HVLP Advice

[mark60]

I've been going back and forth for a while trying to decide if I wanted to invest in an HVLP system and I've decided I do want one but I'm not sure how much of one to buy.

With the kids about grown and the major house remodeling about finished up I've had time to play woodworker lately instead of carpenter/drywall guy/plumber/electrician etc.
I've recently built garage cabinets and cabinets for the finished basement and have several more to build along with closet builtins and bookcases. Brushing on a finish takes more time than I want to spend, I'm not a guy that loves finishing, and I'd like to learn to lay down a quality finish in the future. I don't really expect to achieve what the professionals achieve but I think I can learn to do quality work. I've always been a Polycrylic kind of guy and recently used General Finishes water based poly and Enduro Var, both much nicer than Polycrylic.

My immediate problem is I have no idea how much sprayer to buy or what finish to buy. My current thinking is that I'll only spray waterborne clear finishes or shellac but who knows what the future will bring. Although I don't see ever spraying latex I might want to use pigmented lacquer in the future. I'm sure I'll have a million questions as I learn and I'll try not to ask them all but I'm hoping you can help me get my feet wet.

I like quality tools hence my growing collection of systainers but I try to avoid buying more than I think I need.
I was thinking Fuji 3 stage but can go 4 or even 5 stage if my applications above warrant it.

Gravity or cup?

What clear finish to buy? Reading back through the forum I saw SW Wood Classics recommended so I plan n grabbing a gallon of the waterborne poly varnish in the morning. Their website states brush on or spray so I figure I can use a brush now and as soon as I get a sprayer it's something I can use to at least start learning with. They have 30% off right now so it's also economical to work with.

If I understand correctly I'll generally be able to recoat after an hour or so. Is the finish ok in the gun and tip between coats? I wouldn't think you have to strip things down and clean between coats.

Can I really spray in my garage or basement shop without making a mess if I rig up a temp spray booth with plastic sheeting? The dust collection of Festoys is one of the biggest reasons I've been able to rekindle my woodworking. Festool lets me cut, sand, and rout without making an unholy mess.

Lastly for now, is there a HVLP for dummies you can recommend that might be of some help with the basics?

 

[monstrol]

Here are my 2 cents,
I have had the Capspray 4 stage with 2 guns and a few diferent tips for about 11 years.  Either I wasn't paying attention or my local Sherwin Williams gave me a deal. It works fine but I would probably go for a Fuji now. Which ever you chose, get 2 guns, a cleaning kit and if you spray waterborne, I encourage you to thoroughly clean the gun, cup, etc, pretty much right away and wipe a little oil on the needle.  I always hold the gun without the cup under the faucet with water running into fluid tube and the trigger depressed until it comes out clear, wait a few seconds and do it again. My experience is waterborne is a hassle to clean but no solvents. I have a other tips and will let the forum add theirs.

 

[tjbnwi]

Get the Fuji MM 4. I have the Q4, only difference is sound.

I have a Q4 and multiple guns. I prefer gravity, but bottoms have their place.

Get the PPS system for the gun(s).

Do a search for Fuji in this section--start reading.

Tom

 

[Bill Chang]

I started using HVLP last year and am happy with my Apollo 5 stage.  I've been so booked running cabinets I have not shot anything other than water born GF poly for cabinets I build for remodeling.  That means I didn't need to splurge on a 5 stage.

I have left WB finish in my gun overnight without problems.  Most of the time I clean it out at the end of the day tho.

I have 2 guns (cup and gravity feed) but prefer gravity feed.

I'm still learning but often spray with nothing other than tape and paper protecting the floor.  I avoid plastic sheeting on the floor bc it can get slippery.

 

[mark60]

Thank you. I'll go with the MM4 with a gravity gun and the PPS to get started. Do I want the T75 gun or the Gxpc? The swivel cup seems like it might be a nice feature but admittedly I don't really know.

 

[tjbnwi]

I have both, they just redesigned the X. It sprays better than my first gen model according to their video.

The advantage to getting the 75----if you do get the 70 the air cap sets are interchangeable. The X air caps will not fit the T series.

Tom

 

[mark60]

Thanks Tom. I guess Fuji just wants to complicate things for me.

 

[tjbnwi]

I have:

First gen G-Xpc, it takes one set of air caps.

Second gen G-Xpc, a different set of air caps

T-70, totally different set of air caps.

A set up a Sys Mini for each gun.

Tom

 

[tiralie]

Thank you. I'll go with the MM4 with a gravity gun and the PPS to get started. Do I want the T75 gun or the Gxpc? The swivel cup seems like it might be a nice feature but admittedly I don't really know.

Both Gxpc and T series guns are good. I have both, I like both for different reasons. The T series are a little fussier to clean as there are more parts but I find the adjustments for fan width and coating volume are better.
Other than that I haven't noticed very much difference in spray although I have not used all my coating in the T series gun.

I have a Q4 with a whip hose

T 70 (siphon) with standard cup or PPS cup
XPC siphon only used with a pressure pot and compressor
XPC gravity with standard or PPS cup
Tim

 

[rnt80]

Tim, I'm interested in your experience with the Q4.  I'm thinking of upgrading to it purely for the reduced noise level.  When I use my MM3 I have to place the turbine in our kitchen and run the hose through the doggy door in our sliding patio door.  If the Q4 is significantly more quiet it would be worth the switch.

Thank you. I'll go with the MM4 with a gravity gun and the PPS to get started. Do I want the T75 gun or the Gxpc? The swivel cup seems like it might be a nice feature but admittedly I don't really know.

Both Gxpc and T series guns are good. I have both, I like both for different reasons. The T series are a little fussier to clean as there are more parts but I find the adjustments for fan width and coating volume are better.
Other than that I haven't noticed very much difference in spray although I have not used all my coating in the T series gun.

I have a Q4 with a whip hose

T 70 (siphon) with standard cup or PPS cup
XPC siphon only used with a pressure pot and compressor
XPC gravity with standard or PPS cup
Tim

 

[tiralie]

I'm thinking of upgrading to it purely for the reduced noise level. 

Russell:
Hard to communicate how load or quiet the Q4 is compared to the MM3. Maybe [member=4105]tjbnwi[/member] or anyone else will be able to communicate how quiet or loud his is compared to some. It is marginally quieter than a Festool vacuum. You definitely know it's on when it's running but it's not irritating. I can easily spray with it running in the same space I am spraying in.
Hope that helps.
If I were you I would probably upgrade to the new Q5. More power, and it might help with spraying some of the pigmented lacquer you spray.
Tim

 

[tjbnwi]

The Q4 is in the same sound range of a CT.

Often I run mine with nothing but a 10' leader hose. The turbine is close by when I use just the leader.
http://ww9.aitsafe.com/cf/add.cfm?u...se 10ft Black&price=49.95&units=1&return=http://www.phelpsrefinishing.com/fuji.html

Tom

 

[wptski]

The Fuji Q5 has a bit more pressure but also has a variable speed control.  The inline pressure regulator isn't really a pressure regulator but a flow control, not exactly the same.  I have the Q4 Gold and two G-xpc guns.  One can use a $20 router speed control from Harbor Freight and get the same results.

A little story.  I also have a Graco handheld airless and its backpack pressure pot setup.  I went to spray my garage door using Behr All in One latex for the first time.  It wouldn't spray five seconds without plugging up.  I use a modified tip holder where I can change tips and was using a .013" tip so I switched to a .015" with no change.  I had rigged up a setup to use a Fuji gun with that same pressure pot.  I quickly got it setup, no straining or thinning and did the job without stopping.  Took a long time but it saved the day.

Now the tip/needle was a 1.4mm which is around .055" but I never could figure out why the 60 mesh filter in the Graco wasn't stopping whatever from reaching the tip.  I did use a 50x60 mesh Worthy strainer in the Fuji setup and the Graco PP uses a strainer with fairly large holes.

 

[sylthecru]

for my vote i suggest getting the Fuji MM 4.

 

[Twoodman66]

+1 on the mm4. I purchased this a couple months ago. With no experience and using General Finishes products I still cannot believe this finish I've achieved.