9 replies to this topic

[Bobbins]

Please talk to me about spray guns!

I'm currently working through the rebuild of an '86 Mini and I'm approaching the stage where I need to get some paint on the interior bits. I very successfully repainted a couple of Minis in the early '80s, first one I used a "gravity fed gun" which I'd borrowed but later I bought a spraying kit complete with the more typical gun with an underslung pressurised reservoir ... there's probably a correct term for one of those. That kit I also used on various other cars and it worked well but was unfortunately stolen in a break in one night.

Move on quite a few years and although I've always assumed the underslung setup was the preferred choice for painters, a couple of years ago I had a car repainted at a high-end body shop and they used the gun type with the reservoir on top, obviously I know less than I thought.

So what would be the general recommendation assuming I'll be spraying cellulose? I have a good compressor so the air supply is not an issue and certainly the spray guns I've seen are cheaper than I was expecting and certainly remember.

[bikewiz]

This is what I recently bought the kit comes pretty complete and will spray pretty much anything, primer included. Devilbiss Finishline 4 FLG-670

[Furyan]

The one with the "underslung setup" as you called it is a suction fed gun. There are hundreds of spray guns on the market, have a look on here https://www.spraygun...o.uk/index.php/ and see what you fancy in your price range either in suction fed or gravity fed, I myself prefer gravity fed.

 

 I don't paint much these days so don't need an all "bells and whistles" gun and I don't have a big compressor to support an HVLP gun so I have this https://www.spraygun...ll-rounder.html as it can spray water based paints as well and it works just fine for me.

 

I have painted full cars and lots of minor touch up repairs with it and had no issues with it in 4 years.

 

For primer I use a cheap Duren primer gun similar to this https://www.ebay.co....poAAOSweahd08ed

 

For the DIY'er though anything with a recognisable name such as De Vilbiss, Sata or Iwata will generally be good but there are of course other makes that will do the job.

Edited by Furyan, 29 November 2019 - 07:45 AM.

[sonscar]

The quality of the kit has never been my limiting factor,lack of skill practice patience etc.I use a £10 ish Fastmover touch up gun for almost everything.Try one you may be surprised and if you are not satistied it's only £10.Steve..

[weef]

As with most things the better quality kit give superior results. When all things refinishing were cellulose based the DeVilbiss JGA range was the professionals gun of choice. With a comprehensive range of air caps and fluid tips these guns gave good paint atomisation and an even paint distribution. The paint types and viscosities needed for vehicle refinishing were different then and now with the modern paint systems the spray gun requirements have moved on.

But as we are talking cellulose based paint I think the JGA range should still be in the running. They were easy to maintain and spare parts are still available so a good used gun might be a consideration getting all the advantages of a professional gun at a reasonable cost.

Of course as was stated before no gun will cover up for a lack of experience/technique but it is a good starter if your kit is quality. 

[Bobbins]

So is a gravity fed gun the preferred choice nowadays?

[danie garry]

i bought the az3 linked above and the R150 mini gun(https://www.spraygun...h.JFegepTl.dpbs)

I'm sure its a matter of skill and experience but the az3 just feels too big to me, the r150 is a lovely little spray guy, I ended up painting the whole car with it instead!

i bought this(https://www.spraygun...h.2hSfzYN2.dpbs) with a 1.8mm tip for primer and again it feels a bit big but sprays primer quite nicely

[Hedgey]

I recently sprayed mine using a ANI R150 with a 1.2mm nozzle https://www.spraygun...h.QNPG30Zj.dpbs for the smaller areas and a Devilbiss FLG 5 with a 1.4mm nozzle https://www.spraygun...sh.H2aiMlZI.dpb for the main sections.

 

As above I found the mini R150 to be a lovely gun to use, I did consider using it for the full car. In fact I reckon some of the best finished areas were done with the R150.

Its smaller size means it will take longer to spray the car but they do sell a larger paint cup for only a few £

[sonikk4]

I have to say if you are working to a budget then try a Iwata AZ3 Hte.

I used this on Paddy when I painted him and even though I am a complete rookie when it comes to spraying I got really good results.

Ben_O said to have a look and for the price it was worth it. Easy to use, easy to set up very good PDF info and spares as well.

[Daz1968]

I bought a devilbis sri pro with 1.2 tip, been brilliant and easily painted whole panels. I bought farecla disposable cup system so have plenty of paint mixed, other advantage is no drips and can paint upside down, using this gun enabled my compressor to supply enough air for an airfed mask as the gun has very low air requirements,