Are Preval's better than aerosols ?

Hi folks, I see a lot of recommendations on here for the Preval sprayers.

Are they better than "proper guitar refinishing aerosols" ?, What are the advantages ?.

I've got a couple of bodies to finish & whilst I've got decent results in the past with aerosols, I wonder if I can improve on this without going to a full blown spray rig ?

I guess the main advantage is cost, the Preval kit comes in at about 50% more than a single spray can of nitro here in the UK. Replacement power packs are under half the price of an aerosol, so I'd need to use probably half a dozen aerosols or more before the Preval starts to break even on price ?

Finally, would I be able to produce a finish like this with one ?:

http://img442.imageshack.us/img442/3527/bluebursttele.jpg

The main advantage of Preval over a rattle can is the ability to mix your own finishes. As far as functionality and the end result, I don't think one is better than the other.

You can get a finish like the one in your pic with either a Preval or a rattle can. This is a great resource: http://www.reranch.com/basics.htm

Hi folks, I see a lot of recommendations on here for the Preval sprayers.

Are they better than "proper guitar refinishing aerosols" ?, What are the advantages ?.

I've got a couple of bodies to finish & whilst I've got decent results in the past with aerosols, I wonder if I can improve on this without going to a full blown spray rig ?

I guess the main advantage is cost, the Preval kit comes in at about 50% more than a single spray can of nitro here in the UK. Replacement power packs are under half the price of an aerosol, so I'd need to use probably half a dozen aerosols or more before the Preval starts to break even on price ?

Finally, would I be able to produce a finish like this with one ?:



Might not be something you are willing to, but have you considered Earlex HVLP systems? I have the bottom of the range one, at the cost of 3 or 3 aerosol cans, and get better, easier results than aerosols (many people rate Earlex HVLPs very highly):

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Earlex-Paint-Spray-Station-1900/dp/B000V1YIT2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1338490530&sr=8-1

Small, easy to use and maintain.

Of course, still need nitro or whatever on top of that, but it goes a LOT further than aerosols do. For example, I can (pun intended) easily get through a whole can of tinted nitro on a neck (combination of obsessive perfectionism and being prone to errors) at about £15.........One 250ml bottle of neat amber nitro at about £5 (from here: http://shop.rothkoandfrost.co.uk/neat-bottled-lacquer-s/198.htm ) plus thinners will easily do me a load of necks...my estimate being 10 or more!!

I will break even within two guitar builds, I would say. Possibly even less, accounting for the above perfectionism+errors.....

It sounds like you intend to keep doing the guitar thing. If that is the case, then I agree with above and just get a spray rig. Better results, less long term cost, etc. As for getting the finish you posted, you won't get that without wetsanding no matter what way you go.

Speaking as someone who uses them on an almost daily basis at work, I'd like to think that I can say this with a little bit of authority: the overall performance of the Preval is...awful. Terrible. Disappointing. Frustrating. Etc. The nozzle on a 99c rattle can is usually far better. We normally use them to spray zinc chromate primer and small amounts of polyurethane paint (aircraft stuff). If you don't get the viscosity of your mixture absolutely perfect, the paint either (a) won't spray at all because it's too thick to come up the pickup tube, or (b) comes out so thin that you'll need 100 coats to cover anything.

Even when you do get the mixture right, the pattern from the atomizer is frequently unpredictable and uneven. It seems to be designed to produce the widest possibly array of droplet sizes and throws them everywhere except at the piece you're trying to paint.

The only reason we use them so much is because they're cheap and far more mobile than the HVLP rig for small jobs. The appearance of most small painted parts isn't an issue since they're never seen, so a less-than-perfect paint job is fine. For anything cosmetic the parts go straight into the spray booth to have a proper job done on them.

So, yeah. Preval? No. Don't do that to yourself. :)

I agree with antisubae that Prevals don't spray well, but you
can finish a guitar with them.

I think aerosol cans spray better than a Preval unit.
For example, some aerosol cans have a nice tip that allows
a vertical or horizontal fan. The spray out of a Preval is a
cone, and rather narrow.

But they are handy and you can definitely spray a guitar with
them. It's a little obnoxious of me to post a pic of one of my
guitars twice in 20 minutes, but here is the back of a guitar
that was painted with tinted lacquer through a Preval:

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-4u38skCsCxY/TTuhUcL87lI/AAAAAAAABQo/bl4whNly1J0/s800/IMG_6632.JPG

I've used Prevals and they certainly work, but the ReRanch sprays and various automobile paints in aerosol cans were infinitely easier to use. Be prepared for a fair amount of orange peel, spitting, and clogging with the Prevals, and expect to do a LOT more sanding.

I've used Prevals and they certainly work, but the ReRanch sprays and various automobile paints in aerosol cans were infinitely easier to use. Be prepared for a fair amount of orange peel, spitting, and clogging with the Prevals, and expect to do a LOT more sanding.

What he said,

Spray can is much better but the preval works OK, (if you like sanding spits and spatters.).

I am trying my hand at my first refinish and wish I would have gone spray cans for my nitro. It spits a lot, and produces a very uneven finish. The spray can toners are much easier to use and produce much better results.

Speaking as someone who uses them on an almost daily basis at work....

"Anti-Sub"...aircraft work in Maine...are you working at the former NAS in Brunswick? I grew up in Brunswick, and the P-3s flying overhead are one of my enduring childhood memories.

I wonder what the OP has decided.........Blacque Jacque? Are you still with us?

I am still about, although I've not been able to get on here much recently & not been able to make any progress on finishing (house sale / moving, ugh, it sucks :roll: ).

Thanks all for your input on this one, I think for now I will stick with aerosols, I already have a fair amount of experience with them & I'm able to get a decent finish.

The Preval idea is nice, but I think the conventional wisdom of moving from cans to proper spraying equipment is the route I will take. I currently have two bodies awaiting finishing; the Tele that is the subject of this, and my build thread, plus an alder Strat I want to finish in tobacco burst.

Simple answer to the Preval question. Don't bother. Spend the money on a HVLP touch up gun. You can run these with a small compressor, control material flow, fan, air pressure, and get professional results. It is well worth the minimal cost-about $35 or less, usually in a pair. Use it with WATCO brushing laquer and you'll have factory quality finishes.
LakeSuperiorMM

Speaking as someone who uses them on an almost daily basis at work, I'd like to think that I can say this with a little bit of authority: the overall performance of the Preval is...awful. Terrible. Disappointing. Frustrating. Etc. The nozzle on a 99c rattle can is usually far better. We normally use them to spray zinc chromate primer and small amounts of polyurethane paint (aircraft stuff). If you don't get the viscosity of your mixture absolutely perfect, the paint either (a) won't spray at all because it's too thick to come up the pickup tube, or (b) comes out so thin that you'll need 100 coats to cover anything.

Even when you do get the mixture right, the pattern from the atomizer is frequently unpredictable and uneven. It seems to be designed to produce the widest possibly array of droplet sizes and throws them everywhere except at the piece you're trying to paint.

The only reason we use them so much is because they're cheap and far more mobile than the HVLP rig for small jobs. The appearance of most small painted parts isn't an issue since they're never seen, so a less-than-perfect paint job is fine. For anything cosmetic the parts go straight into the spray booth to have a proper job done on them.

So, yeah. Preval? No. Don't do that to yourself. :)

I'm not sure whether it is the nozzle, or that the contents of the rattle can have been optimized to suit the delivery device.

You can get decent performance from a preval depending on the exact products used, but it may require some experimentation.

If you want to use products not available in rattle can on any sort of regular basis then I'd say +1 to the HVLP recommendation.

You can do a burst with aresols or Prevals but they won't be anywhere near as nice as with a HVLP gun. I'm actually putting clear on a sunburst I just sprayed with a Preval. I can live with it but it isn't ideal. Prevals are great for clearcoats imo. If you want to mix in a little amber or another color, it's got you covered. Prevals also spit a little as you release the sprayer, so don't release until you're over the edge.

Good luck. :cool: