Using 5 gallon compressor with HVLP sprayer?

[dragonballz]

Would I be able to use an HVLP sprayer with an oilless 5 gallon air compressor similar to this?

(Stolen from google)

I was looking at the Pro HVLP from Harbor Freight.
http://www.harborfreight.com/20-oz-professional-hvlp-gravity-feed-air-spray-gun-68843.html

I'm just going to paint my window shutters from my house. Going to remove them and prep them for paint. The paint does not need to be perfect like it was a car or something.

I saw on THIS OLD HOUSE, they used an airless sprayer to paint their shutters. That costs too much for me. I already have an air compressor so I figured I use it.

My set up just includes an air compressor and regulator.... no dryer system.

Any hints, tips? Any links on how to thin paint and what kind of paint for my outdoor application? Thanks

 

[thebeekeeper1]

Probably yes--but read the CFM requirement on the spray gun. It's not the pressure, it's the CFM that matters.

 

[LordPsychon]

For HVLP, I'm thinking you need a compressor with more power for CFM. Most HVLP sprayers that I've seen that don't **** need about 5CFM and usually that requires a larger compressor (8+ gallons). Since it is low pressure (about 40-50 PSI), you might still be able to get some passes done without issue but I wouldn't count on finishing a project without having to refill the tank a couple of times.

 

[crerus75]

You can (barely) run an HVLP gun off it. I ran an HVLP gun off my pancake compressor this weekend to paint a few sections of French cleat that I cut. I did it as an experiment to see if the cheap $15 HF gun could shoot cheap latex paint with the pancake compressor doing the pushing. The compressor can barely keep up, and it is almost not possible to do. It can also spit a bit of water out if you don't have a dryer, which is annoying with latex and disastrous with oil-based. It was a fun thing to play around with but I wouldn't recommend it if you actually want to get things done.

Get ready to lose your mind hearing that compressor run. That's a direct drive compressor, probably 3600 RPM, using a similar pump as my pancake. It's inexpensive, has a low duty cycle, and doesn't put out much air volume. That means it's loud and its days are numbered if you ask it to run wide open for very long. Wear hearing protection, and don't be surprised if the compressor either burns out or locks up halfway through the job. Those little direct drive units with small tanks are really meant for air nailers and blowing up car tires, not HVLP guns. Can you afford a turbine sprayer like this one?

As for paint, I'd go to a local paint store and ask what they recommend for your application. When we painted our front door, the paint that had the best UV resistance was actually latex-based. Since our front door is behind a glass storm door and doesn't get exposed to the weather, we decided to try it. Two years later, the door hasn't faded a bit. It gets hit with strong afternoon sunlight, too, and it's often too hot to touch even in the winter. The guy at the paint store was dead on with his recommendation.

 

[dragonballz]

Thanks for the help guys. I forgot to mention, the compressor is an oil-less compressor. YES IT IS LOUD!

You can (barely) run an HVLP gun off it. I ran an HVLP gun off my pancake compressor this weekend to paint a few sections of French cleat that I cut. I did it as an experiment to see if the cheap $15 HF gun could shoot cheap latex paint with the pancake compressor doing the pushing. The compressor can barely keep up, and it is almost not possible to do. It can also spit a bit of water out if you don't have a dryer, which is annoying with latex and disastrous with oil-based. It was a fun thing to play around with but I wouldn't recommend it if you actually want to get things done.

Get ready to lose your mind hearing that compressor run. That's a direct drive compressor, probably 3600 RPM, using a similar pump as my pancake. It's inexpensive, has a low duty cycle, and doesn't put out much air volume. That means it's loud and its days are numbered if you ask it to run wide open for very long. Wear hearing protection, and don't be surprised if the compressor either burns out or locks up halfway through the job. Those little direct drive units with small tanks are really meant for air nailers and blowing up car tires, not HVLP guns. Can you afford a turbine sprayer like this one?

As for paint, I'd go to a local paint store and ask what they recommend for your application. When we painted our front door, the paint that had the best UV resistance was actually latex-based. Since our front door is behind a glass storm door and doesn't get exposed to the weather, we decided to try it. Two years later, the door hasn't faded a bit. It gets hit with strong afternoon sunlight, too, and it's often too hot to touch even in the winter. The guy at the paint store was dead on with his recommendation.

That turbine sprayer is a much better price than the airless sprayers I've seen online, especially with a 20% coupon. I may pick that up. Thanks

 

[crerus75]

Thanks for the help guys. I forgot to mention, the compressor is an oil-less compressor. YES IT IS LOUD!

I can't stand mine. I only got it because I was compressor-less after the moving company broke the nose off the pump of my old one. I didn't catch it in time to get reimbursed. Still mad about that. I got the pancake at a Black Friday sale. It's junky and loud, but it was cheap and it works.

That turbine sprayer is a much better price than the airless sprayers I've seen online, especially with a 20% coupon. I may pick that up. Thanks

If you get it, please post back about how it works. It gets stellar reviews on HF's website.

 

[dragonballz]

I can't stand mine. I only got it because I was compressor-less after the moving company broke the nose off the pump of my old one. I didn't catch it in time to get reimbursed. Still mad about that. I got the pancake at a Black Friday sale. It's junky and loud, but it was cheap and it works.




If you get it, please post back about how it works. It gets stellar reviews on HF's website.

It will probably be a couple of months until I get done with the project...
or even start it lol

I did watch some videos on youtube about the HF turbine. It looks really simple and the reviewer liked it alot. I really would hate to spend that much since I already have a compressor but it looks like it would give me the least amount of trouble.

Thanks.

 

[dnschmidt]

Depends on how you want the paint to look. The short answer is NO WAY IN HELL. My SATA guns take 12-17 CFM at 29 PSIG with the trigger pulled to produce excellent finishes with minimum orange peel. If you don't care what the paint looks like you can get away with a lot less than this which has the added advantage of minimum overspray. If you're painting a shovel or a tractor and really don't care then yes it is possible to do. If you're going for the Riddler award at AutoRama it ain't going to happen.