Well Mike , I have been waiting for some pros to chime in and so far they all seem to be backward in coming forward.So I'll start it off with my ideas , based strictly on my experiences painting model airplanes with dope ,and sometimes epoxy paint, such as K.and B. and Hobbypoxy, and also polyurethane such as Imron (now considered outdated) and Dupont Chromaclear. I have had a few guns and a couple of compressors over the years , and have settled on the oft repeated advice to use touchup size guns, for our size projects. I have used moderately expensive Badger guns , but now I am using the very cheap touch up guns such as are made in the orient someplace , and have different brand names on them , but really don't vary in utility and results.Just be assured that there is a learning curve, and any of my guns can do an excellent job if used correctly. I ruined my first compressor , by not being too good at turning it of and draining the tank between planes.Eventually the tank developed rusty holes , and you can only do so much patching in an old compressor.My current one is the type they call oil less , and advertises itself as 150 P.S.I max and 5.3 S.C.F.M., which is the speed it can deliver. IT has a 20 gallon tank .IF you are using the common cheap H.V.L.P. guns they will need much more volume and my comp. wouldn't really be able to keep up.Stopping in the middle of a spray job , to wait for your compressor , is just not going to help the finished project.I feel that anything smaller and slower than my outfit would severely affect the finished product. I feel that the oilless compressors are probably cheaper,and there is no risk of running out of oil and no changing the oil , but beware---they are very noisy.I had to move mine out of my shop, and run the air hose through a hole in the wall just so I can stand to work there, even with ear protection. Read all you can and listen to those who know , and you can end up doing beautiful planes, but be prepared to experience some setbacks.
H.V.L.P.??---The best results can be had by using a turbine rather than a compressor , and the outfits that are best cost mega bucks. My size compressor just doesn't deliver fast enough for true H.V.L.P. I have no experience with the common cheap H.V.L.P. guns such as are commonly sold at places such as Harbor Freight. A proper H.V.L.P.system gives less over spray and uses less paint and is kinder on the environment. There is less paint tossed out into the air.Now lets see if the pros come up with anything. Keith Varley
Topic: HVLP and Compressors. I need some help (Read 1295 times)
