HVLP Spray Systems

[ondablade]

Hi guys. I'm investigating the possibility of adding a small downdraft spray booth to my shop for finishing using catalysed lacquers, primers, air dry paints, enamels, varnishes, oils etc - ideally most furniture finishes plus the automotive types. (i've done some custom motorcycle painting too, and hope to mix colour finishes into designs as well as do the odd small automotive job)

I don't know what the range of finishes these systems can handle is, and my spraying experience is with old style high pressure automotive guns.

There seem to be two types - turbine driven (like the Fuji systems stocked by Axminster) which get quite expensive, and others that use a pressure reducing valve from a compressor.

The latter are cheap, but seem to need 10cfm @ 50-60 psi so i'd have to buy a larger compressor so the turbine may be a runner.

Before i expose myself to the various sales pitches i wonder if any of you guys have experience you can share on any of these systems on furniture and other work?

Some issues include:

Range of finish types handled
Ability to deliver fine atomisation and thin gloss coats without orange peel on low viscosity coatings as well as to lay on higher viscosity stuff.
Range of spray patterns and nozzle sizes - just above air brush fineness up to coverage suitable for painting panels.
Which type of HVLP system?
Stuff to watch out for?
Alternatives?

Thank you again,

ian

 

[Vinny]

Ian

I've just gone through everything you are presently going through. I have found (through many questions on here - thanks chaps) that to go the compressor route would mean a big compressor - ideally running off 3 phase. If the compressor were direct drive its going to be noisy, belt driven is preferred - big cpmpressors are also big bucks
I've settled on (and swmbo is buying for me - cos it sprays emulsion as well - gotta love those double edged sword type arrangements) the apollo pro spray 1500 turbine unit, there is alos a slightly cheaper model but the 1500 comes with a better gun and has 3 fans. HTH

Vinny

 

[Graeme]

I found the Earlex HP5000 a very good starting point. Good gun, range of needle sizes and plenty of power for most of the finishes I have sprayed so far. Does not break the bank.

I am sure that the more expensive systems will provide more fine control however.

 

[RobertMP]

Not sure you will find anyone here with a wide experience of different models. I've used conventional spray and Fuji Q3 HVLP and they are very different

High pressure spray is more controllable for fine detail but has the downside of finer overspray drifting in the air. HVLP will spray thicker with its relatively hot air and with little fine drifting over spray by comparison. The hot air seems to warm the paint and cause the initial orange peel look to flatten on its own. Anyway whatever the reason you can get a thicker film in one coat.

With turbines I'd guess the more you pay the more air you get - pressure and volume. My Q3 seemed to push out plenty of air whilst I was getting used to it. Once I felt in control I wanted to coat faster and would have liked the output of the Q4.

Guess it depends how much you want to spend. If I had a major spraying project to do now i think I'd sell my Q3 setup and get the Q4 with the new style gun but for average jobs the Q3 will do me.

edit. The other thing is noise of course - HVLP you have the sound of a hoover running, conventional or conversion gun and you have a huge compressor thundering away all the time!

 

[Windy*miller]

This is on ebay at the moment if you decide to go that route:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Fuji-Q3-HVLP-Pro- ... 1c11473843

 

[ondablade]

Thank you guys, much appreciated. Sounds like the compressor route is not ideal - especially not for me as i have a smaller compressor that will do what i need on other stuff but not run a HVLP gun. It would end up redundant.

Some more digging this morning suggests that HVLP seems to be the business for furniture work, and that the Fuji is one of several good brands. Graco pops up as a well regarded brand too.

On the other hand while they say they are suitable they don't seem to get much car refinishing use - most of those guys seem to use the compressor powered variety. That could be simply down to conservatism.

Looking at the Fuji range there seem to be a few questions to answer:

1. Is it worth coughing up for the better silenced Pro or even quieter Q models?

2. Is it worth coughing up for the 4 stage turbine model? It seems this is needed for emulsion spraying (although airless spray seems to be the job for this if you were buying only for this purpose), and possibly also to get the finer atomisation needed for fine automotive type work. There's the not so little question of how the things perform in practice anyway.

3. Is Fuji actually a good choice, or is a lower cost system a better starting point?

It seems a pity to buy a gun and not have the above two abilities in addition to furniture work, but on the other hand it's a question of cost too.

Thanks for the link Windy. I could be missing out there, but right now i think i'd better hold fire and dig a bit more before committing...

ian

 

[RobertMP]

Again I doubt you'll find someone to answer all those questions

Never sprayed cellulose car paint with HVLP so can't advise. it certainly sprays cellulose thinners fine when I'm cleaning the gun though

If you bought used kit you can try it out then sell it on if you find things it can't do.... and it will not have cost you much to find out.

My Q3 was used. I had some problems due to dust in the air intake filter that took a while to work out what was going on but it works fine now and I could probably sell it for what I paid.