paint spray guns

[Cptkid570]

Hi everyone,
I don't know much about paint spray guns and I don't have an air compressor. Would something like this work to paint my boat if I wanted to spray instead of roll and tip? Or would it be best to roll and tip or get a compressor and use a better spray gun:

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=47274

 

[KnottyBuoyz]

Re: paint spray guns

Depends a lot on the paint. Learning to use regular or HVLP spray equipment has a steep learning curve and possibility to ruin a lot of expensive materials. I've been down this route.

What I did was a test. Set up a piece of whatever it is you want to paint, or test out on a part of the boat you wouldn't normally see and do a "roll & tip". If the results are satisfactory don't bother buying the spray equipment. If you're not satisfied with the results then go for the spray equipment (HVLP preferably). Again, set up some test pieces and don't paint the boat till you're happy with your results. I've painted the side of my garden shed a few times doing tests.

Good luck.

 

[JustJason]

Re: paint spray guns

if your just doing bottom paint rolling is fine, it's what i would do.
If your doing top deck.... spraying does give a better finnish. But as to what Knotty says is pretty much true. And that electric gun is no good.
Spraying gets expensive when you add up all the costs of the equipment needed. And then ya still gotta figure out how to do it. Its not the same as using spray cans.

 

[Cptkid570]

Re: paint spray guns

What is your opinion on the quality of that $20 electric spray gun versus the ones that work off of air compressors?

 

[JustJason]

Re: paint spray guns

buy one and use it...you'll see

There's many reasons why some spray guns are 5 to 6 hundred alone.... and then you need 1000 bucks of compressor and 100 bucks of line driers to make it work right.

Cheap=cheap=junk=crappyresults

 

[KnottyBuoyz]

Re: paint spray guns

There are some good "self levelling" polyurethane paints designed specifically for the amateur to "roll & tip". Stirling comes to mind and Internlux make some good 1 part (no mixing) paints. They're not cheap but they'll give you a decent finished product.

I once saw a 5 figure (+$10K) paint job fail because of a faulty filter on a compressor. It let microscopic amounts of compressor oil enter the air stream. The entire side of the sailboat (probably 45'er) just peel off like dead skin after a sunburn. It was horrendous. Two yrs later they're still in court fighting over the repairs.

There's a few good vids on youtube on "Roll & Tip" methods.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LTVVjzbA72U

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bK9Zcm543x0&feature=related

 

[JustJason]

Re: paint spray guns

I can vouch for the interlux topside urethane paint. I've sprayed it and brushed it and it works pretty well.
Only note is that it has a long drying time. Your best bet is to do it on a hot day but out of the sun. And it still takes 4 or 5 days to really set up.

 

[Cptkid570]

Re: paint spray guns

I'm real familiar with the roll and tip method and have already done that with the interior of the boat and have pretty good results considering my prep work. Just wondering if I could get a little better results out of spraying rather than rolling. But, I don't want to spend the $$ on equipment and was seeing what this cheap sprayer would be like (obviously not good enough for my job).

I'll keep rolling..

 

[deputy00791]

Re: paint spray guns

Hi,

You must also remember that you are wasting much more paint when you spray. I have tried spraying........let's just say that Roll aand Tip worked much better for me.

Good luck