Starting Spraying: Need Advice!!

ShaneWarne

For a few years I have just done basic residential and commercial jobs without a spray gun. Looking to expand and have bought a Titan 440. Planning mainly to do industrial coatings such as two pot epoxies and urethanes. Was wondering for what jobs it is beneficial to use a spray gun on as opposed to basic brush and roller. Sorry to sound a bit naive but would really appreciate your advice.

Workaholic

i use my sprayer for priming trim, spraying finish trim, spraying ceilings, rarely do i spray my walls with it but i often spray closets out with ceiling colors. I spray exteriors with it. Brick sealers. You get the gist big time saver. You will love it.

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Sean

ShaneWarne

Cheers mate sounds good. From New Zealand, so yeah, we're not really up with the play compared to the Americans. Was wondering if you would two pot epoxy industrial floors with it? Would the gun be cleanable post spray with two pot epoxies?

ibsocal

you might have to cut it a bit but it should be able to handle it.clean and flush system right away after use,dont wait hours or it will kick in the system.if u plan on using the same pump for water based coatings make sure u use a seperate paint line and dont forget to tie me kangaroo down mate.

Ivinni

Doin't be cuttin your material, dude.

Get a bigger pump.

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its not going to get better with straps, or new footings or even aroma therapy.

ibsocal

Why not cut it ?
I have used my 440's in the past with no problems using epoxies this way.
Sure you should use a bigger pump but the 440 will do.which pump do you suggest he uses besides a bigger pump,dude.
it's ok to cut it a bit,it is normal to do it when necessary just dont over do it.follow the recomendation on the label or paint specs for thinning.

John the estmtr

For cutting material, only use the recommended thinners and amounts your coating manufacturer allows. Any more and your signing yourself up for trouble.

If you're going to spray epoxy, that's it. Your pump, hose and gun are now dedicated epoxy runners. Running a different material (i.e. latex or lacquer) will pull out the trace amounts of epoxy that got left over from the last job and ruin your finish (mostly happens when running epoxy in a latex pump, but strange stuff will occur).

Two pot epoxies are what we use on floors, just make sure your paint store gives you an epoxy rated for the traffic. Some epoxies won't take car traffic (heat from the tires) for example, and are for foot areas only. It's also really beneficial to provide a clear top coat for added durability.

Spray guns are beneficial in two ways. On a spray/backroll it will get a lot of material to the surface much faster, while the back roller can push the paint into the cracks and crevices. Nothing is really lost. On a spray only surface, it can allow a Level 5 look (zero application marks, a perfect wall) for interior painting, but can leave you with adhesion issues since nothing is forcing the paint to stick to the surface. Spray only is not a valid method for exterior repaints for that reason.

ShaneWarne

Cheers guys.

John, when you say a spray gun is not used for exterior repaints due to stickability issues, would you consider repainting brick or limestone plaster via spray???

Snow Man

2 part epoxys have a 1-2 hour pot life , so the first spray job will be your last!

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ibsocal

Since when did upto 3k psi of forced pressure not matter for good adhesion of any coating.back rolling helps to fill the nooks and crannies on porous surfaces but spray away mate,no worries at all.and i rarely back roll,and use the same gun with no issues at all.
Yes the pot life has limits but mostly depends on tempeture. the warmer weather = short , cold = a little longer pot life and so on.look dont let anyone scare you away from doing this(spraying)this wont be your last job with the pump just plan accordingly.

John the estmtr

Oh boy, should'a known better than to stir the pot with my first two posts... When I was a paint rep in the past, the majority of my problem calls came from the painters who were only spraying. That may have biased me against spraying, I can admit. However, 3k of forced pressure is not an adhesion method, it's a delivery method. Would you spray doors in a shop with 3k airless or an HVLP or air assisted airless given the options? The only reason for 3000 psi is so the paint will atmoize at the tip and give you optimal dispersion, which is why an air assisted airless does the same job with 500 psi of material and the air assistance.

Now, there are issues where a spray is the only viable method. We're doing a few right now. For brick, I'd have the guys spray and back roll. We do it, and don't leave roll marks either. For plasters, yes, spray is the only viable method because of the fragile nature of the substrate.


I'm just speaking from my experience, which is likely different from some and similar to others. Back to the OP, a spray rig is one of the BEST investments a small painter can make as he looks into the future. It will save you time, reduce your labor and allow you for a bit more variety in materials. However, IMHO, a sprayer is not a miracle application device and there's a reason I can run 30% higher in my residential bids over a spray only contractor and still get the job.

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Experience: Formerly an outside sales rep for a paint manufacturer. Was offered a better job as an estimator for a paint contractor company and never looked back. So when I give my .02 cents, well it still doesn't matter...

ibsocal

John
can u admit that u have litttle or no real world hands on spray experience.a spray system can be a miracle applicator and at times seemingly magical.yes to spraying doors to all three methods adjusting settings accordingly hvlp would be last in line for production work.
Shane
the higher psi delivers it depending on viscosity at a faster velocity and will create bounce back or overspray so adjust psi accordingly (common sense be with u and guide u) to meet substrate requirements such as doors,trims,walls etc.etc.. atomization and adhesion comes with it and again common sense be with u when it comes to adhesion good surface preperation is key.spray away mate enjoy it, it is fun to do just dont spray into wind or in inclement weather/windy and spray oppisite the sun when doing exteriors.common sense be with u

Monroe

For the work you have mentioned you need a bigger machine. You will need to use larger tip sizes for these heavier mediums (up to .027).

To save yourself some real headaches look at machines like the:
Titan 740ix
Graco Ultramax II 595
Airlessco 540

All will handle the mediums you mention and support the tip size necessary.

They cost significantly more than the 440 but there is a reason for that. Snap On tools cost more than the stuff you get at Harbor Freight - you can make a living with one, the other - not so much.

Monroe
Airless Painting Regional Trainer and Product Manager

ibsocal

The 440 supports upto .021 you should not need a tip larger than .021, i use 17's and 19's for epoxies most of the times.if your epoxies are 100% solids and your coating wharehouses and large amounts of sq ft dailey then yes spend the xtra money and get a bigger pump if not save your money.funny u mention harbor freight.they sell a cheap plastic hvlp turbine system for about 80-90 bucks that i use almost everyday,works like a champ and makes me lots of money.not so much with the others that i have owned with hands on use, such as these over priced name brand turbine systems graco,apollo,capspray,wagner,titan and a few others and they all sucked in their own way compared to the harbor freight cheapo.
ibsocal
president and git er done technician

Snow Man

Not if you rebuild the unit after each use.

Just imagine squeezing super glue in a keyhole lock.

Same outcome .

You cannot stop the catalyst from hardening .

AGAIN , you cannot spray 2 part epoxy without toasting your unit.

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ibsocal

you are a funny snowman,that is not how it works and maybe your nonsense will go over much better @ the DIY homer forum.put the hat back on and get a clue frosty.I am done with this subject.

ibsocal
president and git er done technician.

Snow Man

part a / part b = solid in 1-2 .

try again at the home dumpster next week , I see they got a seminar on wet/dry vacs

einstein

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Snow Man

You have just been caught guessing.................... again .

Your not giving up that easy are you ? EINSTIEN

spraying epoxy.....lmfao....wait till the boys here that one.

That my friend is a classic!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Snow Man

lmao.............................................. ..

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Snow Man

...........................a classic ....spraying epoxy ....lmfao..BIG TIME DUDE

What do you flush your airless with? muriatic acid ? or spent nuclear fuel pellets?

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DECOSnowRemoval&IceControl
Serving Delaware County & Philadelphia Pa
610 457-9721