Been following this thread since first posted. Orange peel is a common problem and was
wondering what the common consensus would be.
First thing that hits me is that your not using DuPont reducer or hardener. If it were me I
wouldn’t listen to the guy at the counter I’d insist on what the spec sheet called out.
Second thing that seems to stand out is the paint coverage, I don’t care what color your
using, if you’re laying down the proper film thickness on each pass of premium
automotive paint it should cover completely in 2 to 4 coats. The only problems I’ve had
with coverage is when I’ve used the watered down versions like Omni. It is not unheard
of for an unscrupulous paint dealer to water down the better paints with cheaper clears so
they can sell more paint.
Here‘s a grill that I just finished up a month or two ago using a $15 Harbor Freight
gravity feed HVLP spray gun , a 40 year old Sears 3hp 30 gallon 7.4cfm utility
compressor and shot outside at 50-60°. Both the blue and white paints are PPG Delstar
acrylic enamel, which is comparable to DuPont Centari. I used PPG DTR601 reducer and
DXR80 hardener as called out on the spec sheet for the Delstar system. As you can see in
the original size frames there is no orange peel. Click next or previous for a couple other
views.
http://www.pbase.com/dennygraham/image/138235326/large I run about 35-40 psi at the compressor regulator with 50 ft of 3/8” hose and adjust
my pattern first to get my oval shape at about 8”, then adjust the mixture so it is wet but
not running at a moderate gun movement. Using the proper materials and mix ratios
-Fan adj-Mixture adj and speed are the only factors that are that are needed to give you
a “good enough” paint job.
No argument that oil free high volume screw compressors and Anest-Iwata or Sata spray
guns are nice to have if your shooting paint for a living but my personal opinion is that
they aren’t really necessary to apply the average single stage enamel paint job.
All the fancy equipment in the world isn’t going to make a Nubby out of you any more
than a $3,500 Custom Fender Stratocaster will allow the average guitar picker to play like
Eric Clapton.
Denny Graham
Sandwich, IL
