Official Luthiers Forum!

Hello ladies and gentlemen.

I'm shopping/studying HVLP systems. Asides from the initial sticker shock associated with high-end systems, I have a few questions.

I gather that Fuji makes a good system. I like the idea that there is no pressure running through the 'gun' when you're finger is not on the trigger. The innards are all stainless and the motor is quiet (although that doesn't matter because I usually lute with my 300W PA system blaring! )...

Are there any other systems that have the same specs but at a better price?

Any thoughts or suggestions would be appreciated on the matter.

Thanks in advance.

Al

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I'd like to be able to prove, just for once, that money wouldn't make me happy...

Hi AL

ive always just used a HVLP Gun on my air compressor, Always found a good finish. the one i have is copletely sealable. the air vent has a valve and the jet turns around inside the gun like a ball valve, seals the whole gun up so you can leave your favorite sprayable stuff in the gun with out it drying in the nozzle and blocking it, it can stay that way for monts and months, cool feature i think. but now i am ranting... lol it was about $400 NZD, so i guess that would be $240 US. i have achieved glass like finishes on cars furniture and of course my first guitar :-)

Alain I have a 3 stage Turbinaire built in la belle province. Works just fine --

It came down to price for me -- I was going to buy a FUJI until I saw the Turbinaire on eBay for $600.

if you already have a compressor all you need is your hvlp gun/regulator, a lot cheaper than a turbine system.

even if you don't have a compressor the gun/compressor combo should be cheaper than or comparable to a turbine of similar quality, and you get the benefit of have the compressor meet other needs.

[QUOTE=ToddStock] As to a Turbinaire on Ebay...it's there because someone realized just how good the conversion guns have gotten.
[/QUOTE]

Interesting assumption

Todd is the HVLP conversion gun as stingy with material as your Turbinaire? I've only used mine for spraying waterbased lacquers -- have you ever used your Turbinaire for spraying nitro?

Alain I purchased mine due to space considerations -- I just don't have room for a big compressor. I suspect you don't have that problem with your big shop.


Alain - here's the Turbinaire Todd and I both have ($525)
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=150020254 520&fromMakeTrack=trueAnthony Z38944.8558564815

Thanks for your replies guys. I think I will go the compressor/conversion gun route. I already have a compressor on hand.

I was just thinking that for the price of a decent gun, air filter/oil trap and all that jazz, I might as well buy a stand alone hvlp system. They are expensive though.

So this begs the question: What kind of gun? Accuspray? Sata? Appollo?

I guess any top-end gun will do a good job.

Thanks for you help!

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I'd like to be able to prove, just for once, that money wouldn't make me happy...

I have the Sata hvlp conversion gun and like it. I also have the Fuji 4 turbine machine and love it even more. I am so glad I bought it. The gun that comes with it is excellent. It has really brought the quality of my spraying up to a level that I no longer hate doing it!

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Dave Bland

remember...

"If it doesn't play in tune...it's just pretty wood"

alain, i have an astro mini hvlp with a 1mm tip and it does a great job for me , and i really don't know what i'm doing.. I have read it is close in quality and performance to a sata at around 1/3 the price if i remember right.. might be worth a look. Check out spraygunworld.com they carry everything at very good prices..
Mike
mikev38946.0381828704

Alain,
i have sold my compressor, but still have my astro , not sure what shipping would cost, but if you want to use it for a while to see if it meets your needs your welcome to borrow it.. think about it,, Plus then you can tell me how to use it right
Mike

Alain,

A few months back I was at Mohawk in Vancouver buying some Nito and saw a 'pressure pot' HVLP gun behind the counter. It know lives at my house !! I has a 2 litre pot that connects to the spray head buy two hoses. I like the idea of not having the lacquer attached to the gun as I think it allows more freedom for spraying. I have not used it yet but even though it is an overseas product the finish of the tool is very nice and all of the fittings look very good quality. It cost $190 plus taxes. I am just working on building the studio that will include a full finishing area with my new buffer that I am building right now (got the shaft today ! Anyway, I think is a Mohawk around you somewhere. Josh House uses their products so I guess he would know where they are.

Just another option, let me know if I can get you more info. I have a big old 5hp two stage compressor to run the thing.

Shane

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Canada

Shane, please share pics of the shop progress please!!!

You tease, every time i hear about that shop, i'm red with envy!

I have owned and used several different HVLP systems. I now use an Apollo
System with an Apollo gun. Obviously I use it to shoot clear lacquer but I
also am able to adjust the gun to shoot sunburst finishes quite easily. The
gun is stainless and has no packing so cleaning and disassembly is a breeze.
I could not be happier with this setup. The people at Advanced Machinery
(where I bought it) are extremely helpful and accommodating. All in all, it
does all I need it to do, with good service.

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Sylvan
http://www.wellsguitars.com

shane

I bought my Mohawk Lac through Tony. He lives close to a Richelieu dealer who can get the lac. Here is a link to the product

http://www.richelieu.com/produit/detail.php?id=24363&cat=696 7Josh H38946.3627199074

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Josh House

Canadian Luthier Supply
http://www.canadianluthiersupply.com
https://www.facebook.com/canadianluthiersupply?ref=hl
House Guitars - Custom Built Acoustic Instruments.
http://www.houseguitars.com

Mike, thanks a lot for your very kind offer. I wouldn't want to break anything though. With my luck, that's exactly what would happen... I'll definitely check spraygunwold. Sounds promissing.

Thanks for your advice gents.

I've seen a few very nice guns on ebay for cheap. There was even a brand new Apollo for almost 1/3 of it's original price...

I'm still studying.

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I'd like to be able to prove, just for once, that money wouldn't make me happy...

Hey Alain,

I was taking pics for Serge so I thought I should snap a couple of the gun I have. Again, I haven't used it but the Mohawk people said that they have gotten very good reports from those that have bought them, but I don't know what application they were using them for. They are selling the things though..... Maybe someone here will have something to say about it. It comes with a 1.5 mm nozzle.





And this is the old beauty that will be supplying air for the shop and especially the spraying operations.



Good luck in your search my friend!!

Shane

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Canada

WOW Shane, that shop will be loaded with great toys, are you hiring apprentices this winter?

i have compressor capacity envy!!!!!

Wow Shane, that looks like a fantastic gun... Do you think that compressor can hold enough air?

I'll definitely take that kind of gun into consideration. Very nice my friend!

I'll let you know how my quest turns out...

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I'd like to be able to prove, just for once, that money wouldn't make me happy...

Shane, do you use the cream separator to filter your lacquer <g>

I have used thw Wagner 3 turbine several years with great results. At the time I bought them, they were rated the best by some consumer thing. I have one I will sell. Never used. Full setup with gun, hose the whole bit. Anyone interested can pm me. Can of course do water or nitro in them. gun is 1 quart.