Best Spray system for your dollar

[Slyffer]

I'm only new to this and I'm looking at starting to spray varnishes onto furniture, but I don't know what would be the best setup to use, everyone recommends the HVLP systems but they are quite expensive. Then you can get the airless systems such as the Wagner 450SE, which are quite cheap. What systems and cost would you recommend to produce a good result on smaller pieces of furniture. Thanks in advance.

[BrettC]

Slyffer,

You don't have a compressor?

[simso]

If your gonna spray it rather than brush it you need to get a decent unit. The sprayless units are good, but they have a purpose and thats to throw a large volume of paint onto something, not to do it neatly, example it paints a fence fantastic because fences have a tendency to absorb a lot of the paint lacquer ect, but if you spray it on furniture sometimes you have more of a chance to get runs. HVLP are excellent because they are a high volume low pressure unit. This means when they spray they spray a neat concentric spray with minimal air pressure which is good because you dont end up getting overspray everywhere including yourself. Also the chances of runs ect are no longer determined by chance, butby your ability to lay the coating on neatly which is simply practice
Steve

[bumnut]

Simso
Totally agree. Purchased an Apollo HVLP turbine machine several years ago and never looked back. One great advantage is that the air is supplied which is an advantage for a lot of finishes and you don't have the moisture in the air as you do with a compressor.
Bite the bullet, sell the missus, mortgage the kids but in the long run you won't be dissatisfied.

Cheers
Bruce C

[soundman]

The only time you have moisture in the air from a compressor is if your trap/ filter arrangement isn't up to snuff.

I have several HVLP compressor operated units and they are great.

With a compressor bassed unit you dont have the "hot air" problem that many turbine units have and you don't have the huge "pipe" to drag arround.

The other problem with turbine units is the limited flexibility, you get a gun, a fan unit and a stonking great pipe that isn't very long.
AND you don't have a compressor.

HVLP compressor bassed guns can be had for arround $100 to $200 or more if you want to get fancy.

forget the little airless units they are a joke..... don't even think about the elcheapo backwards vacume cleaner bassed units they are a joke too.

Going across to spraying stuff is a big step..... so think about it.
Expect to spend some money to get it right whichever way you go.
AND
there is a learning curve..... it isn't all that simple.

cheers