Having a fit with my paint gun

7DSS · Jun 23, 2006

I began shooting my base and clear on my jambs. I have a Titan gun with a 1.4mm tip. The paint comes out and leaves "droplets" rather than laying out wet and smooth. I have to move REAL slow to get enough base on there to lay out nice, but then it's too much. Same with the clear. Goes on rough and almost dry looking. Slow way down to get a nice wet look, but starts running. Seems like I need to go real slow and about 8 inches from the surface, but it's either too rough or starts running.

I'm running about 10 psi (with the trigger pulled at the guage). So I figured I wasn't allowing enough material through. I adjusted the knob that I believe is the material knob (very top knob facing me on the handle), but that didn't help.

I'm going through a ton of material just to jamb the car. Any ideas? Thanks.

TechNova · Jun 23, 2006

10 psi on the gauge at the gun handle or on the wall regulator is not enough to atomize the paint properly, giving you the droplets.
Typically with an HVLP gun you will want 10 psi at the cap. This requires a special gauge that screws on in place of the aircap, you set your pressure at 10 psi then put the aircap back on. You should be in the 25-40 psi range at the gun handle to get around 10 at the cap. Each gun will be different so I can't give you an exact number.

The fluid knob is always the one directly in line with the fluid needle. The fluid needle is the long "rod" or "pin" that is in the hole where the paint comes out.
Screwing the knob out allows the fluid needle to move back further when the gun is fully triggered, giving you more fluid.

Also make sure you are mixing your materials properly.

68protouring454 · Jun 23, 2006

as tech says, 10 psi is at the cap, most hvlps want 18-30 psi, with the majority being 20-23psi where the air enters the spray gun, set gun to max air inlet pressure then the gun itself will regulate it to around 10 psi at air cap
also have fluid adjustment so trigger just stops before hitting handle.
i have an iwata 300 which is 18 psi and a few sata nr2000 that like 28-30
jake

7DSS · Jun 23, 2006

Thanks Guys. I'll give that a try. This paint is so expensive, I can't afford to test and play too much.

Dave Birdwell · Jun 23, 2006

Sounds like the paint is too thick to me. What brand of paint??

SS_Dave · Jun 23, 2006

Hold on.
Unless you are being regulated or inspected by the EPA, forget about the
10psi at the cap value. That is the max pressure the EPA has regulated
the HVLP guns at. This is to keep overspray down and thus airborne carcinogins and solvent in our air. If you don't have to worry about that,
set the air pressure to whatever you want to get good atomization.
I made the same mistake on the first car I painted with my HVLP.
Talk about orange peel !
Two days of wetsanding and buffing and all was almost well.

Adjust the gun to what ever you need.
I don't thing the EPA will help you color sand.

68protouring454 · Jun 23, 2006

ssdave, like tech nova says 10 psi at the air cap can only be registered with a special gauge thats like 125 bucks and not needed, 98$ of hvlp guns spray correctly at 20-25 psi, yeah you can crank it to 35 psi but why the hel use a hvlp????????? satas rp (reduced pressure) works well, fast like a conventinal gun but uses 25-35 psi not 40-50 psi
jake

69ssmike · Jun 23, 2006

Get a gauge that attaches at the gun, that way you don't have to worry about hose length and size.There can be a lot of pressure drop because of this. I agree try 20-30, lower pressure should work for jambs and cut in.

7DSS · Jun 24, 2006

Thanks guys. I'm using Martin Senour(sp?) paint, mixing it per the spec sheet. I will try the higher pressure at the gauge. Would it be worth buying some black in the same line to practice with and get my gun set-up? The paint I'm using is entirely too expensive (red you know) to practice .

69ssmike · Jun 24, 2006

7DSS said:
Thanks guys. I'm using Martin Senour(sp?) paint, mixing it per the spec sheet. I will try the higher pressure at the gauge. Would it be worth buying some black in the same line to practice with and get my gun set-up? The paint I'm using is entirely too expensive (red you know) to practice .

Sometimes the paint stores have bad mixes that they sell cheap. But probably not a bad idea to find an old hood or fender at a bodyshop and practice a little.

TechNova · Jun 25, 2006

SS_Dave said:
Hold on.
Unless you are being regulated or inspected by the EPA, forget about the
10psi at the cap value. That is the max pressure the EPA has regulated
the HVLP guns at. This is to keep overspray down and thus airborne carcinogins and solvent in our air. If you don't have to worry about that,
set the air pressure to whatever you want to get good atomization.
I made the same mistake on the first car I painted with my HVLP.
Talk about orange peel !
Two days of wetsanding and buffing and all was almost well.

Adjust the gun to what ever you need.
I don't thing the EPA will help you color sand.

If the tech sheet calls for 8-10 at the cap and you can't get atomization in that range something else is wrong.
Not everything is a government conspiracy.

SS_Dave · Jun 26, 2006

TechNova said:
If the tech sheet calls for 8-10 at the cap and you can't get atomization in that range something else is wrong.
Not everything is a government conspiracy.

Lighten up.

I don't think its a conspiracy either.
Its an EPA regulation to help get our air cleaner.
It is really meant for large OEMs that spray gallons and gallons of
paint a day. Not for the guy that paints one or two cars a year.

Jake

ssdave, like tech nova says 10 psi at the air cap can only be registered with a special gauge thats like 125 bucks and not needed, 98$ of hvlp guns spray correctly at 20-25 psi, yeah you can crank it to 35 psi but why the hel use a hvlp????????? satas rp (reduced pressure) works well, fast like a conventinal gun but uses 25-35 psi not 40-50 psi
jake

exactly, why use it?

Unless you are a business that is req to meet EPA regulations, forget it.
Have you noticed the lousy paint jobs on new cars today?
My truck has a ton of orange peel.
I've seen brand new SUVs from Lexus and Honda, both with orange peel on
the rear hatch.

The only thing I like about my HVLP, is the size and gravity feed.
I like the pot out of the way and the side fan control.
However, my siphon old school DeVilbiss does a much nicer job.

steelhorses · Jun 26, 2006

69ssmike said:
Sometimes the paint stores have bad mixes that they sell cheap. But probably not a bad idea to find an old hood or fender at a bodyshop and practice a little.

No kidding. I went into my local paint shop and asked the guy if he had any "bad" paint that he couldn't sell because it had been mixed wrong or something..... lol, i bought three boxes full of random paints for $50.00:hurray: . I have over 3 gallons of white, a bunch of blues, blacks, reds/pinks, etc. None of this stuff is going on a final project, so it's all for fun. I've been spraying on my Chevelle's hood - just cuz i'm gonna be getting a new one.
It's definitely worth a try.

69ssmike · Jun 26, 2006

SS_Dave said:
Lighten up.

I don't think its a conspiracy either.
Its an EPA regulation to help get our air cleaner.
It is really meant for large OEMs that spray gallons and gallons of
paint a day. Not for the guy that paints one or two cars a year.

Jake

exactly, why use it?

Unless you are a business that is req to meet EPA regulations, forget it.
Have you noticed the lousy paint jobs on new cars today?
My truck has a ton of orange peel.
I've seen brand new SUVs from Lexus and Honda, both with orange peel on
the rear hatch.

The only thing I like about my HVLP, is the size and gravity feed.
I like the pot out of the way and the side fan control.
However, my siphon old school DeVilbiss does a much nicer job.

I've used many HVLP's, I could never get the products to lay as flat as my Sata RP. I'm sure if I had to use the HVLP's I would but I prefer the RP.

TechNova · Jun 26, 2006

SS Dave, OEM regs. and orange peel are a completely different topic than refinish HVLP issues. It wasn't an HVLP that put peel on a new car.
The systems and paints are totally different, not even close to the same.
Not many people were happy with HVLP on their first try. Like anything else it takes practice.

69SSMike, try an Iwata LPH400 for clear. If you can find a gun that atomizes better, I'll take two! I'll have to see if the jobber has a loaner RP, I've never tried one.

69ssmike · Jun 27, 2006

TechNova said:
SS Dave, OEM regs. and orange peel are a completely different topic than refinish HVLP issues. It wasn't an HVLP that put peel on a new car.
The systems and paints are totally different, not even close to the same.
Not many people were happy with HVLP on their first try. Like anything else it takes practice.

69SSMike, try an Iwata LPH400 for clear. If you can find a gun that atomizes better, I'll take two! I'll have to see if the jobber has a loaner RP, I've never tried one.

There you go, I've tried the 400 and it was nice but not a RP:thumbsup:

SS_Dave · Jun 27, 2006

TechNova said:
SS Dave, OEM regs. and orange peel are a completely different topic than refinish HVLP issues. It wasn't an HVLP that put peel on a new car.
The systems and paints are totally different, not even close to the same.
Not many people were happy with HVLP on their first try. Like anything else it takes practice.

69SSMike, try an Iwata LPH400 for clear. If you can find a gun that atomizes better, I'll take two! I'll have to see if the jobber has a loaner RP, I've never tried one.

I admit, I have only used two hvlp guns.
1.4 noz
If I could get one that atomized as well as my siphon gun, that would be
great. I guess your saying they do exist.

not familar with an RP.

69ssmike · Jun 27, 2006

SS_Dave said:
I admit, I have only used two hvlp guns.
1.4 noz
If I could get one that atomized as well as my siphon gun, that would be
great. I guess your saying they do exist.

not familar with an RP.

Dave, I have one I can loan you if you ever want to give it a try. Best of both worlds, sprays like a conventional gun but at HVLP pressure.

SS_Dave · Jun 28, 2006

69ssmike said:
Dave, I have one I can loan you if you ever want to give it a try. Best of both worlds, sprays like a conventional gun but at HVLP pressure.

Hey, thanks Mike,
I may take you up on that.
I take it your Sata RP is an HVLP?

What is the nozzle size?

Looked at your car in showroom.
very nice!
did you paint it with the RP?

69ssmike · Jun 28, 2006

SS_Dave said:
Hey, thanks Mike,
I may take you up on that.
I take it your Sata RP is an HVLP?

What is the nozzle size?

Looked at your car in showroom.
very nice!
did you paint it with the RP?

Not HVLP, Reduced Pressure, I spray at about 20-23 lbs. at the gun. I have both 1.3 and 1.4 tips, I use both and not a whole lotta difference.
Cars in my showroom, nice one (no vinyl top) I sold last year, bought all ready painted and put it all together. The new car needs a LOT of work, but runs good. I'll send you a few pics of some stuff I've painted.

Having a fit with my paint gun

7DSS

TechNova

68protouring454

7DSS

Dave Birdwell

SS_Dave

68protouring454

69ssmike

7DSS

69ssmike

TechNova

SS_Dave

steelhorses

69ssmike

TechNova

69ssmike

SS_Dave

69ssmike

SS_Dave

69ssmike

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