Paint guns

crsutton81 · Dec 23, 2022

I have always been around and used the siphon style paint guns for what painting that I do. Currently I'm still using an Excell brand gun, which has been good for what needed to be painted. To this point it has mostly been used on equipment that we have made or other equipment that needed a face-lift to improve the looks. I'm getting my nerves up to paint a tractor or 2 when it works out. Are the HVLP style guns more forgiving for this task than the siphon styles are ? My friend has painted several tractors for me in the past with his siphon gun and they all turned out excellent. I have yet to accomplish his skill level with the same equipment and advice from him on how to proceed. Today me and my oldest son got the primer applied on the JD 55 ABH plow that him and his FFA class cleaned up. It looks good thus far, but it got me to thinking if there's anything better for applying finish coats on tractor hoods and such.

PJH · Dec 23, 2022

I don't want to misrepresent myself as a knowledgeable painter, but I really like my cheap pot gun for painting stuff like the plow in your picture. The pot hangs off out of the way and the gun will spray in any position without spilling paint or sucking air. I ''think'' that it's a Harbor Freight gun, costing maybe $40 - $50, but I'd have to do some digging to figure out where it came from. I like my HVLP gun for a nice finish, but it doesn't like painting stuff overhead, like the bottoms of those plow beams. Again - I am NOT a painter, so take my comments with a grain of salt.

Nice work on the plow and enjoy the time with your son. I think I have a matching Deere plow, but it's certainly not that pretty.

MI-Bill · Dec 23, 2022

if you get a middle level HVLP gun, even one from harbor freight, ou won't like your siphon gun as well, more efficient, more paint on your item and lessen the air if you paint inside. paint tip size is important, most thinned paint a 1.4 tip is OK if you like to paint enamels not thinned as much you might want a 1.7 tip. I just never use even my high quality siphon guns anymore.

KL in Wi · Dec 24, 2022

I switched to a HVLP gravity feed gun a few years ago. One of my better moves. As was said, less paint in the air with a very nice finish. I do still use a siphon feed for painting while having to shoot up like the under side of a tractor. gravity feed doesn't work well there. I've found that the less expensive guns do as good of a job as the high priced ones. The main thing with paint guns is, adjust them for the volume and spray pattern and clean them very well when you're done. also use the correct psi on air.

JimS · Dec 24, 2022

I needed to paint the ceiling of a trailer. On my gravity feed HPLV, I got a short piece of metal tubing that could thread into the gun and the reservoir, heated the tube and bent it, so the reservoir was level when spraying up. You just cant spray to the very bottom in the up position.

Jim in NC · Dec 24, 2022

Yall did a good job given the weather conditions you had to accommodate. This cold snap is making simple tasks much harder.

Blackhole49 · Dec 24, 2022

The reduction in over spray alone makes it worth it. I don't consider myself much of a painter, but here are a couple of my projects from the last few years. I put this cap,

on this truck.

Another project.

Rich'sToys · Dec 24, 2022

On the plow I painted last winter, I decided it was easier to brush paint it than to lie on my back trying to get all those different angles with a paint gun. I was pleased with how it turned out.

Steve@Advance · Dec 24, 2022

PJH, I'm not a painter either, but I have the same gun you have, a Harbor Freight pressure pot sprayer.

I originally bought it for spraying latex so it did not have to be thinned. But since have used it for other paints and it works very well!

As you say, it works in tight places and will work in any position.

Goose · Dec 24, 2022

I switched completely to HVLP, primer included.

The savings in material alone is well worth it. A 20 ounce cup on an HVLP gun will cover approximately the same area as a 32 ounce cup on a siphon gun because fog and overspray are greatly reduced.

Most HVLP guns are designed to work at 8-10 pounds of air pressure at the nozzle. Since shops usually don't have the elaborate equipment to measure air pressure at the nozzle, it translates to approximately 40 pounds inlet pressure. Some of my HVLP guns even have '43 lbs. inlet' cast into the metal.

Just a tip. I've found the HF purple HVLP guns they sell for $9.97 to $14.97 are great little guns for all around work. I have four or five. I wouldn't tackle a complete, clear coat job on a pickup with one, I have higher priced, higher quality guns for that, but for parts and small projects those purple guns are great.

kencombs · Dec 24, 2022

Yes to HVLP. And the gravity feeds are so much easier to clean. Go one step further and get the kit from HF or somewhere to use the disposable cups. They have a built in stainer/filter and allow you to spray at any angle even upward with no spillage.

As someone else stated the little HF cheapies are good enough for a lot of stuff. I keep a couple for primer and oil based stuff. They have the adapter for the cups I mentioned. And I use the HF adapters to use the same cups system on my good gun, a DeVilbiss 620G.

Other folks make/sell similar cup systems but at many times the HF price.

If using auto grade paints the change to HVLP and the cups you can save a lot of money in reduced paint and reducer needs.

1948CaseVAI · Dec 24, 2022

Wow. I have not seen that much paint on a floor since my daughter dropped a open gallon on the living room carpet. I'm no painter but I would look for another way.

PJH · Dec 24, 2022

Good idea Jim!

Stephen Newell · Dec 24, 2022

It largely depends on the paint you use. If you are going to use a heavy bodied paint like an alkyd enamel you would be better off with a siphon sprayer. If though you are going to spray an automotive paint you might be better off with a HVLP sprayer. An automotive paint is often sprayed thin as water and the HVLP sprayer will atomize the paint better.

Paint guns

crsutton81

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PJH

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MI-Bill

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KL in Wi

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JimS

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Jim in NC

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Blackhole49

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Rich'sToys

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Steve@Advance

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Goose

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kencombs

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1948CaseVAI

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PJH

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Stephen Newell

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