Spraying Technique Question

I'm still fairly new to this and am experimenting with different techniques and wanted to find out how you guys normally spray your bodies: Do you hang them vertically or or lay them flat?

Seems to be advantages and disadvantages of each, so I wanted to find out what you guys prefer?

Hang 'em high! At least, that's how I do it. I live in Florida, so it's uber hot and extremely
humid, so I spray very light coats; almost "mist" coats. I find that it's easier to hang them,
since i have to spend a little more time than a lot of people do. Once they're "on the hook"
they can stay there until I'm done. And, I never have to worry about "pooling" of material.

It matters none about the orientation of the body by itself. coupled with the nozzle it is rather important. 90 degress from the surface being sprayed is what I like. I hold the body in one hand and the sprayer in the other. First few coats are lighter than the rest. I like to spray an entire side fast and heavy so the entire surface of one side is the same wetness.

I lay the body on the workmate to spray the sides around and holding the body in my hands to spray the front and back. Just to keep the spraycan with the nozzle up.

I hang most of my projects to spray them. That allows me to rotate them as necessary.

I use and love the Stewmac "freehand holder". You can quickly rotate the body around, and/or lay it flat to let a heavy coat flow out. It's also pretty easy to take it off the stand with one hand if you want to hold it in your hand while spraying.

Thanks guys. This info is perfect. I've been screwing around with my own projects the last few years, but people have started asking me to do work for them, so I want it to at least "look" like I know what I'm doing.

I have seen several people use old engine stands to hold their builds, which I would totally do if I had an old engine stand laying around.

I use spray cans mostly. No muss, no fuss, no clean-up. I use a PVC paint stick screwed into the neck mounting holes in the body. Most of the time I hold the stick in my hand while spraying. This allows me to ealily reach all areas. I can also spray making passes in one direction (back and forth from neck end to butt end) then make passes at 90 degrees to those. When I'm finished spraying I either hang the guitar or slip the paint stick into a bicycle work stand.

I don't have the cleanest work area so keeping the body vertical cuts down on dust settling on the wet surface.

......http://i847.photobucket.com/albums/ab34/Jack393/Mandocaster/DSC06241.jpg

I guess I'm the only one who sprays them while they are flat like so:

http://i.imgur.com/M2iie.jpg (http://imgur.com/M2iie)

I like heavy wet coats on the top and back so I prefer to spray them flat. Cuts down on the runs...in the paint I mean :mrgreen:.

I think you just need to find what works best for you, who cares if it looks professional while doing it, you just need the end result to look professional right?

Heavy coats can cause issues with clarity and hardening. I highly recommend AGAINST doing this.

I do recommend spraying the recommend thickness and use a mil gauge to check how thick you're spraying.
The finish manufacturer should be able to tell you how thick to spray.

I setup my bodies so I can turn them and spray every section vertically. That's how spray guns (and rattle cans for you rattle cans users) are supposed to be used.

In the old days fender would spray with the bodies laying flat on a lazy susan, with nails in the front face in locations that would be hidden by pickguards & such. Spray the front, flip it over, then spray the back, with the body suspended by the nails.