HVLP cup painter rig - Contractor Talk - Professional Construction and Remodeling Forum

Mike Finley · 03-28-2009, 06:36 PM

Okay hit me with an affordable ($300-$400) set up for an HVLP rig. I just want it to paint the occasion door slab or maybe a little built in here or there or maybe a few cabinet doors every once in awhile.

We have a Graco spray rig but obviously that is overkill.

I looked at a Porter Cable sprayer like this and it looked like it needed a 30-40 gallon compressor. We work with 3-4 gallon comperssors so that unit wouldn't work, is there another way? I thought I had seen HVLP guns that had their own special compressor with them?

I want easy to use, easy to clean, can take a little abuse.

Is 3 to 4 hundred not enough money for this?

Oh yeah, I'm talking about spraying latex 9 out of 10 times.

Wolfgang · 03-28-2009, 06:46 PM

Mike, check ebay, they may have something with the built in turbine. If you stay with a good name you should do ok and stay in the price range you want to be. I dont use them myself as I use a regular cup gun setup or an airless with the proper tip set up. The downside to any of the HVLP/regular gun setups is the overspray and amount of fogging in the air, so my cup guns are used mainly in the shop. With the proper tips, pressure, sanding, and finishes you can achieve almost a furniture quality finish using a small airless setup.

Wolf

thom · 03-28-2009, 07:57 PM

Mike that looks identical to my system except mine is annodized green instead of red.

You get a front piece with a larger hole and a needle that's a larger diameter for spraying latex.

For a compressor, if it's just a little stuff use a standard pancake compressor. If you're doing more than a little, use two pancake compressors with a jumper hose. The two should keep up fine.

You need to water down the paint. Just play with it until it feels and looks good. It will give a real smooth finish.

Jesse Kirchhoff · 03-28-2009, 10:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Finley

Okay hit me with an affordable ($300-$400) set up for an HVLP rig. I just want it to paint the occasion door slab or maybe a little built in here or there or maybe a few cabinet doors every once in awhile.

We have a Graco spray rig but obviously that is overkill.

I looked at a Porter Cable sprayer like this and it looked like it needed a 30-40 gallon compressor. We work with 3-4 gallon comperssors so that unit wouldn't work, is there another way? I thought I had seen HVLP guns that had their own special compressor with them?

I want easy to use, easy to clean, can take a little abuse.

Is 3 to 4 hundred not enough money for this?

Oh yeah, I'm talking about spraying latex 9 out of 10 times.

I picked up a used Graco 700 Series HVLP for $250 for the same reasons you stated. It is small, self contained, light weight and very little overspray. We have been very pleased with it.

Someone from Kansas City contacted me about another one for sale when they saw my CT post here I can forward his contact info to you if interested.

Good luck,
Jesse

Soloplayer · 03-28-2009, 10:26 PM

I have never seen an HVLP that i like for spraying latex paint. If you use latex paint you have to water it down so much that it reduces the sheen. You are better off using a small airless tip 411 or a 410 fine finish tip with your airless and 25 feet of hose.

If you are spraying a clear lacquer on cabinet doors then use an HVLP gun and a 3 gallon air compressor. Don't forget to use and inline water trap and pressure regulator at the gun for convenience.

Good luck

sparehair · 03-29-2009, 01:32 AM

Might want to watch out for the 25' foot hose. Most airless rigs I've seen specify you shouldn't go less than fifty because of excess pressure.

George Z · 03-29-2009, 06:05 AM

http://www.fujispray.com/hvlp_systems.htm

The Q4 Pro

Quiet turbine unit,
We painted 96 elevator doors in an occupied 100 year old,
office building in downtown Toronto.

Used metallic latex paint.
The sprayer wasn't too expensive and it worked great!

Jesse Kirchhoff · 03-29-2009, 07:55 AM

From the Q-4 Website

Can I spray household trim with Latex Paint?

Yes, HVLP is ideal for this application but you must follow a few general rules in order to achieve a good finish.

If you intend on spraying Latex Emulsion Paint (House Paint) most of the time, please consider purchasing the more powerful 4-stage turbine systems. To spray Latex paints successfully, some rules must be adhered to. The latex should be 'finish-quality' (the best grade). For best results, a Latex Additive such as Floetrol should be used (Call 1-800-321-3444 for your nearest dealer). Important* Floetrol is not for thinning - it is a product that prevents the paint from drying too quickly - in other words, it is a 'retarder' - it slows the drying process allowing the paint to level more smoothly. You still must thin with water.

Thin the Latex with water - usually 20% is enough. The #4 Aircap Set is preferred for decent coverage on items like household trim, louver doors, fireplaces, cabinets etc. When spraying Latex, please turn the fluid adjusting screw to limit the paint to a finer spray. This will increase the ratio of air to paint and result in better atomization and a beautiful finish. (Factually speaking, it doesn't increase the ratio of air to paint but does the opposite - it allows the air atomizing power to work on less paint thereby improving the quality of atomization). Spray the paint on 'wet like a lake'. In other words, it must be completely wet in order to flow out nicely and look smooth. If you are only seeing droplets on the surface, open up the fluid knob for more product.

HVLP is designed for fine-finishing, this includes... furniture, pianos, cabinets, automobiles, machinery - anywhere a 'Class A' coating is to be applied. If you already own airless equipment, you'll find that an HVLP system will complement it perfectly.

Although there is some overlap, every family of spray systems on the market has its special place. For more information about spraying techniques, check out the books listed in the Recommended Reading Section.

We have found that if you do all of the following, you can achieve a professional finish with Latex House Paint.

What is the Secret to spraying Latex Paints?

1) Use the Aircap Set #4
2) Thin the paint somewhere between 20% - 25% with water
3) Add Floetrol Latex Conditioner to slow the drying
4) Add the 6ft Whip Hose to reduce air temperature through the gun
5) Hold the gun no more than 8" (20cm) away
6) Apply a full, wet coat (wet like a lake)

Mike Finley · 03-29-2009, 10:46 AM

I noticed both George and Jessie the guns you have are siphon types instead of cup types. Is there a reason for that? Is that a choice, is there a difference?

Jesse Kirchhoff · 03-29-2009, 10:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Finley

I noticed both George and Jessie the guns you have are siphon types instead of cup types. Is there a reason for that? Is that a choice, is there a difference?

Mine came with the siphon type.....other than that I have no idea. I am very interested in learning though.

Mike Finley · 03-29-2009, 10:56 AM

Okay, I think I just found the answers -

Quote:

Comparisons between the Fuji XT-2 bottom feed spray gun and the 'new' Fuji pressurized GT-X2 gravity spray gun.
Both spray guns will handle heavy paints like latex when properly thinned, however the GT-X2 will spray them slightly better since although they are both pressurized the GT-X2 has the added advantage of the gravity assist.
The XT-2 holds approximately 1 quart of finish whereas the GT-X2 holds 400 ml or about a pint.
The XT-2 will leave behind several ounces of finish at the bottom of the cup, whereas the GT-X2 uses every last bit of finish.
The GT-X2 is quite simple to refill, just a quick twist of the cup lid then pour the finish in. The XT-2 is a little more involved with the clamping lid.
The GT-X2 is quite simple to clean, just empty out the unused finish and pour finish into the cup, pull the trigger and the thinner will just clean out the cup and spray gun. With the XT-2 the process is to empty the cup, clean it out with thinner then put clean thinner back in the cup and spray it through the spray gun to clean it out.
Having a smaller capacity cup the GT-X2 is much lighter in weight than the XT-2.
The GT-X2 has a smaller footprint than the XT-2 allowing it to get into tighter spots.
The cup on the GT-X2 can rotated in any direction allowing the operator to spray in any direction including upwards. The XT-2 can not spray upward except for a few moments.

**Leo G** · 03-29-2009, 11:01 AM

If you want an all around general paintgun at an affordable price you can get the Husky pressure cup gun from HD. It is about $55 and it will spray anything you put into it. I spray latex with it all the time, throw in a bit (10%) of water or flotrol and adjust the needle and away you go. Same with alkyd oil, thin about 7-12% and spray away. It is a siphon type gun, but the cup is under pressure, max 50 PSI. I call them throw away guns. I get about a year or so out of them. I am not diligent on my cleaning. As for CFM consumption I think it is around 7 CFM @ 50 PSI. I don't worry because I have a 60 gallon compressor.

HVLP is a high air consumption gun. High Volume, Low Pressure. Sounds like you need to look for a LVLP gun. Spraygunworld.com has a wide selection of guns at affordable prices. Most of the people who use the place have good luck with on time deliveries. I did not. But the gun lives up to its claims.

I took the plunge the other day and bought a Kremlin 10.14 unit the other day. Should be here next week sometime. New toys, I'm excited.

**ChrWright** · 03-29-2009, 11:05 AM

Mike,

Years ago I bought a Campbell-Hausfeld self-contained unit for $100 at one of the local home centers. It was actually an excellent work horse for small projects and had a good enough gun (two or three sets of needles & cups) to do most of what I needed.

I upgraded a few years later to a professional set for a large project (Tubinaire) for around $1,500.

One of my guys just picked up a unit similar to the CH at Harbor Freight.

http://www.gleempaint.com/ch-hv1001-hvlp-system.html

The Tubinaire:
http://www.contractortalk.com/f8/hplv-cup-gun-34241/

NEPS.US · 03-29-2009, 04:49 PM

Or you could just hire a pro!

Jesse Kirchhoff · 03-29-2009, 08:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NEPS.US

Or you could just hire a pro!

A PRO?!

Shoot! - I got an account at Sherwin Williams, a spray rig, a cut in brush and a paint roller, a few tarps......... watch out you painters! Here comes another one of those

Handymen! Yee Ha!

NEPS.US · 03-29-2009, 09:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jesse Kirchhoff

A PRO?!

Shoot! - I got an account at Sherwin Williams, a spray rig, a cut in brush and a paint roller, a few tarps......... watch out you painters! Here comes another one of those

Handymen! Yee Ha!

nice

Jesse Kirchhoff · 03-29-2009, 09:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NEPS.US

nice

I thought you may appreciate that

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