Hi, Everybody,
I posted a question about shutter spraying some time ago. You all gave some great answers but the GC held off on the job. Well, two years later and some haggling with the historical society, they’re ready for shutters. I’m all for the airless spraying but I’d like to know if anyone can reccommend a particular brand and set up, i.e., fluid tip sizes to give a decent finish. I’m willing to accept that the final finish won’t be like my cabinet finishes, but, hey, these are exterior shutters, there are 60 of them (48 louvered), and the lowest ones are six feet off the ground. As long as the spray finish is comparable to a brushed finish (in smoothness), I’ll be able to sleep at night.
Thanks in advance,
Jim
Replies
It won't look like a brushed finish at all.... It will actually be smoother. Brushed finishes will leave the bush strokes on it, generally speaking, depending on the heat, humidity, etc...
As for manufacturers, most are pretty good. The main thing you have to worry about is support AFTER you buy a product. If you do a lot of business with a certain paint supply retailer, buy or rent from them.
The big orange box down here sells a good airless, but the name escapes me right now. I don't do a lot of painting, but when I do, I borrow a friend's.... The main thing to worry about is keeping it clean, straining the paint, and allowing the paint a lot of time to dry in between coats.
While it's wet, I'd still hit it with a brush after using the airless to apply the paint. It doesn't take very long, and will ensure the best coverage and adhesion. Using the airless to get the paint on will save a lot of time, and help get paint in where it's hard to get the brush. The followup with the brush only takes a few minutes. I don't know if the sprayer setup matters that much, as long as it's not one of those all in one hand held buzzer sprayers. I got a mid level model Graco 190ES a few years ago, and I definately could have done with a lesser model for the occasional usage it gets. I've experimented with the smallest to the largest tips that fit it, and found the somewhere in the middle works best, and don't like the largest due to the quantity of paint that it can put out. It' seems like it is too easy to put too much paint on and get runs. More thin coats are better than one thick one. The smaller tips require slower application, and more passes, but gives much more control.
This is just my experience, and I'm not a pro. But, as with everything, I do a much better job, and spend about 4 times as much time as a pro would.
WOOD Magazine just did a comparison of HVLP rigs and the Campbell Hausfield got very good ratings - particularly for it's price range.
Their article also gives some good info about setting up sprayers to get good results. It's all about air flow, tip sizes, and viscosity of the paint.
You're doing this yourself? Then just rent one. Get a decent Graco, even a small one like a 395 will work like a champ for what you're doing. Tip size is going to depend some on the paint. For shutters, a 6-8" fan is what I'd go with, but the orifice is going to depend on the paint can label. So if you want 8 and the can says .12-.14 then you'll have to probably buy the switchtip, in this case, a 412. (First number is half the fan at 12")
"Sometimes when I consider what tremendous consequences come from little things, I am tempted to think -- there are no little things" - Bruce Barton
i swear by Titan 440's think i have 6 of em... simple easy to clean and will pump aint all day got all mine used... usually pay from $250 to $400 used and have only had to buy one replacement part in 10yrs... not counting tips & filters a 517 tip is usually pretty good...
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