HF HVLP Spray Gun Kit

[fin1exp]

This is related to my other posting in the "Project related" area. I am going to be finishing a couple of pieces of furniture and wanted to know if anyone has the HF HVLP spray kit http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=44677. The piece in question is going to be stained and then coated (with something, not sure yet).
I am new to spraying, heck new to everything[8D], but can you spray stain? It was mentioned that Poly is good to spray, will this machine do it well? Also, I heard of problems spraying latex paint. I have another piece of furniture I need to paint and I already bought latex paint (can take it back though). Can this spray latex?
Overall, is this product really going to help me AND be faster?

Thanks,
Eric

[dlminehart]

I've sprayed latex, but diluting it down to the point where the paint was a runny as their viscosity cup recommendation results in very thin latex. You'll need to do more than a couple coats to get the kind of coverage you're used to getting with a brush or roller. Further, I've heard that this level of dilution (not reommended on the paint can, the HVLP, or the Flotrol additive that you'd want to use) can hamper the ability of the latex to bond tightly with itself and the surface under it. On asking a professional painter, he counseled against using HVLP for latex.

For stain, poly, and oil based paints (diluted with some kind of paint thinner), the sprayer is great. You can get very even finishes, spray into corners and cutouts and grillwork, and do so very quickly.

I made a rotating platform by putting a lazy susan from HD (about $4) between a couple boards, with some brads sticking up from the top boards on which I could set the stuff to be painted. I could then just stand in one place and rotate the object. A kitchen cabinet door would spray in about 45 seconds. After a couple hours, another 45 seconds and I'd be done.

This makes a lot of mist, so plan on doing it where you trap the mist or it doesn't matter. I did it outside my side garage door, aiming away from the house, with a cross breeze that kept the mist away from me and the house.

Use a suitable mask, so you don't inhale the mist. I left it off once, and coughed for hours afterwards.

[Steveanson]

Eric... I don't know if you have already bought the HF gun or not, but in case you have not, will throw my two cents in this mix.

First, is a latex enamel hard enough for furniture? Some would say no; that only an oil base enamel or lacquer would do.

I have started a large project building 28 kitchen cabinet doors and 8 drawers. The entire surface of the cabinets will be sprayed. Recently I bought a wagner contractor converson HVLP gun to attempt a professional looking finish. After having used this gun with several cover agents, in my shop, I'm just blown away by the finish it is capable of. With just a little practice, it has amazed me with it's capabilities. Misting and overspray are minimal, and thanks to a couple of folks in this group, I located and used water-based coverage.

I did aleady have a compressor, though not a large one, and the gun worked fine with it. I even reduced the pressure to the gun, with very good results. Here are a couple of links that helped me in my search. One even has a 'painting forum' that is useful . At the second site, check out the Target and Fuhr products. I am using both at this time, and find them excellent. Matt

http://www.gleempaint.com/hvcongunnew.html
http://www.homesteadfinishing.com/index.htm

[fin1exp]

Thanks for the info. I am on hold right now because I am out of money. But, I am going to continue to learn as much as I can about HVLP guns.
I was staying away from guns by themselves since I had heard a pancake compressor could not run them. Lately, I have been reading that it will run the guns, some guns better then others. So, I am going to look into the guns, and look into the HF kit a bit more.
For now, I get to do it the old fashioned way, by hand.
Thanks,
Eric