HF/Rockler HVLP

[poolhound]

I just got a another couple of small commisions and decided to prespend some of my payment. As I just recived a HF 15% off coupon I picked up the HVLP system also sold by rockler etc for $75 and change. As I also had a $20 off $50 from rockler I picked up a spare container and a few other bits and pieces.

I have read quite a few of the threads related to this unit but any tips or advise would be great before I go and spray something.

[drumpriest]

Viscosity is the key, what are you planning to spray through it? Another interesting point is that the air goes through the gun when you are not spraying, so probably not the greatest for spraying in a dusty environment. Other than that I've had great luck with it. As I've posted several times, I've been spraying USL a good bit, and it is good to go out of the container.

[poolhound]

I was planning on using it for a variety of finishes. I have favored a poly/oil mix which I have put on by hand and have also started to look more at shellac.

I heard so many good things about this gun and that it can be used for just about anything. I dont use a lot of paint but folks say it does a great job with that too.

[footprintsinconc]

As I also had a $20 off $50 from rockler I picked up a spare container and a few other bits and pieces.

thanks for the reminder on the containers. i should pick some up too.

i only used the gun once to spray water based exterior paint. i got some orange peel, but the viscosity is the key. use the cup that comes with the gun.

[just started]

Rockler now has it at $120 and HF at $90 just as I am ready to get one .

[poolhound]

Rockler now has it at $120 and HF at $90 just as I am ready to get one .

HF had a 15% coupon with their latest mailer if you are one their list.

[poolhound]

thanks for the reminder on the containers. i should pick some up too.

i only used the gun once to spray water based exterior paint. i got some orange peel, but the viscosity is the key. use the cup that comes with the gun.

does the orange peel come from too thick or too thin?

[docrowan]

Orange peel comes from too thick. It's a delicate balance. Too thick and you get orange peel, too thin and it takes forever to get enough coats and you are more likely to have runs. I thinned the latex enamels I used to 25 seconds.

If you're not familiar with a paint cup, you dip the supplied plastic funnel into the paint until it is completely submerged, then pull it out and count the seconds until the paint stream breaks up into droplets. I found it easiest to hold a small analog clock that ticks to my ear while I watched the funnel. The sprayer uses much less paint. I buy quarts where I would normally buy gallons.

I've had great results with mine, but I still get a good bit of overspray. Unless you have a very good exhaust system, you're going to need to plan on doing this outside on a calm day. Otherwise, the overspray will settle on your horizontal surfaces as a fine dust that will ruin a smooth finish.

[Flatlander]

Rockler now has it at $120 and HF at $90 just as I am ready to get one .

Woodcraft has it for $75 and free shipping right now:
http://www.woodcraft.com/product.asp...&FamilyID=5853

[just started]

Woodcraft has it for $75 and free shipping right now:
http://www.woodcraft.com/product.asp...&FamilyID=5853

Thanks, looks like I take a ride down to Woodcraft tomorrow.

[Halverson]

Sidewalk Sale - damaged box - $35

I got my HF model at their Oct sidewalk sale. They only had one. It was in a damaged box, but I checked and everything was inside, in good shape. They had a $35. price tag on it. I grabbed it up and ran to checkout before they could change their minds. Haven't had time to use it yet....lots of "no time for anything" around.

[Alex Franke]

I picked one up a couple days ago from the local HF. It rang up at $79, plus I had a 20% off coupon that they emailed to me at the end of last week. So I guess it was about $64, with a little tax on the top.

[eddy merckx]

I have read quite a few of the threads related to this unit but any tips or advise would be great before I go and spray something.

Hi Jon

I'm jumping in late, but I have been using my HF a bunch this year. I thought I'd offer a couple pointers.

First, these guns are the cat's meow for waterborne finishes. You don't have to thin them, they dry really fast and they clean up with water. What's not to like? I most recently had good luck with Cabot's waterborne poly from Lowe's. It worked great. I guess the Target brand coatings are the best, but you have to order them. The secret to a good finish with waterborne is to make sure the finish is room temp before you spray it, and filter it through a paint cone before you pour it into the cup. Otherwise pretty easy. Use the smallest needle that comes with the gun.

Shellac is harder (for me). Because you can't really control the airflow with these guns, and shellac is pretty watery, it's easy to overapply and get runs. Just mist it on.

I'm sure you could spray oil/varnish mix but the room my be uninhabitable for some time.

Whichever finish you apply, it is smart to get really good ventilation. I use a box fan set up in a knockdown cardboard "room". I put a cheap furnace filter inside the box fan to catch the bulk of the solids. I also use a respirator.

Let us know how you do!

Eddy

[BigguyZ]

Do you think lacquer would work well for these?

Also, I have a basement workshop situated below a rental apartment (not mine). Would this be something that you could not do downt here? If not, would this be something I could do in my (non-heated) garage outside?

I have a bunch of stuff to finish for x-mas gifts, and precious little time to complete it all. Poker chip trays, a music box, and a small step ladder for my brother's cat.

Thanks!

P.S. Does anyone know how the Earlex HVLP for $150 compares to the HF/ Rockler model?
http://www.woodcraft.com/family.aspx?familyid=20415

[docrowan]

BigGuyZ,

The unheated garage in Minnesota in December would not work, the finish would take forever to dry (and this Mississippi boy would freeze).

The sprayer creates some overspray, some of which dries instantly to an extremely fine dust. This dust will migrate everywhere and settle on your projects if you don't exhaust it.

I heated an empty garage with a simple oil filled radiator and a couple of 500W halogen lights to around 60 to 65 degrees and it worked fine, except for the overspray settling in a very fine dust on my horizontal surfaces. I had no noticeable problems with the vertical surfaces. Also, I stupidly didn't bother wearing a respirator or mask since I was spraying white latex paint. I wound up with the inside of my nose white from breathing in the dust. I keep telling myself that my nostrils caught it and it didn't migrate into my lungs.