turbine HVLP opinions anyone?

[drumpriest]

Hi all, been a while, just got back into the shop to catch up on family requested projects. After many years using the el cheapo Rockler HVLP (scored it for 40$) I'm just about done with dealing with it.

I'm considering going for a "higher end" turbine system like either the Earlex 6900 or the Fuji mini mite. Anyone have an suggestions here?? It's funny how easy it is to justify buying some large tools but a sprayer is tough for the wife to see the value. In the end the finish on a project gets probably about 50% of the comments.

thanks all.

Keith

[jking]

I'm of no help as I have an el cheapo HF HVLP sprayer (probably similar or identical to yours). I wanted to say "welcome back".

[twistsol]

I have the Fuji Mini Mite 4 with a gravity cup gun and it is absolutely fantastic. I ordered it from phelpsrefinishing.com (no relation and he doesn't give discounts for having the same last name ... I asked)

Roger is very helpful and answered all my questions prior to purchase. It is noisy and if I were to do it again, I'd get the upgraded version with the sound dampening. Definitely get the whip hose if you get a package. The main hose is heavy.

[JimD]

I have a Fuji Mini Mite 3 with the conventional cup beneith the spray - not the gravity feed gun. I have only the tip it came with but have sprayed some heavy primer by using a bit of flotrol in it. I am very pleased with my setup. I used a Wagner conversion gun before this and there is no comparison. The Fuji puts down a much better pattern and is much, much more adjustable. I didn't mess with the settings when I got it and emptied a quart of Resisthane in about 5 minutes of spraying. It will throw a pattern at least a foot wide. It can also be easily scaled back to less than 6 inches wide. It seemed like it cost a lot when I bought it but it seems like I wasted money on the Wagner now that I have the Fuji.

If you get a setup like mine I would highly recommend getting an extra cup. I keep a plain aluminum cup full of water and put the finish in a teflon lined cup. Then after each coat I spray water through it for about 60 seconds three times (emptying the cup in between to get cleaner water). I empty the finish out after I am done for the day. That's all the cleanup I've done in several gallons of water based finish.

It is a bit noisy but I just wear muffs like I normally do when woodworking. It's quieter than most wood working tools but still kind of noisy - like a loud vacumn cleaner.

Jim

[dbhost]

I can't help you much with a turbine system. I opted instead for a mid size (29 gallon 8 SCFM) compressor and a HF HVLP gun. Pretty good results so far. But I have been playing with epoxy primer and automotive type lacquers. I am very happy with the results I am getting.

[chopnhack]

Welcome back Drumpriest, I like Jim have the Wagner conversion and have been looking at hvlp's, just out of the budget for now... Be eager to see what you guys come up with and more reviews. I guess on the plus side, you can sell the savings in oversprayed material - I get a lot of that with the wagner despite its reported 80-90% efficiency...

[JimD]

My Fuji has significant overspray. I do not notice much difference versus the Wagner except that I can adjust the pattern better. You don't get the bounce off effect that occurs with higher pressure sprayers but if your pattern is wider than your work you are still going to paint something else. I have lots of stuff in the areas I spray with white resisthane on it. Boards, tools, etc.. I should set up a tented area or something but then I would need a fan with a filter and it is just easier to live with a little paint where I didn't intend it to go.

Jim

[chopnhack]

Not to hijack the thread, but for a little more info: What do like about the unit? What are the differences over the Wagner HVLP?

Bummer, Jim... that was one of the selling points I was going to use on SWMBO

[JimD]

I only have a small Bostitch compressor and it struggled to deliver enough air for the Wagner. It complicated getting the settings right and at best I had to wait for the compressor to catch up at times. Atomization was good enough but not nearly what the Fuji delivers. It was really tough to get air pressure at the gun, finish flow, size of pattern, and viscosity of the finish so it sprayed well. Sometimes I got there and sometimes I got frustrated.

The Fuji, on the other hand, has a simple adjustment for pattern size and air flow is just how much leakage you allow. With full air, it easily throws a pattern a foot wide. You turn a dial on the hose to let some air out when you want a smaller pattern. Fluid flow adjustment is less necessary. I got a really thick Resisthane type primer to flow through the stock nozzle by really upping the fluid setting but it worked a lot better to mix in some Flotrol. A bigger needle set would eliminate the need for the flotrol. The Fuji is just much easier to set up so it works well. And atomization is always better so you do not have to be right at the edge of a sag to get a smooth finish. The Fuji sprays thicker finish than the Wagner will without thinning too. The only thing I've thinned is the primer which is about as thick as latex paint, thicker than some.

Jim

[chopnhack]

Thanks Jim, so the major difference between the units is better atomization, consistency of pattern and the ability to continuously spray. I have a 18 gallon compressor that cycles quite a bit when spraying small projects, that's what had me looking for a replacement.... tough to justify nearly $800 in my case though.

[JimD]

$800 is too much, more like $600 here is a link:

http://www.amazon.com/Fuji-2903-XPC-...ji+mini-mite+3

I don't have any accessory except an extra teflon lined cup and the inexpensive cup tops that Fuji sells (and some filters for the finish which I seldom use). So with the extras I have it would be about $600. That seemed like a lot at the time but it can also get expensive to buy lesser systems, decide they aren't good enough, and upgrade.

Jim

[jnesmith]

Keith:

I have the Rockler unit too, but soon realized I wanted something better. I didn't want merely a minor upgrade, and could not stomach the price of a new high-end unit. So, I used the Rockler, and watch CL for a used unit. Took about 6-8 months, but I finally snagged a 4-stage Graco for $250. The unit goes for about $1300 new.

Just an idea.

[chopnhack]

Keith:

I have the Rockler unit too, but soon realized I wanted something better. I didn't want merely a minor upgrade, and could not stomach the price of a new high-end unit. So, I used the Rockler, and watch CL for a used unit. Took about 6-8 months, but I finally snagged a 4-stage Graco for $250. The unit goes for about $1300 new.

Just an idea.

What has been your experience with the Graco?

[twistsol]

I've never used the Earlex product, but just received an email from PeachTree that it's on sale with some bonus stuff included. E-Direct Special FINISH2

Does anyone have experience with this that you'd like to share?

http://www.ptreeusa.com/edirect_101212.htm

[dbhost]

Other than the lack of a need for a large compressor, what is the advantage of a turbine HVLP system?

I see / hear lots of woodworkers like them, but you never hear a peep about them from the car guys... They all use compressed air HVLP or conventional guns...

I am just trying to get a grasp for what makes somebody decide on one or the other...