HVLP or Air Assisted?

gilcarleton

I want to buy something to finish furniture with. Building is my hobby and I usually use a brush and rub the finish out or use and oil varnish concoction that leaves a nice finish. I am debating whether I should buy a HVLP turbine unit, add some dryers and filters to my compressor and run a HVLP off of it or purchase an Air assisted unit. I have found a Graco Air Assisted that needs to rebuilt for $200 that I am considering. Truth is, I have never used any of these types of units. I have sprayed with an airless but I want a better finish on furniture. I would appreciate any feedback on this for some experienced users.

One other question, I have never heard of anyone spraying varnish. Is this possible? I am certain that it would be tricky for sure since it is a pain just to brush but it would be nice if I could.

Thanks all for the help,

Gil

Canarywood1

A 4stage turbine is what you want,and they spray waterbourne varnish all the time,Sherwin Williams has a pretty good product,but i'm sure there's a ton out there,just google it.

http://www.paintsprayersplus.com/c=d...-Tool-Kit.html

gilcarleton

Thanks Canarywood,
That is a very good price for a 4 stage unit. Most that I have seen cost over
$1,000. Do you know what a 4 stage does over a 3 stage? I know the more stages, the better but I don't know what they do.

Thanks again,

Gil

ToolSeeker

I will try this is the way it was explained to me so may be off. The more stages the better it atomizes the paint. My understanding of this is it makes the paint particles smaller. Maybe the best way I can try to explain it is I have a small HVLP sprayer (can you say cheap) I got it thinking it would be good for doors and trim. But you have to thin the paint so much for it to spray you lose the effect you want. Now I'm not sure about 4 stage but with a 5 stage (big bucks) it is my understanding you can use the thick latex paints with very little or no thinning. And the more stages the less overspray.

gilcarleton

Thanks for the help. I did not realize that you could spray heaver paints with more stages. I think I will order the one you suggested.

ToolSeeker

Gil since this is a high dollar item let me advise you to do a little more research. There is a site Paint Talk go on there use the search feature for HVLP sprayers. Its for pro painters but you can still use it just not ask questions. These are guys who use this equipment a lot, just hang around and see what they have to say.

Will22

Many of the multiple-stage units have an assortment of spray caps and projection sets (for the cup gun), which will allow increased air flow with a wider opening to atomize thicker viscosity materials. This also increases the "transfer efficiency", which is the meaure of productivity from the spray unit to the painted surface. It also minimizes overspray. A regular HVLP is basically a single stage vaccuum motor, which blows air through the projection set, and the atomized fluid exits through the air cap.

gilcarleton

Canarywood was the first post below my question and he posted a link that leads to a Fuji 4 stage for $699. The reviews on it seem good, Fuji has a good name so I am thinking about buying it. Most 4 stage I have seen are well over a thousand dollars. I will check out your site. Thanks for the help.

gilcarleton

It seems like most folks use the turbine unit. I have seen on YouTube where some cabinet builders us an air compressor with a dryers and filters. Do you have any experience with those?

Grants Painting

4 + stage turbine unit. Thats what you need.

Yaka

How good is the fuji 4 stage for spraying walls and cielings?

ToolSeeker

I have never used one but from what I have read they are good units.

Brushjockey

A HVLP is not meant for large spaces. It is ok for trim and cab work, it is great for detail.

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