Spray gun advice?

[0ILBURNER]

I have shot a little acrylic enamel years back, but never owned a spray gun. I would like to buy a setup & pain my rig, but there is a catch (always is ain't it? :D)
We are also building a log cabin, and I would like to use the same gun to shoot the log sealer. Enamel is pretty thin, and the sealer for the logs is pretty thick.

I have been doing a little shopping & as usual there are Way too many choices. Any chance I can buy one gun & be able to do both jobs?
Any help appreciated!

[indulf]

can you thin the log sealer?

you can get different tips for HVLP guns, but the range isn't all that huge...

[jfairYJ]

Most automotive guns only go up to about 1.5 or 1.7 is huge but that is a fire hose if your laying clear or paint. It's hard to say for sure but i would guess that you could thin out your log sealer a bit and get it to work. Keep in mind that even if you get a large gun with a 20 oz cup that your going to be refilling that bitch over and over and over when you spray your cabin.

I would just get two different guns man. Buy a decent gun to spray your ride with, try SprayGunDepot.com and rent a large paint sprayer for your cabin. Im sure you will thank yourself in the long run. Not to mention its always nice to have a decent gun layin arownd and you will most likely trash it sparying your cabin.

Hope that helps

[Aces'n'8s]

If you practice a while beforehand, a Sharpe Finex will produce great results (provided you use quality paint/solvents) on your rig (they have multiple size tips...). I have one as well as a DeVilbiss GTi and really like the DeVil...

As for your cabin, I would rather rent a piston pump sprayer. You'll save time and effort using something like a baseline Graco as opposed to an air powered HVLP gun. Also, you won't have to drag a compressor/dryer out there to spray it.

If you do plan to spray the log sealer with a piston sprayer, I would recommend at least a 17/19 nozzle for flow control. I've used those sizes to spray Spar and other sealers/varnishes with good results. Only pain is that cleaning one of these units is much more involved than an HVLP. :(

[PAToyota]

I picked up one of the TPTools HVLP guns and also got the kit for spraying "heavier/thicker" finishes with it... Can't say that I've had decent results with the thick stuff and would agree with Aces to just rent something else for the cabin...

[cbrogers]

I would just get two different guns.

First would be a HPLV for the Auto paint stuff.

Then get a good airless prayer for the log sealer and house paint. Wagner actually makes a version that uses the same gun as the professional Graco's. I used it to spray my garage and it worked out well.

End cost was about $200. Just be sure not to use one of those real cheep Wagner paint guns. They are not very good. The Pro tpe version has a hopper that will take 4-5 quarts at a time.

Carl

[4WD Vanny]

I used the $50 HVLP from Harbor Frieght with decent results...



http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b120/phishtank/PaintVan006.jpg
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b120/phishtank/PaintVan003.jpg

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b120/phishtank/FinishedVan006.jpg

[DownNDirty]

I also have the chepo harbor frieght setup and it has worked very well. I would just go to a pawn shop for an airless to do the sealer.

[0ILBURNER]

Thanks - it's taken me a bit to get back to your replies, and I believe you all are on target = get two guns. I just wanted to make Absolutely sure I didn't have an option that I wasn't aware of :)
I will be going with a HPLV gun to spray paint and will further investigate guns for shooting the sealer/treatment for the log cabin. You know, they recomend you re-shoot logs every 3-4 years, buying a gun might be my best bet as I'll be in this one long term.

Thanks again -