Help Identify Iwata Supernova WS-400 Clear Setup?
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Hi everybody.
I’m a n00b to this forum. Im currently employed as a painter in a medium sized bodyshop, painting 20-30 cars a week on average. I’m using NEXA Autocolor/MAX MAYER schemes at present. Just swapped 2 weeks ago from Standox.I’m in the market for a pair of new guns at the moment, At present I use various Standard Devilbiss GTI’s for Sealers/Primers/Base and a GTI PRO for clear coat. Anyway, onto my dilemma.
I currently have on loan an Iwata Supernova WS-400 Clear from my PPG rep as i’ve been experiencing trouble with MAX MAYER HS clearcoat application. We seem to have narrowed it down to my GTI PRO chucking on too much paint with the Fluid control dialled out, and with the fluid control wound in I struggle with the feel of the trigger.
I am absolutely loving the droplet size/atomisation on the iwata! It really is a fantastic gun. I’m achieving some lovely finishes with it. The problem I have is even with the fluid control dialled right out, i’m not receiving even 50% of the fluid i’m used to receiving with my GTI Pro and as such it is really giving me arm ache where i’m having to move soooooo slow. I want to purchase my own WS-400 but want to make sure the fluid tip/needle is larger than that of the gun I currently have on loan.
Now the Rep I borrowed the Gun from isn’t exactly sure of the setup in it. I’ve tried to browse the iwata spares list to identify some part numbers but not having any joy.All I can find is the number ‘20015’ on the fluid needle?
Can any fellow iwata users give me anything I can look for to identify the current setup? I have it in front of me now
Thanks in advance, Jase
Look on the fluid nozzle, it will be stamped where the wrench goes to loosen it. I have only used the LS400 and found it to be rather slow.
I had heard this, all thats stamped on it is ‘WS400’ on one side, on the opposite side its stamped ‘CLEAR’
Pretty sure that’ll be the 1.3 Jason.
As far as I’m aware, they do a 1.2, a 1.3 clear, a 1.3 base, and a 1.4. Mine has the same markings as yours on the fluid nozzle, and is definitely a 1.3. The 20015 needle fits all sorts; W400, WS400 etc.
I’m surprised to hear you find the gun slow though. As others on here know, I work in a very high production environment and regularly paint 70+ cars a week, with my record being 101 :blink: . No way would I call the WS400 slow. Not quite as fast as a SATA RP, and it doesn’t hose the clear on like a GTI Pro, but that isn’t the idea. The gun atomises so well that you can get away with using minimal product, rather than having to slap it on thick and make it flow.
Are you getting close in with it? I spray at 4″ or less from the panel, with a fast or very fast arm speed. Others that spray at a more conventional distance narrow down the extremely wide fan, which will give you the feel of more fluid output.
To be honest i’ve only had it since yesterday morning, so i’ve no where near dialled it in to its optimum performance. However I already like it so much my GTI Pro doesn’t get a look in. Its centre heavy spray pattern was causing me all sorts of grief with boil on the Max Meyer clear in particular.
The thing that got me today was I had to paint a full side of a Hilux and being used to using the GTI pro my strokes along the car are very very quick. With the WS-400 I found myself moving much much slower and as such finding tad more peel than i’m used to. Again not a fair test with 2 days use compares with 2 years on the GTI and it was by no means a bad finish.
I didn’t have the gun as close as 4″ though, I was closer than with my GTI but i’d say about 5-6″ away from pannel. I’ll have more chance to play tomorrow so will try getting a bit closer to the pannel.
Its been absolutely fine for all the smaller jobs i’ve done (Strokes still much slower but no noticeable quality loss when compared with the Pro) I’m just wondering if a 1.4 Fluid Tip would more suit my style. May just give me that little more speed I desire with the ability to dial the fluid control in a bit for the smaller jobs? I can get a wicked deal on a pair for base & clear but its still alot of money so I want to get it right for the clear gun in particular.
i was in the same boat i went from the gti to the supernova and had problems to start with mines a 1.3 and i found it so sloooowwwwww. what i did was open up the fan and paint all the way out and spray with around 36 psi and get real close. the setup for me is perfect give it a try.i love it
That is just about what Iwata told me. Full fuild, full fan, 4-6 inches away but they said 19 PSI max to be compliant
[quote=”Andy T” post=22009]Pretty sure that’ll be the 1.3 Jason.
Are you getting close in with it? I spray at 4″ or less from the panel, with a fast or very fast arm speed. Others that spray at a more conventional distance narrow down the extremely wide fan, which will give you the feel of more fluid output.[/quote]
Can I just say a big thanks for the tip Andy. I would never have thought I needed to be that close, if I did that with my pro it’d be all over the floor before I finished my second pass lol!
Been trying it today, getting in really close to the pannel and it works like an absolute charm! It would have taken me weeks to figure that out! I’m now back to my regular fast arm speed and enjoying using it 10x more! Really is an amazing gun! I’ve only had to do one bit of polishing all day, everything else has been mint straight from the gun. It lays down that ever so slight factory peel effect lovely but can easily be turned into glass like finish with minor adjustment Really liking it.Thanks for all the pointers and info people, its been a massive help. Really helped get the most out of the gun whilst I have it on loan!
Has anyone tried the Base version? Whats it like for laying down those troublesome metallics like EZR (Pug/Cit) or 1C0 (Toyota)?
[quote=”chevman” post=22029]That is just about what Iwata told me. Full fuild, full fan, 4-6 inches away but they said 19 PSI max to be compliant[/quote]
Are you sure that wasn’t for the LS400 Supernova?
Glad you’re loving it now Jason :stoned
I’ve got some pictures hanging around here somewhere of the finishes I’ve gotten from it. As you say, it matches that slight factory peel perfectly which is what I need for my everyday work, but give it a few tweaks and it’ll glass out with the best of ’em.
I haven’t tried the base version, but I’m using the very similar (and well worn!) W400 WBX, and it sprays everything pretty well indeed. The cap & fluid nozzle are a bit scratched up after several thousand jobs, so could probably be even better. I need to decide whether to replace them or just treat myself to a new WS400 base :whistle:
Oh, and as a bit of a certification for the Iwata’s, after loving using my clear gun a few times myValspar / DeBeer / HOK tech guy did a full trial of them and has now ordered a base & clear pair for all their guys up and down the country to use 😉
I think I may just have to wing it and place an order for a Base gun aswell. My PPG rep seems to think he can get a pair for £500 for me. All part of a deal because we have just had a new install of two complete schemes. :dnc Seems too good to turn down.
Thats interesting info to know about the HOK/Debeer tech guy. I can see why he was impressed though, so easy to use. I was achieving excellent finishes almost instantly. After 3 days/18 Jobs i’ve got i’d say 96% dialled in. Few more days and it’ll be perfect I think.
Have you had to order any spares Andy? What are prices like? Can you get them quickly when needed? Not many places stock the guns round this part.
I’ve not had to order any parts yet. I normally just keep using guns until they fall apart, which Iwata’s don’t seem to do 😆
If I did want anything I’d make [url=http://www.spraygunsdirect.co.uk/]Spray Guns Direct[/url] my first call, as they’ve been helpful in the past with other things. They don’t list anything for the WS yet, but I’m sure they’d be able to acquire them.
Cool did see that site but it is fairly pricey in general compared to prices I can get. Nice to know I wont have to worry about servicing parts any time soon though :dnc
Thanks again for all the help. Much appreciated. The info about for iwata seems scarce at very best. I cant understand why more people don’t know about them as they really are a fantastic gun!
Think i’ll get my order in over the next week for a Base/Clear pair! :rock
[quote=”Andy T” post=22032][quote=”chevman” post=22029]That is just about what Iwata told me. Full fuild, full fan, 4-6 inches away but they said 19 PSI max to be compliant[/quote]
Are you sure that wasn’t for the LS400 Supernova?
[/quote]
Sorry about that, you are correct. I’m just learning the newer guns and paints, but when I grow up I want to be as good as Andy T[quote=”chevman” post=22041]Sorry about that, you are correct. I’m just learning the newer guns and paints, but when I grow up I want to be as good as Andy T[/quote]
:blink: I hope that’s sarcasm 😆
I may be fast, but I never said I was any good :rofl
[quote=”Andy T” post=22077][quote=”chevman” post=22041]Sorry about that, you are correct. I’m just learning the newer guns and paints, but when I grow up I want to be as good as Andy T[/quote]
:blink: I hope that’s sarcasm 😆
I may be fast, but I never said I was any good :rofl[/quote]
Hope so to. Other wise it was childish and uncalled for
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