Using Graco Pro finish sprayer and paint waste

[NEW2FES]

Ok I have put off painting these cabinet doors for months. I have to use a handheld Graco Pro shot2 and SW Solo. I will be upgrading after this project.

FWIW I used Solor and thinned with water and Flo and used a 3/8 nap cheap HD 2" rollers and it looks like it was sprayed with a light orange peel. Problem is doors have flat MDF panels and I know there would be roller marks.

Anyway, Did some practice runs with some leftover paint and I am fairly impressed with the Pro Shot  and Solo but am blown away with the amount of paint this thing puts out. I come from auto paint background, sorry to keep saying but just using for comparison. I got a nice pattern and speed and it looks awesome but damn I went through 1 cup for 2 4x8 unprimed MDF test panels.

I think we should compile some sort of chart in regards to what sprayer sprays what.

Thanks and will post pics and exact items used if anyone les e going down the Solo road.

How much paint do you think I am going to go through for 2 coats front and back on 27 doors?

 

[tjbnwi]

You used 32 ounces on 64 square feet? That is 256 square feet per gallon. About 100 square feet under the SW spec of 350-400 per gallon (I ignore the high number).

You need to move a little faster. Check your work with a wet mill gauge to see how thick the wet film is. Adjust your tempo to achieve 4 wet mills.

Which tip are you using?

Can't answer the door question, you do not list the door sizes. Easiest way to figure the quantity need is square feet of the doors (2 sides) x 2 coats divided by 256 (unless you can get to the 350 with your technique). Add for the edges, they do add up quickly.

Tom

 

[NEW2FES]

Thanks, yeah I realized I am dumping too much but again wasn't sure on how to lay on to flow out. I am basically waving a pass as fast as possible. Too much paint but again I need to determine what is needed to flow and get even sheen on all the doors. Lesson learned.

The full cup was a bit of an exaggeration as I am using a liner and it was probably about 1/2 way full in reality.

I tried spraying the back of the doors and for some reason the white worked very differently from the dark color I had used for my test panels. I went on SW reps guide to NOT prime the doors for best adhesion and to use a narrow 515 tip. Was too much paint.

I tried with a narrow 311 which is supposedly for stains at it sprays a better atomized pattern that isn't 15".

The color works great but it should have been primed and I will prime the remaining doors. I only did the backs of 4 doors. Grain raised a bit and I think coverage would be better with the primer.

I am a bit of a perfectionist so I think I am going to sit down and think about an better spray rig or even just spray the center panels and roll and brush the rest. I am not into the plastic look although I get that people associate that with a quality finish.

I appreciate the help and again will post results but so far SW Solo use the 311 tip using 3 capfuls of Flo to 1QT. Pressure setting as at 3-4.

What happened to a nice brushed finish? LOL!!

 

[Scott B.]

ProShot kind of defies normal spraying methodology.

Pace and distance from target are different.

Pace is very fast, and distance from target should be rather far.

In 2010 with the original ProShot (which had no pressure control, just wide open), the first project I did with it was 72 cabinet doors and drawer fronts. It is possible, but you have to be moving. And controlling the spray environment, protecting what is drying from what is being sprayed.

 

[tjbnwi]

Thanks, yeah I realized I am dumping too much but again wasn't sure on how to lay on to flow out. I am basically waving a pass as fast as possible. Too much paint but again I need to determine what is needed to flow and get even sheen on all the doors. Lesson learned.

The full cup was a bit of an exaggeration as I am using a liner and it was probably about 1/2 way full in reality.

I tried spraying the back of the doors and for some reason the white worked very differently from the dark color I had used for my test panels. I went on SW reps guide to NOT prime the doors for best adhesion and to use a narrow 515 tip. Was too much paint.

I tried with a narrow 311 which is supposedly for stains at it sprays a better atomized pattern that isn't 15".

The color works great but it should have been primed and I will prime the remaining doors. I only did the backs of 4 doors. Grain raised a bit and I think coverage would be better with the primer.

I am a bit of a perfectionist so I think I am going to sit down and think about an better spray rig or even just spray the center panels and roll and brush the rest. I am not into the plastic look although I get that people associate that with a quality finish.

I appreciate the help and again will post results but so far SW Solo use the 311 tip using 3 capfuls of Flo to 1QT. Pressure setting as at 3-4.

What happened to a nice brushed finish? LOL!!

If the cup was 1/2 full- 16 oz. 64 square feet puts you at 512 square feet per gallon......

About the tips----the first number is the fan width, you multiply it by 2 a 515 tip is 10" fan, 0.015" orfice, the 311 is 6" fan, 0.011 office.

I prefer using primers and surfacers.

Tom

 

[NEW2FES]

I am laughing as I will not lie this is a job I have zero interest in and I am just mixing as I go. I appreciate the help and math that goes with it. The lack of solid measuring is due to the cup liners. I am going straight out of the can through a strainer into the liner. I prefer the cup shape or disposable 3M style as you can get a better idea of what is in the cup. Of course ideal would be measuring exactly what I am putting in there.

I agree on the speed and also the distance. I orig was spraying on jig that was waist high and I dropped it to a foot off the floor to pull the gun back over 12".

i have to admit I am interested in the way latex based coatings tend to dry completely different then they look layed down.

Using the smaller tip I learned it is very sensitive to paint temps and thickness. I did not heat up the last batch and 1/2 way through it stopped spraying till I swapped in the bigger tip. Was getting tails in pattern soI knew it was thick and higher pressure did not help.

I think they are way off in their fan pattern widths as the narrow 15 is about 10-12". The narrow 11 is about 8-10 playing with the pressure doesn't vary that much.

Surprisingly they look great. I can honestly say that the set up works. Fronts were primed with wall n wood. Last coat on fronts will be measured, heated and checked for flow before each set done. That is they key I believe.

Graco Proshot and Solo worked if anyone interested. My biggest deal is not being able to dial down pattern to do the edges.

I appreciate the help and will post pics to help anyone else looking for relatively cheap way to spray cabs with good results.