Looking for constructive criticism and tech advice
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Hey everybody, not much on introductions. Im an Infiniti/Acura Tech and not long ago got in to diy body work, still have a lot to learn. Don’t have anyone to seek worth advice from and found this forum, looks like a great comunity!
So anyway , Was hoping I could get some constructive criticism and recommendations to improve my work. Well, and clarifications.I am an amateur, self-taught via beloved “them internets “.
So far I have painted 2 cars, oddly enough 2nd car actually came out worse, maybe because I rushed bit more and perfection was not a requirement.For those who care, I posted some shots of my garage setup and paint job of my old project car at the bottom.
Now to the questions. I would REALLY REALLY appreciate any input as I have a new project and would like for it to come out better then ever .
Some of my questions are equipment related. Some technique.
Current hardware setup:
• 33gal craftsman compressor
• Devilbiss Starting line gun kit
• Off brand air water separator
• Gun mounted air filter.
• 3/8 air hose
• Comp to gun hose is 50ft long.1. Should I switch to ½ inch hose for increased air volume? Maybe its just my paranoia but at times I think that the hose is too restrictive.
2. As I said I don’t have much exp, when spraying I rely on the “eye” to see when enough paint is enough. Basically I put enough paint until it appears “glossy” . It seems when I go little bit at a time the surface is “grainy” NOT orange peal. BUT at this point I get runs, not a lot but I do. Its very easy to go too much past the glossy point and have a run.
Is this wrong? I have a feeling it is but I don’t know
So I guess 2nd question to this question is how can I gauge the amount of paint laid is the right amount.
3. I noticed that if the volume paint knob is open too far I no longer get a fine mist spray from the gun. Is that due to air restriction?
Same thing also happens when I have a “Wide” pattern setup on a gun. Is it just a matter of reducing fluid volume?
4. Painting large panels is a ***, maybe because my gun is too small and air is too limited…but generally the spray width is 4-6” I think that may be a problem but please refer to question before which is the reason I have to keep the pattern so narrow.
5. Last question or rather statement is …When I lay too little paint I get mad orange peal, when I lay too much I get runs. It seems impossible to get it perfect …
O well at least I do great with small panels, they come out almost like glass More pics here http://s64.photobucket.com/albums/h171/Al_s14/Miata/
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[IMG]http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h171/Al_s14/Miata/IMG_7400.jpg[/IMG]I am at work so I cant write a thesis right now but here are a few things for starters.
Your compressor is more than likely too small for an all over. Is it 2-stage? What HP is the motor?
A Starting line gun is mediocre at best. Don’t expect perfect results with inferior tools. Not saying that gun can’t put out a nice paint job, but it would need to be in the hands of a somewhat experienced painter.
A cheaper water seperator will work but the biggest thing you have to watch for when running too small a compressor is CAH (compressed air humidity). The only solutions are more time to let it cool and condense (ie more tank storage and more piping) You ideally need at least 50 feet of pipe in between your water trap and compressor. the more the better. A dessicant filter would be nice also.
I hate gun mounted filters. They rob valuable air volume and do a so so job of actually filtering.
3/8 hose is fine. You need high flow couplers though. Your air line will only flow as much volume as your weakest link. If you have a 1/2″ hose but the air still passes through a 1/8″ hole the 1/2″ hose isnt really helping.
I would not run the hose directly off the compressor. You need pipe. I don’t like a 50ft hose either. I like to keep it as short as possible. I use a 35ft hose.
I started painting with a devilbiss finishline 3 gun and definately agree that as I became a more experienced painter, the gun was the restriction. No question about it, better gun + more experience= better overall finish. As for your compressor setup, I also used to have a 33 gal single stage compressor. Just not enough cfm to run most hvlp guns. Small panels and small jobs can turn out ok, but doing an overall or larger panel repair is gonna take more air than you have available. For your setup on your air delivery, do as Ryan says, get some piping (metal, not plastic) and run your air line a minimum of 25 to 30 feet away from your compressor (farther away if possible). Mount the air line so that the moisture in the piping can run back toward the compressor. Then install your regulator, water separator, and any other drier device you may have. The theory behind the long run of metal piping is to give the air time to cool down and for the moisture to condense so that the water separator can grab it. No matter what type of moisture removal device you are using, if the moisture is still in a water vapor state, the device will not catch it. High volume couplers for your hose is a must. In my opinion, the air line plumbing, water separator, and high flow couplers are very important must have items. I used to paint with my air hose coming straight off the compressor and used an in-line water final filter. Nothing but headaches. Hope this helps you out somewhat and good luck.
Thanks, great tips for sure! So far i have yet to paint whole car at one time, have been having to do one panel at a time with bumpers and doors off car. Didnt know i was running out of air per say but did have a feeling. O yeah my compressor is a 1.5 or 2 hp single satge i think…lol i should really know this.
Next thing will be to run a metal pipe to the garage, btw while were on the subject whats a good place to get one that already comes with threads?
Any input on the other stuff?
Thanks
Use copper and sweat the joints. It dissipates heat better than other metals.
Looks like you are off to a great start.
Good points have been made. The gun may do you for now, but do consider upgrading it. Use bigger air couplers…this is a MUST. What type od paint are you trying to spray?
[quote=”Ben” post=18040]Looks like you are off to a great start.
Good points have been made. The gun may do you for now, but do consider upgrading it. Use bigger air couplers…this is a MUST. What type od paint are you trying to spray?[/quote]
wouldnt be putting high flow couplers on a 33 gal compresser be like putting a 3 inch exhaust on a honda:teach :teach :rofl :rofl :rofl :rofl :rofl :rofl :rofl :rofl :rofl[quote=”bondomerchant” post=18044][quote=”Ben” post=18040]Looks like you are off to a great start.
Good points have been made. The gun may do you for now, but do consider upgrading it. Use bigger air couplers…this is a MUST. What type od paint are you trying to spray?[/quote]
wouldnt be putting high flow couplers on a 33 gal compresser be like putting a 3 inch exhaust on a honda:teach :teach :rofl :rofl :rofl :rofl :rofl :rofl :rofl :rofl :rofl[/quote]Didnt Rob do something like that :whistle:
You can get your metal pipe threaded in any length you specify at any Home Depot or Lowes. Any plumbing supply store that sells black pipe can thread it for you. Copper is better at disapating the heat…. if you can afford the price tag. Round these parts a 10′ stick of 3/4″ copper tubing goes for 40-50 bucks. Black iron pipe is more like 10-15 bucks per 10′, and they’ll thread it for you.
u probably wanna start off getting better equipment… its worth the investment
you can get a bigger compressor from these guys http://www.eatoncompressor.com/page/page/504747.htm i got a compressor pump only from them a couple months ago and its pretty strong unit for a Chinese, originally i intended it to be temporary but its really proven itself to be a real workhorse.
and i like the idea suggested about sweating copper pipe. at first i was skeptical about it but i ran a small portion of it to test out and its holding quite well. there are different schedules of copper pipe to buy so it makes sense to buy something with a high psi rating. the steel pipes corrode and cause endless problems. rn member Nexson could tell u that first hand
[quote=”bondomerchant” post=18044][quote=”Ben” post=18040]Looks like you are off to a great start.
Good points have been made. The gun may do you for now, but do consider upgrading it. Use bigger air couplers…this is a MUST. What type od paint are you trying to spray?[/quote]
wouldnt be putting high flow couplers on a 33 gal compresser be like putting a 3 inch exhaust on a honda:teach :teach :rofl :rofl :rofl :rofl :rofl :rofl :rofl :rofl :rofl[/quote]Whats wrong with that? :rofl
besides, a 33 gallon tank with a 50hp motor will work wonders…now is that those little dinky American gallons, or the larger manly Imperial gallons? :lol1
I use Eastwood Urethane paints, all i can afford at this time. Plus due to my exp level it would sucks to blow a gallon of 500 paint on a crappy job . Whats your input on this?
I have another one for you, What if i added an extra air tank . Right now my comp is in the back yard with hoses running to the garage. What if i added an air tank somewhere in the garage.
Since i paint my cars in pieces for the most part i can wait until it recharges back up. Just looking for alternatives to 1k compressor which i dont have the budget for.
well sadly there is no way to cheat its been tried 100 times before to get by with less and all has failed . the best bet is to get a new compressor (locally for sale used unit) craigslist, ebay, newspapper put up a sign at the post office you might be surprised might pick one up for 100-500 bucks
IF you add it all up a craftsman 33 gal comp new is around 250 – 300 another tank may run from 75-200 could get a used 5hp 60gal unit for same price (unless the 33 gal comp was free)
then the extra tank will give you more spray time for less money (except the electricity used to run for the half hour to recharge lol)
on a side note I have used a craftsman 1.6 hp 33 gallon compressor to do spot repair and panel painting with no problems at all I have SATA guns : 3000HVLP 1.3, 3000RP 1.3 100 B RP 1.6, Minijet 4 1.0SR no high flow couplers on any of it
i am not saying this is a good setup the compressor runs all the time and gets hot not good for an oiless compressor at all (it was made to air up tires and baskeballs) but has gotten me by for nowI am going to order an Eaton Compressor in the spring it will cost around 1700-2000 but i will have it for the rest of my days and no worries about not havin enough air
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