What compressor do I need?

[sethmac]

I just picked up a purple HVLP spray gun from Harbor Freight. The plan is to spray Benjamin Moore Advanced on our kitchen cabinets.

I only have a small pancake compressor. I had my eye on the McGraw 21 Gallon oiless from Harbor Freight. Would this compressor be able to keep up if I'm spraying cabinets?

I've looked at a 60gal Husky, but I like the portability of the 21 gallon McGraw.

Thoughts from the experts?

 

[BarryWells]

Pull the doors and drawer fronts and take them to an auto or bike painter to do in a booth. The rest you can do with the little pancake and your hF gun. You only want to do this ONCE.

 

[sethmac]

Thanks Barry...hoping to tackle this project myself.

My other concern is the thickness of the paint...thinking of losing the purple HVLP in favor of a 2.3 Vapor from Northern Tool..the biggest concern remains the compressor.

Thoughts?

 

[txvwnut]

Use the purple gun, your gonna have to thin any paint to spray it through an automotive type spray gun. The pancake compressor will most likely run all the time while spraying, check the cfm on the compressor and see if it matches the gun or comes close to it. If not then you’ll need the 21 gallon which is where I’d go anyway and not do all the doors and drawer faces together. Do a few and let the comp rest a little while you let them dry and get ready for the next. I sprayed quite a few cars with a 20 gallon Sanborn and a Binks model 7 gun and that little compressor ran the whole time I sprayed but was able to somewhat keep up.

 

[joey1320]

I used the purple gun on the cooling system of my aircooled Beetle with great success. I used Rust-Oleum oil based paint, thinned with mineral spirits. The paint went on smooth and had almost no blemishes - extremely oily/dirty engine components that I tried cleaning three times.

As far as compressors, I used a 21gallon Craftsman which kept up with it perfectly fine. I did buy an inline filter and pressure regulator to complement the one on the compressor.

Plenty of YouTube videos on what setups/techniques work best.


Have you considered an HVLP kit?
https://www.harborfreight.com/high-...p6xw5RpaaF-Ynl6y1Gt3YtGlI_aduE2BoCcY0QAvD_BwE


This guy's channel is super down to earth and reliable. Dude's not trying to sell you anything. He's got some cool flying videos since he's an airline pilot.

 

[sethmac]

I used the purple gun on the cooling system of my aircooled Beetle with great success. I used Rust-Oleum oil based paint, thinned with mineral spirits. The paint went on smooth and had almost no blemishes - extremely oily/dirty engine components that I tried cleaning three times.

As far as compressors, I used a 21gallon Craftsman which kept up with it perfectly fine. I did buy an inline filter and pressure regulator to complement the one on the compressor.

Plenty of YouTube videos on what setups/techniques work best.


Have you considered an HVLP kit?
https://www.harborfreight.com/high-...p6xw5RpaaF-Ynl6y1Gt3YtGlI_aduE2BoCcY0QAvD_BwE


This guy's channel is super down to earth and reliable. Dude's not trying to sell you anything. He's got some cool flying videos since he's an airline pilot.

I hadn't considered it until you posted it...is this more adept at painting cabinets?

 

[sethmac]

I hadn't considered it until you posted it...is this more adept at painting cabinets?

Watching reviews on the HF HVLP...think you just sold me

 

[sethmac]

Ok...starting to think about a Fuji Semi-Pro/Hobby Pro...anyone have one?