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Thread: Question about my sprayed on finish?

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
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    NEBRASKA
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    119

    Question about my sprayed on finish?

    Hi,
    I tried out my HF 43430 hvlp spray gun this weekend. I put on about 4-5 light coats of gloss polycrylic.

    It's shiney for the most part but seems to have a very fine egg shell feel to it. It's not as glass like as when I brush it on.

    Am I using too much air? Not enough? Not enough material?

    I ran it at about 40 pounds of pressure.

    Thanks,

    deck

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jun 2007
    Location
    Wichita, Kansas
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    1,795
    Quote Originally Posted by Deck Reagan View Post
    ...Am I using too much air? Not enough? Not enough material?

    I ran it at about 40 pounds of pressure.
    Talking about something I know absolutely nothing about never having used a HVLP system, so factor that into my comment.

    40 PSI seems high for a HVLP (High Volume LOW Pressure) system. 40 is about where I set the pressure for my normal (Low Volume, High Pressure ?) siphon feed spray gun. I'd expect to use less pressure on a HVLP setup.

    Just out of curiosity, I went here to look at the capability of some HVLP turbines. At first glance, it seems like none of them run more than about 8 PSI.
    Tom Veatch
    Wichita, KS
    USA

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
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    Chicagoland
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    2,800
    I have that gun. I have had good results. I set the pressure at the gun with the trigger fully pulled to around 20-25psi. You may also need to play with the air control valve on the side of the gun.

    Mike

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Location
    Southport, NC
    Posts
    3,147
    Spray finishing requires as much knowledge and skill as brushing on a finish if you want a good looking finish. In the shop I was involved with, our apprentice finishers spent a week learning about finishes, how to thin them and how to "read" the finish so they could make adjustments. Lots of cardboard boxes were sprayed before they would be able to finish not-critical parts. Generally a few weeks was required before they would be considered fully competent.

    I would recommend you purchase Andy Charron's new Spray Finishing. Amazon should have it. This book will tell you about equipment, how to set it up and adjust it and how to "read" the finish to know what needs to be tweaked to get the most out of your equipment.
    Howie.........

  5. #5
    Join Date
    May 2008
    Location
    E. Hanover, NJ
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    443
    Deck,
    Before you go crazy trying to figure out what is wrong with your spray technique, check the material you are spraying. If you used Minwax Polycrylic, check the recommended application methods from the mfr. I do not believe that Minwax is formulated for spray purposes.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Location
    NEBRASKA
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    119
    Conrad,
    You're probably right but I do know people that have sprayed the minwax with success. It's sort of like Deft brush on laquer. I have great success spraying that material with my siphon gun. I'll keep tweaking it...all else fails I'll brush on the finish coat.

    Thanks guys.

    deck

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Apr 2008
    Location
    The Little Tennessee River near Knoxville.
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    1,227

    Not enough thinner

    The fine egg shell feel is due to the finish not flowing. Sounds like a thinner problem to me.

    Tony B

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Brooklyn, NY
    Posts
    4

    spray gun adjustment

    I am new to spray finishing and have been reading Flexner's Understanding Wood finishing.

    His Spray gun adjustment procedure:

    -adjust pressure regulator to 10psi
    -turn control knobs to max trigger depression and fan width
    - spray horizontal bursts on cardboard

    increasing the air pressure 5psi until you get an oval shaped pattern where the runs are equal across the width

    its gonna depend on what you are spraying ie viscosity and the gun in question.

    i have yet to get the even film laydown I am looking for.

    highly rec the flexner book though,

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