Yes, I am the knucklehead with the other posts below who attempted to sandblast the underside of my car...YIKES! Please bare with me as I am a complete rookie when it comes to paint. Though I am great with a brush. I POR'd (brushed) the front and rear upper/lower control arms,rotors, calipers, suspension, and steering off the car...looks pretty good for a newbie.

For the underside, a bit more cleanup required this weekend, and then on to paint the underside. I plan on using Eastwoood's Rust Encapsulator, and then their Chassic Black which I already have. I have four rattle cans of their encapusulator, and four of the chassis black. I plan on using these to get in to the tight areas and where I am concerned with overspray.

I also have a quart of encapsulator that I want to spray on as a primer..and here finally is the question....what type of gun to use? I've done a ton of searches and think I have concluded that I can't use a HPLV gun because of my compressor - 5hp, 20 galllon, 6.5cfm at 40psi if I recall, 5.8 at 90psi. Do I use one of those siphon units or a gravity feed such as the one at good old Lowes...Ingersol Rand unit with low CFM and a good price. I don't want to spend crazy money (<$100.00) for a gun. spray gun (http://www.lowes.com/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=221117-28309-210G)

Since I have to deal with clearance units...car is up on jackstands...don't I have to consider I'll be in some tough places to be turning the gun at some crazy angles to spray some of the areas? And what about overspray?

Any and all assistance is greatly appreciated.

I used eastwoods rust encapsulator and chassis black with high gloss just like you are going to do. It looks really great when done.

Thanks Birt...what did you use for a spray gun? Anyone on the spray gun?

Don't even bother to spray the underside, lying on your back with a conventional gun, if you thought the sandblasting was messy. Just one of those 4" wide foam rollers and roll it on. You can use a fine brush for any cutting in. Should be able to get a nice finish with a lot less mess. If you really want to spray it, consider a touch up gun.

GRN69CHV...any recommendations for a touch up gun?

You know, I have one, not even sure what make, I think it is a Divilbis. Conventional type, not HVLP. But these tend to consume a lot less air. They are only designed to spray a narrow pattern (depending on the unit, maybe effective to about 6" wide). So you can really control your overspray and you can use the gun at less of an angle. Angle the nozzle so the spray head is laying a horizontal pattern as opposed to a traditional vertical pattern when doing all the flat surfaces. Then spray with a forward/reverse pattern instead of a traditional side to side pattern. Then just turn the nozzle 90 degrees for trans / rear tunnel. I think they are only about $40.00 or so.

I had the same issue as you - compressor just wouldn't support a decent or even a cheap air gun. I do have a small HVLP gun that I purchased for smaller items that works great but the cup would be too small to do the underside. If you go to my page you'll note I did both my cars on the floor on jack stands. I used Eastwoods Underhood on the floors and Chassis Black on the frame - all with spray cans. If you plan it right you can do it.

I did the floors first - front to back - keeping fresh cans by my side as I went back, second coated with fresh cans, save the cans almost done for other items. After dry I covered the floor with news papers and shot the chassis - keep in mind on both cars I had the body raised off of the chassis. When you look at my cars chassis and underside you could not tell the difference if it was done with spray cans or a gun. One car was done almost 4 yrs ago and still looks excellent.

Hope this helps

Rich

Here is the gun I used, which I picked up from Tractor Supply, for $60.

http://aircompressorsdirect.com/catalog/images/DH790000AV_400.jpg

http://www.aircompressorsdirect.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=132

It does say it's a 6.3 CFM, 40 PSI.
I use a 5 HP, 220v 60 Gallon compressor.

The inline filters (inside the gun) are like $10 for 2, and I couldn't clean the 2 part epoxy I used from it so I had to throw it away. I had to order new fileters as TSC does not stock them.

The gun worked great, but I have not sprayed anything more then metal etch or 2 part epoxy primer.

With HVLP you do need to go slower, and have your air pressure dead on. Too much or too little will cause problems, or so I have heard.

When I did my frame I stripped all the suspension off it. Then I would paint one side let it dry, then flip it over and paint the other side. I used a friends gun I don't know what brand it was but I know it was a gravity feed gun and it worked with my 5horse 30 gal air compressor. After the frame was done I put new bushings in the A-arms and control arms painted them and put them back on.I wouldn't recommend sand blasting the rearend at all unless you plan on taking it completely apart. I had already planned on putting new bearings and seals so I sand blasted it but it sucked getting all the sand out.

Thnanks guys for all the replies...truely appreciated.

Rich...you state you used cans....good old rattle cans I assume? If so, how many did you use?

I used a quart of rust encapsulator and I think it took something like 8 spray cans to put two coats on my frame and suspension parts.

Birt...I have a quart of RE and four cans, plus a quart of chassis black and four cans...I think it should do the trick.