Does the earlex hv5500 actually spray???

[tom46]

HI guys,

Don't mean to moan on again about spraying but i just can't seem to do it for the life of me with the earlex hv5500.
I'm spraying mdf and can do this fine with the normal conventional gravity fed gun and compressor. However i want to spray hvlp due to the excess mist in the air.

I got my first hv5500 back in February and never got on that great with it so gave up. Starting trying it again back in July/ August and just had nothing but splitting with the paint. Haven spoken to earlex and coming to the conclusion the gun had broke i recently purchased a whole next unit.

Have been trying with this new unit 2-3 weeks now and i just get the same spitting affect. It's as though the paint is to thick. However weather i thin the paint to water i still get this same problem. Using the viscosity cup rated at 160 seconds or less i have the paint anything from 160 seconds down to like 60 seconds and still have the same issue. I have 1mm, 1.5mm and 2.0mm needles and none seem to make a difference either.
Because it splutters out like this i'm forced to apply to much product to cover the surface. Have included some photos of what i mean. Hope i make sense.

Does anyone else have this issue or know what it could be? ??? ???

Thanks Tom

 

[tiralie]

Looks like the gun has been improperly assembled and the cap is not dispersing the paint properly.
Paint will spatter if your nozzle is not set up properly and air vents are not lined up as designed.
If you have recently cleaned it, check the nozzle, tip and needle etc. and make sure everything is in the right position and not loose unless it is supposed to be.

Tim

 

[Sven]

I have the Earlex 5500 myself and have not had any issues similar to that.  I'd suggest a complete disassembly, cleaning and rebuild.  Ensure that the needle/nozzle tip is seating (closure) properly.  Nozzle tips and needles are matched pairs (1.5mm needle and 1.5mm nozzle tip) and closing down completely??  Are you adjusting the flow to see if you can get more liquid out??

If you rotate the spray nozzle 90 degrees (move the spray from a vertical fan to a horizontal fan) and spray, do you still get the same splatter pattern?

Sven

 

[Andy UK]

I would suggest watching the whole series of these videos of the Earlex 5500:



Then give the whole kit a good clean as shown in the video.
When you thin the paint it is important to stir slowly so as not to introduce air bubbles but also stir well enough that it is mixed correctly.
If you follow the videos step by step I'm sure with a little practice you will be ok.
Let us know how you get on. 

 

[Andy UK]

One more thing I always use a paint filter when pouring paint into the gun paint can.
They are cheap to buy but worth using as they capture any debris or thickened paint that you don't want going through the paint gun and blocking the nozzle.
I buy the paint filters from Ebay.

 

[tom46]

Hi Thanks for the advice.
I clean the gun throughly after every use with the last gun i'm sure my efforts of soaking the gun in thinners for 3 days is what damaged a seal or something somewhere haha. Am pretty sure the needles and cap are all correctly in place. By cap you mean the attachment that the needle goes into?

Thanks for the video links, i must have watched these 10-20 in the past 6 months and have done everything that they suggest. However i just can't seem to sort the issue.  I'm spraying johnstones arcylic satinwood/ gloss.

Thanks

 

[GarryMartin]

I'm spraying johnstones arcylic satinwood/ gloss.

Johnstones Acrylic Gloss states apply by brush, and Satin apply by brush or roller. Looks like there's an incorrect icon on the webpage for the Gloss that states it is sprayable, but the datasheets are clear...

Acrylic Gloss
http://ukppgacprd.blob.core.windows.net/johnstones-datasheets/Johnstones%20TR%20Acrylic%20Gloss.pdf

Acrylic Satin
http://ukppgacprd.blob.core.windows.net/johnstones-datasheets/Johnstones%20TR%20Acrylic%20Satin.pdf

 

[Andy UK]

Hi Thanks for the advice.
I clean the gun throughly after every use with the last gun i'm sure my efforts of soaking the gun in thinners for 3 days is what damaged a seal or something somewhere haha. Am pretty sure the needles and cap are all correctly in place. By cap you mean the attachment that the needle goes into?

Thanks for the video links, i must have watched these 10-20 in the past 6 months and have done everything that they suggest. However i just can't seem to sort the issue.  I'm spraying johnstones arcylic satinwood/ gloss.

Thanks

This one?:  http://www.johnstonestrade.com/products/product-display/acrylic-satin.aspx

They say Brush application, not spray gun. 

 

[Andy UK]

Oops Garry beat me to it!

 

[Wuffles]

I've sprayed Johnstone acrylic eggshell without issue, I've not checked the paperwork on it, just used it like a rebel.

 

[SMJoinery]

You shouldn't have a problem spraying this product providing it's diluted.
We use a similar Johnston and Leyland product with no issues.
Using yhe viscosity cup that comes with the 5500 count 100sec until flow stops.

The cleaning with spirits etc may be the problem as there are several sealed greased areas internally that I believe degrade with this type of fluid. Over and above the petroleum lubrication that comes with the gun.
Please also check that the syphon tube isn't blocked or leaking.
Using my gun this weekend I had spits of paint appearing which turned out to be a loose jet nozzle, quick tighten and it was good again. That and make sure little white washer on nozzle thread is ok.
Good luck.
Scott.

 

[Andy UK]

I've sprayed Johnstone acrylic eggshell without issue, I've not checked the paperwork on it, just used it like a rebel.

Yeah I've sprayed the Leyland Acrylic Eggshell also and I like it.

 

[Shane Holland]

I've sprayed latex through my Earlex mixed with Floetrol, no issues. For what it's worth.

Maybe an issue with your gun...

 

[tom46]

Thanks for them sheets never seen that. When spraying the johnstones with my compressor it sprays lovely however. Just can't use it anymore with the mist you get.

I have some crown water based gloss so going to give that a test out tomorrow.

I was under the impression i degraded a seal of some sort and needed a quick fix so brought a new gun, however problem still remains ??? ??? I just don't understand the problem being as the gun is brand new. I'm so frustrated and annoyed by the whole thing hahah [scared]

 

[Scott B.]

The Earlex works. It's just a lower end unit, so sometimes when it decides not to work it is at the mercy of "value engineered" components. It delivers a lot of bang for the bucks, but there just aren't enough bucks in it to expect a super high level of production or quality out of it. It fills the niche it is intended to fill.

 

[tom46]

Just spend all morning trying to make some sort of sense from the earlex.

Have tried dulux satinwood, dulux gloss and zinnser 1-2-3 all water based and run through the viscosity cup measuring the same thickness.

Heres the results:
Zinsser has come out perfect.
Water based gloss has come out better then satinwood but not by any means perfect.
Water based satinwood is the one in the same photo as the zinsser and is just as bad as the johnstones.
All the cans say the paint is sprayable so i'm just so confused/ puzzled as to what is going on ???.

What sort of paints do you guys spray through your hvlp spray guns?

Thanks Tom

 

[jonny round boy]

I've sprayed Dulux Diamond eggshell with mine in the past - results weren't great, but acceptable for what I needed at the time.

I've since switched to only using Morrells water-based lacquers and the finish has improved considerably.

 

[tom46]

Thanks for that Jonny,
Will try get hold of some and give it a test.

Thanks again

 

[tiralie]

Zinsser has come out perfect.

Hmmm, sorry but for me that's far from perfect. There is too much splatter in that sample.

All the cans say the paint is sprayable so i'm just so confused/ puzzled as to what is going on ???.

Yes, if it says spray able, it probably is but not necessarily with a turbine driven system. It appears that your system won't or can't atomize the paint you have chosen properly. Unfortunately you either need a better gun or a better more capable turbine and/or augmented with a compressor.

What sort of paints do you guys spray through your hvlp spray guns?

Everything from shellac to high solids primers and lacquers.
Tim

 

[Brian Livingstone]

Hi,

I have an Earlex 5500 and I agree it is a classic case of you get what you pay for.  I need to upgrade my HVLP, and am listing mine for sale today, just not getting the professional results I hoped for. 

What would others recommend for a step up in performance.  Mainly used for spraying cabinets, cabinet doors, interior doors, etc.  No paint booth.

Will be spraying in my shop or outdoors.

Thanks.

Brian