Simple gun flow control vs variable speed turbine

[wptski]

The subject says it all.

 

[tjbnwi]

I've never used a variable.

Rarely throttle back at the gun.

Tom

 

[wptski]

The high end Apollo's have variable speed as does the Fuji 5-stage.

No need to control overspray often?

 

[Scott B.]

We use one of the high end Apollo's with control at the turbine, but we rarely turn it down.

We also equip our Edge hvlp guns from Graco with the optional artisan valve which allows for fan pattern adjustability. Our hoses also have shut down valves at the gun end of the air hose, which is a handy way to reduce air.

Overall, control at the gun end is more convenient.

 

[wptski]

We use one of the high end Apollo's with control at the turbine, but we rarely turn it down.

We also equip our Edge hvlp guns from Graco with the optional artisan valve which allows for fan pattern adjustability. Our hoses also have shut down valves at the gun end of the air hose, which is a handy way to reduce air.

Overall, control at the gun end is more convenient.

Again that "artisan" valve reduces air "flow" to the air cap, not really reducing pressure like a "true" regulator does although flow and pressure work hand in hand.



I really enjoy a company video like this one from Graco on that artisan valve install  and also showing what appears to be a training sessions where students plus I believe the trainer spraying in a arc motion.  I know that can't be avoided sometimes but that's not the  case here.

 

[Scott B.]

Just thought I'd put my $.02 out there to try to help, Bill.

I can assure you that the trainer in the video has good technique, as I have painted with him for over 20 years - the past 5 of which has been training students in vocational programs. Surely you'll pardon their technique, as it was all of their first time ever with a spray gun.

We (not Graco) put out that video to help other hvlp users realize that in some cases, the artisan valve is a simple and useful modification.

Good luck with your pursuit of a set up that works for you.

 

[wptski]

Just thought I'd put my $.02 out there to try to help, Bill.

I can assure you that the trainer in the video has good technique, as I have painted with him for over 20 years - the past 5 of which has been training students in vocational programs. Surely you'll pardon their technique, as it was all of their first time ever with a spray gun.

We (not Graco) put out that video to help other hvlp users realize that in some cases, the artisan valve is a simple and useful modification.

Good luck with your pursuit of a set up that works for you.

Every $.02 helps!  As far as the the trainer goes, it sure looks like him behind the mask with students watching and the gun is clearly not parallel to the surface.  It might not make much of a difference on his target there but not 100% correct technique.  Keeping the gun square to the work piece is pretty basic stuff, isn't it?

I do consider myself a student as well.

 

[bobfog]

Just thought I'd put my $.02 out there to try to help, Bill.

I can assure you that the trainer in the video has good technique, as I have painted with him for over 20 years - the past 5 of which has been training students in vocational programs. Surely you'll pardon their technique, as it was all of their first time ever with a spray gun.

We (not Graco) put out that video to help other hvlp users realize that in some cases, the artisan valve is a simple and useful modification.

Good luck with your pursuit of a set up that works for you.

Every $.02 helps!  As far as the the trainer goes, it sure looks like him behind the mask with students watching and the gun is clearly not parallel to the surface.  It might not make much of a difference on his target there but not 100% correct technique.  Keeping the gun square to the work piece is pretty basic stuff, isn't it?

I do consider myself a student as well.

Does look like the same guy and out of context the technique does look bad. Could just be a poor choice of clip at the start of the video and he might have been demonstrating bad technique, but out of context looks like he doesn't know what he's doing.

 

[Scott B.]

Keeping the gun square to the work piece is pretty basic stuff, isn't it? [/quote]

Bill

No worries, I understand. We should all be lifetime students of activities we are passionate about.

Being square or perpendicular to the surface is a good basic tip, for sure. It's like in baseball, batters are taught to have a nice level swing. In driver education, drivers are taught to position their hands at 10 and 2 on the steering wheel. If we were learning the guitar, we would be taught to play basic open chords first, then learn fragments, triads, arpeggio variations, etc.

Can we hit or drive or play perfectly well without strictly adhering to these tips?

Are there times when it would work against us to stick to these guidelines? Absolutely.

Being perpendicular to the surface while spraying is certainly a consideration, and it can cause real problems sometimes to not be.

That said, there are many times when it is not practical, or a good idea. 

When running a gravity cup that is 3/4 full with waterborne poly, on initial load and dial-in for 12 kids to learn to spray, there is a very good reason why Todd is holding slightly back at the specific angle that he is.

Perhaps we (or someone) can do a video demonstration explaining why its not always best to be absolute perpendicular when gravity spraying.

Thanks for the question.