HVLP
spray guns are easier
to
use than most spray guns. It takes very little practice in order to
spray
with professional results thanks to the lower velocity. If you can use
a paintbrush, you can spray with HVLP.
Viscosity
of coatings is
important.
Although we supply a guide, there is often some trial and error
involved
in arriving at the best viscosity. If a product is thinned too much,
there
are runs. Too thick and 'orange peel' or rough finish is the result.
When
thinning, it is essential to use a reducer that is compatible with the
product you are using. To be sure, buy a thinner made by the same
coatings
company - always verify that it is the right product. It is wise to
experiment
on a practice piece to ensure that the finish is perfect. You may also
request information from the coatings manufacturer - don't forget to
mention
you are spraying with HVLP equipment.
Waterborne
lacquers
(acrylics,
urethanes and varathanes etc.) can be applied successfully with HVLP.
Most
of these products require no thinning whatsoever. Many of these newer
coatings
contain a high-solids content of 30%-60% or more so the turbine must be
powerful enough (at least the 3-stage). Several thin wet coats are
preferable
to one or two thick coats. Scuff sanding between coats is recommended.
When
spraying with HVLP,
keep
the gun at a constant 6" - 8" away from the project. Release the
trigger
at the end of each stroke. Then, depress the trigger and overlap the
previous
pass by about 1/3. Continue in this fashion for consistent coverage.
The
Air Control Valve
Whenever
possible, to
reduce over
spray to an absolute minimum you may use the Air Control Valve to
reduce
the volume/pressure of air passing through the spray gun. Turn the
valve
until the air is at the point where it is just barely atomizing the
paint
and yet the finish quality is still ideal. If the valve is turned too
low,
orange peel may result. There is a compromise here with setting the
amount
of paint sprayed and the size of the pattern. The Air Control Valve
setting
should be the last in the chain. In other words, decide on the
viscosity
and size of pattern first - then, you may find that you can reduce the
air without affecting the quality of the finish.
A
Word about LATEX
If you intend on spraying Latex
Emulsion Paint (House Paint) most of the time, please consider
purchasing
the more powerful Q4Pro™ 4-stage turbine system. To spray
Latex paints
successfully, some rules must be adhered to. The latex should be
'finish-quality'
(the best grade). For best results, a Latex Additive such as Floetrol
should
be used (Call 1-800-321-3444 for your nearest dealer). The Latex will
also
have to be thinned with water - usually 20% is enough. The #4
needle/nozzle/jet
setup is preferred for more coverage (standard with all systems). When
spraying Latex, please turn the fluid adjusting screw to limit the
paint
to a finer spray. This will increase the ratio of air to paint and
result
in better atomization and a beautiful finish. (Factually speaking, it
doesn't
increase the ratio of air to paint but does the opposite - it allows
the
air atomizing power to work on less paint thereby improving the quality
of atomization). If your main purpose in buying a system is to paint
walls
with latex, then we want you to know that you will probably have to
thin
the paint. If you want to spray latex full strength (absolutely no
thinning)
onto walls, you would be better off with a Wagner 'Power Painter' which
will do the job without thinning. Airless will spray latex well. For
the
average homeowner, a roller is still probably the best tool for the
job.
However, hundreds of people have used the Fuji System to paint walls
with
latex and they are very happy with the result. Just remember to use
Floetrol
and thin with water. For walls you would need the #5 or #6
needle/nozzle/jet
setup for greater coverage. To review… we consider HVLP
perfect for spraying
Latex Paint onto trim, cabinets, louver doors etc. (fine finishing).
HVLP
is designed for fine
finishing,
this includes... furniture, pianos, cabinets, automobiles, machinery -
anywhere a 'Class A' coating is to be applied. If you already own
airless
equipment, you'll find that an HVLP system will complement it
perfectly.
Although there is some overlap, every family of spray systems on the
market
has its special place.
