End of Job Sprayer Options?

[donnenwerth woodworking]

I have been spraying conversion varnish for the past two kitchen jobs.  I am set up now with 3 graco airless sprayers which i've gotten great results with.  My only issue is towards the end of the jobs when I have some touch up on a few small things.  With my airless sprayer I need at least 1/2 gallon to keep pressure and with the conversion varnish I am basically wasting finish after catalyzing it.  It became pretty costly on the last two projects as one job was 4 different colors.  Because of this I thought it would be worthwhile to add an additional sprayer to do the small scale spraying at the end of the jobs, saving me on wasted catalyzed finish.  I do not have a large enough compressor to run a gun from, but that was the option I was looking at first.  Do you have any suggestions for this? 

Thanks,

Pat

 

[tiralie]

Some of the detail or LVLP (Low volume/low pressure or LCFM (Low cfm) should be able to handle these issues. They typically require a compressor at the top range of the 120V, 20 amp with 7-8 cfm output. Obviously these are not recommended for large fridge panels, but for touch-ups or small areas they can work.
Alternatively you could use a Turbine HVLP with a small cup that is pressurized via a small compressor. The cost is about the same as a conventional compressor based system. The bonus of course is it is a portable system that will spray almost anything.

I have a CAT Jaguar 100H HVLP (Gravity, General Purpose / Low CFM) which requires Low CFM air cap requires 6 CFM @ 15 PSI
If you are looking at very small touch-ups, the Preval sprayer might work, but you probably will have to thin your conversion varnish.
Tim

 

[Gregor]

Depending on how small the small things are: Have you thought about an Airbrush pistol? Dosn't need that much gas to run and can, for small stuf, be feed from a tank (or a can) so you won't have to carry around a compressor - and should you use it often enough to make cans or tanks impractical a small compressor would suffice.

 

[tiralie]

Depending on how small the small things are: Have you thought about an Airbrush pistol?

Good idea.
tim

 

[donnenwerth woodworking]

I guess small things was probably a bad term to use.  I was thinking more in the case of only having one door to spray an additional coat on.  Which means a sprayer that would be able to cover a 20" x 30" Cabinet door.  I talked with one of my reps at SW and he was thinking the CAT gun also. 

 

[tjbnwi]

Why not a Graco Fine Finish cordless? Your already use to applying the finish with an airless.
http://www.graco.com/us/en/products/contractor/proshot-fine-finish.html

I use my turbine HVLP, or an airbrush for the small stuff. Depends on how small the repair is which I choose.

Tom

 

[donnenwerth woodworking]

Why not a Graco Fine Finish cordless? Your already use to applying the finish with an airless.
http://www.graco.com/us/en/products/contractor/proshot-fine-finish.html

I use my turbine HVLP, or an airbrush for the small stuff. Depends on how small the repair is which I choose.

Tom

Have you used one of these?  I bought a corded one about 5 years ago and honestly think i got a defective one.  By the time I went to use it and found out it was too late to return it.  I could never get it to prime.  I thought it would be a great sprayer for all the craft things and smaller builds that wouldn't take much finish and setup/clean up would be much easier with. 

 

[tjbnwi]

Why not a Graco Fine Finish cordless? Your already use to applying the finish with an airless.
http://www.graco.com/us/en/products/contractor/proshot-fine-finish.html

I use my turbine HVLP, or an airbrush for the small stuff. Depends on how small the repair is which I choose.

Tom

Have you used one of these?  I bought a corded one about 5 years ago and honestly think i got a defective one.  By the time I went to use it and found out it was too late to return it.  I could never get it to prime.  I thought it would be a great sprayer for all the craft things and smaller builds that wouldn't take much finish and setup/clean up would be much easier with.

Yep, own one. Use it about once a month. Works well for what I use it. You have to be aware of the pickup tube location in relation to the fluid level and spray angle.

Odds are the inlet check valve is hung up on the one that wont prime. Easy fix.

Tom

 

[wptski]

Yep, own one. Use it about once a month. Works well for what I use it. You have to be aware of the pickup tube location in relation to the fluid level and spray angle.

Odds are the inlet check valve is hung up on the one that wont prime. Easy fix.

Tom

Doesn't yours have the flexible weighted pickup tube?

 

[donnenwerth woodworking]

Yep, own one. Use it about once a month. Works well for what I use it. You have to be aware of the pickup tube location in relation to the fluid level and spray angle.

Odds are the inlet check valve is hung up on the one that wont prime. Easy fix.

Tom

Doesn't yours have the flexible weighted pickup tube?

I believe I tried problem solving with that issue.  I had it happen on one of my original graco sprayers.  I haven't had the gun out in a few years now. 

 

[tjbnwi]

Yep, own one. Use it about once a month. Works well for what I use it. You have to be aware of the pickup tube location in relation to the fluid level and spray angle.

Odds are the inlet check valve is hung up on the one that wont prime. Easy fix.

Tom

Doesn't yours have the flexible weighted pickup tube?

No, the tube is fairly rigid, has a "kick stand" that acts against the side of the cup holding the tube forward.

Tom

 

[jools]

I've had the Graco FF for a while and it's a good sprayer for on site work. Here in the UK the 18v batteries have just been recalled by Graco and replaced with FOC 20v.

 

[wptski]

No, the tube is fairly rigid, has a "kick stand" that acts against the side of the cup holding the tube forward.

Tom

You must have an older model then.