I read Delorean00's thread on how to paint your fiero and he said you need a min. of 30 gallons. I found this one which is 24 gallons and seems to be a good deal. I'm just wondering if I could get by with it. http://providence.craigslis.../pts/1767738233.html

------------------

You'll probably spend more time waiting for it to cycle on to refill than you will spraying... At least, on the larger panels - hood, decklid, roof (if its a hardtop).

Just make sure you have enough pressure to finish up the largest panels and you should be good.

I am considering a complete panel off job, do you think this would help? The largest would probably be my hood

i did an entire car with a 20 gallon tank, you'll be fine if you do a panel off job, do a panel at a time etc. or two panels. otherwise no. you'll end up spraing about half the car at a time which leads to problems with the clear especially.

thanks im going to see if its still available!

The only number that means anything is CFM. If its not rated 12CFM or more @ 90 lbs , you wont do a good job. Even that is dependant on whether your using a siphon feed, gravity feed or HVLP gun.

quote Originally posted by rogergarrison: The only number that means anything is CFM. If its not rated 12CFM or more @ 90 lbs , you wont do a good job. Even that is dependant on whether your using a siphon feed, gravity feed or HVLP gun.

Ok this is all stuff I need to know since I'm new to this!

quote Originally posted by hinesb1890: Ok this is all stuff I need to know since I'm new to this!

Then you're talking to the right person (Roger)...

quote Originally posted by skuzzbomer: Then you're talking to the right person (Roger)...

Yes, even though Roger (rogergarrison) and Paul (Tha Driver) fight like little girls all the time, both will give you great body work advice, as both are professional body men.

So lets say I'm using a harbor freight HVLP gun, they have these three options:

http://www.harborfreight.co...spray-gun-47016.html
http://www.harborfreight.co...spray-gun-66222.html
http://www.harborfreight.co...y-gun-kit-94572.html

Is only the last one suitable for painting a car? The first one seems to have to lowest requirements for air flow. I am operating under the assumption that the compressor I'm looking at is similar to this one.. http://scranton.craigslist.org/tls/1752162186.html though not exact. With those specs though only the first gun would work.

I would check on those first two guns.
The first says for use with most oil based paints and the second says water based paints.
The third looks ok but my Devilbiss HVLP takes only about 20psi at 12-15 cfm compared to this gun requiring more psi.
Maybe one of the paint experts can shed a light on this.

[This message has been edited by TXGOOD (edited 06-02-2010).]

You can buy LVLP sprayguns for smaller compressors. Look hear: http://www.spraygunworld.com/

Also, Become a member. http://www.autobody101.com/forums/index.php

You can do it!

Vinny

To be honest with you, I have bought not one but two different HVLP spray setups one from HF and I have never been able to get a good finish from either of them despite a lot of trying. I have however bought the conventional professional model cup gun from HF and it works awesome.... I think it is a copy of a binks cup gun. THis is the gun with the cup underneath the nozzle. I know all the cool guys use the vertical cup guns and I have a nice couple of them myself but if you want a cheap gun that just plain works it is my opinion that the undercup professional one they sell is the best one. I have sprayed lacquer, enamel, conversion varnish, even some diluted contact adhesive with it and it always pleases, in fact it is my go to gun for most projects now despite having spent a helluva lot more on my other name brand guns.... I will probably buy another one when I get back down there. I just got finished painting my wing in a test of the rustoleum red to see how it holds up and how it sprays and it came out real nice... just a thought and good luck.... peace

Pete

thanks everyone for jumping in, pete do you have a link to the gun you're talking about?

If you buy it it will be fine for painting your thinking ahead and you will definatly want to be able to use a palm sander and that will do the job. Anything bottom of line will paint a car even 2hp and 4 gallon it will paint but that won't keep a hand sander running. Buy a 4-5 hp with a 4 gallon tank min to run air tools. Google air compressor buying guide http://www.toolbarn.com/air-compressor-guide.html
for better information but what your looking at is more than fine to squirt paint it is an overkill but as an all round do everything that is your toy.

I really only emphatically disagree with him on a few things. Most of what he (Driver) says, im usually in agreement with.

quote Originally posted by rogergarrison: I really only emphatically disagree with him on a few things. Most of what he (Driver) says, im usually in agreement with.

I had to laugh at the original post about you and Tha Driver but I read nearly every word you and he write about paint because I know I am getting a million bucks worth of free advice unless you two send me a bill. When I paint my Fiero, I will post pictures if it is good and you'll never see it if it is bad.

I think Roger and Paul should each paint a set of panels for my car, in my 2 favorite colors, and I'll decide who does a better job. I'm offering my judging services to the forum, because I'm so selfless, and I think we really need an unbiased opinion..


In all seriousness, thanks to you both for the advice, I'm gonna be ready to paint in a few months, and it all comes in handy!

------------------
----------------------------------------------------
Currently in the middle of my 88 + 3800NA swap

. Our biggest differences is he likes to say this or that is the only way to do something. I just state what I normally do, what works for me and just give an opinion and you can chose it or not. With body and painting (and even sex) there are many ways to accomplish the same result.

This is the paint gun I am talking about. Does not look like much but it just plain works, is easy to clean and I have had a lot of good success with it on both cabinets and automotive jobs. It is also very cheap!!! They have another one that has a black handle that is not the same gun and from what I have seen is a piece of junk.... Your mileage may vary...here is a link...

http://www.harborfreight.co...spray-gun-91011.html

So the guy never got back to me about the compressor, I'm still looking to do this on a budget though so what do you think of this set up:

I have a coupon to get this for 140, and can get it cheaper if they allow an extra 20% off:
http://www.harborfreight.co...ompressor-94667.html

And I found this LVLP gun set on amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Ampro...-Piece/dp/B0019MSJ06

4.9 cfm @ 90 pnds.......................you will spend way more time waiting for it to catch up than actually painting. All that stopping will not let you do a nice, even glossy finish. Your prob going to find you need at least 5 hp/ 220 volt to get the cfms up to minimum 12. This one might get you by for priming it.

[This message has been edited by rogergarrison (edited 06-03-2010).]

So yes im assuming? I actually just got an email back from the craigslist guy, going to check it out this weekend... anything I should look for?

quote Originally posted by hinesb1890: I have a coupon to get this for 140, and can get it cheaper if they allow an extra 20% off: http://www.harborfreight.co...ompressor-94667.html

Don't get this one. This is the one I have, and it's a constant disappointment. I wait for it A LOT, doing pretty much anything, and it's really really loud. One of these days, I'll get another compressor head and just use it for it's tank.

GREAT THREAD..... Added to favorites, because one day one of my projects will be ready for paint...lol maybe...

------------------
SMTHGT.....
Steve
Aka. "SmoothGT"
1987 GT 4.9L~V8~4T60E
(Un.Su.)

Well 60 bucks later I got myself a new (to me) compressor! It was a pretty good deal I think. Its 4HP 24 gallons and rated at 10.8 scfm @ 40 PSI and 8.9 scfm @ 90 PSI. Here's a picture of it all cleaned up, it was pretty dirty when I got it...



Now to buy the rest!