HF hplv first impressions

[eddy merckx]

Hi all

If you're cheap like me and want to get into spraying water based poly finish, check one of these units out http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=44677

I got one at HF a few weeks ago for around $50 including 15% coupon via mail and sale price in store. I finally got to try it out this morning on a tool cabinet I just finished. I installed the finest needle in the gun and used Olympic water based poly from Lowes. It worked great! The finish flowed right on with no orange peel, then dried in a few minutes. The quality of the finish is nicer than I could ever do with a brush. So much faster too.

I think this is a great way to reduce the learning curve in finishing and make it more fun as well. The nice thing about spraying water based poly is that it isn't flammable, so you can do it in the garage with cross ventilation and a mask. You don't have to worry about exploding your house, etc.

You can read reviews of the identical unit sold at Rockler here http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?O...Select=Reviews

Eddy

[ragswl4]

Hi all

If you're cheap like me and want to get into spraying water based poly finish, check one of these units out http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=44677

I got one at HF a few weeks ago for around $50 including 15% coupon via mail and sale price in store. I finally got to try it out this morning on a tool cabinet I just finished. I installed the finest needle in the gun and used Olympic water based poly from Lowes. It worked great! The finish flowed right on with no orange peel, then dried in a few minutes. The quality of the finish is nicer than I could ever do with a brush. So much faster too.

I think this is a great way to reduce the learning curve in finishing and make it more fun as well. The nice thing about spraying water based poly is that it isn't flammable, so you can do it in the garage with cross ventilation and a mask. You don't have to worry about exploding your house, etc.

You can read reviews of the identical unit sold at Rockler here http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?O...Select=Reviews

Eddy

Same experience I had when spraying Resithane Plus, a water based lacquer. Nice to hear that I wasn't just lucky. Another benefit of spraying water based products is the clean up is a snap. Throw out the brushes, HVLP is HERE! (and at a very affordable price for the the DIY guy or gal).

[eddy merckx]

Same experience I had when spraying Resithane Plus, a water based lacquer

I read that Resithane was really good. I think it got the best value award from FWW. Did you find it locally?

Eddy

[AlanWS]

I also got one of those at the same low price, and tried it this weekend using resisthane with good results. I was spraying a pretty rough piece of shop furniture (a stand for my planer) and I'd never sprayed anything before, but the finish went on quickly and smoothly, and after a while I was putting on the right amount.

I got my resisthane from highland woodworking, ordered over the web.

[HarmsWay]

Interesting - looks similar to the Campbell Hausfeld HV1016 that Home Depot is selling online for C$249, which I thought was a reasonable price until now.

Has anyone tried the HF with paint suitable for a steel house door (or five)? Or is it more for varnishes and such?

Bob

[BrazosJake]

I bought one about 3 years ago and it's pretty nice.

I notice Rockler, Woodcraft and others are selling the same item now, just much more $$$.

[eddy merckx]

anyone tried the HF with paint suitable for a steel house door (or five)? Or is it more for varnishes and such?

It says in the manual that it's OK for oil based paints, varnishes and water based finishes. I think latex would need a higher psi gun unless you thinned it considerably. So if you're painting with an oil based enamel, you should be fine. Heck, if it doesn't work, you can always return it.

[HarmsWay]

Yeah looks like it would work. If it's similar to the Rockler one in your link, several reviewers successfully painted with it.

Returns across the border are general not worth the effort.

Bob

[IBBugsy]

The nice thing about spraying water based poly is that it isn't flammable, so you can do it in the garage with cross ventilation and a mask. You don't have to worry about exploding your house, etc.
Eddy

What about the issue of getting the spray on to other stuff in the garage? Is the cross ventilation you mention as temporary spray booth setup?

[ragswl4]

What about the issue of getting the spray on to other stuff in the garage? Is the cross ventilation you mention as temporary spray booth setup?

There is minimal overspray with this HVLP system, but there is still some. Luckily I had a small unventialted room that I set up as a booth and was able to contain it. I hung el cheapo tarps from HF ($2 each) on the walls, floor and over the door so I minimized any contamination. I just wore a respirator when I sprayed. My worst case is that I will have to paint the walls in a 4'x8' room.

[jking]

Interesting - looks similar to the Campbell Hausfeld HV1016 that Home Depot is selling online for C$249, which I thought was a reasonable price until now.

Has anyone tried the HF with paint suitable for a steel house door (or five)? Or is it more for varnishes and such?

Bob

I used this model to spray some shelves with water based latex. Water-based enamels would probably work better, but, you can make it work fine for latex. I added some Floetrol & thinned the paint with water. It worked out well, I primed & put about 3-4 coats of finish color all with the sprayer. Just be sure to test on scrap so you don't make your mistake on the final product.

[eddy merckx]

What about the issue of getting the spray on to other stuff in the garage? Is the cross ventilation you mention as temporary spray booth setup?

I set up a box fan in the garage door and had a window open. When I need to spray larger pieces (coming up soon) I will make a portable spray booth out of bicycle boxes with a window cut out for the fan.

[mschrank]

What about the issue of getting the spray on to other stuff in the garage? Is the cross ventilation you mention as temporary spray booth setup?

I just put cardboard on the floor and covered the nearby wood stack with a tarp. After spraying three coats of Resisthane on both sides of six interior doors, I had zero overspray on my bench less than 6' away.

[LCHIEN]

HVLP Rockler HF

Just putting in a title so searching will find it.
with the proper term HVLP