Apollo HVLP conversion gun query

[bloggs1968]

Hi all,

I have been spraying finishes on boats (enamels, two packs, varnish, primers and spray bog) using conventional spray gear. I recently saw a video (see http://blip.tv/file/1192310 ) on the web showing a HVLP gun from Apollo in the US and was suitably impressed with what could be done with a HVLP gun, particularly the lack of overspray and ability to get more paint on the job.

I already have a large 3 phase compressor (which I don't want to get rid of) so was wondering about the 7500C conversion gun which can be used with a compressor instead of a turbine.

Does anyone have experience with this gun or similar being used with a compressor and have any comments on using HVLP gear as opposed to conventional gear?

TIA

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[durwood]

Top end HVLP guns work off compressed air, the turbine ones are the cheap end of the market.

Like anything else you only get what you pay for a good quality HVLP gun wil set you back a few hundred dollars and they go up to over $1200.

The compressor you have would be ideal for HVLP as its quantity of air not actual pressure that atomises the paint. Because of the lack of pressure you don't blow away a lot of the paint as overspray, so more stays on the job and you use less.

Check with local auto painters a lot will be using HVLP and they should be able to show you the results you can expect. They do require exact adjustment to get the controls and pressure to give results that normal guns achieve.

Unless you are spraying lots of material you may take a long time to get your money back on the paint you use and you may have some rejects if you don't practice using one before you spray something important.

I have access to a lot of different HVLP guns but personally prefer to use conventional gravity feed guns for high class 2 pack finishes off the gun.

All the top gun makers have HVLP models, which are available in Australia they would be a lot easier to obtain and you wil have back up if you buy one from them as compared to importing one from the USA.

[bloggs1968]

Thanks for the reply mate.

I do a good bit of spraying so I reckon that the saving in paint and time in less mask up will probably pay for the gun within 1-2 years.

The Apollo guns are carried in OZ by Uni-pro paint supplies so no need to import one. I'll have a look at what other ones are here too.

regards,

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[durwood]

There is no savings in masking up you will have to mask up just as thoroughly with HVLP as you did with conventional spray.