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Hi gang -
I recently got an inexpensive HVLP gun (Grizzley H7669 Professional HVLP Spray Gun 1.4mm). Shooting McFaddens lacquer with it, wondering what percentage to thin, if at all? I shot the initial coats on a guitar the other day, which I thinned by 20%...the flow was okay, coverage was good, but seemed to be drying very quickly and never really did look "wet". I might have been spraying a little too quickly, I suppose. Orange-peeled a little too, but adjusting the air pressure seemed to fix that.

Thin it out a little more, would you suppose?

You just need to play with it ... try different pressures and material viscosity till you find the balance that works for you. I would think that 10-20 percent thinner is lots for a 1.4mm tip ... change the pressure first. You might just be spraying to fast to get a good wet coat as well.

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

There is no one correct answer as ambient temperature, temperature of the media and humidity level at the time of spraying will affect the required viscosity.

Using a viscosity cup is helpful here. If not familiar with one of these, they are a cup with an orifice at a given size and a fill line. You time the flow out of the cup to gauge the viscosity of the fluid. Most guns spray nitro well at 18-20 second flow time through a viscosity cup.

You also might experiment with the distance to the guitar. Too far away will spray on dry.

_________________
Jim Watts
http://jameswattsguitars.com