Spray gun recommendations.

[AllanF]

I've just acquired a compressor and later this year hope to spray a very small grp bodied project car. I'm now slowly trying to decide on what spray gun to buy. My wishlist is:
Good final results
Easy to set up
Simple to use
Not too expensive

About 50 years ago I painted a few cars, most of the results were Ok and looked good once cut and polished. One, which I painted after a lunchtime in the pub, came very good!
In those days I always used a suction fed gun, there seems to be more gravity fed guns available now.
Any help or recommendations gratefully received.
Allan

 

[ajlelectronics]

I've just acquired a compressor

That will determine your choice of air powered equipment. What is the FAD and storage?

 

[julianf]

I use an ani f160 most of the time.

But...

Theres no chance of running it, and a mask, off a single 1ph domestic compressor. You could do the gun, or the mask, but not both.

 

[badabec]

What is the car?

Spraygunsdirect seem OK. I bought my LVLP gun from them with a deal on needles and tips.

 

[mightymig]

Aeropro LVLP off Aliexpress? - R500 or whatever theyre calling it now.

 

[AllanF]

To answer the questions so far. I've not picked the compressor up but know it will require a 16amp power supply. I believe it has a 100ltr reservoir. The car is a Hamblin Cadet, basically an Austin Seven with a fibreglass body.
I'm reasonably sure the compressor is man enough to keep up for spraying such small areas.
One other point would be is there a difference in the amount of air used between suction and gravity guns?
Allan

 

[Turbo]

This subject has been covered before. Try doing a search.

 

[AllanF]

Many thanks, yes, I've been doing searches in parallel to the replies to this thread. Unfortunately, it's a matter of more questions than answers! For instance, I've now found a few details of mini guns and I'm wondering how they compare?
My first question still remains, is there a preference for suction fed or gravity fed? I've also seen references to pressure fed pots but I'm ignoring those for now.

 

[Morris]

I've got a Fast mover gravity fed spray gun. Not expensive but seems ok to my amateur eyes.
After flatting and polishing.

 

[julianf]

Gravity is easier with small areas. You can mix up what you need and use the whole amount.

Suction will always give you more waste.

This may not be an issue on a large job, but I wouldn't want to do smaller jobs with a suction gun.

 

[AllanF]

Julianf, many thanks. I think I now have to start making decisions and the first will be to go for gravity fed. I think I'll continue looking through the reviews to decide which one. I will have details of the compressor output later this week, so can decide between mini and full size.
Allan

 

[Turbo]

Julianf, many thanks. I think I now have to start making decisions and the first will be to go for gravity fed. I think I'll continue looking through the reviews to decide which one. I will have details of the compressor output later this week, so can decide between mini and full size.
Allan

You can get a kit from fast mover that has a gravity gun with different needle sizes and different pot sizes.

 

[W.olly]

i used these guns, 1,8 for epoxy primer and the 1,4 to do the top and clear.

Clarke PGF18 Gravity Fed Pro Spray Gun - Machine Mart

www.machinemart.co.uk

Clarke PGF14 Gravity Fed Pro Spray Gun - Machine Mart

www.machinemart.co.uk

first attempt at spraying so was very happy with it. This was using a couple of 150l 3hp compressors.

that was just finished after last clear coat.

 

[AllanF]

That looks very good. The guns look great value for money and the results seem to speak for themselves. I'd be interested to hear what products you used. After filling a couple of slight damage I'll need some primer/sealer and a colour coat of British racing green. I'm also interested to hear recommendations on whether a clear coat is preferable or not?
Allan

 

[brightspark]

Gravity is easier with small areas. You can mix up what you need and use the whole amount.

Suction will always give you more waste.

This may not be an issue on a large job, but I wouldn't want to do smaller jobs with a suction gun.

i have a nice devillbiss suction pannel gun had it over 50 years and cost about 75 quid then .i look after it and its done many jobs . i also have a half decent gravity gun as well which i use more often as its quicker to clean and less waste on paint

 

[Turbo]

The first time I used a hvlp gun the thing that impressed me most was how much less paint I used compared to my old suction gun. Probably around a 1/3 of the quantity.

With hvlp and lvlp most of the paint goes on the panel instead of the air like with the old traditional spray guns.

 

[W.olly]

That looks very good. The guns look great value for money and the results seem to speak for themselves. I'd be interested to hear what products you used. After filling a couple of slight damage I'll need some primer/sealer and a colour coat of British racing green. I'm also interested to hear recommendations on whether a clear coat is preferable or not?
Allan

I used this primer

CUSTOM EPOXY PRIMER GREY - Rustbuster

PURE EPOXY NON PORUS BODY PRIMER FOR THE PRIMING OF STEEL, ALUMINIUM

www.rust.co.uk

And paint was from my local car paint supplier. single top coat and 2pk clear. If you want i can find the actual pints i used. But asong as you geta good known pint you should be fine. I painted that Vette ina tent, first time ever painting a car. It got faults but better than it was.

 

[AllanF]

That's an interesting choice. Like your Vette, my car is fibreglass. It has been painted in black but I don't know anything about the paint, hence my plan to used something that seals as well as primes.
Allan

 

[carbon]

Epoxy primer first, then fill were required, then epoxy primer over that, flat then topcoat depending on what ppe you have. Don't use 2k unless you have an air fed mask. See warning at the top of this section 2K Safety - Leason learnt

 

[badabec]

Sand all the paint off back to gel coat. Then look for cracks, delaminations or filler. Grind them out. Lay in some glass fibre mat or tissue depending how deep.
Most likely old hat now, on my Piper and Mini Marcos I sprayed a coat or two of Reface (spray filler, not high build primer).
Then Lechler then Nisocoat 2.