cheap paint guns / HF vs CH

[Soundguy]

For years, I've used a cheap harbor freight paint gun ( syphon type ) to paint my tractors. Back in 2000 it was a 14.99$ gun on sale for 9.99$.. I knew it was cheap.. but have painted a dozen tractors and implements with it and it has done a superior job. While i clean it meticulesly.. it has finally run it's last race.

I need to get another gun. i see campbel hausfield has a gun at walmart for ?29$.. and harbor freight has another gun for 19$ ( approximate prices ).. All look like my original gun.. more or less.. a binks knock-off.

Anyone have a recent syphon paint gun from walmart-CH or a recent HF paint gun.. or both.. and can tell me how you like it?

I primered a tractor yesterday, and the air adjustment on back is more or less stripped.. so the gun is now ready to go. Pluss it is becomming an air hog the older it gets.. i might be able to salvage the cup.. etc.. for a similar gun.. etc..

I also have a touch up gun.. and my goal was to have a 'primer only' gun, as well as a color gun.

I'm not into gravity feed guns.. and won't entertain thoughts on the spendy 'real' guns like binks.. etc.. I like to hobby paint my tractors.. i use cheap paint.. I wax em and keep them out of the sun.. the paint looks decent.. tha's all I care about. i'm not skilled enough to own a 200$ paint gun.. etc.

Besides.. I only have a 5hp / 27g air compressor..

thoughts?

Soundguy

 

[john_bud]

I switched to the only slightly more expensive HVLP guns. A little getting used to over the Binks #7 knockoffs, but they use a lot LESS paint.

I got both the pressurized 1 gal pot and the top loader qt. Not pro quality, but good enough for my stuff.

jb

 

[Farmwithjunk]

Do yourself a giant favor and TRY an HVLP gravity feed gun. The learning curve is all of 5 minutes, the results are immediate, the advantages are very evident, ESPECIALLY with a novice painter. I bought a Huskee gun at Home Depot ($79 regular, on sale for $59) and it's turned out paint work every bit as good as my MUCH MORE expensive Sharpe gun. After spending a couple hundred on an "expensive gun", I personally don't believe an expensive model is much advantage unless you have the skills to USE the added quality. With MOST of us, the limiting factor is ability and experience and NOT the grade of gun we use. For most of us, mid price range guns ($40 to $75) are more than adaquate yet allow us to improve our ability and still have a gun of sufficient quality to keep up with our skills.

Gravity guns "handle" and feel very much the same as older siphon guns. The paint cup being ABOVE the grip has no negative effects on how the gun feels in your hand or where the gun will fit. In fact, most of the HVLP guns I've seen or used has slightly SMALLER paint cups than a typical siphon gun simply because you NEED less volume of paint when more of it ends up on your target and NOT flying away in the air.

HVLP guns make it possible to spray paints at a higher viscosity. That helps with spraying heavy primers. Your overspray is cut down tremendously, along with easier clean-up. That saves paint. I found myself using HALF the volume of paint after switching. Less paint means less mess. Also to consider, less paint flying means less hardener, less chance of a bad reaction to that.

Also, with a smaller compressor, you'll have MUCH better luck with an HVLP gun. I spray @ 25 to 30 psi with mine. I use a 7-1/2HP, 30 gallon Campbell Hausfeldt compressor. The main reason I switched to the HVLP guns was because it was EITHER get a bigger compressor OR find a way to use less psi/less volume of air. 5 minutes spray time with the HVLP gravity gun and I gave away my Binks #7 . I wouldn't switch back for all the tea in China.

 

[Kays Supply]

Ditto everything said on the HVLP gun. I got the Habor Freight model. One big factor also, much less overspray. That alone made it my favorite.

 

[IXLR8]

Hmmm, I have a cheapie Craftsman gun, good for the quick stuff, not much more. I have a good Sharpe gun I was using to paint my plane, I was getting good results. A friend let me borrow his Binks #7, night and day, Binks so much better, I hated to give it back. I might just have to try out a HVLP gun based on all the comments here.

 

[bjr]

I'm in the HVLP goup, also. I like the idea of not having paint in hoses to waist at the end of the job, just a lot easier & faster clean-up. I'm go and blow type so a lot of clean-up is a real negative for me. bjr

 

[Soundguy]

Picked up a cheap hvlp gun.. will let you guys know how I like it.. perhaps this weekend. i need to sand down my fenders first..

soundguy

 

[Farmwithjunk]

Picked up a cheap hvlp gun.. will let you guys know how I like it.. perhaps this weekend. i need to sand down my fenders first..

soundguy

I seem to recall you saying that you have a large piece of sheet metal you use as a "Target" to adjust your gun before painting. When you first start with the HVLP, you'll be suprised at the delivery rate. They put on a LOT of paint if they're set to do so. Start slow and work your way up to a good spray pattern. What seems "normal" after a conventional pressure cup or siphon cup gun will be a very heavy spray pattern. Low air and low overspray, almost every spec of paint will be hitting your intended target. Like anything, it's trial and error at first, but it ain't rocket science.

At first, when I switched to HVLP guns, I had a tendency to thin my paint too much. From my experience, it can be a touch thicker with an HVLP than with siphon guns.

 

[Soundguy]

Thanks for the info.

yes i do have a scrap car hood that is a paint target.

Ok.. So I'll be prepaired to thin less.

Now what about distance to target from gun.. similar as a syphon gun ( I have most exp with a syphon... have used rpessure pot, and gravity.. really dislike gravity feed.. )


These guns.. at first glance, seem to have less adjuster controls than my old syphon.. .. 1 less if I'mm seeing it right...

is this an air control.. or a paint control?

I have a good regualtor on my tank.. guess I'll be dialing it down for my test paint!

thanks

soundguy

I seem to recall you saying that you have a large piece of sheet metal you use as a "Target" to adjust your gun before painting. When you first start with the HVLP, you'll be suprised at the delivery rate. They put on a LOT of paint if they're set to do so. Start slow and work your way up to a good spray pattern. What seems "normal" after a conventional pressure cup or siphon cup gun will be a very heavy spray pattern. Low air and low overspray, almost every spec of paint will be hitting your intended target. Like anything, it's trial and error at first, but it ain't rocket science.

At first, when I switched to HVLP guns, I had a tendency to thin my paint too much. From my experience, it can be a touch thicker with an HVLP than with siphon guns.

 

[plowrup]

First off, look at this:

Adjusting Your Gun

That will help you to get your Gun adjusted-I build Street Rods on the side, and I agree with everyone here-get a reasonably good HVLP or LVLP-for a cheap Gun I like the Astro Evo 4014 LVLP (Low Volume Low Pressure)(1.4 tip)-it is designed for smaller Compressors, and will do a Pro quality Paint job in the right hands-look here:

LVLP Spray Gun

I have used the HF Guns, I believe the best of them is the #43430, but I still cannot adjust out Orange Peel-get a better Gun with better atomization-as for getting ready to paint, I just put up a couple of rows of masking paper on the wall and adjust the Gun from there-

 

[49tandc]

My vote for HF HVLP.

Here is a couple of interesting links - onse specifically on settings for the HF HVLP. The other on inexpensive paint:

HVLP Spray Gun Setup
http://www.smartshoppersinc.com/ - paint supplies cheap!

be careful with todays paints - get a good mask,use a TYVEK suit.


49T&C

 

[Farmwithjunk]

Both the HVLP guns I own have 2 adjustments. Air volume and paint volume. Once I arrived at a good pressure to set my tank regulator at (25 to 30psi) , the air adjustment on the gun stays fairly constant. I do turn it up a 1/2 turn when blowing the gun clean after I'm finished, and a small adjustment when I first get ready to paint, but for the most part I find I'm tuning air volume less with an HVLP gun than with a siphon gun. Paint volume adjustments seems to play into how I thin the paint and what I'm painting. Distance from the "target" seems to be about the same for the most part, but in those instances where you have to get in close, turn down the paint flow a tick and get in closer. The lower air volume and pressure will let you get away with that. Comes in handy when painting in confined areas.

Painting tractors is probably the best way to learn. Castings and chassis painting doesn't require near the skill as sheet metal. That's a good place to learn the quirks of any gun.

I've never been what I'd consider a good painter, but since I bought the first of my HVLP guns, I've turned out several paint jobs that I'm quite impressed with.

 

[wedge40]

buying paint guns sounds like buying golf clubs.. Unless your a pro, why bother with the $1000.00 set, when KMart or Walmart clubs will work just fine.

Wedge

 

[Soundguy]

Well.. I was out grinding ont he ford 951 fenders when my wife informed me she would no longer drive the old 1990 ford minivan as a work vasn to haul gear in because the roof had soooo much surface rust on it and looked ugly. I pulle dit around and went to the 3m pad on the buffer on it and had it down to bare metal on the roof in a couple hours.

I decided it was now the best time to try out the new gun. I did find the air adjustment.. it is set with a hex key.. obviously don't get adjusted much.. paint adj is a knob.. Ok.. taking your advice I thinned the primer less than usual.. and crosse dthe fingers and .. DANG!^^%$#%@ that sucker puts out some paint. I had put up[ standard 3' overspray pater around the roof.. had 2" overspray at MOST.

later I applied the paint. it is a 'aluminum' paint.. I hate working with them.. but again.. DANG.. that sucker puts out alotta paint and fast and covers great... I'm gonna need practice. but had no runs yet.. and.. well.. roof turned out supurb!

soundguy

Both the HVLP guns I own have 2 adjustments. Air volume and paint volume. Once I arrived at a good pressure to set my tank regulator at (25 to 30psi) , the air adjustment on the gun stays fairly constant. I do turn it up a 1/2 turn when blowing the gun clean after I'm finished, and a small adjustment when I first get ready to paint, but for the most part I find I'm tuning air volume less with an HVLP gun than with a siphon gun. Paint volume adjustments seems to play into how I thin the paint and what I'm painting. Distance from the "target" seems to be about the same for the most part, but in those instances where you have to get in close, turn down the paint flow a tick and get in closer. The lower air volume and pressure will let you get away with that. Comes in handy when painting in confined areas.

Painting tractors is probably the best way to learn. Castings and chassis painting doesn't require near the skill as sheet metal. That's a good place to learn the quirks of any gun.

I've never been what I'd consider a good painter, but since I bought the first of my HVLP guns, I've turned out several paint jobs that I'm quite impressed with.

 

[amkfken]

Well I finally conviced myself to get on the "other side" of the opinions expressed in this thread.

I have been painting and restoring cars since the 60's using conventional spray guns, finally decided to try HVLP----bad mistake!!

Repainted a car 3 times with a Sharpe HVLP gravity gun, 3 gallons of expensive paint, more overspray than I have ever encountered, finally went back to my old Sharpe gun, threw out the HVLP gun!!

Tried out a dedicated HVLP system--compressor and gun, still not impressed with the HVLP method!!

Just my opinion--If you like them OK--not for me!!

 

[ray66v]

Well I finally conviced myself to get on the "other side" of the opinions expressed in this thread.

I have been painting and restoring cars since the 60's using conventional spray guns, finally decided to try HVLP----bad mistake!!

Repainted a car 3 times with a Sharpe HVLP gravity gun, 3 gallons of expensive paint, more overspray than I have ever encountered, finally went back to my old Sharpe gun, threw out the HVLP gun!!

Tried out a dedicated HVLP system--compressor and gun, still not impressed with the HVLP method!!

Just my opinion--If you like them OK--not for me!!

I turned 120-150 hrs./week working a 40 hr. week with my HVLP.

If your going to spray todays High Solids Primers, and Clear Coats, Gravity HVLP is the only option.

Yes there is a learning curve, and all the talk about less overspray is not true with High Solids automotive finishes.

The gravity HVLP gun allows you to spray with less reducer than a conventional. This saves money and results in faster dry times, less shrinkage, and dieback.

Plus, Sharpe is not know for making a good HVLP.

May I suggest you ask your paint manufacturer for a Tech. Rep. to help.

If you were closer to Cleveland, I would be happy to convince you.

 

[RobJ]

Picked up a cheap hvlp gun.. will let you guys know how I like it.. perhaps this weekend. i need to sand down my fenders first..

soundguy

what exact model did you get?

 

[California]

Picked up a cheap hvlp gun.. ...

I did find the air adjustment.. it is set with a hex key.. ... paint adj is a knob.. ...thinned the primer less than usual.. ... .. DANG!^^%$#%@ that sucker puts out some paint. I had put up[ standard 3' overspray pater around the roof.. had 2" overspray at MOST.

later I applied the paint. DANG.. that sucker puts out alotta paint and fast and covers great.

... turned out supurb!

MODEL # !!!!

 

[Soundguy]

Drats! I can't find a part number on this darn gun anywhere! box is history. I'll try to searchtheir website for #.. will post when I find it!

soundguy

 

[California]

Thanks!