Spraying Paint

By HVLP I assume you mean the turbine type. There are also HVLP sprayers (conversion type) that use siphon feed or gravity feed. A compressor sized to support a brad nailer will not supply adequate air volume painting. I wouldn't consider less than a 5 HP 20 gallon compressor. Both kinds of sprayers do a good job. From what I have heard and not what I have experienced, Latex is very difficult to spray with a turbine type HVLP sprayers. I've used them for other finishes and wished I owned one, but I can't afford or justify the cost of the one I would like. I usually a HVLP conversion gravity feed sprayer and it does a more than good job. I have a 230V 6 HP 30 gallon compressor. Hope this helps. Regards, Hank

I've never sprayed paint in my life, but I'm currently reading "Spray Finishing" by Andy Charron as I'm getting ready to try spraying some precat lacquer. Based on what I've read so far, you're probably right about spraying latex with a turbine HVLP. The tip pressure in some turbine HVLP systems is too low to atomize heavy liquids. From what I read, you'd probably need a 5-7 stage system to be able to do it properly (think $$$$).

todd

Henry,

Thanks for the information which led me to read the specs on, for example, the Porter Cable Model PSH1 gravity feed HPLV gun - it needs

About 40 years ago I used (actually the compressor is still running) a Sears inexpensive tankless compressor (put out about 35 psi) and painted numerous pieces of furniture with enamel and achieved great results. Progress sometimes is not all good.

Ed

sprayers

There are still spray guns available that state they use under 3 SCFM. Some are the bleeder type, some are siphon/pressure fed. I question how well they will atomize the paint. Here's two examples from Grainger's: