Need help with compressor choice

[eb0248]

I want to paint my 25', 9' beam hull. Researching HVLA, compressors. Does anyone know the minimum compressor I can use? I have a local 6HP/60 gal one available, but have been told I need at least 7HP/80gal, 15 CFM for the job. Anyone have any experience with this? I'm getting cross-eyed reading blogs. I have a kit from "Vaper" for guns. Thanks, Ed.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Need help with compressor choice

Spray guns are compressor hungry. I have a HVLP gun and I also installed an additional 40 gallon air storage tank. You really need the volume and regardless of what the compressor is rated at....there are other factors. The pressure at the gun tip needs to be at a constant while spraying.....if you use extra long hoses that will effect things too.

I have a sears 6hp 60 gallon and I needed the extra storage tank.

Just to make you cross eyed again........ HVLP guns use more air then old conventional guns but they do work nice.

 

[Yacht Dr.]

Re: Need help with compressor choice

Depends on how fast you want to spray..

I have used a CM 5HP 20 gal for a full gel job on a 40 footer.

It all depends on what your doing. I think if your going a 2 part then you can possibly do it with your setup. But its gonna take you longer for each pass of paint. It really depends on what you are spraying.

(Tip) If your unsure of the outcome of the final coat .. then just spray multiple coats and then sand and buff it. ( this method does not include 2 part Linear Poly's ).

YD.

 

[bonz_d]

Re: Need help with compressor choice

I am a newb at spraying also and found you may also want to look at LVLP spray guns also. That is what I did because of the small compressor I have. These may help shed a little light. The guys that helped provided a lot of help and insight.

http://forums.iboats.com/non-boating-technical-topics/looking-air-compressor-610522.html
http://forums.iboats.com/boat-restoration-building-hull-repair/becoming-spray-painter-613711.html

 

[Yacht Dr.]

Re: Need help with compressor choice

I am a newb at spraying also and found you may also want to look at LVLP spray guns also. That is what I did because of the small compressor I have. These may help shed a little light. The guys that helped provided a lot of help and insight.

I think you mean HVLP .. not LVLP

You really have to get used to the pressures involved no matter what gun you want to use and what outcome you want .. and you also have to consider what paint you want do use.

YD.

 

[bonz_d]

Re: Need help with compressor choice

I think you mean HVLP .. not LVLP

YD.

Actually no, Not HVLP but LVLP such as this.
what is LVLP spray gun?

 

[Yacht Dr.]

Re: Need help with compressor choice

Actually no, Not HVLP but LVLP such as this.
what is LVLP spray gun?

Well thats just a website link ..

Which LVLP gun/setup did you buy/use ?

This one Trifinity optima spray guns ? .. $600 bucks? um I would rather buy the proper compressor and gun for the same price tag.

Or This one Asturo Low Air Spray Gun ? Um still at $300 bucks for just the gun is kinda expensive.

Oh and I love that quote on one of the links "REAL CUSTOMER: "Hey Mike spray the awlgrip... today I have never had it laid that flat, no orange peel at all. Normally spray it before with a conventional gun take week to sand out orange peel...
this wb is great.thanks !!! "

Well #1 .. if this Real Customer sprays Awlgrip then he would have to be a pro .. or somewhat experienced with painting and/or the Awlgrip paint system at least.

#2 .. You can NOT sand and buff Awlgrip LP .. period.

#3 .. If it took this guy a week to sand out Orange Peel ( even if you could sand/buff out AG which is not possible ) then that project would have to be a Large project. You cant do this with a LVLP. The Fan size and quantity of materials just not fit the amount of paint required.

You need to consider Application And Product.

If I need to spot paint a boat .. then Im gonna go with my grav mini gun ( 45 bucks ). If Im gonna go full spray on a 30+ footer then I am gonna bring out the pressure pots.

The LVLP gun could be a good gun for its application if you didnt have the Compressor ( which I highly doubt that Any auto/paint shop will not have a lack of air supply ). But we are not painting door panels or small projects.

You have to know your paint system .. LVLP is not one that you should use if your Full painting.

YD.

 

[bonz_d]

Re: Need help with compressor choice

The link I posted does have a one page discription and comparision of the different types of guns along with a few links to other articles I at least found helpful.

I cannot dispute what you say as it is true. From the little that I've learned so far. I was just trying to point out that there are guns out there that will work well at lower volumes and pressures and with smaller compressors. The one I bought can be seen here.

TCP Global Brand Spray Guns

As you can see by the specs that it requires 29-50psi and only uses 3.5 - 7.1 cfm as opposed to a true HVLP gun which requires much more air. From the little bit I've used it so far it seems to work well at low pressure and uses very little air. My old 1hp 2 cyclinder piston compressor keeps up very well.

Again I cannot argue the points you make yet I think there are many out here that do not fit your model. We are not production painters and are not in this to make a living wage. Like myself we are doing small projects and have the time to use these "slow" guns and are also limited in the size of the compressors we have or are capable of running. Also as you state because of the limitations we have to be careful and selective on the jobs at hand and the materials that we can use.

I went this way because the project boat I'm going to be doing is only 16' long and the panel I plan on spraying is only about 2.5' wide times 2 sides. Also because of the dangers we discussed in another thread the hobbiest is really limited to the types of paint they can safely use. Which I also believe makes using this type of equipment even safer for the hobbiest if for nothing more than the lower overspray.

Again I am just beginning to use this equipment and am still learning so who knows I may find in the long run that this system doesn't work or I may find I was correct and it works very well for the way that I intend to use it.

 

[zool]

Re: Need help with compressor choice

Bottom line is, if you're stuck with a smaller compressor, because of budget or whatever, then you are best to use a low consumption gun, like an Eastwood Concourse (4cfm) or whatever.....and just slow down....waiting for the pressure to build can cause you to lose your wet edge...

True, if doing a full spray on a yacht, then a big pressure pot with Awfullgrip would be the standard shop method.....laying the lpu is an art, which is probably why Akzo jumped on the acrylic train with Awlcraft

 

[Yacht Dr.]

Re: Need help with compressor choice

The link I posted does have a one page discription and comparision of the different types of guns along with a few links to other articles I at least found helpful.

I cannot dispute what you say as it is true. From the little that I've learned so far. I was just trying to point out that there are guns out there that will work well at lower volumes and pressures and with smaller compressors. The one I bought can be seen here.

TCP Global Brand Spray Guns

Um .. thats an HVLP NOT a LVLP gun setup that you linked.

As you can see by the specs that it requires 29-50psi and only uses 3.5 - 7.1 cfm as opposed to a true HVLP gun which requires much more air. From the little bit I've used it so far it seems to work well at low pressure and uses very little air. My old 1hp 2 cyclinder piston compressor keeps up very well.

Again .. this is an HVLP setup .. not a LVLP setup ..

Again I cannot argue the points you make yet I think there are many out here that do not fit your model. We are not production painters and are not in this to make a living wage. Like myself we are doing small projects and have the time to use these "slow" guns and are also limited in the size of the compressors we have or are capable of running. Also as you state because of the limitations we have to be careful and selective on the jobs at hand and the materials that we can use.

Not only the materials that you use .. but the tools needed.

You are not a production Painter .. ok fine .. but you should listen to production painters ( Is not this forum best used by members that do not Know how to Paint or Glass by those of us that do it for a living ? ). I suggest you might want to take heed on what WE say and then Verify production and/or systems that We use. You can use any system or paint that you want. Im not telling Anyone to use Xpaint or Ygun or Zcompressor.

I went this way because the project boat I'm going to be doing is only 16' long and the panel I plan on spraying is only about 2.5' wide times 2 sides. Also because of the dangers we discussed in another thread the hobbiest is really limited to the types of paint they can safely use. Which I also believe makes using this type of equipment even safer for the hobbiest if for nothing more than the lower overspray.

Again .. the tools requrired for applications need to be addressed. Im only directing tools for the project at hand.

Again I am just beginning to use this equipment and am still learning so who knows I may find in the long run that this system doesn't work or I may find I was correct and it works very well for the way that I intend to use it.

Your still using an HVLP gun .. not a LVLP gun.

Bottom line is, if you're stuck with a smaller compressor, because of budget or whatever, then you are best to use a low consumption gun, like an Eastwood Concourse (4cfm) or whatever.....and just slow down....waiting for the pressure to build can cause you to lose your wet edge...

True, if doing a full spray on a yacht, then a big pressure pot with Awfullgrip would be the standard shop method.....laying the lpu is an art, which is probably why Akzo jumped on the acrylic train with Awlcraft

What do you consider a BIG Pressure pot ? Why did you say "Awfullgrip" .. do you not like the product or something ? Dont tell me that was a typo.

Just for your knowledge base .. AkZo Nobel would be completely in the right to create a paint ( such as Imron ) to create a paint product that has repairability and longevity.

It has nothing to do with the train. It has something to do with Quality and research/develpment.

YD.

 

[bonz_d]

Re: Need help with compressor choice

YD then please educate me on the difference between HVLP and LVLP. What are the specs or requirements for each? Outward appearance there looks to be none, it's all internal. From the research I've done some say all these guns are HVLP whiles others are stating that below 9 cfm it is a LVLP gun. So by that spec I would call this gun that I bought a LVLP even though it sold as a HVLP.

I have also watched many hours of video of both guns at work and the claims made are that a LVLP gun can handle larger jobs then what I intend to do. And do it with any type of paint.

 

[zool]

Re: Need help with compressor choice

"What do you consider a BIG Pressure pot ?"

2.8 GAL Binks or equivelent...

"Just for your knowledge base .. AkZo Nobel would be completely in the right to create a paint ( such as Imron ) to create a paint product that has repairability and longevity. "


Awfullgrip is an inside joke between the yachtees and the auto paint guys, on other forums....got ya!.JK, I like Awlgrip, just dont recommend it for newbies..and Imron is still poly based, just not linear, Awlcraft is acrylic based, like othe AU's.....and yes, marine finishes are still light years behind the auto finish chemists with R/D..

Lighten up dude...hehe

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Need help with compressor choice

This may be of interest...
what is LVLP spray gun?

I use LVLP in the woodshop to spray Polyurethane due to it having very little overspray and almost a 90% transfer rate of the product. I've used it for years. In fact the Old Kirby vacuum sweepers used to have a LVLP paint gun attacthment that came with them years ago. The guns you purchased from TCP are True HVLP guns and would not be considered LVLP due to the fact that they require 10 PSI at the tip to perform properly. A LVLP only reqires about 5 PSI.

I guess they still do..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GpC9rNsHzn4

 

[bonz_d]

Re: Need help with compressor choice

This may be of interest...
what is LVLP spray gun?

The guns you purchased from TCP are True HVLP guns and would not be considered LVLP due to the fact that they require 10 PSI at the tip to perform properly. A LVLP only reqires about 5 PSI.

Thank you! I've learned something else new. Though I thought it was the volume of air used and not the pressure that made the difference.

 

[Yacht Dr.]

Re: Need help with compressor choice

YD then please educate me on the difference between HVLP and LVLP. What are the specs or requirements for each? Outward appearance there looks to be none, it's all internal. From the research I've done some say all these guns are HVLP whiles others are stating that below 9 cfm it is a LVLP gun. So by that spec I would call this gun that I bought a LVLP even though it sold as a HVLP.

I have also watched many hours of video of both guns at work and the claims made are that a LVLP gun can handle larger jobs then what I intend to do. And do it with any type of paint.

Well if you purchased one of these guns then please post What gun LVLP you aquired .. and how did it spray .. how an one of these simple low pressure Low volume help you ?

"What do you consider a BIG Pressure pot ?"

2.8 GAL Binks or equivelent...

"Just for your knowledge base .. AkZo Nobel would be completely in the right to create a paint ( such as Imron ) to create a paint product that has repairability and longevity. "


Awfullgrip is an inside joke between the yachtees and the auto paint guys, on other forums....got ya!.JK, I like Awlgrip, just dont recommend it for newbies..and Imron is still poly based, just not linear, Awlcraft is acrylic based, like othe AU's.....and yes, marine finishes are still light years behind the auto finish chemists with R/D..

Lighten up dude...hehe

Um .. Awlcraft200 and Imron is basically the same thing .. chemical wise ..

Yes We could spray Imron or AwlC over a boat/car/bike whatever .. its not the issue. The issue is what Spray gun you would use and comp. you need to complete the project.

YD.

 

[bonz_d]

Re: Need help with compressor choice

Well we haven't seen or heard from the OP in 4 days an looks as though YD and I are just going in circles.

I have already posted a link to the gun that I have and posted 2 other links which include the gun and the compressor I am using. I am trying to learn as much as the next guy and even asked another straight forward question. No answer, just another question which was already asked and answered..