Team Chevelle banner
Cancel
Create thread New Garage Forums

HVLP Paint Gun Recommendation?

Jump to Latest
1 - 13 of 13 Posts
E

Edlanta

· Registered
Joined
·
61 Posts
Discussion starter · #1 ·
Looking to buy a HVLP paint gun for home use.
I'm not familiar with what brands are good and what features to look for. I want to try my hand at painting a couple of fenders.
Any recommendations?
Thanks!
 
#2 ·
Hi Ed!
It all depends on how much cash flow you want to let out. In my opinion, you cant beat Sharpe guns for the money. The cobalts are great primer guns with the 1.8 or 2.3 tips, and make decent finish guns with the 1.4-1.6 tips. If you email them at sharpe asking about reconditioned spray guns, they will send you a price list where you can get the cobalt with everything for $100, and you can get the titanium for $150. The titanium is a better finish gun in my opinion. The other really good gun for the money is the devilbiss Finishline II. I've never used it, but I have heard really good things about it. Other than those, the guns get above the $250 mark, and dont do much better. Hope that helps!
 
#3 ·
I was thinking about painting too. Is it hard to paint for the first time? Im not looking for a professional job right now, but i want to do the best possible. I think anything i do will look better than what it looks now, my clear coat is peeling away from all the tops of the car, it looks awful, but the sides look good.
frank
 
#4 ·
Ed in my professional opinion sharpe guns suck especially the cobalts. We have a cobalt gun at work and all it does is collect dust. It never works right sprays like its got a mind of its own. I highly suggest that you dont buy a cobalt even for a primer gun. The best guns out there are Sata guns but they cost money not cheap. Those $450 Sata's will run circles around any sharpe gun. Sata makes cheaper guns the cheapest that I know of is around 250 and that is still a great gun.

My personal gun at home is a Sata 2000 it cost me around 420 bucks but its one of the best guns Ive ever used only beaten by another sata.

I would not spray primer through the same gun as base or clear, it can be done but not a good idea. Guns are rated by there tip and nozzle size. The bigger the number the bigger the hole and the more paint comes out. Most primer guns are built around the 1.4 tip even 1.6. A 1.8 tip is way to big for any primer, should only be used to spray a liquid form of body filler not primer. For base coats a 1.4 tip will do fine, for clears we use at the shop a 1.3 tip.

Talking from experience you buy a cheap gun you get cheap results

------------------
1970 chevelle
1970 chevelle SS455 not a typo its a buick baby
1949 and 1972 chevy trucks
http://briefcase.yahoo.com/bc/sevt_chevelles
 
#5 ·
Preference in paint guns is sometimes a very personal thing. I've seen excellent work done with guns that I wouldn't use if someone gave me one for free.

I also use a SATA 2000NR at home. When I was still in the business, I arranged for all my painters to have at least one SATA 2000NR for finish coats. As sevt-chevelle said, they aren't cheap, but they're good.

As far as tip/nozzle sizes, that also can be a personal preference thing. Your own spraying technique can make a big difference in which tip/nozzle size works best for you regardless of whether you are shooting primer, single stage, base or clear. I use a 1.7 for whatever I want to shoot and get at least as good or better results as those who get anal about tip sizes.
 
#6 ·
I just bought a Sharp Platnum gun that has been refurbished.
I looks and operates like new, I can say that it works beter than ANY gun I have ever owned.
Now you may say WHO are you to coment on the quality of a paint gun?
Well I am nobody......... and thats why I can comment on this gun.
I to have a Sears compressor that is CFM challenged.
I also would not know the difference between a really good gun and an OK gun?
I can however tell you the Platnum works very well and has very little overspray,it cleans easy and is easy to operate.
The price was 175.00 pluss 8.00 S/H,just be sure to order a regulator for it.
I got an extra 1.7 tip for primers, but that may not be nessary in your case?
I looked at it this way: either I could buy a whole new system (compressor and gun)
or I could find a gun to work with what I allready had.
Do the math the choice is an easy one 1000.00 pluss or 175.00?
hope this helps?
T.C.
 
#7 ·
i have a OMX gun one of those plastic jobs looks like a garden sprayer. it has the GTI nozzle and cap. for an hvlp gun i like it very well. i had a sharp at work i could never get the thing to work worth a hoot. the OMX is a good gun but it takes some getting used to using an hvlp. but when i'm painting at home the neighbors don't have a clue it has very little overspray.

------------------
My 68
My Engine
 
#8 ·
I guess it depends on how much cfm you have and how much money you can afford.
I like the gun, but mabe I have never used a really good gun? So I will never know the difference and it wont really matter if I get the results want.
Except that I can use the money I saved to buy that new intake I want.
I also dont plan to go into the car painting business, this may be the only car I ever paint, so If I cant get good results with a 450.00 gun marked down to 175.00 then mabe Im not using the gun correctly?
I have also found if you give an identical product to two people you will get two different results?
We use Binks 2000 at work, I can make my life easier by making sure the correct person is using spray equipment.
I have people who can use the same gun without problems for weeks, and I have people who have problems in two min.?
go figure?
The overspray issue is another matter.
I feel that if you cut down the overspray, especially in a small garage you will cut the chance of airborn trash in your paint job.
The neighbors can get there own paint because mine wont be landing on there car,house.......
T.C.
 
#10 ·
I second the Sharpe Platinum. It is a perfect gun for the beginer. It is not for the pro painter that likes to run around a car. It is a very lazy gun, which makes it great for the beginer (and me, I love mine) You can just take your time and watch the paint go on. I highly recommend it.

------------------
1965 Buick Gran Sport Convertible
1965 Buick Skylark H/T
"Fan of most anything that moves human beings"
 
Save
Reply Quote Like Like
#11 ·
cortez:
I got the 3013 it's the one that only uses 7.5 cfm. MARTINSR is rite you can take your time, I guess because it's not blowing out paint with megga air pressure.
It takes a little getting used to, but I figure I will learn to use/adj. it on the fillers and sealers(keeping it super clean)then mabe Ill have better chance with the BC/CC.
Try this link if ya havent allready? http://www.sharpe1.com/platinum.htm
hope theis helps?
T.C.
 
#12 ·
To clear up my earlier post, I agree that the Sata's are great guns, but for the do it yourselfer that doesnt spray but maybe one car a year, if that much...$450 for a gun is alot of money. And they arent exactly amateur toys either. But then again, opinions are like buttholes, everyone has one and everybodys stinks but mine. lol. Hope that cleared up any confusion.
 
1 - 13 of 13 Posts
About this Discussion
12 Replies
10 Participants
Last post:
Mike72ss
Team Chevelle
posts
5.3M
members
131K
Since
1998
A forum community dedicated to Chevrolet Chevelle owners and enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about restorations, builds, performance, modifications, classifieds, troubleshooting, maintenance, and more!
Full Forum Listing
Explore Our Forums
Bench Racing Performance Engine Chevelle Tech Body Shop