Q: We powder coat steel tubing for broom handles and paint about 1,000,000 tubes per month. We have been experiencing some contamination between color changes. We think this might have to do with our gun hoses. How often should we be replacing the hoses that go from the pump to the gun?
A: Excellent question. That’s a lot of broom handles. How many are for floor maintenance and how many for transport on Halloween?
My thoughts on your hose situation are thus: Hoses are a relatively small investment, and contaminated products and line stoppages can be costly and a pain in the neck. I would consider having separate sets of hoses for each color.
You didn’t mention how many colors you run. If you have a large number, you can consider using the same hose set for colors that are close in hue. For instance, a set for red colors, another for blacks and dark grays, etc. Hose can be purchased in bulk, and the ease of color changes is enhanced with hoses dedicated to each color.