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What does everybody use? I've been researching but am lost in the world of air compressers, turbines, laser thingies:-), etc. And, of course, there's always the good old 4 inch paint brush.
-------------------- Sharon Bigler A Good Sign Chambersburg, PA Posts: 202 | From: Chambersburg, PA USA | Registered: Jul 2001
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Used to run a Sears gas powered 5 hp air compressor. Worked well but kindsa noisy. Now have an upright 5 hp AIRMAXX compressor(House of Tools) to run my spray equipment. It puts out enough CFM (Cubic Feet per Minute) of air for both sanding and spraying. Make sure you use a moisture seperator, mine is on the regulator, as well as an inline moisture seperator at the spraygun. For guns I have a Binks and a DeVilbiss. You have any specific questions?
-------------------- "Are we having fun yet?" Peter Schuttinga DZines Sign Studio 1617 Millstream rd Victoria BC V9B-6G4 Posts: 521 | From: Victoria BC | Registered: Mar 2002
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Depending on how much painting you'll be doing, and where you'll be doing it is a factor. Another factor is the type of paints you'll be spraying. There are in essence two types of spray equipment, one is conventional air spray, and the other is HVLP (High Velocity Low Pressure). Conventional spry equipment as I have you need a compressor capable of at least 100 PSI, and a minimum of 8 CFM, these ussually use 220 volts power supply, like the stove in your house. Spray guns have different needle and air cap combinations available to allow you to spray either heavy bodied primers, or very thin automotive enamels/laquers. There are some general purpose guns that will allow you to spray primers an enamels using the same fluid needle/air cap combination. I use a DeVilbiss MBC gun with a number 30 aircap for general type work. It is fitted with a one quart syphon feed cup to hold the paint. HVLP uses a air Turbine to generate a large volume of air flowing at a lower pressure, much like a vacuum running a reverse. Again there are different guns available. My experience with these is that they do not spray heavier bodied materials. An air turbine is generally 110 volts. There air some members on this board that have HVLP equipment that can help you out in this area.
-------------------- "Are we having fun yet?" Peter Schuttinga DZines Sign Studio 1617 Millstream rd Victoria BC V9B-6G4 Posts: 521 | From: Victoria BC | Registered: Mar 2002
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I use a 110 volt electric 12 gallon Craftsman compressor with a 5 HP motor. It's portable, great for keeping up with an airbrush and does pretty well with a spray gun. A little loud, but a good starter compressor with a Craftsman warranty.
For spray guns, I use a DeVilbiss HVLP gravity feed (the paint cup is on top) for painting and clear coating, and a cheaper Craftsman gun for priming. Keeping the two apart is very time saving in the long run and if use them a lot. Less time changing needles and caps and lessens the chance of debris sneaking up on you.
As Peter mentioned, there are a lot of compressors and guns out there. Try to find a combination of what works for what you'll be doing with them. A stop at a body shop might be helpful. They are painters, too, and often interested in helping out.
Rapid
-------------------- Ray Rheaume Rapidfire Design 543 Brushwood Road North Haverhill, NH 03774 rapidfiredesign@hotmail.com 603-787-6803
I like my paint shaken, not stirred. Posts: 5648 | From: North Haverhill, New Hampshire | Registered: Apr 2003
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A 5hp compressor will be enough. If you do get a compressor, you will be better off to get one with a 2 STAGE compressor pump. A 2 stage compressor will give you much drier air than a single stage will. A two stage typically has two cylinders the main difference is that one cylinder is smaller than the other and it has an aftercooler(a pipe with fins) As mentioned above, also use a water trap. I also use a small disposable water/contaminant filter at the spray gun which costs 5 or 6 bucks.
I use an HVLP(high volume-low pressure)gun with gravity feed(cup on top). It uses less air pressure but puts out a proportianlly higher ratio of paint, hence the name. You can get one from Harbour Freight Tools for about $50(on sale) and it performs like a champ.
-------------------- Wayne Webb Webb Signworks Chipley, FL 850.638.9329 wayne@webbsignworks.com Posts: 7404 | From: Chipley,Florida,United States | Registered: Oct 1999
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CAPspray 9100 HVLP. Comes with 3 different tips and needles to handle from the finest to the heaviest bodied paints. The fine setup will give you the finest automotive finishes. The heaviest one is suitable for heavy bodied latex house paints. The turbo is relatively quiet and stores easily. We've dumped both of our old compressor/paint pot setups. The's no reason to use those dinosaurs any longer.
k31
-------------------- Pierre St.Marie Stmariegraphics Kalispell,Mt www.stmariegraphics.com ------------------ Plan on knowing everything before I die and time's running out! Posts: 4223 | From: Kalispell,Mt 59903 | Registered: Mar 2000
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