Small Spray Guns for NC & small items

I usually do small woodturnings, laminated spin tops and bowls that mostly are under 75mm in xyz and I like to use Wattyl Stylwood NC lacquer 30% gloss. (I also use other finishes, particularly blonde shellac & WOP)

Currently I have a budget aircompressor with a reasonable water trap / regulator and use a Star 106 Gravity Feed gun which is great for larger pieces and an elcheapo $15 air brush (Super Cheap Autos) which works surprisingly well with thined NC on the small stuff. The Star 106 works well also but is over the top, & difficult to adjust down to a small enough fan pattern so it is is wastefull plus can blow the piece off the table.

I'm after suggestions / recommendations for a small spray outfit, between the 106 & an airbrush, that can handle NC and is convenient, i.e. not be too large.

You're looking at either a touchup gun ( SCA Air Spray Gun - Touch Up, 200ml - Supercheap Auto Australia ) or shelling out the big bucks ($350 or more) on one of the larger Iwata airbrushes which will give you up to 50mm pattern width.

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Originally Posted by Master Splinter

You're looking at either a touchup gun ( SCA Air Spray Gun - Touch Up, 200ml - Supercheap Auto Australia ) or shelling out the big bucks ($350 or more) on one of the larger Iwata airbrushes which will give you up to 50mm pattern width.

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Thank you MS, I've looked at the conventional touch up guns like the SCA but trying to avoid the 50psi and blowing the small pieces all over the place. The Star 106 was my solution to that. I have an Iwata HiLine HP-CH I'm pretty sure it could handle the NC but do not want to put NC through it at this stage.

Have a look at the Star EVO-T v3 guns. They are Lvlp not hvlp so they work at only a fraction of the pressure of the hvlp guns. There is a touchup gun in the range. I have a couple of these including the touchup gun so can give you some further information if you need it. I spray wattyl stylwood too.

The little evo-t wont stress your compressor out either.

Cheers
Arron

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Arron

Have a look at the Star EVO-T v3 guns. They are Lvlp not hvlp so they work at only a fraction of the pressure of the hvlp guns. There is a touchup gun in the range. I have a couple of these including the touchup gun so can give you some further information if you need it. I spray wattyl stylwood too.

The little evo-t wont stress your compressor out either.

Cheers
Arron

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Thanks Arron, will have a look at that.

The operating pressure quoted by the gun is the gun's maximum recommended pressure.

Usual spraying pressure for acrylic lacquer is 35-40 psi with a standard gravity feed setup, and you can go as low as 20 depending on the gun/material.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Master Splinter

The operating pressure quoted by the gun is the gun's maximum recommended pressure.

Usual spraying pressure for acrylic lacquer is 35-40 psi with a standard gravity feed setup, and you can go as low as 20 depending on the gun/material.

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I dont really understand the detail about psi etc, but I just checked my gun and on the bigger LVLP gun (1.4mm) I set the air screw wide open and the psi on the gun-mounted regulator to about 10psi. I do thin the nc quite a bit though, usually by 33percent. The operating range specified is 13 to 19 psi. I find that even at 13 psi there's too much occuring for doing small things. Even at that pressure it still blows small things off the table, which is a real pain. This is for spraying small things - different for large things.

I havent used the LVLP touch-up gun much but I turn the psi down further when I do.

My understanding (still learning, so never quite sure) is that as they are LVLP guns they are able to fully atomise at a much lower pressure then a standard HVLP. I didnt go the HVLP route because I dont have a large enough compressor and cant upgrade beyond whatever works on a 10amp outlet. Anyway, no complaints with the finish.

Arron

With really small things...mount them, on a small nail or pin on a board, and hold them away from solid surfaces that reflect the air.

I struggle with the same issues as Aaron, with small items mostly spin tops that are 40mm dia. They can be held with small jamb chucks etc, which becomes a real PIA when you have a quantity to do. Any tips are appreciated. Thats the real reason for finding a solution between a tougch up gun & an air brush. So far the air brush is the go.

I have had some success with double sided tape. I have some mdf blocks with double sided tape mounted to them, so you can just stick an object on. Works to a degree.

The surface that I use to spray small things on is a lazy susan with a bed of nails (points facing upwards). This has partial effect of keeping them away from reflecting surfaces, as splinter mentioned.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Mobyturns

I struggle with the same issues as Aaron, with small items mostly spin tops that are 40mm dia. They can be held with small jamb chucks etc, which becomes a real PIA when you have a quantity to do. Any tips are appreciated. Thats the real reason for finding a solution between a tougch up gun & an air brush. So far the air brush is the go.

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Use a peg to hold the stem. You can screw wooden types to the edge of a board.

Do the base and when dry do the little bit at the top.

We used to do dolls furniture like that.

For some 20 years I enjoyed moon-lighting in the theatrical F/X world. Everything from stage craft to elegant, award-winning fantasy makeup. Did it all with a Badger 100 (200?) and a Badger Crescendo, running out of a 3000psi nitrogen tank. Could not afford the noise on stage or at home from a compressor..Fact of life. You have to try the stainless steel metal flake paint for make up. Dinair makeup is expensive but Dinny's stuff has been worth every dime.

I think the low weight of an AB, any brand, allows you to relax your wrist, move from your shoulder, and get the flow strokes to go like your head thinks they should.

, I've tried a few things the old spring pegs and even the old fashioned the "dolls" pegs. Both are getting harder to find now. Easiest method so far is a bunch of donuts to sit the tops on while doing the upper surfaces, let dry, then clamp in a spring peg or a narrower donut to do the bottom surfaces. For pen parts a bunch of thick bamboo skewers works well.

RV - the badger site has some handy info. Thanks. I'm liking the elcheapo AB more & more so I will start looking for a better unit for just spraying NC lacquer.

Well I finally got arround to posting some pics of the outcome of playing with the AB. The hairy oak are all NC lacquer.