Need some suggestions for a bigger compressor.
- This topic has 5 replies, 5 voices, and was last updated 12 years, 7 months ago by .
- Posts
I have been looking at getting a bigger compressor and was wondering what you guys think is the best for painting with HVLP paint guns, size wise that is. Oh yeah and another thing, I’d like to thank everyone again for helping me with painting my nephew’s Trailblazer this last fall. What really sucks is that after I did 40 hours of hard labor on it, he let his friends borrow it and they returned it with a huge scrape down one side and dents wherever the body line sticks out. Looks like they lost control and hit a guard rail! Guess who fixing that truck next time, not me! Thanks all, I always appreciate your time and professional opinions! Jack
The thing with HVLP guns is that they do not require alot of pressure but require a big amount of volume so a small compressor will not let you paint continuously so you would have use it intermitintly. While volume is a concern the duty cycle is another one. most typical retail compressors are designed with a small duty cycle, this is how long the compressor will run while it is off and needs to be taken into consideration because it could wear out quickly if misused.
Its not so much the size of the tank, its the pumps ability to pump out the air.
what is the CFM rating on your gun? that should be determined before you buy a compressor also.
Thanks Smooth! Not sure how many CFMs my gun needs as I don’t have the info any longer. I’ll try to look it up online
one thing to keep in mind for CFM flow and maintaining pressures properly is HVLP/hiflow fittings and HVLP/highflow airlines it will drastically increase air flow over conventional lines if that is a constricting factor in air supply and will limit pressure drops during tool usage.
the hvlp’s I’m familiar with are 13.5-15 CFM where an RP is 10-13 CFM both @ 25-30 PSI but make sure you buy a compressor that will service the best airgun you could potentially ever own. Last thing you want to do is buy another compressor.
When it comes to your compressor, go bigger than you think that you will need. The cheap so called 5 horse 60 gal ones that you see at the big box stores will work for a little while but they will run hot, make alot of noise and wont last very long. I did that very thing and it cost me a few redo’s before I figured out that I needed to research some more. A good compressor will cost you, but in the long run a good compressor could possibly outlast you. I would recommend at least a 2 stage 5 horse that runs at a low rpm. I looked for about 8 months before I bought my last compressor. I went with the biggest one that I could run without going to three phase wiring. Another thing to research is your air piping tp tools and sharp sprayguns both have some good links that will give you some ideas on what you need to have. And last but not least, stay away from those cheap air fittings. They will have you wondering why things are not working as they should.
Chuck
Hi 14cfm motor 150 litre reciever tank compressor will run a normal HVLP gun but undoubtably on bigger Jobs you will need to let it keep building pressure up to keep a constant pressure at the tip.
I find 18cfm+200 litre tank is usually the best way to go. A larger compressor than this will also run an airfed. Dont forget regulators and traps!!
Jan.
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.