I’d like to use an HVLP setup for all painting needs, interior and exterior including furniture. Finish quality is a higher priority than production. After researching, it seems a 3 or 4 stage turbine model should handle my needs. I’d like to spend $1200 or less.
Can anyone recommend a brand?
Thanks
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Replies
I have a Graco and love it...mine is a 1200 which is no longer in production but they are a class outfit with great service.
PaulB
I've also used a Graco, model 3800 and it works well. depending on much you plan on spraying I'd go with a pressure pot set up, we have a cup gun and it gets old refilling the cup.
Contact Jeff Jewitt at HomesteadFinishing.com. He can steer you better than those of us here on this forum.
Jeff has written books on finishing, and has contributed articles to FH and FW. When you call Homestead Finishing, he will probably answer the phone himself.
For larger scale work, you should consider a compressor-driven conversion gun with a pressurized pot. Problem is, you will spend close to $800 for the gear (gun, tips, hose, whip, pot, cleaning kit, etc.) and then have only $400 left for the compressor, which may not be enough to get one at the capacity you need.
The good thing is if you go that way, you will have a nice compressor that can drive many other things besides your painting rig.
Jeff can sell you the turbine unit you want, if that is the way you decide to go.
Three years ago I spent $900 on a Fuji HVLP turbine system and then another $500+ on replacement guns as they failed. I sprayed epoxy and polyurethane paints, so my usage may be more harsh than spraying lacquer, but with normal careful cleaning, the spray pattern degraded and I eventually had to toss the guns. One day I sat down and looked at how much this supposedly high-end equipment was actually costing me in terms of time, depreciation, and solvents for cleaning, and I realized it was a rip-off. No way would this equipment ever pay for itself.
I now use the $80 HVLP guns from the big-box stores with an in-line dessicant filter/dryer to condition the compressed air. As far as I can tell, the construction on the business end of these low cost guns is identical to the much more expensive units sold with the Fuji and Graco systems. These cheap guns also crap-out after 2-3 uses, and I just throw them away. The dessicant is recycled through oven heating, and it lasts forever. Look at the overall costs before you jump in and spend hundreds or thousands of dollars on one of these systems.
I just recently purchased a turbine hVLP set from Compliant spray sytems in San Clemente, Ca. The one I chose is made by Accuspray and it ran around $1200 or so. This one has a build in compressor for the pressure pot, along with a turbine. It is VERY quiet. It also came with 3 tips/nozzles/caps for various viscosities.
This is what I used for painting the base and casing in my game room. I used 12" masking paper on the wall and no over spray. Off white trim on olive-greenish walls.
The only thing I didn't like was the 6' hose that goes from the pressure pot to the gun. It needs to be longer becuse I don't like having to carry the pressure pot around much. I would rather leave it on the cart and use my other hand to hold some of the hose while spraying. The hoses are cheap to replace. .
If you go with this comany, ask about the "show special" and they might give you the small cup that attaches to the gun. I used it for applying a dye stain on some cabinetry. It worked very well.
Other than that, I have used it much,and it won't be using it for the next few months, until I get working on our new, 75 yr old home
Edited 11/23/2005 2:46 pm by migraine
Edited 11/23/2005 2:50 pm by migraine
Forgot to add the link: Also look at the next page. I bought the 2045 model.
http://www.compliantspraysystems.com/accusprayfinishingequipment/turbine_systems/turbine_systems_page4.htm
Does accuspray offer a "whip" hose for their guns? I bought one for our Graco it's about 6' long and a lot more pliable then the standard hose, you could get another 6' of lenght and have a hose that is easier to manuver if it's available.
yes they have a "whip" that's 6' length. But, the problem with it is that the turbine hose is 1"-1 1/2" dia and it uses a regular rubber fluid hose also. When you zip-tie these together, it gets a little cumbersome, but that's the same with any pressure pot fed/turbine system.
Nothing beats a whip on an airless for maneuverability
Hey... I just realized that there is now spell check... how long has that been there???
spell check has been there for as long as I can remember ;)
I didn't think about the feeder line from the pressure pot, as our's is a cup gun only, I wish we had a pressure pot though.
We bought a new airless about 6 months ago, can't, a tiny Graco just for laquer in the shop, anyway, I had to spray a few pieces of trim the other day because the painter was out.... You just reminded me to tell him to go buy a whip for it, I thought about it that night while I was fighting the hose and then forgot, cause it's not usually my problem :)
For lacquer work, I recommend the little wagner/sprayteck pumps that have the hopper on the top of the pump. They hold just over a gallon of material and are a breeze to clean up. I have seen some reconditioned ones at harbor freight and few other places for around $250-$300. They usually come with worthless gun. Plenty of power for lacquer out of the can.
Here's my kitchen spray with a little diaphram pump
I almost that wagner for us, I went to HD to pick it up and I looked at it and the Graco baby, the Graco had a little better spec's and I know and trust the name, Wagner I've never heard much good about except that particular unit.
The graco I bought is a diaphram as well I believe, both seemed like throw away units when they wear out but for 50 more I went with the name I knew more about.
I have a titan i'd like to sell, if your anywhere near massachusetts.
Davem,
My HVLP experience is similiar to TJK's. I bought a nice system from Jeff Jewitt-Worked great but had a steep learning curve. Jeff was a great support in helping get started. After spending nearly $1500 on pots, hoses and the gun, I found I could not get the units clean enough and getting parts and repairs done is not that easy. I think the HVLP systems are best used for very thin finishes and really struggle with heavier paints.
I ended up buying an Titan 440 airless from Sherwin Williams. It can spray anything paint or finish you could spray with an airless for about $750. I have not had any major repair issues (.i.e. it paints everytime I use it)and it is easily serviced at the local SW store.
At lower pressures, I have not noticed a significant difference in overspray and I never have to worry about water getting in the lines from a air filter malfunction on the compressor.
If you do end up going with the HVLP-give Jeff Jewitt a call-He is great to work with and is extremely helpful.
Bruce