Official Luthiers Forum!

I am looking into getting a new spray gun, for use with a std compressor setup, ditching my current high pressure touchup gun. Anyone out there using either a Sata (minijet 4) or Walcom (stm or slim) gun ?? what are your thoughts on these, or others if you have something different ???

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Tony Karol
www.karol-guitars.com
"let my passion .. fulfill yours"

Tony,

I use a HVLP touch-up gun from Harbor Freight with a 1.2 mm tip. It's an inexpensive gun (~$60.00) but it works fine. I suppose the more expensive guns might give better results, but I'm satisfied with my setup. I think as long as you have a good quality gun and good technique, you'll get good results. As they say, it's the Indian, not the arrow. I'm spraying Target USL and am very happy with the results.

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Jimmy Caldwell
http://www.caldwellguitars.com

I just checked out a system yesterday--I'll get you the name, as I don't recall. It had an electric compressor, very small and very quiet, almost could not hear it--HVLP gravity feed gun--I think it was about $700 or so, but what a set-up. I'm thinking about buying one. small self contained and veyr portable--its was a definatley a pro set-up.

Tony,

I recently bought a combo set of Devilbliss overseas guns, a touch up and a regular gun, both HVLP gravity feed for like $150 CDN. I am still setting up my small Binks booth and plumbing in the big compressor so haven't used them yet but they came on good recommendation from an autobody guy.

Michael Greenfield in Montreal has a Sata high pressure. He recently went back to high pressure rather hvlp. He felt that, with his technique, hvlp layed on the paint too thick so went back to high pressure. He is easy to talk to if you want his number.

ShaneShane Neifer39108.5811921296

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Canada

Check out THIS site for HVLP guns

I have a Sata Minijet as well. Beautiful little gun, uses barely a wisp of air... I wish the fan was a bit bigger, but other than that, it's a lovely thing.

Porter Cable makes a decent gravity feed hvlp. I have two. One for solvent
based and one for waterborne. $120 CDN. Came recommended to me by
an auto painter buddy. He has one for backup.

Have a SATA MiniJet3, great gun, great quality.

I have been using a Walcom STM gun for a couple of years. This was my first HVLP gun and it took a little getting use to, since my previous spray gun was a traditional full sized, high pressure unit. I love the soft, atomized spray pattern of the STM. The thing I had trouble with was getting a nice wet pattern when I first started using it. I now thin my lacquer with about 30% thinner in order to get it thin enough to spray well. I am also thinking about trying warming of the lacquer to help.

I also have a SATA MiniJet3, awesome little gun.

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Beautiful and unusual tone woods at a reasonable price.
http://www.rctonewoods.com/RCT_Store
The Zootman
1109 Military Rd.
Kenmore, NY 14217
(716) 874-1498

Checkout spraygun depot. They have good quality low-end
guns like Devilbiss up to high end like Binks, and Iwata

Spraygun depot

I have the Devilbiss finishline 1 and it works verywell.

They also have just about any finishing item you could want, except nitro

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Matt Jacobs

"Don't tase me bro"

WOW .. lots of good info to check out - looks like the Sata mini 4 is the next gen - for those using the mini 3 , what tip size are you using for nitro, 1.2mm ???

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Tony Karol
www.karol-guitars.com
"let my passion .. fulfill yours"

I also really like my Sharpe HVLP mini gun.

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Mike

"The Dude abides. I don't know about you but I take comfort in that. It's good knowin' he's out there. The Dude. Takin' 'er easy for all us sinners. Shoosh." The Stranger

Tony,
   I have four SATA HVLP 2000 guns and have had great experience and have
gotten awesome results with them with any finish.

    SATA is one of the manufacturers who set the industry standard and their
products reflect why.


Regards,
Kevin Gallagher/Omega Guitars

I am on the same page Kevin - for the extra 150 bucks, I dont want a copy really, rather have the real McCoy !!

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Tony Karol
www.karol-guitars.com
"let my passion .. fulfill yours"

I have a low cost generic touch up gun, Basic and works well. I bought an inexpensive ($50 http://eastwood.resultspage.com/search?p=R&srid=S7%2d2&lbc=e astwood&w=hvlp%20spray%20gun&url=http%3a%2f%2fwww%2eeastwood co%2ecom%2fjump%2ejsp%3fitemID%3d10820%26itemType%3dPRODUCT& rk=10&uid=464573392&sid=2&ts=custom&rsc=x5NoK0b13Ozx5Efk&met hod=and&isort=score) HVLP and tried it out. It felt like a tsunami of finish drenching my guitar. I was so surprised. I couldn't stoplaughing at my mistake. I'll have to learn a lighter touch. Any advice for a heavy handed sprayer?

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Greg
http://garibaldiinstruments.com/

The Sata mini jet 4 is my weapon of choice these days.

I just recently bought a Devilbis SRi and am just about to give it a wirl so I don't have anything to add right yet.

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Tickle your guitar daily, and it'll tickle you back.

I am a 1.0 tip, which is what came with the Sata when bought it. I spray McFaddens and thin maybe 10%.

1.0mm tip on the SATA. The regular one, NOT the SR (Spot Repair) one, which has a fan pattern that's too small. I shoot 'straight' nitro and waterbased stuff through it. Sometimes thin about 5%, max, but that's the limit.