HVLP sprayers.

[Max]

I "Googled" the topic but didn't find anything like a consensus. I'm looking for an HVLP sprayer (w/turbine) in the "under $1000. category. Any recommendations?

Thanks.

Max

[brianlanning]

That was the price range I was looking at and decided to go the compressor/conversion gun route. With an 80 gallon tank, it was about the same price. iirc, the turbine units don't have the possible moisture problems that a compressor might have. But a filter and dryer should fix that problem. And with the compressor, you get to use it for other things possibly getting a better value for the money.

brian

[Demosthenes]

Max:

A Calgary company, Lemmer

makes well-reviewed HVLP sprayers that match your criteria. Proviso : I haven't yet used thier equipment (intend to do so this summer), but overall opinion is good.

Sincerely,

Dudley storey

Max wrote:

[cm]

My buddy uses a Lemmer in his shop and loves it.

I use this one and am pleased.http://

TP has them from $599.00 and up. I have had their most basic unit since 1986 and have no problems.

[JES]

I have a Fuji Q3 PRO which I really like. High quality equipment. Have a look here:

be found on amazon.com also:

JES

[charlie b]

The current (April/May 2006) issue of Wood magazine reviews 10 systems Accuspray Model 10 gun, 23i- turbine $750 Apollospray Model A5510 gun model 800 turbine $745 C&H HV2002 system $200 C&H HV

3500 $600 Capspray model Maxum II CS8100 turbine $825 Fuji MOdel XT gun Modell Q3 turbine $750 Rockler 61577 system $100 TurbinAire model BNB gun 1235GT turbine $800 Wagner FineSpray2400 system $100 Wagner model NB gun SoftSpray 2900 turbine $580

Features to look for

Non-bleeder gun - no air flow out of tip unless trigger is pulled. No air blowing your finish around after applying. An air relief valve diverts the airflow either in the hose line or at the turbine.

Unless you're using a pressure pot, most HVLP spraying is done with a siphon feed which diverts some of the airflow to pressurize the finish cup. Better guns have a check valve in that line to keep finish from getting into parts of the gun that aren't supposed to come in contact with it. Only necessary if you need to tilt the gun - like inside cabinets

Multiple air ports - air line that can attach to the gun either at the bottom of the handle or the back of the gun - or both.

Air cap adjustment - when the air holes in the cap are "up and down" you get a horizontal fan, holes "left/right" gets you a vertical fan, and at 45's you get a circular cone. Some caps have detentes (click stops) at these three positions. Being able to change spray patters without having to unscrew the cap is real handy.

Ability to control both amount of finish flow and fan width - two knobs on the back of the gun-handy

Test was done with oil based poly, lacquer and water based vanish. Accuspray, Fuji and Turbinaire required no thinning of any of the test finishes. Others required 15-50% thinning. Accuspary and Turbinare were rated Top Tool, with the C&H HV2002 rated as Top Value.

The article noted that "conversion" guns require air flow CFMs that require at least a 30 gallon compressor and an 80 gallon preferred.

Buy the magazine

charlie b

[Tom Nie]

Charlie b - really cool stuff - thanks a ton.

Jes - the link had a great writeup on HLP. Thanks.

TomNie

[Max]

Thanks, charlie b. I bought the mag this morning. Then I tried finding an Accuspray dealer. Nothing in El Paso, TX. Any dealer recommendations.

Max

[Mike in Idaho]

Hey Max,

I'm looking to sell my graco 4900 procomp if you're interested. I've used it a few times and it's just more than I need :) It's a 4 stage

2-speed turbine that comes with 2 guns. One is a siphon gun with a 1qt cup and the other is a remote with a 2qt cup on a 6' whip hose. The procomp has a built in air compressor to move the fluid from the remote cup to the gun so everything's built into the turbine box itself. It's a 4 stage turbine (I've sprayed latex with it) and is very clean. It comes with tip sets #2, #3, #4, #5, and #6.

Here's the manual if you want more details:

$file/309242k.pdfIt cost over $1500 brand new and I was going to list it in the classifieds this spring (when tool demand goes up) for $900.

Mike

[eag111]

Homestead finishing carries them, and it's a great place to do business with.

[charlie b]

all one line

're at most woodworking shows - look for the husband and wife team - he's got a handle bar mustache - can't miss him. And while you're there, pick up a can of their grain filler and some Enduro water based poly.

Homestead Finishing also carries Accuspray - a testiment to Accuspray as Homestead has a good rep for finish products.

charlie b

[Max]

I appreciate the info, Mike, But I really haven't had much luck with used, sight unseen equipment. I think I'm going to spring for the Accuspray 230K.

Max

[Mike in Idaho]

I understand. I buy a lot of used tools too but prefer to do them locally so I can see the shop as well as the tool to get an idea of whether they've been taken care of or abused.

Good luck, Mike

[Henry St.Pierre]

"Max" wrote in news:8miSf.47835$F [e-mail]:

Max, You are obviously a new shooter (spray, that is). Buy the cheapest setup you can find and practice, practice, etc. The most expensive turbine system you can afford, or take a loan out for, will not make you an expert. If you got the bux, buy the top of the line (and practice, practice, etc.). Are you a professional woodworker or a hobbiest? Seven-fifty or more is a lot to pay for 'sometime usage'. Think about it, Hank

[Max]

That's good advice Hank. I started spraying with a compressor and spray gun about thirty years ago. Some of my recent projects are here:

[e-mail]/album?.dir=1494&.src=ph&store=&prodid=&.done=http%3a//photos.sbc.yahoo.com/ph//my_photosI've also sprayed a few repair jobs on vehicles that came out looking really nice. I'm more of a hobbyist than professional, although I've done several jobs for pay. We spend too much time traveling now in our RV to get involved in ...uh... "work". I'm looking for a quality spray system that will create less overspray and pollution. The Accuspray 230K looks like a reasonable compromise.

Max

[James "Cubby" Culbertson]

I did a very quick thumb through of the magazine and what I couldn't figure out is it seemed they rated the Fuji higher across the board yet didn't chose it as their Editor's Choice or whatever they call it. Hmmmm. Could it be that Fuji hasn't advertised enough with them?

[Max]

The only comment I noticed was that the Fuji would *not* spray a fan narrower than 5". To quote from the Wood magazine article: "We also gave high marks to the quiet Fuji Q3, so if noise level is more important to you than the ability to spray a fan narrower than 5", it, too, would be a very good choice".

I have a touch up gun that I use for a small fan pattern but it's not HVLP. Hmmm.

Max

[Mike Marlow]

Ouch. That would be an important point to me. When trying to get into corners, tight places, touch up, etc., an adjustment down to a very fine pattern is a must. A basic fan with no real adjustment - which is what you really have with a 5-8" or 5-10" fan, is about useless.

Gotta love touch up guns, but I sure would not want to have to dirty two guns everytime I went to spray something. The spraying part wouldn't bother me, but I'd sure be grumbly at cleanup time.

[Max]

"Mike Marlow" wrote

That's what I'm thinking. I guess I'll stick with the Accuspray unit.

Max

[Paul Smith]

Hello Max,

I hope you don't mind me joining in on this discussion.

Unfortunately, the author, Paul Snyder, is really not that knowledgable about HVLP Sprayguns. This is quite understandable because that is not his chosen field. It is mine however.

The way the spray pattern on our spraygun is adjusted is identical to the Apollo, Turbinaire (bleeder gun that they manufacture themselves, the non-bleed gun is not their manufacture), American Turbine, Lexaire, Wagner, Titan, Capspray and more.

You can spray from about 15" down to 1/8".

What Paul does not understand is that nobody - even if they have a 'knob' to adjust the size of the fan patter - paints let's say, a 3/4" spindle on a chair from 8" away. This is what he is judging his premise upon. If you did this, you would need a very steady hand indeed. Remember, you have no bristles to guide you.

No... what people do with all the sprayguns listed in the article is switch to a round pattern, reduce the amount of 'paint' and move in close. With hvlp turbine guns, you can actually touch the gun on what you're spraying without it flying back in your face.

The same goes for spraying a 3" length of trim. Set to a vertical pattern, adjust how much paint (to allow you to move the speed you want to go) and move the gun in until the pattern becomes 3". Then it is exactly like painting with a 3" brush (but with no bristles).

The adjustment for size is to turn in or out the collar at the front of the spraygun. From 8" away, he is correct - it's about 4 - 5" in size. But you have to move closer anyway so it's not an issue.

Incidentally, Paul Snyder also mentions (and makes quite a big deal of it) that the cups are all Syphon-Feed. Well of course, they're not. They are all pressure-feed. I would like to ask Paul to fill the cup with water and remove the Pressure Tube on any of the sprayguns sampled. Then I would want him to pull the trigger and wait until the water came out of the nozzle. It never will. There is absolutely no syphon feed action whatsoever at those low pressures. The gun cannot even syphon water never mind paint!

And if anyone is interested, I can tell you about the filtration system too.

Best regards from Fuji Spray.

Paul Smith