Can gravity fed spray gun be modified to work with HVLP turbine

[cgrutt]

I want to spray gelcoat and want a gravity fed hvlp spray gun that has disposable container to minimize clean-up. I have a nice Devilbiss gun for compressor is there a mod to make this work with a Fuji HVLP turbine? I have a Fuji gun for the turbine but its suction fed and I don't want to use this with gelcoat. I think the tip is too small anyway. I have 1.8 and 2.0 tips for the Devilbiss which I think might work. I believe there has to be a pass-through for air so air is always flowing with the turbine. I don't have a big enough compressor to just use compressor.

Alternatively any recommendations for a reasonably priced (let's say $200 +/- or less) gravity fed HVLP spray gun with 2.0 to 2.5 tip that uses disposable containers and can be used with an HVLP turbine?

Its probably only going to be used for this project and I'm planning on sanding so finish doesn't need to be perfect. But want it to be better than rolling the gelcoat out.

Thanks.

 

[The Cobbler]

My first thought was pressure would be too low on the turbine to atomize the paint. Just for the heck of it, I fed your title in to google and got this

 

[cgrutt]

My first thought was pressure would be too low on the turbine to atomize the paint. Just for the heck of it, I fed your title in to google and got this

Thanks. I have to look into that but am leaning towards a new gun. The newer turbine guns don't bleed air constantly like my older style does but there appears to be an easy mod to my turbine to use the new style guns. Just enlarging a bleed hole in the manifold from 1/8 inch to 3/16. Problem is the gun and accessories is fairly expensive.

 

[PCustoms]

I'm not aware of a a cup gun for an hvlp turbine. Even with the cup gun there is some cleanup.

Does your setup accommodate liners at all? May be the easier route.

You should also be able to roll the gel coat on with a low nap roller. I've done this several times as the guns use A LOT of air to move thick gel coat.

 

[cgrutt]

Thanks, they do have guns just pricey.

Fuji T75G seems to have a good rep.

T75G™ Spray Gun - Fuji Spray Systems

The Fuji Spray T-Model™ is a market-leading spray gun that will help you to achieve a remarkable finish everytime.

fujispraysystems.com

And it is compatible with 3M PPS disposable cups and liners.

https://www.3m.com/3M/en_US/collision-repair-us/featured-products/paint-preparation-system/?utm_term=sibg-aad-na-en_us-lead-global_paintapp_pps2_0-cpc-google-PFX-demo-brand-jan25-00000&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=16265978828&gbraid=0AAAAACgp1ZoX3ia9i5O6w3ILyyZcrsirf&gclid=Cj0KCQjw_vnQBhCxARIsADcZyxKqJ-a1Qvorz7h2FQ4MPICQitiq4zEGA5TAZXg9Xe2rpnynBAWbb7AaAgweEALw_wcB

I did roll the initial repairs and it worked OK but left a heavily dimpled (orange peel?) surface I was hoping to get something flatter when I finish it. Just thinking about HVLP because I have the turbine and boat is in a location where I won't have access to large compressor but the hvlp may actually be too small for the volume of gelcoat I think I will need. I may wind up just rolling it again and be prepared for heavy sanding.

I did buy the Mirka sander and am set with paper from 180 through 1000 so that won't be an issue aside from time.

 

[cgrutt]

Also I used a woven mohair cover to roll it out seemed to be best option. I might try again but thinning out a bit to see if it gets any flatter. I know there are some additives that may help have to look into that some more.

 

[gahrajmahal]

Not to be a naysayer, but I don’t think unthinned gel coat will spray without orange peel. That said a 3m pps cup system does not guarantee easy cleanup. I have used it with several guns and still had hardened paint after cleaning which came out in my next paint job. The benefit of the PPS cups is the “any position” spraying without leaking as they are sealed when assembled correctly. The throwaway cup just self crushes as the liquid is used up. It may be a trick finding the adapter for your specific spray gun. I had trouble with my Awata.

 

[cgrutt]

Not to be a naysayer, but I don’t think unthinned gel coat will spray without orange peel. That said a 3m pps cup system does not guarantee easy cleanup. I have used it with several guns and still had hardened paint after cleaning which came out in my next paint job.

Yes definitely would need to thin it out for spraying. I was talking about the initial repairs that I made and rolled out the gelcoat just to get something on it.

 

[PCustoms]

Anyone know why my posts in here from today got nuked?

@The Cobbler

 

[The Cobbler]

I cleaned up the spam posts & everything I thought ( at a quick glance) was related.
if there was some that should be left I apologize. Ill look and fix it up

 

[cgrutt]

Anyone know why my posts in here from today got nuked?

@The Cobbler

Hmm, mine too and I spent some time with images and links it was all related to original topic.

 

[PCustoms]

I cleaned up the spam posts & everything I thought ( at a quick glance) was related.
if there was some that should be left I apologize. Ill look and fix it up

There was the spam post, @cgrutt quoted (asking if it was spam) plus a bunch of other useful stuff, and everything else looked unrelated

 

[The Cobbler]

think it's fixed up. let me know

 

[PCustoms]

@cgrutt

I've been around a lot of composite and gel coat work over the years and it's always orange peel when sprayed. Production used to build up several coats, sand it, then spray again a few times. Just the nature of trying to get a "tooled" surface after the fact on an exposed face.

Personally I'd save the time, money and mess and use a roller again.

I've thought, if I ever do projects at home again, of trying the HF gun for $15

 

[jar944]

The fuji is a pressure feed, not suction.


Areojet has a knockoff

AeroJet RS1 HVLP Turbine Spray Gun Non-Bleed Type

HVLP Turbine Spray Gun - The AeroJet RS1 HVLP Turbine Spray Gun will work on many makes of Non-Bleed HVLP turbine spray systems. The RS1 features an adjustable fan control knob for wide to narrow spray fan adjustment.

www.paintsprayersplus.com

 

[cgrutt]

The fuji is a pressure feed, not suction.


Areojet has a knockoff

AeroJet RS1 HVLP Turbine Spray Gun Non-Bleed Type

HVLP Turbine Spray Gun - The AeroJet RS1 HVLP Turbine Spray Gun will work on many makes of Non-Bleed HVLP turbine spray systems. The RS1 features an adjustable fan control knob for wide to narrow spray fan adjustment.

www.paintsprayersplus.com

Thanks I may be getting the terms mixed up I have a fuji suction style gun (with the cup on the bottom) for my system but want to use a gravity fed gun because I think it would be easier to clean. Only have about 15 minutes with the gelcoat so looking for easiest solution. I realize the turbines pressurize the cup.

 

[tak1313]

I have a Fuji gun and a 2 stage and 3 stage turbine. I'm no pro - so far I've only used it for poly.
Fuji has a chart (that DOESN'T include gelcoat, but does include heavier viscosity stuff) along with tip size recommendation, etc.

PERSONALLY, having piddled with resins in the past, I'm pretty sure HVLP will not handle gelcoats. It's not the ability to push the fluid to the tip that would likely be a problem - it's whether it will be able to atomize correctly without MAJOR thinning. Maybe with a high stage turbine?

But then I recall from my boating days that some gelcoats come pretty thin. Here's the chart anyway: