The Little HVLP Sprayer That Could

[ragswl4]

I have had the HF HVLP Sprayer System for a little over a year and have used it for spraying cabinet doors with waterbase lacquer and it has worked well. As we are building a new home I needed to paint 600 linear foot of facia boards (2x12s). First with primer and then final coat before installing. The idea of painting them after install was not too inviting due to the height of the roof in most areas.

So I thought I would give the HF sprayer a try with the latex. I must say that the little system performed flawlessly. I could paint a 20' 2x12 in about 5 minutes (took three passes with the gun). I thinned the paint by about 10% with water and used the largest tip. Only time I got any blobs was when I wasn't paying attention to the tip when it was a little plugged with some semi-dried paint. The finish turned out fantastic, smooth as a baby's behind. Trick is to keep the gun clean and thin the latex. Used Behr's Premium Plus Exterior Latex. I also used it to apply stain/preserative to the deck framing and worked just as well. Great time saver and never a mess.

[cabinetman]

That's good to know that it performed well. Keeping it clean lets it work. I used the same paint on my house. Worked out great. I didn't use the Behr primer. I used Glidden Gripper.

BTW, what was the orifice size?
.

[Bill in Buena Park]

I've been wondering which of the many HF HVLP spray guns might be worth picking up - do you happen to have the model number on that?

[probinet]

Was it the HVLP gun that hooks up to your compressor or the one that comes with it's own turbine?

I have been looking at them and I can't decide which one to get.


Thanks,

[chopnhack]

I have sprayed a couple of thousand of feet of base/case/crown/stop with a hvlp running off of a compressor. Also wonderful results. Thinned benjamin moore with floetrol and also used large orifice. Tricky part was adjusting air pressure and having a large enough tank!

useful website
http://www.gleempaint.com/
click on hvlp and then conversion gun - reasonable price

[ragswl4]

That's good to know that it performed well. Keeping it clean lets it work. I used the same paint on my house. Worked out great. I didn't use the Behr primer. I used Glidden Gripper.

BTW, what was the orifice size?
.

I used the largest orfice, don't know the size. Started with the smallest but the spray pattern was too small and not much paint was spraying through it. I made 3 passes to get full coverage.

[ragswl4]

I've been wondering which of the many HF HVLP spray guns might be worth picking up - do you happen to have the model number on that?

I don't have the sprayer here but its the only HVLP System that HF sells. It is gray in color, has a black paint pot with a 15 ft 1" diameter air hose and it routinely on sale for $79.95 or less. Also sold by Rocker for $99.99 and occasionally on sale there as well. Here is a link to the HF model.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=44677

[ragswl4]

Was it the HVLP gun that hooks up to your compressor or the one that comes with it's own turbine?

I have been looking at them and I can't decide which one to get.


Thanks,

Comes with its own turbine.

[Stan]

Just a note for those with the HF/Rockler/Woodcraft HVLP turbine setup that is being discussed here.

You may want to pick up a spare hose for this unit -- I have had mine for right about a year and this past weekend I was having problems with the spray pattern... turns out the hose had started to split at both the turbine end and the gun end. Some electrical tape got me back up and running, but there are now some additional splits in the hose near where I applied the electrical tape.

Other than that -- great unit.

Update: Called HF, the part number for the hose is 9ESPK-11 (for sprayer part number 44677). The cost is $13.93 and is a special order item -- 6 to 8 weeks for delivery.

Woodcraft: (Spray unit #147094) $20 plus shipping, they have 6 to 8 of the spare hoses in stock right now. (No part number -- just have to call and ask for the replacement hose).

Rockler: (Spray unit # 61577) $20.25 plus shipping, they have approximately 10 of the spare hoses in stock right now. (No part number -- just have to call and ask for the replacement hose).

Hope that helps.

[just started]

I would expect them to replace the hose for free! I have had the same hose on my compressor for over 30 years and it's still going strong.

[jhart]

I used the largest orfice, don't know the size. Started with the smallest but the spray pattern was too small and not much paint was spraying through it. I made 3 passes to get full coverage.

I didn't know that there was different size nozzles for that model. Where do you purchase them from?

[foneman]

I didn't know that there was different size nozzles for that model. Where do you purchase them from?

Joe,
I don't own one yet, but according to the manual for the HF sprayer, there are 3 different fluid tips and needles.
http://www.harborfreight.com/manuals...4999/44677.pdf

7-1 Fluid Tip & Needle (1.0 mm) 1
7-2 Fluid Tip & Needle (1.5 mm) 1
7-3 Fluid Tip & Needle (1.8 mm) 1

john

[jlm]

I didn't know that there was different size nozzles for that model. Where do you purchase them from?

The HF version comes with multiple nozzles. Can't speak for the Woodcraft/Rockler models, but I would assume they do as well.

[jhart]

The HF model/manual is sure a lot more detailed than the Rockler model I have. Will have to check and see if the nozzle is changeable on the Rockler. Thanks for the info.
Does anyone know if the various sized nozzles are carried in the stores at HF? Never have tried to order parts from HF.

[ragswl4]

Don't know for sure but I would doubt that they carry those parts. They typically don't care system parts in the stores. Ordering can take a llllllllllloooooooooonnnnnnggggg time with HF, sometimes.