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Question on Purchase of Finish Sprayer

3K views 11 replies 9 participants last post by  tom427cid 
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
I just finished making a new daggerboard for my son's sailboat. I used a special marine-grade white polyurethane for the finish, but I don't have any paint spray equipment. I ended up getting the "Preval" paint sprayer at Home Depot, and was impressed how well it worked.


But I think it's time for me to get a better finish spray system. This Preval thing could get really expensive. So I am asking for your advice on what system to get. Here's my setup:
Shop size 20 ft by 10 ft.
Air Compresser: Hitachi 2 HP
No dedicated spray area.

I am willing to spend in the neighborhood of $200 for attachments to my compressor, if that will work. What do you more experienced lumberjocks recommend?
 
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#4 ·
I am not a great experienced user of spraying equipment, but I have found that the simple "Criiter or identical K-Grip" spray gun does a fine job with minimum outlay. The cup is a Mason jar so you can buy a dozen for under $10 and store different finishes - ready to go. Price of the gun is from $28.99 for the K-Grip and $36 for the Critter.
Al you will need to purchase for your compressor air hose is a variable pressure control valve - from $6 to $10.
This gun has excellent reviews and should be considered.
 
#5 ·
I bought the purple Harbor Freight spray gun for $9.99. I finished a coffee table with dye and shellac with it. Love it. Some will thumb their noses at anything from HF, but it works GREAT for me. I'm not a professional finisher and only have need of it a few times a year when I finish a project. YMMV
 
#8 ·
I agree witg Sam, your air compressor probably is not big enough. The problem i suspect you.would.encounter is the compressor will fall behind. If it falls behind and you are spraying, it may not be immediately noticeable to you then all of a sudden you will realize your finish is inconsistent.
 
#9 ·
Thanks for the helpful comments, folks. I decided to try the "Critter" and see how that does on small stuff. I may have to upgrade to a larger compressor, though.

cr1, your suggestion is good, but I was trying to match the finish on a twin daggerboard (the boat is a catamaran), and needed a really smooth finish. I have had good success with brushes and rollers, and I may try your suggestion on my next project.
 
#10 ·
Good choice, many arts and crafts people use it.
Don't forget to get an inline regulator, you can attach it at the gun end to make instant adjustments. HF has them for $3.99 - http://www.harborfreight.com/brass-air-inline-regulator-68220.html or you can get the ones with a dial.
Keeping mixed color in mason jars is great, you have all your different finishes ready to go.
I'm sure you will like the Critter, it's a best seller.
 
#11 ·
If you are considering making a spray enclosure, then I might suggest you us Schd 40 pipe and fittings to make either a three sided booth or just panels to form a booth. Suggest 1" dia, all the fittings are available at HD except the clamps for clamping your enclosure material, but you will find them at http://www.littlegreenhouse.com/accessory/pvc.shtml All the other fittings shown are available at HD.
 
#12 ·
Hi all,
If I may; I have been using spray equipment for a while. There are a couple of things that one can do to get a professional spray finish. First hp is not the necessary qualification for a compressor.It is cfm. Cubic Feet of Air per Minit. If you use a spray(syphon style)gun the most important qualification is again air consumption. Most older DeVilbis guns are about 7cfm. Sharps on the other hand sometimes range toward 11cfm. Years ago I converted a syphon style spray gun to pressureize the cup.The hardest piece to find is the flow-through bleeder regulator. This allows pressure to go to the gun and also to bleed off pressure to go to the cup.A word of caution here,DO NOT excede 8-9psi to the cup.I normally set my cup pressure to about 4psi. I put the regulator on the gun and use a piece of nylon tubing(1/4") to pressurize the cup. Sometimes you need to drill and tap the cover of the cup to accept a fitting. What you have just done is to create what is reffered to as a modified HVLP. With this type of set up I spray laquer thinned 15-20%@ 7-10psi. I do give up a bit of fan width but I minimize the overspray.I have sprayed polyurethane and other types of finish with good results.Older good quality guns can be found for not to much $.
One other trick that can be done with the small airless hobby unit,Thomas is one brand that comes to mind, is to add a 1-2 gallon header tank. I once did a set up with two airless compressors,a header tank and the gun that came with the compressor. I couldn't do a table top but it did work quite well for most other projects.
Hope this helps.
tom
 
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