The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Paint and Body Shop HVLP Painting

I just shot some panels with my new HVLP gun on my shop compressor. Seemed to work out fine. So, is there any need for the turbine compressor that is recommended for that gun?

Unless you made an adapter your gun wasn't designed for an tubine. I certainly don't know much about turbines but every Turbine gun set up I have seen uses a large 3/4" or so hose.
What brand and model gun do you have?

51Chev3/4ton:
I'm interested in such a gun also. Can you tell us a little more about your setup, e.g., size of compressor, any special hose, experiences/recommendations etc.? Thanks!

I am not even a novice painter but I decided to purchase an AccuSpray turbine system for a few reasons.

Main reason for turbine system:

1. With a turbine system, there will never be contamination (oil or water) in my air. This is not an insignifant problem. Also, I will not have to buy a high quality filtration/desiccant system.

Other reasons for HVLP system:

2. I use 50% or less material (than was being used by a friend of mine who was painting my truck) and I estimate that the system will pay for itself with one restoration. Of course, this saving in paint would be similar in a compressec air turbine system.

3. Overspray is minimal compared to non HVLP (same in compress-air and turbine systems).

Notes:
- A turbine system warms the air and this takes getting use to.
- An experienced painter finds is awkward holding the gun so close to the surface to be painted (6-8 inches and sometimes closer).
- The turbine system is portable (no need for compressor and air-purification system (I have already found this to be useful painting outside my garage).

Since I have no investment of money or experience in a compressed air system, the turbine HVLP seemed logical.

When you buy an HVLP gun it is made for either a compressor or a turbine. Some companies sell adapters. What brand and model gun do you have?

Tim

It's a Cobalt Sharpe HVLP gun and I ran it off my 5 HP, 30 gallon compressor. NO adapter was needed and it seemed to work fine, but I only shot primer. Am I missing something here? Thanks!

51Chev, that is a "regular old" HVLP gun. It was not made to use any type of turbane unit, just a compresser as you did.
What size is the tip? It will say on the air cap or on the nozzle.

MARTINSR, It's a 1.4 tip, which I guess is more suited for finish work than for primer, but since it was a gift, it's what I have!

51Chev, don't follow the old bigger is better for primer theory. Depending on the primer being shot, it may be better. Without a long story, I did a test one time that gave me MORE film thickness with a 1.3 tip than a 1.7 tip. The droplets are smaller, thus you have less solvents in the film as it is applied. Less solvents=less shrinkage, less shrinkage=more primer build.

What kind of primer are you shooting?
By the way, I have used that gun with base and clear, it works well.