School me on HVLP guns

[doan]

I'm restoring a 59 Austin Healey Sprite. (blog here for those that are curious) I'm down to minor body work and paint.

This is a LOW BUDGET project. My original plan was to do the "$50 rustoleum paint job" with a roller, now I've decided to spray to get it done sooner. My garage is attached to the house, so I can't use super smelly poisonous paint. For that and budget reasons I want to stick with something like rustoleum or tractor paint.

I've read that the harbor freight guns are decent. Can I get by with one gun or do I need the detail gun too? Can the same gun spray primer? I have a decent air compressor - 60 gal, 12 CFM @ 90 PSA - What do I need for dying? Currently I have a cheap glass bowl dryer, but I still get water in the hose.

Thanks,

David

 

[kazlx]

The HF guns are decent. I would get them on sale and buy two. Use one for primer. I can't remember if they have different nozzles for them or not, but ideally you want to use a bigger nozzle for spraying high build primer. FWIW, you can get a nice Devilbiss or similar gun for ~$100. Throwing down a nice paint job has more to do with prep than it does with actually laying down paint.

For filtration, you can get by with a motorguard and then another filter right before the gun. Not what I'd run if you spray for a living, but to do a single project is fine. You can build a makeshift booth out of pvc pipe and plastic sheet. Wear a respirator.

Like this filter:
http://www.usaweld.com/Super-Dry-for-Plasma-Cutters-p/25300.htm

 

[silviaboy89]

since you want to save money. i will recommend you the HF purple gun item #66222 this thing is a beast has a 1.4 tip so u can spray base and clear. i dont know about tractor paint . i guess if you thin it enough it would be ok. google HF purple gun and find out for yourself how many people love it.

you can try the turbine system. its also from HF comes with a lot of tips to spray thicker paints like primer/base/clear also HVLP
http://www.harborfreight.com/high-volume-low-pressure-spray-gun-kit-44677.html

also if you've never painted before hvlp is really hard to learn i would get a non hvlp compliant gun

just get a SATAJET LOL

 

[doan]

The HF guns are decent. I would get them on sale and buy two. Use one for primer. I can't remember if they have different nozzles for them or not, but ideally you want to use a bigger nozzle for spraying high build primer. FWIW, you can get a nice Devilbiss or similar gun for ~$100. Throwing down a nice paint job has more to do with prep than it does with actually laying down paint.

For filtration, you can get by with a motorguard and then another filter right before the gun. Not what I'd run if you spray for a living, but to do a single project is fine. You can build a makeshift booth out of pvc pipe and plastic sheet. Wear a respirator.

Like this filter:
http://www.usaweld.com/Super-Dry-for-Plasma-Cutters-p/25300.htm

What's a "motorguard"?

 

[Airframer]

If you're limited to a HF gun, get the purple one(s). The "professional" gun kit in the chrome has always been **** for friends who have bought, exchanged, bought, exchanged them to get one that works properly.

Devilbiss sells some decent guns in the "starting line" and "finish line" series.

 

[Chuck122]

just get a SATAJET LOL

Kind of the bodyman's snap on price joke

 

[E.rodz]

there are so many kinds . I have a three piece set from northern tool it was like 75 bucks it also comes with a smaller jam gun,primer gun and a finish gun. you can have a sweet paint job in your garage with rustolem if you take some very important steps! prep is key to any paint job. preperation is 90% of any paint job body work and primer coats,sanding in steps,cleaning, taping,masking,removal of emblems,paint does not cover anything it only shows it off more. here is a little trick put 4 oz. of acrylic enamel hardner to speed up drying time and to enhance gloss and uv protectant. all of these options will stink you house up for a couple of days. look up paint with plastic dip this might be a better option for you . good luck with what ever you do. and be sure to keep us posted!

 

[doan]

there are so many kinds . I have a three piece set from northern tool it was like 75 bucks it also comes with a smaller jam gun,primer gun and a finish gun. you can have a sweet paint job in your garage with rustolem if you take some very important steps! prep is key to any paint job. preperation is 90% of any paint job body work and primer coats,sanding in steps,cleaning, taping,masking,removal of emblems,paint does not cover anything it only shows it off more. here is a little trick put 4 oz. of acrylic enamel hardner to speed up drying time and to enhance gloss and uv protectant. all of these options will stink you house up for a couple of days. look up paint with plastic dip this might be a better option for you . good luck with what ever you do. and be sure to keep us posted!

I have 4 kids, using the hardener is out unless I can shoot it outside. This car is not a daily driver, but certainly not a trailer queen. I only drive it for short trips and in good weather. (no top, no locks, no storage). It is in the garage most of the time.

When you said "plastic dip" did you mean plasti-dip? I don't think I could do that to a whole car!!

 

[Airframer]

https://www.dipyourcar.com/
Not sure it would be my first choice, however.

 

[Adam McLaughlin]

Iwata Super Nova..... Own two and still use the LVX 400

Adam

 

[silviaboy89]

Iwata Super Nova..... Own two and still use the LVX 400

Adam

ok now i see we got some painters round here them iwatas are no joke

 

[larryq]

The problem with HVLP on something the size of a car (even a Sprite) is the air consumption. If you want to do a good job you really need something like a 60 gallon tank (80 is ideal), otherwise you're fighting the airflow and can wind up starving the gun...leading to a paint job that looks like hell.

With tractor enamel you _might_ get away with a 30 gal compressor, since those oil-based paints don't cure remotely as quickly as urethane, and you can wait a few seconds for the tank to refill while keeping a wet edge. Doesn't hurt that you're not painting an SUV and that you have that 60 gal minimum met.

For cheap air drying, look at a used Wilkerson desiccant dryer on eBay. You should be able to get one for under $100, including media. I have an X03 model.

But if you've never done HVLP before you might be surprised how much air it requires. As for hardener, I'd absolutely recommend it-- without it the paint will be very susceptible to scratching.

Enamel hardener is no fun to breathe in, it's true, but is less toxic than isocyanate BC/CC systems. Send the kids to the park while painting and you should be fine. (You do have a good 3M or other respirator available, with a big box fan to keep the air moving?)

I assume you've read the 'rick wrench' website on his $50 paintjob? Remarkable what he did.

(Edit: example of a dryer. You can get better deals than this but you get the idea: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Wilkerson-C...794?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2a2805ee72)

 

[03protege]

Most cars I see with the Rustoleum paint job are super crappy looking around the 1 year mark. I think the guy you mention (Rick Wrench) was smart about choosing white as you will not notice fading as easily.

The Honda fanboy websites have a ton of info and show many cars a year or so later.

The problem seems to be that there is no UV protection for the paint so it fades and oxidizes very fast.

 

[HellaFab]

who cares about the tool, your using **** paint its going to look like ****.

if you dont think that rustoleum paint is not "nasty poisonous paint" you have something coming to you.

spend the money and take it somewhere to have it painted if your not comfortable getting good results.

 

[gte718p]

100 dollars in PVC, a roll of 10 mil plastic, a roll of duct tape, two home filters, and a box fan will build you a nice paint booth in you in your driveway.

I prefer good paint. I'm a PPG fan myself. I've shot it in the garage a couple of times. If the "booth" is sealed up well fumes are not a problem. I make a duct out of plastic, just a tube made by rolling plastic and taping it to move exhaust away from the house. All of the big brands have moved to the 50 state voc legal paint. You still must have a respirator, but they don't stink as bad.

 

[kazlx]

What's a "motorguard"?

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000WZYKAE/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[dmeadow]

Look into the Duplicolor Paint Shop paints if you're going to DIY. They are acrylic laquer, so it takes a long time to dry and aren't particularly long lasting. The upside is that imperfections from shooting can be sanded out easily and the finish can be rubbed out pretty flat and shiny with lots of elbow grease. The paints come premixed and shootable for a DIY guy, so not a lot of figuring on temps, reduction, etc. You can generally find them in your local auto parts store.

Still not the best stuff to be breathing, though not immediately deadly like the isocyanate stuff.

BTW, laquer is what was used to paint your car at the factory.

 

[E.rodz]

any paint besides waterborn paints are going to be toxic the toxins come from the solvents that are in the paints like acetone.ketones,laq. thinners.are what makes it stinky make a temp. booth or paint it while the kids are away for the weekend. keep the door that goes into the house closed even for walking in and out. also keep in mind enamel dries really slow and will overspray everything in your shop that is not covered . give us some pictures to work off a plan that makes sense for you. and it just might be take it to Abra.or earl sheib.

 

[IndyGarage]

You could easily paint a car with Valspar tractor paint, or even the Majic paint they sell at Tractor supply.

I've painted a couple forklifts and a couple machines with it as well as my car hauler trailer - which sits outside all the time and looks like new after a year.

I've had better luck with the Valspar - especially the restoration series, which is something like $50 a gallon. It can lay down pretty smooth, and would look fine on a car. The only problem is the colors are monotone - no pearls or metalflake in them.