Replies

1. 
   woodguy99 | Sep 11, 2003 12:23am | #1

   Peter, I have a Fuji 3-stage that works well. I've heard the 4-stage works even better, and that the 3-stage was just redesigned to be quieter (which would be nice).

   What kind of finishes do you intend to spray? What kind of spray booth or area do you have? How much $ do you want to spend?

   If you haven't already, you should post this over at knots. Probably more HVLP-ers over there.

   
   

   ---

   Edited 9/10/2003 5:28:47 PM ET by mike maines

2. 
   MisterT | Sep 11, 2003 02:07am | #2

   When I saw the title of this thread I thought you met my wife at the mall!!

   Mr T

   Do not try this at home!

   I am an Experienced Professional!

3. 
   Shep | Sep 11, 2003 02:15am | #3

   Peter-- I have a Wagner professional model 2-stage hvlp. It works fine for the water base finishes I generally shoot with it. It will do latex paint, but the paint needs to be thinned and even then it struggles. Like Mike said, go for a 3- or even 4-stage unit and you won't regret it. As Tim Allen says :  MORE POWER!

4. 
   RW | Sep 11, 2003 04:24am | #4

   Another good place for research can be your paint stores that carry and sell the wares. Get to talking to someone who knows their stuff there before you buy it. Keeps you from getting something you didn't intend to.

   In a nutshell, HVLPs do the same thing other spray systems do (atomise a finish) via pressure generated by a turbine rather than compressed air or pressurized fluid. If you want to spray "all" finishes of all viscosities, you definately want a four stage. But I'm inclined to ask what you really want to do with it, because an HVLP is the right tool for some things and you're wasting your money on neat toys for others.

   HVLPs are good at applying furniture finishes, i.e. shellac, lacquer, in places where the transfer efficiency is important and overspray concerns are an issue. Some waterborne finishes seem to do well with them, but I haven't yet decided what separates those from others that do very very poorly coming out of an HVLP. An HVLP would be good for smaller projects but would be overly time consuming from the "time=money" standpoint if you were to try to finish all the woodwork in a new home with it.

   Another thing you could look in to if you were so inclined would be conversion guns which give you the efficiency and finish quality of a turbine unit but are driven off of compressed air. Auto body shops carry those wares far more frequently than a Sherwin Williams would. The advantage is, if you're like me and have compressors lying all over the place, even a top of the line Sata gun is less than half of a decent turbine unit. The upshot is the compressor has to generate a heck of a lot of air to feed the consumption rate of the gun. I've got a Sata gravity feed gun and a touch up gun, both regulator style conversions, that do an outstanding job with most finishes. They're handy to have around. But I've also got a pressure pot, several conventional suction feed guns, and an airless. They all get used for something different.

   "The child is grown / The dream is gone / And I have become / Comfortably numb "      lyrics by Roger Waters

5. 
   bill_1010 | Sep 11, 2003 05:24am | #5

   http://www.homesteadfinishing.com

   Jeff Jewitts site.  while he does sell HVLP, the site can offer a wealth of info about HVLP sprayers from stand alone turbines to just guns.  

6. 
   goldhiller | Sep 11, 2003 07:06am | #6

   Peter,

   You might find this article informative if you're in the market for about $500 and/or desire the portability of a turbine rig.

   http://www.taunton.com/finewoodworking/pages/w00051.asp

   I've got the Wagner 2600 and have no complaints.

   Adjusting an HVLP gun is slightly different than a high pressure gun, but you'll catch on.

   Like RW said, a conversion gun is nice if portability isn't a concern and you have a large enough compressor to feed its rather voracious appetite for air.

   Homestead is indeed a good site for info and guns.

   Knowledge is power, but only if applied in a timely fashion.
7. 
   TomT226 | Sep 11, 2003 02:08pm | #7

   I've got a Asturo 9011 conversion with a 2 qt. pressure pot, and it sprays everything I put in it very well.

   Air requirements are low, and there are about a dozen different tips/needle assemblys available. Rig cost about $500.

   A pressure is indespensible when you're spraying overhead, or when you have to tilt the gun to get into tight spots.

   Check with www. homesteadfinishing.com.

1. 
   FunnyBunny | Sep 11, 2003 03:09pm | #8

   I appreciate the input. I have used a HERO, an American Turbine, and a Campbell Hausfeld. I need to be able to apply lacquers, water-borne polyurethanes, as well as latex paint. I want to spend the money on a good one that will last me "forever." I am primarily finishing doors, moldings, cabinetry. Not necessarily in a booth. Tool Crib advertises the Fuji line and I was considering one of those. I buy a lot of tools through them. By the way I just bought an Occidental Leather belt from them cause my old one was stolen. Nice rig.

1. 
   james | Sep 11, 2003 04:54pm | #9

   grayco makes an good unit, i have the 4900 turbine that came with a cart, 2gal pressure pot and compressor for the pot, the turbind can be used with the pot, or removed from the cart to make it a nice portable unit ( the box is about 12x18 ish).

   with the gun, hoses etc the whole rig was just shy of 2000.00 but it will spray just about anything you throw at it. it excells at light weight clear finishes and automotive paint but will do a good job with latex.

   james

1. 
   Sancho | Sep 11, 2003 05:15pm | #10

   As someone said earlier checkout http://www.homesteadfinishing.com

   but also check out http://www.compliantspraysystems.com. I have one of the accusprays and love it. 

   Darkworks: Underground, In the Peoples Republic of California

2. 
   ccal | Sep 11, 2003 10:07pm | #11

   I have an accuspray 3 stage and it will easily do all of the things you mentioned with the right needle and cap set up. Had it about 8 years, and with three needles and air caps it ran about 750$$ then. If you really want to spray latex more than occasionally get a four stage turbine, or better yet an airless pump for latex. I am a fan of the turbine units. I have used a fugi in another shop and they are at least as good as mine. I also use a pressure pot set up with conventional air sprayer for some applications. Rarely use it any more. Get a gravity fed gun if you can. Dont have any real experience with conversion hvlp, turbine has worked well for me.

8. 
   andybuildz | Sep 12, 2003 12:19am | #12

   I have the Fuji and like it a lot. The newest model is even better...

   I needed to buy a larger tip to spray latex paints so be sure it can do all you want it to.

   Be well

           andy

    The way we regard death is critical to the way we experiance life.

   When your fear of death changes, the way you live your life changes.

   http://CLIFFORDRENOVATIONS.COM

1. 
   CAGIV | Sep 12, 2003 03:40am | #13

   which Fuji do you have?Never be afraid to try something new. Remember, amateurs built the ark, Professionals built the Titanic.

2. 
   woodguy99 | Sep 12, 2003 04:41am | #14

   Do you use the same gun and cup for different finishes, or just change the tip each time?

1. 
   FunnyBunny | Sep 12, 2003 05:24am | #15

   I think I will go with the 4-stage Fugi, sounds like a good unit that will do what I need it to do. I think it's somewhere between 6 and 7 hundred bucks.

2. 
   andybuildz | Sep 12, 2003 02:04pm | #16

   Same gun and cup.....different tips. Cept mine also came with a gravity fed cup for really fine work. The way we regard death is critical to the way we experiance life.

   When your fear of death changes, the way you live your life changes.

   http://CLIFFORDRENOVATIONS.COM