Lowe's Sidewalk Sale

[tuttlejr]

Ad in today's paper said 10 to 40% off on selected tools. Other bargains abound. Not a big deal as usual and it was too hot to have it on the sidewalk.

[agent511]

Air Compressor

I was at Lowe's to buy the cheap Ryobi 10" drill press (looks like best value for someone who needs to use it infrequently). I had been thinking about getting a large compressor to do HVLP spraying. They had many compressors on sale, but the best deal of all their compressor sales was the 22 gallon Kobalt (made by Coleman). It was marked down from $299 to $153. It is a stand-up vertical model on wheels, which takes up the least space. It has a digital readout (a gimmick). It comes with a 45 piece tool set including an impact wrench, die-grinder, air hammer, cut-off tool, and a sprayer.

Since I am a novice here, please tell me that this is an appropriate compressor for HVLP work. The specs are 1.3 running HP, 4.0 SCFM @ 90psi, and 6.0 SCFM @ 40psi. Is that enough air flow?

Also the sprayer it came with has the tank sitting underneath. The HVLP sprayers I have seen have the tank above the spray head. Do I need a different sprayer?

[barryvabeach]

Compressor size

I am sorry to tell you that is a little light for HVLP. Full size low consumption guns require in the neighborhood of 7 -8 cfm. Full size regular HVLP can consume 12 cfm. If you just want to do smaller projects you might be able to get away with that compressor because the tank size will help store the air. Where you might run into trouble is where a number of sides or peices must all be sprayed at the same time ( sometimes you need to do that to avoid an overspray problem) . My suggestion is to hold off for something bigger if you want to do much HVLP spraying. If you are willing to use a mini gun, which may spray say a 4 - 6 " wide area at a time, that compressor will be fine because their consumption is quite low. - this is one setup that might work - not familiar with the gun itself, but like the idea they include all the tips, http://www.spraygunworld.com/product...CATMiniJet.htm Here is their description of miniguns and the advantages http://www.spraygunworld.com/Information2/MiniGuns.htm

this is the budget mini gun and it is rated at 4 cfm. http://www.spraygunworld.com/product...0AP4020-12.htm. Good luck. Barry

[agent511]

Barry, it appears you are correct. i did some research (should have done before I bought) and it is quite undersized. (It looked so big!) I imagine that if I start with a mini-gun, I will be sorry in the long run; it will need to be refilled constantly - a mini-gun is probably more suitable for model work.

So I just did an extensive expert re-packaging and re-taping job. Everything is back in the box like new. It will go back tomorrow.

[agent511]

Still, I am curious, since the spec isn't given:

If it is 4 SCFM @90psi, and 6 SCFM @ 40psi, what might the rating be for 25 PSI? possibly 8psi?

[barryvabeach]

compressor output

I am no expert, but based on what I have read ( this entire message may be may be totally wrong) for each stroke, the compressor compresses a certain quantity of air and then discharges it ( through a valve) into the tank. While the amount of air that is compressed in each stroke is the same, as the tank fills with air and the pressure in the tank increases, in effect less air goes into the tank with each cycle due to the pressure of the air already in the tank. The specs tell you how much is put into the tank with 90 psi as back pressure versus how much is put in the tank if the back pressure is only 40 psi. I struggled for some time to figure out how much I needed, pored over charts, got myself totally confused about air output from the compressor v. drawing down from the tank ( If you had a big enough tank, in theory you could spray a project regardless of how small your compressor is, conversely , if your compressor put out 12 cfm and your gun needed 12 cfm, in theory you would not need any tank). Since compressor motors don't like to run full time, you generally want to have the motor run some portion filling up the tank, and then cooling off. My guess is that you should shoot for a compressor rated in the same ballpark, or above, your HVLP cfm requirement ( this following part might have some validity unlike everything up until this point) I have compressor that is rated at 8.6 at 40psi and 6.8 at 90 . It handles a 7 cfm hvlp handily and works with an Astro HVLP - which is rated at 10 cfm at 41 psi without much trouble because while I may spray a large table, I pull the trigger, then stop at the end of the pass so I don't actually draw 10 psi the whole time I am spraying. Good luck. BTW also get an oil lubricated compressor in general they are better then the oil free. Barry

[agent511]

As a hobbiest, whose largest planned project will be door panels for a kitchen, I really have no business looking at or buying these professional sprayers that are used daily.

I haven't seen any comments on the VERY cheap turbine/guns, such as from Wagner.

Like these:

http://www.gleempaint.com/fine-spray-hvlp-2400.html

http://cgi.ebay.com/Wagner-Fine-Coat...QQcmdZViewItem

Are these toys? or would they be a great compromise for a hobbiest?

[thrytis]

My local Lowes (Concord, NC) is having a sidwalk sale too. It is 50% off the current price unless it is handwritten. This Lowes usually doesn't have very good prices on clearance, but with the 50% off there were some fairly good deals to be had. I picked up a 4x12 sheet of formica for about $17. There were still 3 sheets left after i bought mine. They also had a bunch of PC 1/4 sheet sander for $15. Lots of other random stuff from various departments.

[coach]

Be on the lookout for the K2000 Kreg kit. I found one yesterday, but so far my rocket has done what I've needed. I might kick myself in the tail for letting that one go, but it was marked at $65.

[messmaker]

Local lowe's had junk in Sidewalk sale. Mismixed paint and ugly flooring.

[Andrew Benedetto]

Be on the lookout for the K2000 Kreg kit. I found one yesterday, but so far my rocket has done what I've needed. I might kick myself in the tail for letting that one go, but it was marked at $65.

I use that alot, one of the best tools I ever bought. Like it better than the new one even due to the rocket and mini included . I would have bought a second for the truck at that price.

[mpauly]

Local lowe's had junk in Sidewalk sale. Mismixed paint and ugly flooring.

Me too, my lowes is fairly new (less than 6 months) and they don't really clear out anything worth buying. But then I went inside and they had several hitachi 13" planers for $188, a dewalt 18v hammer drill/circular saw combo for $209 and a bunch of the firepower stuff (routers, circ saws, tool belts, etc.). I didn't really need it, but I was just about to grab the dewalt set, but some guy snagged it first.

[Stan]

A bust of a 'sidewalk sale' here also. Unless you wanted a cheap 14 screwdriver kit, the rest of the so-called tools looked like they had been in someone's toolbox for a couple years.

[Jeffrey Schronce]

As a hobbiest, whose largest planned project will be door panels for a kitchen, I really have no business looking at or buying these professional sprayers that are used daily.

I haven't seen any comments on the VERY cheap turbine/guns, such as from Wagner.

Like these:

http://www.gleempaint.com/fine-spray-hvlp-2400.html

http://cgi.ebay.com/Wagner-Fine-Coat...QQcmdZViewItem

Are these toys? or would they be a great compromise for a hobbiest?

Do a search of the forums for "HVLP". There are tons of threads on this matter and tons of very happy people with cheap HVLP turbines such as the ones you point out.

[thallikar]

Me too, my lowes is fairly new (less than 6 months) and they don't really clear out anything worth buying. But then I went inside and they had several hitachi 13" planers for $188, a dewalt 18v hammer drill/circular saw combo for $209 and a bunch of the firepower stuff (routers, circ saws, tool belts, etc.). I didn't really need it, but I was just about to grab the dewalt set, but some guy snagged it first.

I got the Hitachi 13" Planer for 135(half off of 269$). I just asked them for 1/2 off and they gave it. They had 1 more left at the Naperville, IL store.