Spray gun bargain

[Len Petterson]

Re: Spray gun bargain

Compressor and their efficiency.
Just a hint as electricity is expensive.
A compressor is generaly not efficent than it has to produce a high pressure.
The reason being by pass in piston rings etc. If you run the compressor 100psi and only need 40psi for the gun and the compressor can keep up the volymetric demaned at 60 Psi., run it 60 Psi. If you are using a inpact gun it need 100 psi or more to do any good work.
Match the tool air requierment in SCFM's (Standard Cubic Feet Minute) with the compressor out put as close as is possible and you have " fuel-efficent system".
How do I adjust the pressure? On the pressure swithc is one or two adjutment in form of a screws. One set the max pressure.
The second screw adjust the range between starting and stoping.
Use a good liquivid filled pressure gauge, it pays in the long run.
Len

[Marv]

Re: Spray gun bargain

Len You may be right, but the settings on my compressor is factory. It has a 80 gallon tank and does not kick on frequently, so as they say if it works don't mess with it. I also know it takes more electricity to start a electric motor than it does to run it for a short period. That is why sometimes you will read 30 running amps and 50 amp starting amps on a motor. Marv

[mhorowit]

Re: Spray gun bargain

Anyone use a turbine instead of a compressor? - Mike

[Robert Lees]

Re: Spray gun bargain

All my spraying was done with a hvlp turbine. Although not perfect, it was convenient & economical to use, and eliminates oil/water issues.

Rob

[mhorowit]

Re: Spray gun bargain

All my spraying was done with a hvlp turbine. Although not perfect, it was convenient & economical to use, and eliminates oil/water issues.

Rob

If you'll mention the make/model, that will help learn what characteristics I'm looking for.
Also, did you use the spray gun mentioned in this thread? - Mike

[Robert Lees]

Re: Spray gun bargain

Can't remember the name of the supplier, but they went out of business about 10 years ago, so I can't get spares for it any more.

They're all much of a muchness these days in terms of performance....I would probably buy one these days that had a separate air source for a full face mask built in.

[Bob Waldron]

Re: Spray gun bargain

Mike,

One of the first 'home use' HVLP turbin sprayers was made by Croix. They are no longer in business, but GRACO makes the similar unit. They can be found at http://www.graco.com/Internet/T_PDB.nsf/SearchView/HVLP

They are very easy to use, and allow you to produce very good results. One advantage to the turbine sprayers, is that you can take some of that High Volume Low Pressure air, and put it into your 'painters respirator hood' for clean breathable air. These hood have a hose in the back, that allows you to connect air from the turbine (via a garden hose 'Y'). Pictures can be seen at

http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/wwg/productIndex.shtml?originalValue=painter+hood&L2=Respirator&operator=prodIndexRefinementSearch&L1=Hoods%2C

[fearofpavement]

Re: Spray gun bargain

I do most of my painting with a standard sprayer with a 1 qt suction cup. I have also used a 2 gallon pressure pot with good results. I have used a turbine powered (basically a vacuum cleaner set on blow...) HVLP gun and was very dissatisfied with the results. I could not get the paint to flow out like I wanted. I finished the job I was doing with it but subsequently went back to something I was used to. I would imagine that with enough experience I may have been able to do better but wasn't impressed a bit. It was not a cheap outfit either... I suspect that this is one of those cases where change is driven by outcomes different than the quality of the paint job. (such as less pollution, etc) these are all noble causes and perhaps in the best interest of the world in general but when I paint my wife's '66 Mustang later this year I confess I will have more selfish ambitions and want a really nice looking car (to match her of course) so will use the "old technology". I do think the HVLP guns would do well with dope and other coatings that are put on in a thicker layer.

[N96337]

Re: Spray gun bargain

I use Walcom GEO HVLP gravity or pressure cup guns and love them. I also have a Croix turbine, and have had excellent luck with it (had it for about 20 years now ). Any style of gun can achieve excellent results IF you use them properly. I'm as guilty as anyone of trying to paint the same way with every gun... but if you really sit down and learn about the gun and what it does and why, they will almost all work just fine! Each has it's own idiosyncracies and traits... and it's up to us to find the one that fits us best!
JH

[Len Petterson]

Re: Spray gun bargain

If you live in an area with high relative humidety a Coascolating Filter is recomented. After the regular water separator.
and / or make a Drip line install a length of pipe on the bottom of a tee there the line goes UP so water can drip into the drip line. Put a small valve in bottom it so you can drain of water on a regular basis.
Make the drip line from a 1" pipe and minmum of 12" long.
Len

[mhorowit]

Re: Spray gun bargain

If you live in an area with high relative humidety a Coascolating Filter is recomented. After the regular water separator.
and / or make a Drip line install a length of pipe on the bottom of a tee there the line goes UP so water can drip into the drip line. Put a small valve in bottom it so you can drain of water on a regular basis.
Make the drip line from a 1" pipe and minmum of 12" long.
Len

Done. We're at 100% humidity today, EAA picnic tomorrow, but sometime this holiday weekend I'll give her a try. - Mike