First off I'm a novice painter. Shot BC/CC on a Gem top Saturday and got really rough textured CC. Sanded CC and last night I got the material to flow, only problem was lots of wasted paint and a huge paint cloud that filled the whole garage. My gun is a DeVillbis Finishline 635. My setup is 23psi with a 5hp, 20 gallon tank. I set the gun per Martin Sr's Basic of Basics. Tried to keep the gun about 8 inches away. I'm much happier with the results but wonder what I can do to cut down on waste and contamination. Any wisdom would be appreciated.

I'm sorry Steve, but you didn't set it up as per the "Basics". Well, you may have set it up "as best you can" as per the basics, I'm sorry. The problem is, you just don't have enough CFM with that little compressor to back up that gun.

At 23 lbs you probably have about 4 CFM if that. Your gun requires 11.4. So, you would have to bump it WAY up on the inlet pressure to ever achieve the required 10 lbs at the cap. Not only that, but with a "tool" that uses that much CFM your tank was empty VERY FAST and the compressor wasn't keeping up. Your last passes must have been very bad with very large droplets falling out of the gun.

You need more compressor or a different gun. Non HVLP would by my recommendation if you had to stay with that compressor.

:eek: the instructions say that the gun will work with a 3hp compressor!

There is a major problem with the ratings of air compressors. One 5HP is not the same as another 5HP. CFM is the rating you are looking for. I had a 5HP Sears with a 25 gallon tank and it was noisy, and one zip wheel whould cause it to run out of breath. I now have a 5hp Curtis with an 80 gallon tank, and it is like night and day. It is quiet, fills quickly and can easily keep up with a lot more than one cut off tool. It was a lot more money, but well worth it.

Originally posted by Steve Johnson:
:eek: the instructions say that the gun will work with a 3hp compressor! To paint a motorcycle gas tank maybe smile.gif

What is the CFM rating on your compressor?

I'm not sure on the CFM because I can't find my spec card.