Compressor question

[rick0312]

I picked up a harbor freight paint gun. The CFM rating is 14CFM. Working PSI 50-70. My compressor is a 33 gallon 2hp. 6.4 cfm@90psi and 8.6@40psi. Before I run paint through the gun, I want to make sure that the gun will adequately atomize paint at the lower cfm's. Any of you guys use this gun before? I have never painted with a compressor before so any advice would be great.

Thanks
Rick

[jamesi20]

I don't think you have the cfm's for that gun to operate properly.

[brianthelion02]

,but the gun you bought works ok,ive used them for several paint jobs!!but im not even a pro!!!!!!!!

[70GMCer]

I don't think that is going to work for you with the low CFM your compressor puts out. I've also used the Harbor Freight guns with good success though. This should be moved over to Paint and Body section for more replies.

[Billla]

Agreed that it should move over to the paint section.

Disclaimer: Not a paint expert - I'm learning this stuff too

The CFM rating on your compressor is continuous; with a 33 gallon tank you can deliver more than that for short periods...so you just need to really, REALLY watch your duty cycle. You may have to paint for 5 minutes...wait for 5, etc....and this really doesn't work well if you're painting a large area. Easiest way to check is just to hook it up and see if you can maintain pressure at the gun, and for how long. For my compressor (which also doesn't meet the CFM rating of my gun) I can paint for about 15 minutes before I need to wait for pressure to build up again.

There are also HVLP guns that require less CFM...but not down to your continuous rating.

If I'm off base here, ears are open and ready to learn!

[rick0312]

thanks Bill! My truck is in pieces and only will be painting one fender at a time.....so it sounds like this gun will work. I'll hook it up and run some air through it and see how long before the compressor kicks in. .....Thanks....Rick

[ChevLoRay]

You need to know that any compressor that you use will generate condensation in the air lines and hoses, because the compressor generates heat in the compression part of the operation, and moving it through the air lines and hoses lets it cool down. You need a water separator to get the water out of the air you are using, just as you need a lubricator on the air that goes to the air tools you use. You don't need to lubricate the air going to the paint gun, though.

[cdowns]

i doubt that gun will work i'd suspect the paint to just come out in spurts or blobs test first on a scrap piece

[rick0312]

Wow...Just got finished painting my firewall! The gun worked great! Did some spray test first and then adjusted the air pressure. paint layed down way better than any spray bomb i ever used!! Was able to spray for a couple of minutes before compressor kick in. When it did kick in I just waited for the pressure to come back up.

[rick0312]

picture:

[Billla]

Originally Posted by rick0312

Was able to spray for a couple of minutes before compressor kick in. When it did kick in I just waited for the pressure to come back up.

Yep, that's the duty cycle thing. As long as you can get the coverage you need with the duty cycle, you're good. Probably WON'T let you spray a topcoat on the whole truck though...

[19stepSide72]

but it sure makes you feel good when you do something for yourself and it comes out better than you would think!!