Small Pancake style compressors... will they get the job done?

[PLAYONIT]

I have a little 6 gallon Bostich compressor I use for finish nailing.. I would assume the 6 gal tank capacity would be sufficient to complete 3 passes on a body and by the time the tank re-filled the body would be dry enough and ready for three more passes... anyone using these small compressor's as their spray rig air supply??

[HOBBSTER01]

Well I was gonna use the same compressor but mine died so I'll never know.

[PLAYONIT]

I did a little studying and while I think it would work.. I believe it would be right on the threshold .. So I will scour craigslist for a larger compressor and do it right...

[PLAYONIT]

Originally Posted by HOBBSTER01

Well I was gonna use the same compressor but mine died so I'll never know.

How did it die? was it the pressure adjustment knob? if so, it was a design defect and they will send the new improved part for free... It happened on mine and many many more....

[Leon Grizzard]

I thought you needed a big tank so the compressor wouldn't come on while you were spraying.

[tnt423]

It takes more volume than that to spray a guitar. You could use it, but meter your air at the gun to make sure it holds enough pressure to spray evenly. Make sure you put a filter on it also.
It would probably work with an airbrush for applying a burst though.

[Silverface]

It's volume, not pressure, that is the important factor. For example, an HVLP gun runs at less than 5 PSI - easy for little pancake compressors.

But they don't move that air at a high CFM, and the result is a nice fan for about 4 seconds and then spatters.

A big compressor with the pressure dialed down at the gun will work for HVLP, but you lose the advantages of real HVLP sprayers that heat the hair, improving flow and dry time. They also work for conventional spraying, but the overspray of that method is a real mess and not used much any more.

I spent 35 years in the paint industry and have finished guitars for longer than that, and have tested all sorts of "jerry-rigged" systems. The small compressor and HVLP gun is an example of a combination that doesn't work.

[czook]

What is the best setup for HVLP gun and compressor?

I too had problems using a pancake style with a HVLP gun using lacquer and poly. I also believe I was spraying at way too high a pressure. If I understand it should be under 5psi at what CFM?

[Colt W. Knight]

Originally Posted by czook

What is the best setup for HVLP gun and compressor?

I too had problems using a pancake style with a HVLP gun using lacquer and poly. I also believe I was spraying at way too high a pressure. If I understand it should be under 5psi at what CFM?

A gravity fed gun like most of us have runs about 35 psi, the hvlp rig silverface is talking about is another breed of monkey all together.

[Skycries57]

not to hijack this thread but how bout home depots 4.5gal dewalt d55146 compressor that has a 5.2 scfm @ 90psi and the gun at HF for 15.00 that requires a 6.1 cfm?
Looks like a couple guys on here including me is discouraged to spend more than a couple hundred bucks to make only a handful of guitars... oh well theres always spray cans, just ask mr. knight and his fiesta red tele, niice.

[Thundersleet]

I have CALIFORNIA AIR TOOLS 4620A I got it from Home Depot on sale $365 with shipping. It's so new all I can tell you is that it works. I plan to spray with it in the next few days. I'll give feedback then.

Powerful 2Hp Ultra Quiet & Oil-Free
2.0 HP (Rated/Running)
4.6 Gallon Aluminum (Rust-Free) Air Tank
7.00 CFM @ 40 PSI
5.30 CFM @ 90 PSI

[Colt W. Knight]

Originally Posted by Skycries57

not to hijack this thread but how bout home depots 4.5gal dewalt d55146 compressor that has a 5.2 scfm @ 90psi and the gun at HF for 15.00 that requires a 6.1 cfm?
Looks like a couple guys on here including me is discouraged to spend more than a couple hundred bucks to make only a handful of guitars... oh well theres always spray cans, just ask mr. knight and his fiesta red tele, niice.

Spray cans seem a lot cheaper than investing in spray equipment, and they probably are for 1 or 2 or even 3 guitars. But consider this

Neck

1 can sealer
1 can tint
1 can clear

Body

1 Can sealer
1 Can Color
2 Cans clear

* For certain finishes, you may need a can of tint or a can of primer.
* And when you are new at spraying, you will use more lacquer than when you get the hang of it. I remember, when I first started building guitars, I would use 1 1/2 cans of clear on the neck, and about 2 1/2 - 3 cans of clear on a natural finished body after applying sealer.
* Plus you are very limited on color selection. Ordering special colors in rattle cans is very expensive, and finiding colors you want locally may be impossible.

If money is a concern, shellac and Tru Oil are very cost effective, yet yield good results with patience and dilligent application.

[Skycries57]

Originally Posted by Colt W. Knight

A gravity fed gun like most of us have runs about 35 psi, the hvlp rig silverface is talking about is another breed of monkey all together.

hi colt, does that mean the cfm goes up if the psi goes down? Is 35 psi average and what you use as well? Thanks