Which compressor/spray gun (budget = $500)

[soundman]

The guns for arround $50 to60 are unlikely to be "STAR". I know the cheaper units and they are different.
The star units are going for just under the $100.
The star guns are coppies of the "Iwata" to my understanding.
Most of the cheaper ones are coppies of an early Arnold.
They are ok (i use one for glue) but the star is more refined.
I seem to remember trade tools had a coppy ( coppy of the coppy) of the star with their badge on it but they still sell the star.
I'll be in there some time so Ill check it out.
cheers

[Forest Gump]

I cannot help with guns, but two names stand out amongst the crowd when it comes to compressors. Mind you the price will be over $500, they are belt drive, cast iron construction and fairly heavy. These names are Clisby and Mc Millian.

Just a few months ago I was speaking to compressor serviceman and he said, as a general rule these days, if you pay under $1000 its a throw away item when it breaks down. This of course does not apply to the above names which have been around for years and have remained unchanged for that time.

Daniel

[violincrafter]

Ashley,
For general purpose spraying I think the Star 77o is a good ALL purpose gun to use. The gravity feed is more for a person wanting less overspray and less pollution to the environment. The paint is 65 % efficiently distributed to the work.

The mystery of conventional and suction feed is the method of how the paint is delivered to the nozzle. Because gravity is used to supply paint from above the nozzle it takes less effort for it to reach the nozzle. Hence I believe the HIGH VOLUME acronym of HVLP actualy refers to HIGH VOLUME OF MATERIAL transfer. I have to control very delicately the adjuster for the needle with a 1.4 bore nozzle ever so slightly because it delivers paint at a HIGH VOLUME at 45 psi. Its like having a bucket full of paint above being fed directly to the nozzle via gravity filling a reservoir before the needle and the trigger adjustment controls the amount (with very little effort) except for the assistance of compressed air and vacuum at the nozzle.

The suction feed gun is as if paint is placed in a bucket and a length of tube is placed into it and a flow of air passes over the end of the tube creating a vacuum which has to siphon the paint from the pot or "bucket" to distribute the paint. This requires more effort and hence more overspray and waste as a result.

I guess its a matter of choice of what type best suits the application and the tradition of what a painter feels comfortable with. BOTH provide good results and the suction gun is traditional and gravity is modern.

The compressor issue of cost and maintenance is yet for me to comment (when it breaks down then I can comment), but from the schematic diagram of its parts it looks good to me with a cast iron head with a traditional piston set up. Gaskets are easily fabricated in any workshop with a keen eye to detail and a set of GOOD hole punches. I feel confident in pulling any motor apart to ascertain the repair needed. Its quite simple! It may be throw away but I believe I can fix it if required. If not well BIG loss aint it. For a 1000 dollars I can buy almost SIX of these compressors with each having either 1 year or 2 year has factory warranties as with the 1000 dollar unit. (replacement fully) What more can you want? :confused: There is a belt drive model I've seen for a mere $399.00 and it looks as good as any to me.

Anyway thats my "train" of thought and each to their own. I can buy the expensive models but what for? The gravity feed gun can be purchased at the Supercheap auto chain and I picked it up for $99.00 and its not that expensive. I remember it being once upon a time $299.00. WOW what a saving!

Ps, For fence painting I think I would opt for the "whiskers on a stick" method (brush) to slap on the fence paint. Preferably a 100mm - 125 mm width type. I think a compressor and spray gun is a bit "Queen Victorian" method of indulgence! On the other hand if you have lots of pickets, trellis and "tedious" Creations then get out that spray gun LOL. :eek: :eek:

[Forest Gump]

I must admit, I have a cheapy as well and its still going some 8 years on, it does not get a lot of use. And when it comes to getting another one it would be another cheapy because it won't be used a lot.

Probably the $1000 plus units were for commercial applications where you can run the compressor day in day out without rest or for people that wanted a compressor to last a long time.

Daniel

[boban]

I had 2 tradeair touch up guns which look like copies of the star. Both of them stuffed up. I bought the Star for around $100 and have had no dramas. I doubt that they come from the same factory. I now have 3 Star guns and must say they are of a better quality than the even cheaper guns.

Personally I don't think $100 for a gun is too much more than the $50 gun given what you get. Sometimes it pays to spend just that little bit extra.

I have a direct drive Colt (2.5hp 40 lt receiver) compressor that I've had for years. When I spray the compressor doesn't get much rest. I dont think they really are suitable for spraying regularly but will do the job.

I also find the belt drive models to be quieter than the direct drive versions. I've even heard some that are really quiet.

[violincrafter]

mmm,
I see! The touch ups come from the same factory I think? After comparing the guns of various brands together there are NO differences. Pull them apart and have a geezer! :eek: Anyway Boban what stuffed up on them? This is interesting research to say the least! :mad:
The unit comprises of basic components and I cant see where a touch up gun could stuff up. :confused: Trigger seems well made one piece, Needle is stainless steel with brass ferrule slide. one piece nozzle die cast, forged one piece alloy body cant see where it can stuff up! Threads are nicely done and fitted. Please post a picture of the offending piece! :eek: It would be interesting to view the offending components so that others can appreciate what can go wrong with a spray gun. ( A good stand is a must so it doesnt get dropped).

Remember the Guy who started this thread :confused: wants to paint a coffee table, maybe a fence and some other small items. Anyone can understand this is not rocket science + heavy industry with mass produced IKEA scandinavian wood finishing exports! Oh well back to the JUMBO!

[boban]

mmm,
I see! The touch ups come from the same factory I think? Anyway Boban what stuffed up on them? This is interesting research to say the least! :mad:
The unit comprises of basic components and I cant see where a touch up gun could stuff up. :confused: Trigger seems well made one piece, Needle is stainless steel with brass ferrule slide. one piece nozzle die cast, forged one piece alloy body cant see where it can stuff up! Threads are nicely done and fitted. Please post a picture of the offending piece! :eek: It would be interesting to view the offending components so that others can appreciate what can go wrong with a spray gun. ( A good stand is a must so it doesnt get dropped).

Both the guns went back to Bunnings for an exchange then refund. They stuffed up within a matter of a couple of weeks. About 3 seperate jobs.

I don't know the terminology to describe the offending parts but suffice to say that it not in an area that could be easily gotten to as I strip my guns to clean them. Every time without fail. Both guns would not let sufficient air through them. It was probably the same part on both the guns. Suffice to say that I have had no problems with the Star gun.

Dont get me wrong, I have a cheap gun that I spray glue with. No probs. My only bad experience was with this particular brand and type of gun.

It might be just me, but the Star gun looks to be finished better than the Tradeair. But this might just be my imagination.

[soundman]

As promised I checked out trade tools (baught goodies while there of course) they have star s770's on the shelf at $120 with a 1L pot. they have some generic trade tools branded guns for less that look ok.
If its a genuine star it will have star cast into the body.
As for the touch up guns, I baught a cheap touch up gun many years ago & thaugt it was great a couple of bits broke Which i replace by devious ingenuity.
I more recentlt baught a star touch up gun & the difference is plainly obvious but the star stuff is still "cheap as" but thay have the quality point right.
As far as spraying small items even these cheap "toy" compressors will handle that. Just be prepared to throw it away when it no longer meets your needs.
cheers

[surfdabbler]

I have a very cheap compressor setup. Compressor is 2.5hP, 40L, 10cfm. It's a noisy, cheap model from SuperCheap Auto. The compressor runs almost continuously when spraying, but that's not a problem. Most of my jobs are furniture sized, And I spray before final assembly, so I'm stopping and starting after each piece anyway, so the compressor easily keeps up.

I had to replace some of the compressor fittings, because although the compressor was rated at 10cfm, the output guage and valves were very small diameter, and it couldn't keep the pressure up when spraying. After months of frustration trying to find the problem, I upgraded the regulator and valves, and it's much better now. Quick release fittings also made it much more useful, a pressure guage attached to the base of the spray gun is an absolute necessity, and a water trap is important for many finishes (although I managed a few successful nitrocellulose jobs before I added my water-trap).

Rough prices...
Compressor $150 (rough memory)
Fittings (upgrades and extras) $150
Hoses $100
HP Spray gun $30

The $30 (on sale) spray gun is also a supercheap auto job. It gives a decent finish with nitro-cellulose lacquer (my main reason for buying a compressor). Certainly for paint or PU varnish, it's great. As someone else mentioned, this gun was indistinguishable from a much more expensive gun.

If I were to buy again, I'd probalby spend a little more on the compressor and hopefully less on upgrading the fittings, but this one does the job.

One thing I didn't realise before buying a compressor is how useful compressed air is in a workshop. Even just for blowing things.

One last comment - if you are going to spray fence palings, do it before you put them on the fence, otherwise you will end up with zebra-grass (and waste half your paint).