Official Luthiers Forum!

I am curiuos is anyone using ( or has tried using ) an HVLP spray unit for spraying guitars , or other musical instruments ?. thanks Jody

I have an hvlp conversion gun on my air compressor that I use for most of my finishing needs. Any of the turbine units would also do a wonderful job. I've used the Fuji 3 stage and 4 stage, and the Turbinaire unit, all are excellent. They can spray the nitro, or the water-based lacquers with no problems. I haven't tried some of the more high tech finishes, like Joe White or Grumpy use, but I would bet they would spray it just fine...

for the money, the Fuji rigs are a great value.

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Mitch

HVLP works jus fine for spraying guitars.

Have Wagner 3 turbine unit. Have used it for about 3 years and no problem.

Yep. I have 2 units, both 4 stage turbines. They work great. If you buy, know the adjustability of the gun. Avoid cheap plastic stuff.

You can spray a guitar with an old Binks #7 if you have to, even a Lowe's Cobalt spray gun. It's not the gun, it's your technique. That's not to say that a quality gun won't help you develop an acceptable technique faster. Don't overthink it, just get to using what you have and refine as you go.

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jw ( o)===:::

Joe is right. Some of the best finishes I have ever done have been with cat urethane and a 20 dollar harbor freight touch up gun.

If I had to guess, I'd say that most small volume builders use some sort of HVLP system. HVLP conversion guns with a compressor seem to be the most popular. The compressor is useful for lots of other uses in the shop as well as finishing.

The turbine systems are much smaller and can be put away. If you get a turbine system, do not get the continuous bleed type (most of the cheaper ones). The air continues to come out of the gun when you are not spraying and tends to blow up dust, or, if you point it at our work pieced, blow ripples into the wet finish.

Here is a new product at Woodcraft...

New!
Earlex HVLP Spray Station 3000
#148576 Price:$149.99

Anybody got an opinion? Would it be adequate for a small time hobbiest - is it crap to stay away from...?

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Steve Sollod (pronounced sorta like "Solid")
www.swiftcreekguitars.com

Hey thanks for the input , I am thinking about buying a unit for a job I have now , to spray a deck rather than paint it by hand , its easier to justify the expense if i can use the unit later for gee---tars ! and a lesser priced unit will probably pay for itself on the deck job . LOL thanks again Jody

Yep, that one...

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Mitch

If you are building for resell or plan to stay in the craft for a long term I really suggest a quality 3 or 4 stage turbine system. I use a Fuji 4 stage. Great product! Fuji now makes a 3 and a 4 stage mini units called MiniMite 3 and 4. the come with a great gun and your choice of air tip. The can be had for less than $500 and are much better than all the $150 units on the market. Most cheaper units are constant bleed or they have plastic guns and inferior air caps and needles.

The thing I like about my unit is the dry air and self contained unit. No need for high volume compressor (though I have one) or a line dryer and moisture trap as needed with a conversion gun.

I can lay on a wet coat with much less overspray and no air forced sagging. No input regulator to mess with just a ball valve air supply at the base of the gun and the media ratio valve. Much less to mess with at clean up as well.