Whats more practical, HVLP or Airless?

[the_g_ster]

Hello, I currently have a Fuji Q3 HVLP set up that I have only used a couple of times, but got some goos results on some cabinets with some oil based paint and some water based product.

I have seen the Graco Airless Gun set up, and must say looks pretty good as smaller and more suited to the odd cabinet/or emulsion on a wall.

What do people think on selling the Fuji and trying the Airless set up?

I'd like to try some Morrells waterborne lacquer for a project later in the year, which would get a better finish?

 

[Mike.S]

I've also got the Fuji Q3 HVLP so am interested in your post. I'm no expert (quite the opposite) but which Graco sprayer are you considering? When I was looking into sprayers the airless systems were great but considerably more expensive if you include the turbine/compressor and not smaller (overall footprint).

 

[RobinBHM]

Airless systems are generally designed for site spraying of emulsion paints. A hydraulic pump pressurizes the paint which travels through a stiff paint line to the gun. The high pressure makes the paint atomize as it is forced through the tip. The great advantage is that these systems can cope with quite high viscosity paints. The downside is that high pressure and high flow rate is needed for a fully atomised fan pattern. Turning the pressure down will result in the top and bottom of the fan not atomised fully and this will leave 2 lines in the finish.

Graco and other manufacturers also sell air assisted airless, which are designed for spraying furniture, windows etc. These types introduce a small amount of air at the spray tip to atomise the tails in the fan pattern. Fantastic machines, but a lot of money and need quite a bit of paint to prime the paint line, so not suited for a one off small cabinet.

 

[the_g_ster]

Thanks, really useful input.

I have this model in mind, as it's hand held, goes up to around 2000psi and so could do many things.

http://www.airlesspro.co.uk/graco-truco ... 2435-p.asp

RobinBHM, I would imagine the unit being handheld has a smaller volume needed for priming the gun. In fact it looks very easy to set up when you look at the youtube videos, with the clean up being no harder than an HVLP gun.

I like the opportunity to spray high viscosity paints, without thinning and faffing around with a cup trying to balance out the flow rate so you get a good finish.

Also appreciate these things put the paint on at a hell of a rate too. So still hoping could to some cabinets with the gun in the link. Am I throwing money away for just another tool you think?

 

[RobinBHM]

I think the Graco trucoat was designed for touch up and repairs of emulsion spraying on site, but to be honest I dont have much knowledge of airless technology. I do wonder if the weight of a cordless sprayer would make it tiring to use.

I use air assisted airless pumps for spraying water based paint onto joinery. My experience is that whilst powerful 30:1 ratio pumps will spray almost any thick paint straight out of the tin with full atomisation, the paint film can still exhibit orange peel and the solution is to thin the paint, offsetting the advantage of being able to spray it unthinned.

For touch up and samples I use a SATA 1000b gun with a 2.2 needle set up. These guns can spray thick paints surprisingly well. Of course this gun needs a compressor.

 

[Mike.S]

My initial reaction is that it seems like an updated version of the early and cheap Earlex spray guns (now discontinued) that were offered for sale in the DIY sheds. They were based on a tiny piston driven by electric motor. I had one (cup or tube straight to paint can) but now binned as noisy; poor quality finish; and struggled with thicker paints.

My uninformed impression is that it's intended as a simple alternative to breaking out the 'proper' airless gun to do touch ups etc. I'd also be interested to learn what it's coverage is like - with claimed pressures of 1-2,000psi the flow is likely to be limited (RobinBHM's comments apposite). If it were my pennies I'd want to see a demonstration using paint (not water).

However, I'd be happy to eat humble pie if you/anyone else knows different but imo you'd be better off sticking with the Fuji and if need and budget exist add a 'proper' airless gun (then offer to lend it to me - I can be down the A3 and collect from Portsmouth in an hour )

 

[n0legs]

If you buy one do not use the old spray painters trick of triggering the gun and wiping the tip.
They have enough pressure to inject the paint/material into your blood stream.