Spraying Acrylic paint with Earlex HV5000 spray station?

[flanajb]

Hi,

I purchased some water based Acrylic paint fom the Little Greene paint company which I intend to apply using my Earlex spray station. The Earlex quit happily sprays the morrell's water based laquers as they are less viscose, but it was not happy trying to spray this stuff. I thinned it down by 10%, but to no avail. It came out the gun, but in a very splattery fashion.

I was wondering whether a larger needle will do the trick. The default one in the gun is 2mm and I think I can purchase a 2.5mm one?

Anyone know or have had success spraying Acrylics with the Earlex and a larger needle?

Thanks

 

[Dibs-h]

What does the spec sheet for the paint say - how far can you thin it down? I've thinned stuff down to almost 25% in the past. Ok - so 1 or 2 extra coats to get the "thickness" back, but easy enough.

HIH

Dibs

 

[Steve Maskery]

As Dis says, check the data sheet. But I would have thought that 2mm was already quite a large needle.
If you do get it sorted, let us know, please.

S

 

[flanajb]

I spoke with the paint company today and they said it can be thinned to 30%. Which seems a lot, but at 30% it does spray with a 2mm needle. No where as nice to spray as the Morrell's pigmented laquer.

I also wonder whether a Fuji Q3 sprayer would be a much better unit and able to handle thicker paints better?

 

[Elapid]

I've thinned down paint to 50% and over to get it through my Earlex Spray Station. Gave a lovely finish just needed more coats to achieve it.

 

[flanajb]

I've thinned down paint to 50% and over to get it through my Earlex Spray Station. Gave a lovely finish just needed more coats to achieve it.

That is good to know. I never thought you could do that, but thanks for the tip.

 

[mahomo59]

Little Greene, told me 20% just the week past. Same system as you 2mm etc Earlex 5000 and it sprays lovely. I know this wont necessarily help you, i just wanted to share it, as it does work.

James

 

[flanajb]

Little Greene, told me 20% just the week past. Same system as you 2mm etc Earlex 5000 and it sprays lovely. I know this wont necessarily help you, i just wanted to share it, as it does work.

James

That is rather concerning, but also reassuring.

Concerning from the sense that the paint supplier tell you 20% and me 30%

Reassuring that your Earlex sprays the paint with a 2mm needle. Do you not get any splattering at all?