten it with water.

Most often, foam is used to seal cracks and gaps. It is suitable for filling cavities from 2 to 8-10 cm . Gaps of larger width must be reduced by sealing with pieces of foam plastic or its analogues . Cavities larger than 4 cm wide and 5 cm deep are filled in several layers . The next layer is applied after the previous one has hardened. Gaps up to 1 cm are filled with sealants or putty; they do not have secondary expansion.

The container is shaken for 30-60 seconds ; different manufacturers have different recommendations.

The cap is removed from the cylinder, the tube is fixed or the gun is screwed on. Some difficulties are caused by installing the gun, which is performed as follows. The protective cover is removed from the upper container of the “weapon” , it is turned with the handle down, and the cylinder is screwed into it. The container is screwed in with force until a hissing sound appears, which means that the mixture has begun to flow into the nozzle.

Mounting foam MACROFLEX WhiteTeq professional 750 ml. Photo by Maxidom

The edge of the tube or gun is brought to the area to be foamed and the valve or trigger is pulled.

The seams are filled in a zigzag motion, vertical voids are filled from bottom to top.

A few minutes later, after the formation of a surface film, the treated surface is checked for defects ; if small “gaps” remain, they need to be filled.

After eight to twelve hours it is possible to remove excess polyurethane foam . Manufacturers indicate the time of primary processing, because this indicator is one of the main ones. The best option is to wait 24 hours, then perform pruning manipulations.

An obligatory step is finishing work, since the seams are “afraid” of ultraviolet radiation, so plastering, painting or other cladding is required.

On the ceiling, how to foam so that the foam does not fall

The technology for applying foam to the ceiling for sealing seams between concrete slabs, gaps between chipboard sheets and solving other problems is no different from the standard one . But there are several nuances .

In the process of foaming gaps on the ceiling, a problem often arises - the foam falls from the ceiling and does not stick to the surface . To avoid this, it is necessary to carefully prepare the base , remove dust thoroughly, and it is recommended to use a vacuum cleaner. The surface is moistened with water from a spray bottle. But it is important that there are no drops of moisture. If necessary, the base can be degreased.

To achieve foam output with constant pressure, the container must be held upside down . This does not always work out, so the length of the tube or gun must be increased by connecting a flexible adapter to the nozzle ; some manufacturers sell it complete with foam. Or opt for foam that can be filled in any position of the cylinder, for example Tytan Lexy. An alternative is PVC tubing (drip tubing) that also connects to the nozzle. Performers also offer other devices.

If the measures taken are not enough, then there is an alternative drastic solution . To do this you will need masking tape to seal the seam. Holes are formed in the tape through which foaming is carried out. After the polyurethane foam has hardened, the tape must be removed. In addition, the gap can be reinforced with metal mesh or wooden slats.

How to foam a window in an apartment, a wooden house and more, from the street

Sealing double-glazed windows using polyurethane compounds is perhaps the most important stage in the installation of structures as a whole. Attentive attention to this process allows you to eliminate the occurrence of problems. Let's look at the work process:

Gun foam Mastertex B1 fireproof 750 ml. Photo by Leroy Merlin

1) Determining the type of opening . The initial stage of work is to determine the type of opening. In most cases, there are quadruple and non-quadruple openings. It is easy to seal seams in structures of the first type; the work does not require any special skills. The quadruple opening is filled with sealant on both sides, otherwise the seam will lose its integrity.

2) Determination of the gap width. Experienced performers prefer to work with gaps no more than 5 cm wide. Larger cavities are filled in several passes, after the previous one has dried.

3) Material of the opening. In most cases there is not much difference between the base materials. Polyurethane foam has adhesion to many building materials: concrete, wood, brick, metal. Increased attention should be paid only to the aerated concrete base; the opening should be treated with a primer. Other surfaces only require wetting with water.

4) Determination of the type of foam. When installing windows, both household and professional foam can be used. Depending on the ambient temperature, summer or winter foam is used. Universal all-season foam is not recommended for use; the best option is to use specialized foam. Depending on the availability of fire safety requirements, it is possible to use non-flammable compounds marked “B1”, self-extinguishing (“B2”) or flammable (“B3”). In accordance with the number of components, one- and two-component compositions are distinguished. Products of the second type have more advantages, but their use requires the appropriate skills.

5) The preparatory stage includes the standard manipulations presented earlier.

6) Isolation. Foam needs additional protection - internal vapor barrier and external waterproofing (! but some performers use foam for waterproofing). For this, vapor barrier tape and compressed sealing tape (PSUL) or vapor-permeable waterproofing tape are used. The vapor barrier tape is fixed with a narrow adhesive layer along the entire length of the box. The second edge remains free. PSUL is glued to the front side of the window frame without overlap or tension, along the side and top sides. The covered window fits neatly into the opening. The waterproofing tape is glued under low tide and cut off with a margin.

Professional mounting foam TYTAN 65 750ml. Stroylandia Photos

7) Foaming is carried out in accordance with general recommendations. The free edge of the vapor barrier tape is moved back, then it is glued to the moistened assembly seam.

How to repair a hole in a car sill

Car owners are faced with the problem of through holes appearing in their sills . The optimal and necessary solution in this case is cleaning and welding problem areas . As an alternative but temporary measure it is possible to consider the use of polyurethane foam. The work is performed as follows.

Pistol foam Maxi Arctic, professional, 870 ml. Photo by Leroy Merlin

place cardboard under the rotten threshold and fill the gap with foam. To compact the polyurethane mass, you need to cover it on the front side with cardboard to allow it to harden. After hardening the excess is removed with a knife , and the foam is given the required shape. The area to be repaired is separated from the rest of the car with masking tape. The area is sanded, degreased, treated with epoxy putty, then sanded and putty again, but using a finishing putty. The surface is sanded until perfectly smooth with zero-grit sandpaper. The molding and wheel near the area to be repaired are covered with masking tape and thick fabric or film.

The restored area of the body is degreased and covered with primer from an aerosol can . When the soil dries, any roughness that appears is sanded with a “zero” polish. The final stage is the application of paint; if necessary, a layer of varnish is applied.

Disadvantages of the foam application process without a gun

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

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

There is one more nuance. Thus, disposable polyurethane foam must be purchased in the required volume, which will avoid unnecessary expenses, otherwise the remainder of the material will simply be thrown away. For this reason, it is sometimes easier to buy a small-volume balloon and fill the gaps with foam using the tube included in the kit.

Foam a small gap

The standard diameter of the gun tube allows you to foam seams up to 5 cm at a time. If you need to foam a larger seam, this is done in several passes. But what to do if the seam is very small for a standard tube?

I do not recommend using narrow tubes for this. The longer the narrow tube, the more difficult it is to control foaming, as spitting appears. It is better to make a narrower end at the end of a thicker tube. To do this, you can use a narrowed tip of the pen, or the same heat-shrink tube, which can easily be made narrower at the end.