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Hi all. I'd like to start spraying finishes, but I really don't know what my best route is in terms of spray guns.

My first concern is that I only have a small compressor, and I won't be able to upgrade it anytime soon, so I'm hoping there's a way to make do with the one I have.

Here are the specs:
4 Gallon Stanley Bostich
2.0 HP peak
1.5 HP running
135 PSI
3.4 CFM @ 40 PSI
2.1 CFM @ 90 PSI

I really don't know much about spraying at all so I don't even know if I should go with a gravity feed gun or HVLP (whatever that means)

Any help or advice would be very much appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

Clint

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-Clint Beacock

This is like the one I use

I've had great results with a little touch up gun like this one. I have the same spec compressor that you have. You just need to make sure you have a filter, water trap and a regulator isn't a bad idea either (although you can use the one on the compressor).

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I guess I've had good luck with my cheapo gun than. I know you get what you pay for but sometimes buying the best right out of the gate isn't the most feasible option for people.

Although a Sata would certainly be a nice option, from the sounds of it, our friend can't upgrade his compressor which might mean he can't afford to buy a Sata either (neither can I).

Regardless, I'm just giving my experience with the gun I have. For me it works fine with the same spec compressor. I've had no issues with it. It lays down a nice layer of lacquer and shellac at 2# cut.

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"We have to constantly remind ourselves what we're doing....No Luthier is putting a man on the moon!" Harry Fleishman

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Thanks for your help Rod & Todd.

Rod, with the small compressors do you have to spray a little, then wait a little for the compressor to catch it's breath, or do you set the regulator at a good deal lower pressure than the tank capacity?

I'd like to spray a few things like plain old clear varathane (for a cradle, which is related to why I can't buy a bigger comp. ) as well as shellac, nitro (maybe) and tru-oil (I think you can spray tru-oil but I'm not sure).

The filter you're referring to, do you mean a filter for the finishing product or an in-line air filter/cleaner before the gun?

Thanks again guys. I appreciate it.

-Clint

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-Clint Beacock

4 GALLON??? TANK the recycle with this compressor will be pretty much every 10 seconds Moisture in line will be a big issue.

I find that with the lower pressure setting on the compressor (set to 45 psi when spraying) I could do the top and one side than the compressor would cycle on (it would only take about 30 secs to fill it back up though) and than I could do the back and the other side. So it's not really to much of an issue.

I've only sprayed Shellac and laquer so I can't comment on the varathane although my guess it would spray ok. Remember that spraying waists a lot of material in overspray so you might not want to spray the tru-oil as it would get very expensive.

The filter I have is an inline filter/water trap. I hook up the hose from the compressor to it than I have a dedicated line from the filter/trap to the gun.

Clint, where are you located in Canada?

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"We have to constantly remind ourselves what we're doing....No Luthier is putting a man on the moon!" Harry Fleishman

"Generosity is always different in the eye of the person who didn't receive anything, but who wanted some." Waddy Thomson

Depends on what your using it for. The small touch up gun isn't a problem with it, but anything bigger and I wouldn't be very fun spraying with it.

Really a 20 gal should be minimum for spraying but this certainly can work.

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"There's really no wrong way, as long as the results are what's desired." Charles Fox

"We have to constantly remind ourselves what we're doing....No Luthier is putting a man on the moon!" Harry Fleishman

"Generosity is always different in the eye of the person who didn't receive anything, but who wanted some." Waddy Thomson

I am spraying using the small donut size tank and the inexpensive gun from Harbor freight. The tank cycles every few minutes, but I have not found it to cause the gun to respond funny. The presure seems to stay smooth while the unit compresses more air. I am guessing that the size of the compressor matches the tank size well. If the compressor was larger on this small tank, you might get some pumping in the line. I have not notice this. I own quite a few spray guns, but the inexpensive one from HF (HVLP simular to the one shown) works the best for me. The spray patern is not too wide and its easily adjusted for the right amount of material.

I have been spraying for the last few days with this setup with no issues. In the past I have used a regular touchup gun and a full size gun with lots of waisted material. This littler HVLP seems to have very little overspray. I am attempting my first sunburst. So far this gun has been excellent.

Joe

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Joe

Thanks for all the advice guys.

Rod, I'm in Ontario (Keswick to be exact) about 40 min north of Toronto.

I'll get one of those small touch-up guns and see how I fare.

-Clint

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-Clint Beacock