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Teach me to paint with Air

Posted on 9/25/17 at 5:25 pm
Posted by SportTiger1
Stonewall, LA
Member since Feb 2007
28502 posts
Posted on 9/25/17 at 5:25 pm
So i paint a lot of smaller projects, tables and such, and have been wanting to get an air spray gun to simplify the process. Problem is, i know nothing about it.

I have a 10 gal compressor that puts out 6 CFM @ 40psi...so i bought a cheapo harbor freight gun that SAYS thats exactly what it takes to run it. But, will this actually work?

Can i spray regular interior paint straight up or do i need to thin it first?

Should i just forget it?
Posted by X123F45
Member since Apr 2015
27361 posts
Posted on 9/25/17 at 5:47 pm to
For just interior paint, we just use electric sprayer.

Cleaning the gun out takes the longest
Posted by SportTiger1
Stonewall, LA
Member since Feb 2007
28502 posts
Posted on 9/25/17 at 6:03 pm to
quote:

Cleaning the gun out takes the longest


I've actually bought 2 of the $20 electric sprayers from HF. I cleaned both about as good as i know how, and neither worked the second time i tried to use them.

I gave up.
Posted by VanRIch
Wherever
Member since Sep 2007
10392 posts
Posted on 9/25/17 at 6:10 pm to
I just returned a Wagner sprayer to lowes that I bought for the same thing. It ended up being way more trouble than the time it saved. It took longer to prep and clean than just using a roller and pan.
Posted by DownshiftAndFloorIt
Here
Member since Jan 2011
66763 posts
Posted on 9/25/17 at 6:13 pm to
Step one is do meth, step two is become immune to paint fumes, step three is buy an old beat to shite Dodge Durango.
Posted by Propagandalf
Baton Rouge
Member since May 2010
2528 posts
Posted on 9/25/17 at 6:17 pm to
You would likely need to thin it and depending on the paint may not be able to shoot it with an HVLP gun. Most interior painters use airless systems that can handle thick paints without issue due to their higher pressure. An HVLP gun produces a finer finish with less over spray and is ideal for more detailed work. If the 6CFM rating is the minimum requirement and that is what your compressor outputs then you may also run into some issues here. The CFM ratings is based on something like 15 seconds per minute duty cycle and 10 gallons isn't a whole lot of reserve for a continuous use tool like an HVLP gun trying to do an interior room, but something the size of a table might not present a problem. At the minimum, if you can get the gun to atomize the paint it will work for short periods of time then you may have to stop and let it build back up. If you start getting PSI drops from running out of air and your motor can't keep up this is going to affect your spray pattern and finish negatively. Since you already have the supplies, I would say just grab a piece of scrap and test it out and see. I shoot very thin fluid that has a viscosity similar to skim milk, so the above is just speculation.

The bigger problem you might have to worry about is keeping water, which condenses from the hot air, out of the paint. I run my air through 50 feet of hose then through a 50 ft steel pipe series of drops to catch the water plus inline desiccant dryers without issue here in the humid south. Also, don't use any hose that you used with oiled tools. The learning curve is not steep, but it takes a little practice to get the fluid/air/fan mix right and it can vary color to color or fluid type to fluid type.
Posted by SportTiger1
Stonewall, LA
Member since Feb 2007
28502 posts
Posted on 9/25/17 at 6:43 pm to
quote:

Step one is do meth, step two is become immune to paint fumes, step three is buy an old beat to shite Dodge Durango
still looking for the right durango
Posted by SportTiger1
Stonewall, LA
Member since Feb 2007
28502 posts
Posted on 9/25/17 at 6:44 pm to
All good info...my hopes are not high at this point.
Posted by Floating Change Up
signature text loading ...
Member since Dec 2013
11839 posts
Posted on 9/25/17 at 6:45 pm to
quote:

Step one is do meth, step two is become immune to paint fumes, step three is buy an old beat to shite Dodge Durango.


That's interesting... around these parts, step 1 is, "Be from Mexico."
Posted by Hammertime
Will trade dowsing rod for titties
Member since Jan 2012
43030 posts
Posted on 9/25/17 at 7:26 pm to
Put lacquer thinner in the canister and spray it after you're finished
Posted by auburntiger4life
Member since Aug 2016
321 posts
Posted on 9/25/17 at 8:10 pm to
Using a standard hvlp always spray oils and they all will have to be thinned. I run from 38psi to about 45psi, depends on what paint. If you want to spray latex best thing is buy gun just for latex.
Posted by Cracker
in a box
Member since Nov 2009
17674 posts
Posted on 9/25/17 at 10:36 pm to
thin it
Posted by djangochained
Gardere
Member since Jul 2013
19054 posts
Posted on 9/25/17 at 11:34 pm to
Side ?, anyone know who can fix a 50 HP recip air compressor in Baton Rouge ? Leaking a lot of water
Posted by SportTiger1
Stonewall, LA
Member since Feb 2007
28502 posts
Posted on 9/25/17 at 11:55 pm to
quote:

50 HP recip air compressor


Damn son
Posted by Propagandalf
Baton Rouge
Member since May 2010
2528 posts
Posted on 9/26/17 at 12:35 am to
quote:

Side ?, anyone know who can fix a 50 HP recip air compressor in Baton Rouge ? Leaking a lot of water


Posted by weadjust
Member since Aug 2012
15090 posts
Posted on 9/26/17 at 1:11 am to
quote:

thin it


When I sprayed my kitchen cabinets I used Floetrol to thin the latex paint. Turned out great.

Floetrol Info
Posted by CHEDBALLZ
South Central LA
Member since Dec 2009
21912 posts
Posted on 9/26/17 at 5:07 am to
Yes you can, look up Matt Lane on Youtube, he has a really video on spraying stuff and the most important thing...... how to keep your gun clean.
Posted by tigersownall
Thibodaux
Member since Sep 2011
15304 posts
Posted on 9/26/17 at 7:21 am to
Because harbor freight sells shite tools.

Eta:

The only type I've ever used.

This post was edited on 9/26/17 at 7:25 am
Posted by CHEDBALLZ
South Central LA
Member since Dec 2009
21912 posts
Posted on 9/26/17 at 7:31 am to
Not everything is shite at Harbor Freight, I have brad nailers, air compressors, framing nailers, clamps, hand saws pocket hole jig, some sockets that all works great, you have to do your research. The Paint guns actually get great reviews, its knowing how to use to them and how to clean them. MEK goes a long way in keeping them clean.
Posted by NYCAuburn
TD Platinum Membership/SECr Sheriff
Member since Feb 2011
57002 posts
Posted on 9/26/17 at 7:31 am to
quote:

The bigger problem you might have to worry about is keeping water, which condenses from the hot air, out of the paint.


this, the good jobs have air dryers in the system. the cheaper ones are expensive in comparison to just being an add on part to compressors
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