Apollo Pro-spray 1500 VS Earlex 5500

[Mauri Motti]

Having no previous experience with spray units but having hundreds of hours with a brush under my belt I wondered...

I have read all the posts on fog ( and many elsewhere) about the Earlex 5500 and Apollo units. I am aware of the fact that people at least recommend getting a 1 and or 1,5mm needle with the Earlex unit. The Apollo 1500 unit is a bit more expensive but may be a step up from the Earlex 5500, is it? I would use either of these units for doors, table tops, fence work and floor trimming. Mainly water based paints, varnishes, lacquers etc. But also oil finishes and wax finishes (I like Osmo Color hardwax products for table tops for instance)  I have had no or little looks at the Fuji units as they seem to be quite a bit more expensive.
Also, Apollo makes a Apollo Spray Tan Machine which, from what I read, is the same as the Apollo 1500 but it is specifically customised to offer a quality spray tan machine solution. What does this mean? whats a spray tan?

I have read only but good about the Earlex 5500. One person wrote about the Apollo unit that the spraycan has a black finnish (in and out) and that the black paint over time loosens up (dissolves) and eventually comes out the front end of the gun.... that's definitely a no no right?

Any input welcome!

Mauri Motti

 

[Scott B.]

Having no previous experience with spray units but having hundreds of hours with a brush under my belt I wondered...

I have read all the posts on fog ( and many elsewhere) about the Earlex 5500 and Apollo units. I am aware of the fact that people at least recommend getting a 1 and or 1,5mm needle with the Earlex unit. The Apollo 1500 unit is a bit more expensive but may be a step up from the Earlex 5500, is it? I would use either of these units for doors, table tops, fence work and floor trimming. Mainly water based paints, varnishes, lacquers etc. But also oil finishes and wax finishes (I like Osmo Color hardwax products for table tops for instance)  I have had no or little looks at the Fuji units as they seem to be quite a bit more expensive.
Also, Apollo makes a Apollo Spray Tan Machine which, from what I read, is the same as the Apollo 1500 but it is specifically customised to offer a quality spray tan machine solution. What does this mean? whats a spray tan?

I have read only but good about the Earlex 5500. One person wrote about the Apollo unit that the spraycan has a black finnish (in and out) and that the black paint over time loosens up (dissolves) and eventually comes out the front end of the gun.... that's definitely a no no right?

Any input welcome!

Mauri Motti

I have used the Earlex 5500 alot. I have not used that particular Apollo, but have used the 1050VR. My opinion is that across the board, Apollo makes a much more precision crafted HVLP. Earlex is great bang for the buck, but definitely comes with some ergonomic compromises that show up fairly quickly in the user experience, in comparison to more expensive and better rigs. Again, for the price, and occasional use, it Earlex seems to own that price point.

Even if that inner cup coating issue on the Apollo is true (I haven't heard of it), you could (and should) buy an upgraded cup. They should be interchangeable and it is good to have more than one anyways.

 

[jonny round boy]

Mauri,

I bought an Earlex 5500 a few months ago to spray a kitchen I was building, so I can answer some of your questions on that unit. I have no experience with any other HVLP system, so can't do any comparisons.

I used the unit for 2 types of finish; a water based, semi-matt varnish/lacquer, and a water based eggshell paint.

The varnish could be sprayed directly without thinning, and the finish on that was excellent (on birch ply). I sprayed one thin coat, left it for 30-45 mins, then a quick de-nibbing with 320 grit on my ETS150, and sprayed 2nd, thicker coat. No problems. The hardest part was seeing how much was on the surface, particularly on the second coat. You need good lighting!

This is one of the panels after the two coats:

[attachimg=1]

The eggshell paint was a bit trickier - it needed thinning slightly, which I did with water. I had a couple of problems with lumps/small pieces of dried paint (from the tin the paint came in) getting in, so I bought some paint filters from eBay & drained the paint through those into the can each time. Again I sprayed 2 coats (de-nibbing in between) but the finish wasn't great. I was only using it as an undercoat, as I had always intended doing a final brush-coat on site after the install. The finish was fine for that, but was no way good enough for a finish coat. This was down to (I think) two main things: 1, I was using the 2mm nozzle (whilst I did intend on getting the 1.5mm nozzle, I never did), and 2, my lack of experience in spraying.

This is an example of the finish from the spraying:

[attachimg=2]

With a bit of practice, I'm confident I could get a decent 'final' finish with the Earlex, but I would need to buy the smaller nozzles.

Regarding the black paint in the can - this is a PTFE (non-stick) lining, to make cleaning easier. It's only on the inside. I had no problems with that coming off, but I was only using water based media. Some kinds of solvent may dissolve the coating, but I have no knowledge of that.

On a related note, I found the gun really easy to strip down & clean, though that was under a running tap. I would NOT like to have to clean a solvent based finish out of it, and I have vowed never to spray anything that isn't water based anyway.

Although it was mostly undetectable during spraying, there was a LOT of mist/overspray generated. Despite me sheeting the room up (I used clear plastic dust sheets; my girlfriend referred to it as "Dexter-ising" the room!) overspray & dust got everywhere. I invested in a decent paint-grade mask which helped a lot.

Earlex have a series of videos on youtube that are quite good (the ones with the guy in the blue shirt). You may have watched them already, but if not I'd recommend watching them all.

Hope that helps.

PS - spray tan is for people who like to look orange... [big grin]

 

[Mauri Motti]

Scott B,
I had read about your experiences about the Earlex 5500 but I also read (and I didnt pay attention to the timeline in which you wrote those posts) that you've never used better then the Apollo, in your case the 1050VR. The Apollo 1500 is 100 pound sterling more over the Earlex and for me this is doable but would like to use one right out of the box. I wouldnt like to buy another paint can for the Apollo as it will cost me more and I wouldnt know which one to get.

Jonny round boy,
Thanks for you extensive feedback. Regarding the mist/ overspray I did read about it in some of the reviews out there. The Apollo should not have this so much, from what I read, as you can "dail in the gun" more precisely than the Earlex. This Dexter-ishing my Misses would definitely approve! (Big fan). I will have to spray in our (one car) garage as I have no finishing room in the shop so masking the garage is easy piecy. It is good to hear about your confidence getting a good finish with the Earlex getting smaller nozzles and practice.

I havent seen the youtube videos and will get to that right away.

btw, in Finland I havent found any dealer selling Earlex though at a local box store I purchased two Earlex wallpaper steamers for a steam bending box last year.
Therefore this uk store is a reasonable option price/ shipping wise.

For now I lean towards getting an Earlex.

Regards,
Mauri

 

[jonny round boy]

Mauri,

That shop is where I got mine.

 

[mastercabman]

Also, Apollo makes a Apollo Spray Tan Machine which, from what I read, is the same as the Apollo 1500 but it is specifically customised to offer a quality spray tan machine solution. What does this mean? whats a spray tan?

Mauri Motti

It's for spraying tan colors.
It is used on models usually for photo shoot on location
It's kind of like a air brush application  No wonder their skin looks so good!

Sorry but can't help you with those units you mentioned
I never cared for turbine units

 

[Scott B.]

Scott B,
I had read about your experiences about the Earlex 5500 but I also read (and I didnt pay attention to the timeline in which you wrote those posts) that you've never used better then the Apollo, in your case the 1050VR. The Apollo 1500 is 100 pound sterling more over the Earlex and for me this is doable but would like to use one right out of the box. I wouldnt like to buy another paint can for the Apollo as it will cost me more and I wouldnt know which one to get.

Jonny round boy,
Thanks for you extensive feedback. Regarding the mist/ overspray I did read about it in some of the reviews out there. The Apollo should not have this so much, from what I read, as you can "dail in the gun" more precisely than the Earlex. This Dexter-ishing my Misses would definitely approve! (Big fan). I will have to spray in our (one car) garage as I have no finishing room in the shop so masking the garage is easy piecy. It is good to hear about your confidence getting a good finish with the Earlex getting smaller nozzles and practice.

I havent seen the youtube videos and will get to that right away.

btw, in Finland I havent found any dealer selling Earlex though at a local box store I purchased two Earlex wallpaper steamers for a steam bending box last year.
Therefore this uk store is a reasonable option price/ shipping wise.

For now I lean towards getting an Earlex.

Regards,
Mauri

Mauri

The 1050vr has continued to be very much a standard in my experience, for 5 stage turbine and bottom mount cup. The Graco 9.5 is also a very good and versatile hvlp, albeit on an entirely different platform than the Apollo, but in the same price range I believe.

Lately, we have been geeking out a little on gravity cups...the Thomas Bader influence.

The fundamental question is how much will you use it.

If you will use it 3 times a year, the Earlex is probably the ticket.

If you will use it monthly, you will outgrow the Earlex fairly quickly, in my opinion. It is adequate, but you will end up wanting something a little more sophisticated.

 

[Mauri Motti]

Aha, spraying tan colors, now I get the "people who like to look orange" joke from JRB.  [laughing]
Thanks for your input Scott. Even though I plan on using the unit rather frequently the 1050vr is out of my league.
I think that the Earlex, as I understand as well from your earlier and recent posts, a great price/ quality/ out of the box value.

jonny round boy,
as the hvlpshop does not sell the HV5ACC15USR fine finish needle and ebay gives me either US hits (what a joke right, 59 US dollars shipping costs) or EU ones that do not send to Finland, do you possibly have UK alternatives that I may have overlooked. And in your opinion would 1,5mm be suitable for a fine/ final finish? Or may it be worth looking into getting a 1mm needle kit?
I looked at the youtube vids you posted the link to (jep, all 27 of them). Filters would have been something I would not have thought of if it wasn't for you mentioning it and having seen it in the videos. I'm a novice but wan't to get rid of the brush when possible.

Thanks,
Mauri

 

[jonny round boy]

No-where seems to stock the needle kits, but can order them direct from Earlex in the UK. I got a price on them when I got the unit - I can't find it but I think it was around £20-£25 including postage. They should be able to ship to you in Finland, but if not I'd be happy to forward one on to you.

When I spoke to them I explained what paint I was using, and they advised that the 1.5mm would be best. Having said that, I haven't used them so can't confirm.

 

[Mauri Motti]

While reading I got the idea that many users have a preference for the 1,5mm needle though paints were not discussed. Thank you for the offer sending me one, I may get back to you on this.

Best regards,
Mauri

 

[tjbnwi]

As Scott mentioned, I'm an advocate of gravity feed guns. The system I use is the Fugi Q4 with the XPc gun. The XPc is a side feed gun, I like that better than a true top feed. With he exception of my airbrush, I don't see myself ever going back to a bottom cup gun. I do have all the tips and air caps for it.

When it comes to cups, get the 3M PPS system as soon as you can. I use the stock cup, the PPS with the cup and liner that fits the job and a 2.5 gallon pressure pot.

Johnny,

Going to the smaller tip and needle will require you thin the paint more. Try mixing the paint with a propeller type mixer, ALWAYS strain your product, new, shelfed, whatever strain your product. When I have the PPS system on the gun all the products get double strained, the liner lids have built in strainers. The other thing you can try is going down one air cap size, it tightens the fan a little. The amount of overspray you claim you have should not be there.

I am a fan of the turbine systems (pun intended), it allows me to take the system to the job. I do plan on getting a CAT gun in the near future. The Graco may be in the cards also, that's another story........

I don't nor have I ever used the Earlex, these are my observations from looking into it for someone else;

Hose is to short, needs to be at least 25'. Gets the turbine out of the spray area. Helps cool the discharge.

No leader hose.

No pressure adjustment.

Not enough tip/needle choices.

Tom

 

[tjbnwi]

Johnny,

One other thing, if you're going to brush, spray and back brush, much more efficient than dip and brush.

Tom