What paint gun?

[posplayr]

The answer depends on what kind of material you are going to spray; thick primers and clears need larger tip than base coats and sealers which are thin. This is why the pro's have more than one gun. I’ve gotten by with a 1.0 tip but I’m inclined to recommend a 1.2 since you can always regulate it down. With the 1.0 tip I reduce the mixture until it’s the proper viscosity for my gun. This may not be the best method but it works fine most of the time.

I have tended to reduce whatever I'm spraying to get to a proper viscosity as well. I'll measure my current tip and see if i cant just match that at it likely the 1.0mm as previously mentioned .

[rustybronco]

I would go for this one as you previously recommended and seems to be the near identical specs to my HF gun.

Jim, I've never used that gun. but I have seen the fit, finish and spray qualities of both the HVLPDX3 and EVO's . if you don't like it, I'll buy you out of it.

If you do like it... do you have a spare Tek current probe you'd sell me cheaply?

[posplayr]

Jim, I've never used that gun. but I have seen the fit, finish and spray qualities of both the HVLPDX3 and EVO's . if you don't like it, I'll buy you out of it.

If you do like it... do you have a spare Tek current probe you'd sell me cheaply?

I really like my HF gun that I have bought for $10. I have already moderated my expecation to NOT expect 10 times beter performance from a cheap $100 knock off.

I only have the current clamp/probe that goes with the Tek scope.

[psyguy]

i already have the sealer and the primer on so need the gun for the color and clear.
i now understand (??) that i may need two different tip sizes as the two-pot clear is usually much thicker than color/base or i may be able to get away with just adjusting the viscosity and air pressure.

i already have the paint supplies from PPG so i'll check their data sheets to see what they recommend in terms of the gun tip sizes.

and need to find some good scrap bits to practice on. corrugated iron roofing sheets should do

[Suzuki_Don]

Don, it is almost a shame to sand off that vintage "lettering"

Yes Jim, I know it will devalue the bike. But I was thinking that the PO did not like the side covers and that is why he left the bike lying under a tree.

[Nessism]

i already have the sealer and the primer on so need the gun for the color and clear.
i now understand (??) that i may need two different tip sizes as the two-pot clear is usually much thicker than color/base or i may be able to get away with just adjusting the viscosity and air pressure.

i already have the paint supplies from PPG so i'll check their data sheets to see what they recommend in terms of the gun tip sizes.

and need to find some good scrap bits to practice on. corrugated iron roofing sheets should do

The factory paint data sheets typically assume a full size gun, compared to the typical touch up sized gun for painting a motorcycle, so you need to reduce the tip size accordingly per discussion in this thread. 1.0 or 1.2 is fine for both base coat and clear if you are using a touch up gun.

[ukilme]

This is a good read.

Laws in your country, state or province will dictate which paint you can use. Like mentioned in a previous post, Ontario Canada requires water borne pain as Jan 1-which on a side note gets merimer and clear does not have to be.

If you want a good water borne paint check out autoaircolors.com. But I see that you got PPG already.

For a good web site to read check out http://www.kustomkulturelounge.com/forum/

The site is maintain by Craig Fraser and he is well known in the paint business and airbrush business.

There is also airbrush.com that is a good website to search and learn.

And finally check out hotrodders.com. These guys have a crap load of info on body work.

Now with the guns that I use, I just have a small compressor 5 gallon tank with 5.2 at 40psi and 4 at 90 psi. It is not large but works for small thing like helmets and bike parts. I would not use it for a car or such. When I choose my guns, I kept these rating in mind.

A regulator at the gun is a great idea but I get around this by having a test panel on a wall and checking the spray before spraying.

[rustybronco]

And finally check out hotrodders.com. These guys have a crap load of info on body work.

Is Hotrodders still nothing more than a giant mouth piece for SPI products?

[Nessism]

One thing I’ve learned by lurking on a paint refinishing forum is that the gun inlet pressure is significantly different that the spray pressure at the cup (what ever that means). For example, if the paint instructions say to use 15 psi “at the cup” for an HVLP gun, you need about 40 psi at the gun inlet. This detail made a pretty noticeable difference with my SATA mini-jet, particularly when spraying thicker paints.

[posplayr]

One thing I’ve learned by lurking on a paint refinishing forum is that the gun inlet pressure is significantly different that the spray pressure at the cup (what ever that means). For example, if the paint instructions say to use 15 psi “at the cup” for an HVLP gun, you need about 40 psi at the gun inlet. This detail made a pretty noticeable difference with my SATA mini-jet, particularly when spraying thicker paints.

How to measure pressure at the Cup?

[posplayr]

The answer depends on what kind of material you are going to spray; thick primers and clears need larger tip than base coats and sealers which are thin. This is why the pro's have more than one gun. I’ve gotten by with a 1.0 tip but I’m inclined to recommend a 1.2 since you can always regulate it down. With the 1.0 tip I reduce the mixture until it’s the proper viscosity for my gun. This may not be the best method but it works fine most of the time.

I measured my cheapy HF gun. It appears to be closer to 0.8mm diameter (at the nozzle) than any thing else. It does take alot of passes to get a sufficent coating, so I will bump it up to 1.0mm with the new Astrogun.

[rustybronco]

0.8mm is what most lph50 knock-offs come with that I have seen.

mine also came with the 0.8mm tip size. it also takes quite a few coats for complete hiding.

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d44/rustybronco/PICT1990.jpg

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d44/rustybronco/PICT2000.jpg

How to measure pressure at the Cup?

it's pressure measured at the "cap" with air flowing (air cap=the thing on the front of the gun). it takes a special adapter to measure pressure at the cap. don't worry about it. if you have the pressure properly set to manufacturers spec's it should be 10 psi at the cap. you don't need to worry about maintaining 10 psi at the cap, if it doesn't atomize the paint to your liking, crank up the pressure @ the gun and readjust the gun till you get what you want out of the pattern.

the reason for having 10 psi @ the cap is to maintain the 65% transfer efficiency you get with hvlp. higher pressure just means the paint droplets get slapped around a little bit more.

***edit***
my EVO4014 spec's are 10 psi at the cap @ 25 psi gun inlet pressure. it sprays the best when set somewhere around 28 psi inlet pressure. (depending on temp/material/...)

[ukilme]

Is Hotrodders still nothing more than a giant mouth piece for SPI products?

I really do not know. I just go there to get info when I am trying to figure something out.

[posplayr]

Here is the gun I ordered to day (gun only with 1.0mm $102 with cleaning kit delivered), It is supposed to be better than the Astro and even my HF gun. Will have to wait awhile it is still the dead of winter here in SB

Paint booth closed down for winter....

http://www.spraygunworld.com/product...ing%20Set.html

[rustybronco]

Linkey... http://www.spraygunworld.com/product...inex 1000.html

************************************************** *************

http://www.sharpe1.com/sharpe/sharpe.nsf/Page/Finex+FX1000

Finex FX1000 with a 1.0mm tip... http://www.tooltopia.com/sharpe-289200.aspx (plus shipping)

other sizes are available... http://www.tooltopia.com/search.aspx...&category=4063

for those of you that demand the very best!!!! http://www.spraygunworld.com/product...00Student.html (be still my heart!)
(my EVO4014 is a knock-off of this model)
EVO4014>>> http://www.tooltopia.com/astro-pneumatic-evo4014.aspx


lph50... http://www.anest-iwata.com/products/...m?series=LPH50
(my Zhipp is a knock-off of this)