Paint Sprayer

Depends on the sprayer. My compressor is 20 gallon and 6 HP and has trouble keeping up with a standard siphon gun. An HVLP gun may do the trick, but I have no experience with them.

HVLP is the way to go Micheal. Simple, compact, easy to clean and maintain. About as loud as your shop vac and about the same price range too!

-- Sam Hamory - The project is never finished until its "finished"!

I agree with Earlextech, I have a HVLP sprayer from the 80s. It works great and barely stresses a 5 gallon compressor. If you find yourself limited by the compressor, you could hook up a tank in parallel with it for a little more post-regulator flow capacity (http://www.harborfreight.com/5-gallon-portable-air-tank-65594.html). In my experience once you get the hang of the sprayer and get the settings all dialed in they work quite well.

The only tips I have are practice on scrap first, and don’t let the sprayer reservoir get below about 1/3 full or so (below the pickup). Once it gets too low it will start sucking in air and you’ll get spattering all over. Sometimes it helps to dilute whatever you’re spraying too, for latex paint I typically go about 50-70% paint, the rest plain tap water. It needs more coats but gives a very fine finish.

-- Perilous to all of us are the devices of an art deeper than we ourselves possess. --Gandalf the Grey http://davidwahl.org/category/woodworking/

I was thinking about one of those airless HVLP sprayers? appreaciate the tips dmwahl is that 50% paint and 70% water or 70%paint and 50% water how about water base varnish or oil based varnish?

-- build it with wood and build it with love....

I love my Fuji Q3 HVLP. I’ve had compressor sprayers and HVLP is head and sholders above them.

Pop

-- One who works with his hands is a laborer, his hands & head A craftsman, his hands, head & heart a artist

Pop

Im curious where is the gun made?

-- shdesign3.com

I have an Earlex HV5000 … wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it to anyone. Bought mine on sale at Highland Woodworking.

—Gerry

-- Gerry -- "I don't plan to ever really grow up ... I'm just going to learn how to act in public!"

Michael,

If you are going to be doing a lot of spraying moving forward, I would suggest an HVLP system comprised of a turbine (not compressor) and gun. I’ve got a dedicated HVLP turbine that filters and cleans the air, and keeps it at the exact right PSI, giving me an excellent finish every time. There are many makers of these kits, just do a Google search.

-- Don, Diamond Lake Custom Woodworks - http://www.dlwoodworks.com - "If you make something idiot proof, all they do is make a better idiot"

thanks for everyones imput looks like the HVLP system is the way to go.. not one person said anything about a wagner power sprayer so i guess they are not used muched or liked by anyone who had one.. ok I guess it’s time to look for a HVLP system tomorrow. anyone find a good one at home depot or menards fyi?? or a rockler brand, or model sold at rockler?????

-- build it with wood and build it with love....

IMHO, the Wagner stuff you see at the box store is junk.

—Gerry

-- Gerry -- "I don't plan to ever really grow up ... I'm just going to learn how to act in public!"

I borrowed a Wagner sprayer from a friend to paint a fence once. I can definitely say I’d NEVER buy one! Junk is right!

Michael – At the blue big box look at the 2900 and the 3900. Same machine but the 3900 has extras. About $140.

-- Sam Hamory - The project is never finished until its "finished"!

thanks for all the advise… we are definately looking at a HPLV with a turbine, Wagner has beed scratched off the list…...... I just love all the helpful people on yhis site…

-- build it with wood and build it with love....

That’s 50-70% by volume paint and the rest water, sorry it’s unclear. Basically I just experiment until I get it right. Your results will vary with different paints, but I’ve found about half and half to be a good starting point, and then you can add water to thin it out a little if needed.

-- Perilous to all of us are the devices of an art deeper than we ourselves possess. --Gandalf the Grey http://davidwahl.org/category/woodworking/

If you’re still looking, I have an Earlex HV5000 that I might be willing to part with. Great system, I just don’t use it enough to justify keeping it around (was an impulse buy). Let me know if you’re interested. They’re about $340 brand new.

-- Life is a one lap race.