HVLP Spray Guns

[CSchafer]

I've painted for a couple body shops now as well as in my own garage. Everybody has a differnt style of guns and products. 2 stage base/clear is the way to go. As far as a gun goes an hvlp is the way to go but the price varies completely. I've used severel differnt guns from sharp,devilbiss ect. but in all honesty my gun I got from harbor freight I like the best. It is made by central pnuematic and runs under 50 bucks. It is a very versitle gun with a 1. 4 tip. It seems to break up even high solid clears like dupont 72500 very well. The draw back to the cheaper gun is they ware out faster when used everyday. my first one lasted two years with the occasional paint job though. I would strongly recomend it to you, it is forgiving and easy to set up and easier on the wallet. At work we have 3 guns each designated to a particular product but I spray everything through the same gun due to the fact I don't want to by two or three guns. Primer will ware it out faster but just clean it well and spray paint and clear with the same gun. There is even more controversy over materials. I try to save some money and spray omni base witch is made by PPG. It dosent match factory colors well but for an overall It works good. Dupont croma base,sherwin wiliams and PPG are all good but more money. Clarcoats very greatly but agian I pay about 100 dollors a gallon for transtar 4. 2 VOC. Not the cheapest but have had great luck with it. It's very forgiving in how you spray it,temperature and it sands and wheels very nice. We have used it on a few show cars. Other brands I'm sure are just as good but those are the products I can vouch for while saving some money. Sorry for the long post but I hope this helps.

Cade

 

[Champane Flight]

Enemy #1 !!

Dirt and water! A good filter, and a clean area make for a lot less sanding and cussing!

 

[CCutshaw]

I have a couple quick questions to throw out. I’m rebuilding a Dodge short box van that needs a little body work. I have all the chrome, bumpers, grill, ect stripped off. I don’t have a paint booth just my work shop. The local Car Quest auto store has primer. As I do some of the body work before moving on to another repair I would like to spot prime the repair to keep it from rusting. Will my 2 HP Sears compressor run a gun like the one from Harbor Freight? Also how much of a PITA is it to clean? I plan on taking it in for the final paint job. Will I be making a mistake by spot priming?

Thanks Calvin

 

[Todd T]

I haven't yet decided what paint system to use. The Dupont paint # is from the paintscratch.com site. Single step enamel or lacquer. Today I got the bright idea that if I paint the whole car maybe I could use a b/c paint system so I looked around and found that PPG has a b/c system available in the correct color - 1978 Jaguar Old English White. Couldn't find anything yet on Imron b/c system in that color. I've been pretty impressed with some of the high end Imron paint jobs on jets and boats.



PPG also makes the same color in lacquer and enamel. What are your thoughts on using a b/c system vs single step?

PPG is fine. What I would suggest is you find a local auto parts supply store and purchase all the products from them. you may pay a few more bucks but the convenience is worth it. plus you can pick thier brains and get tech sheets etc.



Imron is a urethane single stage. your paint code for Old english can be made to order in most any paint type and product manufacturer.



HVLP guns go from $30-600+ dollars. there really are two classes of them. Reduced Pressure (RP) and Traditional/True Pressure (TP). Reduced Pressure Guns are great for people with less air. These guns utilize less air than a TP HVLP guns, but newer modern technology produces the same transfer efficiency and low overspray of HVLP guns. Reduced Pressure guns use less air but still imulate the blowback pressures of a conventional TP HVLP gun so the "feel" is the same and the learning curve is easy.



If you are used to painting with the older style suction/syphon type. The TP guns (usually the cheaper guns are this type) feel like these and use a bit more air but work the same. They are, what they are, if you will. You just learn the "feel" as you use them and need a bit more air volume to run them.

 

[Todd T]

I have a couple quick questions to throw out. I’m rebuilding a Dodge short box van that needs a little body work. I have all the chrome, bumpers, grill, ect stripped off. I don’t have a paint booth just my work shop. The local Car Quest auto store has primer. As I do some of the body work before moving on to another repair I would like to spot prime the repair to keep it from rusting. Will my 2 HP Sears compressor run a gun like the one from Harbor Freight? Also how much of a PITA is it to clean? I plan on taking it in for the final paint job. Will I be making a mistake by spot priming?

Thanks Calvin

Calvin, you need to look at the CFM's@working pressure of the gun in question (usually around 30-35PSI) and make sure you're in range of what your compressor can produce at that same pressure.



for cleaning you can ask them to get you a gallon or five gallon can of "gun wash" thinner. you wouldnt want to use it for any painting but it works well for clean up and cut 50% with fuel for other cleaning needs like greasy diesel oil soaked parts.



spot priming, mistake? Absolutely not. This is what you should be doing.

 

[Hohn]

My body experience is minimal. I used to work at a body shop, but just did color sanding and post-booth finish work. Never got to touch a gun (not qualified).



Imron. They COULD have just taken on the "m" and called it "IRON" because that's how tough it is. It's sort of a PITA to work with, though.



I'd think that the Chroma is probably what would work best for 99% of the guys who want to paint their car.



We had a chance to use a couple House of Kolor products. Expensive. Good results, if used by guys who know the characteristics of the HOK products. Otherwise can be pricey mistake.



jh

 

[Todd T]

We had a chance to use a couple House of Kolor products. Expensive. Good results, if used by guys who know the characteristics of the HOK products. Otherwise can be pricey mistake.

Dupont now has a competing line for HOK called Hot Hues. very nice to work with and a good looking color line-up.