Airbrush vs. HVLP?

http://www.amazon.com/Paasche-H-100D-Airbrush-Compressor-Package/dp/B002DHCNG2/ref=sr_1_2?s=arts-crafts&ie=UTF8&qid=1339090335&sr=1-2

Low price, good reviews..... small simple compressor, and airbrush. I think it looks good for doing 1-3 guitars a time and also having the fine touch for doing bursts, etc when I want to.

Obviously not for spraying dozens per day, but I like buying good lacquer by the quart, mixing my own paints and tinted clears.... but I hate prevals for their spitting.

Thoughts?

That airbrush is a very simple nozzle mix type, I had to upgrade to get decent results with nitro.

The compressor has no tank, I have a similar one, adequate but it causes the pressure to pulsate. It does fine stuff but I really need to upgrade this.

I have an older model compressor (similar to the Paasche you are looking at) that I use for small projects. For the money, I would prefer something closer to this than what I have now.

http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053&R=202560479&catEntryId=202560479

Thanks for the quick responses. Sounds like I could use something more robust than an airbrush.

adeiderich, the compressor you posted produces 100 psi. I'm a bit unschooled on how to pair up the right compressor with the right gun. I'm assuming 100 psi is not overkill as long as I have a regulator that can keep it somewhere hovering between 20-30 psi? I had eyed some Harbor Freight spray guns that required 20-30 psi so I have that in my head as a reference.

Thanks for the quick responses. Sounds like I could use something more robust than an airbrush.

adeiderich, the compressor you posted produces 100 psi. I'm a bit unschooled on how to pair up the right compressor with the right gun. I'm assuming 100 psi is not overkill as long as I have a regulator that can keep it somewhere hovering between 20-30 psi? I had eyed some Harbor Freight spray guns that required 20-30 psi so I have that in my head as a reference.

You are correct. Yes, you can regulate the line pressure to what you need. I think the main feature you want to consider is the tank. The "pancake" type compressors are always (or usually, depending upon how good) pumping to keep the pressure at the desired PSI.

I've been spraying for years and an airbrush just does not put out enough coating to get good flow. It's great for spraying dyes, small amounts of toners here and there and graphics - but not for painting complete guitars. A small HVLP is about the minimum practical system if you want to control overspray, material loss and excessive fumes that are inherent in conventional spray systems (true HVLP runs at UNDER 10PSI; and you need a LOT of air flow to atomize at 10PSI and get the kind of transfer efficiency and control HVLP is known for. That's why pancake compressors won't work, and bigger ones running a 40PSI DO work - but not as HVLP's!

If you shop for HVLP's be cautious about the inexpensive ones - they can do a great job but you really have to have good gun control, as they are known as "bleeder" type guns. This means the air is ALWAYS on. With this type of system it's very easy to blow dust onto your work, and it's critical that you be well away from the piece when you pull the trigger, as the first couple of seconds of material flow are "snotty".

Yeah I have been looking at some 4 to 8 gallon compressors. Most spray guns seem to need quite a high volume of air.
If anyone has or knows of a compressor / gun combo that can be had for under 200 please chime in. I'm probably gonna put it off and spend 300 to 400 since it seems necessary.

I'm probably gonna put it off and spend 300 to 400 since it seems necessary.

There are a lot of workable/decent guns to be had from such places as Harbor Freight, etc. I've been using $20/30 (non-HVLP) guns for years. A small one for color/sunbursts, a big one (1 quart) for body coats.

It's the compressor that gets you. There is no such thing as "too much capacity". My home rig is 20 gallons, and that's the minimum you'll need to shoot nitro onto ONE guitar body. And yeah, looks like the going rate for those is about $300-400.

You WILL NOT REGRET spending the money if you're serious about finish.

Get a water filter, you'll need that too. And hose that's long enough for anything you might need.

For 3-400 you can find a used non-bleeder HVLP that will work far better than a compressor and 40PSI gun. Better control, less overspray, less material waste, a smoother finish and faster dry time.

For 3-400 you can find a used non-bleeder HVLP that will work far better than a compressor and 40PSI gun. Better control, less overspray, less material waste, a smoother finish and faster dry time.

Put up a couple of links for us.

For 3-400 you can find a used non-bleeder HVLP that will work far better than a compressor and 40PSI gun. Better control, less overspray, less material waste, a smoother finish and faster dry time.

Would that include any of the Earlex guns - like the Earlex Spray Station HV5500 HVLP? (http://www.woodcraft.com/Product/2083184/33566/Earlex-Spray-Station-HV5500-HVLP.aspx)

I'll chime in with an alternative opinion here, since I know a bit about that particular airbrush - the Paasche H. This airbrush, when fitted with a big tip (this airbrush has several sizes available) and backed with enough airflow, can definitely put out enough volume to paint a guitar properly.

For perspective, when set up this way, it puts out far greater volume than any rattle can - probably by a factor of 2 to 3x (at least). And plenty of folks do good work with rattle cans.

This is not one of those super-fine airbrushes that artists use to do super-detailed $15K motorcycle tanks. It can do some "reasonably" fine stuff, but can also pump out some paint, too.

Ive found airbrushes work for touch and small stuff great( I use an airbrush to paint firearms). On a larger surface they will work for opaque finishes, but are a flat out PITA to do transparent or semi opaque finishes. I wouldn't want to paint a guitar with an airbrush.

Would that include any of the Earlex guns - like the Earlex Spray Station HV5500 HVLP? (http://www.woodcraft.xcom/Product/2083184/33566/Earlex-Spray-Station-HV5500-HVLP.aspx)

Take a look at the Fuji Semi Pro 2 , that's a nice setup for the money

Take a look at the Fuji Semi Pro 2 , that's a nice setup for the money

Do you use the Fuji? I am looking to get something and really don't have the room or want the work involved with getting a compressor and installing it etc.

The problem I'm seeing with those types of spray rigs is a lack of fine atomization. If someone can point to a unit that actually sprays a wide pattern and atomizes the lacquer effectively, let me know. My biggest concern is not ending up with a smooth finish result. Sanding sucks, and it's great when we can avoid it...or minimize it.

I know this one is pretty low cost, but what are the thoughts on this one. It has incredibly high reviews.

http://www.amazon.com/Wagner-518080-Control-Spray-Sprayer/dp/B003PGQI48

I'll see if I can take a picture of the spray fan coming out of my Paasche H airbrush, using a big tip. Like I said, it's quite substantial and I've done clears on baseball helmets (on the order of the size of a guitar body) with not a problem. I've shot both solvent-based and waterborne clears with it.

For reference, I also have a standard "touch-up" gun and a full-size HVLP gun, and have worked with nice, dual-action Iwata airbrushes. The Paasche H is a cannon compared to the Iwatas (more of scalpel). The fan pattern out of the Paasche H at full bore is pretty darn close to that of the touch-up gun.

I'll see if I can take a picture of the spray fan coming out of my Paasche H airbrush, using a big tip. Like I said, it's quite substantial and I've done clears on baseball helmets (on the order of the size of a guitar body) with not a problem. I've shot both solvent-based and waterborne clears with it.

For reference, I also have a standard "touch-up" gun and a full-size HVLP gun, and have worked with nice, dual-action Iwata airbrushes. The Paasche H is a cannon compared to the Iwatas (more of scalpel). The fan pattern out of the Paasche H at full bore is pretty darn close to that of the touch-up gun.

That would be awesome if you could post some pics. For the price I don't want to eliminate the Paasche H from consideration.

That would be awesome if you could post some pics. For the price I don't want to eliminate the Paasche H from consideration.

Here's some shots of the spray pattern coming out of my Paasche H with the #5 (largest) tip and needle:

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e155/nemoblackdog/IMG_9921.jpg

and:
http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e155/nemoblackdog/IMG_9916.jpg

The black sheet stapled to the inside of my garage door is about 14" x 36" - for scale reference. That 35mm canister can be drained in less than 30seconds of continuous spraying. Pretty decent volume, I'd say.