Paint Guns...?

[Mach5Camaro]

I am looking to paint my tow rig that I just picked up. It's an older '85 F-350 that will be used for hauling my trail rig around and general hauling.

I have no experience with automotive painting and am looking to give it a shot. What is a good entry level paint gun?

The current condition of the paint is in a bad way, the paint is cracking badly throughout the truck and all will need to be sanded down. From what I have read the best method is using an orbital sander starting with 180grit then 320 to remove the 180 scratches then primer and 600grit to smooth it out. I already own a fairly nice Bosch orbital sander that I believe should handle the job.

I hesitate to say it but is a cheap Harbor Freight paint gun even worth my time and money? I want to do the job right the first time but I don't plan on becoming a professional autobody shop either...

Any help or suggestions will be greatly appreciated. :D

[savageracing]

Go get the Harbor freaight hvlp gun (the purple one) they are actually a really good gun for the money. They are pretty much a copy of the SATA guns. The painters at my shop changed to these because the rebuild kits for his Sata's were killing him. He'll use them till they wear out (usually wears the anodazation off of them) and tosses them. Althuough the smaller version from them does not seem to work as well as the larger one.

[JK5]

The Harbor Freight gun will work well for you. If you wanted to spend a couple bucks more, a Sharpe goes for $135.

I strip with 60 or 80#. 180# will take you forever.

[Mach5Camaro]

Go get the Harbor freaight hvlp gun (the purple one) they are actually a really good gun for the money. They are pretty much a copy of the SATA guns. The painters at my shop changed to these because the rebuild kits for his Sata's were killing him. He'll use them till they wear out (usually wears the anodazation off of them) and tosses them. Althuough the smaller version from them does not seem to work as well as the larger one.

Thanks, I will look into this purple one. You wouldnt happen to have the part number would ya?

Thanks for the help :)

[Mach5Camaro]

Just did a little searching at Harbor Freight and came up with this one: http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=91009

There are quite a few purple ones on there not sure which one would work out best. Do I need to have a regulator at the gun it self or can the regulator that is at the tank to the compressor suffice?

[Mach5Camaro]

The Harbor Freight gun will work well for you. If you wanted to spend a couple bucks more, a Sharpe goes for $135.

I strip with 60 or 80#. 180# will take you forever.

Alright, I will pick up some 80 grit as well. I will look into the Sharpe guns, do you have a site that you usually purchase from?

Thanks :)

[CrustyJeep]

Just did a little searching at Harbor Freight and came up with this one: http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=91009That's not HVLP... Try this one...
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=43430

[savageracing]

That's not HVLP... Try this one...
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=43430

That's the one

[jeepn4life]

what do you do for an air source... I dont think a 110V air compressor is going to cut it... 10-15CFM

[BurntOrange]

1) The HF 43430 gun comes with a .0546" (1.4mm) tip. Isn't a larger tip (1.7mm?) usually preferable for spraying heavier stuff like primer & mil-spec paint? Does HF offer different tips for this gun? I could have sworn HF used to sell an HVLP gun with different sized tips but I've searched their site and can't find it anymore.

2) Can anyone who has sprayed with a 43430 share actual air requirements? HF advertises 15-50psi and 9.5-14.8CFM. I want to make sure my compressor is up to the task or I may need to look for a more efficient gun.

Thanks

[JK5]

Alright, I will pick up some 80 grit as well. I will look into the Sharpe guns, do you have a site that you usually purchase from?

Thanks :)

I bought 2 from a local Sherwin Williams Body Shop supply.
Try googleing the Sharpe Cobalt.

The model I has a 1.5mm needle and fuild tip.

[TLCObsession]

Most compressors will show 2 CFM ratings: 45 and 90 psi. Look at yours and see what it says.

Jim

[Mach5Camaro]

Most compressors will show 2 CFM ratings: 45 and 90 psi. Look at yours and see what it says.

Jim

Yea just checked on this and it says 7.4CFM @ 40psi...

So I wont be able to run the other HVLP paint gun apparently... If I go with the other model will it even work for a decent paint job? Or should I look into renting a better air compressor and go with the HVLP gun?

The 1.4mm tip on the first gun I mentioned is the same as the recommended size for the paint that I was looking to use.

[savageracing]

the other gun will work as well. May have a more orange peely effect, but then again this is your first paint job so that is the least of your worries right now.

[Mach5Camaro]

the other gun will work as well. May have a more orange peely effect, but then again this is your first paint job so that is the least of your worries right now.

Yea, this is a work truck and I know it wont be perfect by any means.

The HVLP gun has a range of 15-50psi ... If I was to turn down the psi on my compressor to around 15-20psi I should be able to get enough CFM if it normaly puts out (7.4@40psi) and around (5.something@90psi) right? So if it was around 15-20psi it should be about 9-10cfm, correct?

The gun requires 9.5-14.5 cfm.

[savageracing]

I honestly think you'll be fine with the HVLP. You are not going to he holding the trigger wide open for hours at a time. Being a new painter you will be taking your time and the compressor should be able to catch up between breaks.

[Mach5Camaro]

I honestly think you'll be fine with the HVLP. You are not going to he holding the trigger wide open for hours at a time. Being a new painter you will be taking your time and the compressor should be able to catch up between breaks.

Yea, I think I will give that paint gun a shot if it doesn't work no big deal it's only $40. I will definetly be going slow and steady the tank is fairly large on our compressor as well so as long as I pace myself it should do the job.

After I lay the basecoat down do I need to wet sand it because of the orange peel effect? Or should I not since I lack the experience? What grit would you use at this point?

Thanks for all the help! :smokin:

[Aces'n'8s]

The Harbor Freight gun will work well for you. If you wanted to spend a couple bucks more, a Sharpe goes for $135.


Currently, there are several Sharpe Finex HVLP guns going for $80 or so on Ebay.

EBAY Sharpe guns (http://search.ebay.com/search/search.dll?from=R40&satitle=sharpe+finex)


I usually get most of my body work supplies from these guys.

Autobody Toolmart (http://www.autotoolmart.com/cgi-bin/webc.cgi/home.html)


I have used the Finex 1.8 and it is a good gun for primers and enamels. As for applying lacquer or acrylics, I usually don't reduce it down as much.

[savageracing]

Yea, I think I will give that paint gun a shot if it doesn't work no big deal it's only $40. I will definetly be going slow and steady the tank is fairly large on our compressor as well so as long as I pace myself it should do the job.

After I lay the basecoat down do I need to wet sand it because of the orange peel effect? Or should I not since I lack the experience? What grit would you use at this point?

Thanks for all the help! :smokin:

Depends on what you are spraying. If you are doing base/clear you cannot sand the base, but you should not get any orange peel either due to the color is basically "dusted" on. It will have no shine to it and applies much drier than single stage or clear.
If you shoot acrylic enamel or acrylic eurathane and go over with clear, then yes, colorsand the base with around 800-1000 grit, but make sure you wetsand and don't take too much off.
Base/clear is easier to spray IMHO but if you mess up it is harder to blend as well. If you go metallic I would def go base clear due to you cannot color sand it without it looking bad. Feel free to ask any more questions if you have any.

[TLCObsession]

One other option I have used for painting if your compressor can barely keep up:

Borrow a compressor from a buddy. Use standard fittings to plumb them together. Simple and helps you keep up with demand. I have 2 compressors, and it worked well for me.

Jim

[sixty]

Costc has decent set of guns for sale for around $79. it comes with a large HVLP w/ 2 tips (1.4mm & 2.0mm) & small HVLP gun w/ 2 tips. It also comes with 2 standard suction feed guns w/ 2 tips each w/ 4 cans & regulators etc.... a much better deal than I found anywhere and the guns are a little better than the harbor frieght guns.


Oh yeah, I painted my cruiser w/ a sears 6.5hp oiless compressor using the harbor frieght gun w/ a 1.5mm tip, it kept up but ran for over an hour straight. paint turned out decent.

[savageracing]

Try and stay away from the suction guns with the newer types of paints. They work well for primers but try and stick with a gravity feed gun. They require less pressure and use less paint. Alot less overspray as well.

[fj40guy]

ABC's of Finish Painting (http://www.devilbiss-gema.com.mx/pdf/i-239-c.pdf) Good reading.

Took a class a few weeks back on aircraft fabric refinishing. Cool stuff. Lynn, who teaches the class, commented for the two part expoxy ( -thane) finished she likes the $59 suction feed special (aka HF special).

Tom :usa:

[Mach5Camaro]

Appreciate all the info guys :D

I am going with an acrylic enamel base and clear.

[Mach5Camaro]

ABC's of Finish Painting (http://www.devilbiss-gema.com.mx/pdf/i-239-c.pdf) Good reading.

Took a class a few weeks back on aircraft fabric refinishing. Cool stuff. Lynn, who teaches the class, commented for the two part expoxy ( -thane) finished she likes the $59 suction feed special (aka HF special).

Tom :usa:

Thanks for the link :)

[The Joker]

Probably the most important thing that most people don't think about is using a good high build catalyzed primer. It will fill in scratches and minor imperfections better.

[javelinpr]

which is the best set?



http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/HVLP-PAINT-SPRAY-GUN-HOME-CAR-AIR-TOOL-PAINTING-SPRAYER_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ43987QQitemZ462 2552671QQrdZ1

i like this one:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2-HVLP-PAINT-SPRAY-GUN-Gravity-Set-MINI-FULL-FREE-GAUGE_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ43987QQitemZ46235 36461QQrdZ1

this one needs other tips
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/DeVILBISS-FinishLine-3-HVLP-Primer-SPRAY-PAINT-GUN-2-2_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ43987QQitemZ462292510 0QQrdZ1

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/HVLP-GRAVITY-FEED-PAINT-SPRAY-GUN-2-SETUP-FREE-GAUGE-HQ_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ43987QQitemZ46226066 33QQrdZ1


:confused:

[fortcollinsk5]

I use the following guns for when I do completes with a 2-component primer/surfacer and base/clear


For the primer, I use the DeVilbiss Pri HVLP.
For the bascoat, either Devilbiss GTi HVLP or the SATAjet 2000 (kinda a tricky gun with a pretty narrow sweet-spot)
For clear, my ONLY choice is the Iwata LPH-400

I know some of these guns are spendy, but you def get what you pay for when it comes to automotive refisnishing