Collection: Shop Paint Spray Gun Cleaners & Washers

A paint spray gun cleaner machine — also called a spray gun washer or gun cleaning machine — is a dedicated industrial cleaning station that flushes wet paint, primer, or clear coat out of spray guns using solvent or water. Compared to hand-cleaning, an automatic gun washer cuts cleaning time from 10-15 minutes per gun to under 60 seconds, uses 70-85% less solvent, and reduces operator VOC exposure. Please check the entire line of spray gun cleaners from Herkules (G-series, made in USA), Uni-Ram (UG-series, Canadian-built, ATEX certified), and Becca (S-series, ) — from small 1-gallon wall-mount cleaners to production automatic units that clean 4 guns at once. Call (888) 714-1410 or text (833) 670-5756 for sizing help.

Why buy Paint Spray Gun Cleaners from Pittsburgh Spray Equipment

• Financing available — 6/12/24-month terms on any gun cleaner over $2,500 through our finance partner. Application takes 60 seconds.
• Waterborne + solvent sizing — call us and we'll walk through your shop's paint chemistry (waterborne, solvent, 2K urethane, primer, clear) to pick the right gun cleaning machine. The wrong tank material will corrode within months on waterborne.
• Complete closed-loop workflow — pair any gun cleaner with a solvent recycler and reclaim 60-85% of your solvent volume, cutting purchase costs and hazardous waste disposal fees.

How to choose a spray gun cleaning machine

The right paint gun cleaner depends on how many guns you clean daily, what paint chemistry you spray, and how much floor space you have.

Herkules vs. Uni-Ram vs. Becca — quick brand orientation

• Herkules (G-series, Made in USA): The original — invented the paint gun washer in 1988. Best pick for automotive body shops. Corrosion-resistant polyethylene tanks. G200-series (2 gun) through G415 (4-gun stainless top-of-line) covers small to production shops. Waterborne dedicated: G511, G520.
• Uni-Ram (UG-series, Made in Canada): ATEX / IECEx certified for hazardous locations. Widest lineup at PSE — manual UM80, mid-size UG2000/UG4000, production UG5000/UG7500. Best pick for coatings manufacturers, hazardous location compliance, and shops that pair the gun cleaner with a Uni-Ram solvent recycler.
• Becca (S-series): Waterborne specialists. S-series can pair as a modular combo with a Becca solvent-saver recycler for a fully integrated cleaning + solvent-reclamation workstation.

Solvent vs. waterborne compatibility — get this right

The single most common mistake is buying a solvent-only gun cleaner for a shop that sprays waterborne paints (or a waterborne-only cleaner for a shop that sprays 2K urethanes). Getting this wrong destroys the tank in months.

• Solvent-only machines use polyethylene or coated tanks resistant to MEK, lacquer thinner, xylene, acetone. Cheaper but will corrode on waterborne cleaners.
• Waterborne-only machines use stainless steel or corrosion-resistant tank materials designed for water-based booth wash. Herkules G511 / G520 and Uni-Ram UA400W / UG5000W are examples. Won't handle strong solvents like MEK reliably.
• Combo dual-tank machines have two separate tanks — one for solvent, one for waterborne. Best for shops that spray both. Examples: Herkules G375, G415 (combo), Uni-Ram UG5000AW, UG5000WHR (with heater), UG5500W.

How to clean a paint spray gun (quick procedure)

1. Empty the cup completely. Release air pressure from the gun before removing the cup.
2. Wipe out the cup with a clean rag. Never leave dried paint in the cup — it flakes off later and clogs.
3. Pour fresh solvent (or waterborne booth cleaner) into the cup. About 100-200 mL.
4. Trigger the gun through the cleaning station's flow-through brush, or into the machine's cleaning tank, until the exiting solvent runs clear.
5. Remove the fluid tip and needle. Soak them in the machine's ultrasonic bath (if equipped) or in a small solvent container for 60 seconds. Wire-brush the tip lightly if needed.
6. Reassemble the gun. Trigger a small amount of clean solvent to verify a clear stream.

An automatic gun cleaner does all of this unattended in ~60 seconds per gun, so a busy production shop saves 8-12 minutes per gun per cycle.

Payback math — what a gun cleaner actually saves you

A shop cleaning 5 guns per day by hand uses ~1.5 gallons of virgin solvent per day and 45+ minutes of technician labor. At $20/gallon solvent and $35/hr loaded labor rate:

• Solvent purchase: $30/day × 250 workdays = $7,500/year
• Labor time: $26/day × 250 workdays = $6,500/year
• Hazardous waste disposal: ~$1,200/year

An automatic gun cleaner (~$3,500-$8,000) plus a paired solvent recycler typically cuts these totals by 60-70%. Payback: 12-18 months for a mid-sized shop, faster for production shops.

FAQ — Paint Spray Gun Cleaner Machines

What is a spray gun cleaner machine and how does it work?
A spray gun cleaner is a dedicated industrial cleaning station that flushes paint out of spray guns automatically using solvent or water. The gun is inserted into a wash cavity, the machine circulates cleaning fluid through the gun body, fluid tip, and needle for 30-90 seconds, then drains the used fluid into a waste tank. Compared to hand-cleaning, it cuts cleaning time by 80-90% and reduces solvent consumption by 70-85%.

How do I choose between a manual, semi-automatic, and automatic gun washer?
Manual: cheapest, best for 1-2 guns per day. Operator triggers the flush by hand. Herkules G45, Uni-Ram UM80, Becca S40M / S50M / S100M are examples. Semi-automatic: like the Uni-Ram UG110, the machine automates the flow but operator loads/unloads guns. Automatic: the machine cleans the gun with the lid closed. Best for 3+ guns per day. Herkules G200-G415, Uni-Ram UG2000-UG7500, Becca S10A/S20A/S300A/S800A are examples.

Can I clean waterborne and solvent guns in the same machine?
Only if the machine is a dual-tank model with separate reservoirs for each chemistry. Examples: Herkules G375, G415, Uni-Ram UG5000AW, UG5000WHR, UG5500W. Never share solvent between waterborne and solvent-based paints — you'll contaminate both and destroy paint quality. Single-tank machines must be dedicated to one chemistry.

What paint gun cleaning solution should I use?
For solvent-based paints: standard lacquer thinner, MEK, or a paint-manufacturer-recommended gun wash solvent. For waterborne: dedicated waterborne booth cleaner (not tap water — the surfactants matter). Always match the cleaning fluid to the paint chemistry. Cleaning fluid should be replaced monthly or when it stops running clear at the end of a wash cycle.

How much does a paint spray gun cleaner machine cost?
Manual gun washers start around $700-$1,500 (Herkules G45, Uni-Ram UM80, Becca S40M). Mid-size automatic units run $2,500-$5,000 (Uni-Ram UG2000-UG4000, Herkules G100-G202, Becca S10A/S20A). Production 4-gun automatics run $5,000-$8,000 (Herkules G200-G415, Uni-Ram UG5000-UG7500). Top-of-line stainless production combos: $8,000-$15,000.

Do I need a solvent recycler with my gun cleaner?
Not strictly — the gun cleaner works standalone. But a paired solvent recycler reclaims 60-85% of the used cleaning solvent for reuse, cutting solvent purchase costs by ~$6,000-$8,000/year for a mid-sized shop. Payback on a $10,000 recycler is typically 12-18 months when paired with an active gun cleaning operation. See our solvent recyclers collection for options.

What OSHA / EPA rules apply to paint spray gun cleaning?
Gun cleaning stations must have a closed lid, adequate ventilation, spark-safe electrical (Class I Div 2 in some jurisdictions), and used solvent must be disposed as hazardous waste (or reclaimed via a recycler). ATEX / IECEx certification (all Uni-Ram machines) is required in some hazardous locations. Talk to your local AQMD for VOC limits — many gun cleaners help reduce fugitive VOC emissions by 60-85% compared to open-cup cleaning.

Which brand should I buy — Herkules, Uni-Ram, or Becca?
Herkules: US-made, invented the category, ideal for automotive body shops and general industry. Uni-Ram: widest lineup, ATEX certified for hazardous locations, best pairing with Uni-Ram solvent recyclers. Becca: waterborne specialists, best paired with Becca solvent-saver recyclers as a modular combo. Call (888) 714-1410 for a per-shop recommendation.

Can I finance a paint gun cleaner purchase?
Yes. Any gun cleaner over $2,500 qualifies for 6, 12, or 24-month financing through our finance partner. Application is a quick online form; most approvals come through within an hour.