Becoming a spray painter?

[Yacht Dr.]

Re: Becoming a spray painter?

No doubt about it .. its all nasty stuff :faint2:

YD.

 

[matt167]

Re: Becoming a spray painter?

Yes, Iso's are nothing to fool around with. Whenever I spray with hardener, I change the carbon filters in my mask with each coat of paint. A supplied air system is the best way tho... Also, any iso hardener will be good enough for alkyed enamel. I get Finish 1 hardener from Napa that I use in Rusto/ Ace Rust stop but I have also used leftover PPG hardener. can't remember which product number it was that I had on hand that time but it worked fine

 

[bonz_d]

Re: Becoming a spray painter?

I find it amazing that over the course of this discussion I've come to realize how much that I've learned about safety over the past 20 years and just how much I take it for granted and assume that everyone should know at least the basics but I guess I am wrong.
Which is why I guess that they put warning labels on buckets about keeping children away as it may cause drowning or no smoking around fuel pumps.

Well it's still raining here so I suppose I'll go to the garage, put on my rubber gloves and continue stripping paint off the practice panels I've been working on. Sure hope I get to try that new gun sometime this week.

 

[bonz_d]

Re: Becoming a spray painter?

Hi folks, just finished my 1st test and practice run with this new equipment. Boy was I nervious.

Let's start by stating that the compressor worked pretty well with the gun I have and recovered pretty quickly. I didn't find myself waiting on it to catch up. But then it might just be that I'm slow! Had the gun pressure set at 30psi as per the directions. The paint was Rusto enamal in Gloss Reagal Red. 1/2pt thinned with 20ml. of mineral spirits so that's about 8%.

I need practice! Looks like I got a nice even coverage but also looks to have some orange peel to it. Also that maybe it was going on too heavy. The panels I am working with are old upper metal kitchen cabinet doors. I used almost that whole 1/2pt on one side of 4 doors. That seems like a lot. Too much? I know I need to work on adjusting the gun better. I will say though that there were no runs!

Was going to take pictures but of course the camera had dead batteries in it but I did promise I will post some up for your critique.

 

[zool]

Re: Becoming a spray painter?

If you thin the rusto a little more, you may reduce the peel, IIRC, 10% thin for brush, 20-25% for spray...

 

[bonz_d]

Re: Becoming a spray painter?

Looked at the product data sheet before I started and it stated max 15% for spray. Was also just out to look again and I think it's looking better as it drys.

 

[zool]

Re: Becoming a spray painter?

Looked at the product data sheet before I started and it stated max 15% for spray. Was also just out to look again and I think it's looking better as it drys.

I use the rustoleum oil based enamel for shop cradles and cabinets alot..cant beat the 10 bux a qt

Ive thinned it up to 30% at times, using MS, acetone, or laquer thinner, and shoot it thru a detail gun with a small tip, gives a nice thin film, with little to no peel.

Anyhow, run with what u like, gun time is the key.

 

[bonz_d]

Re: Becoming a spray painter?

Zool I hear ya about gun time. So I guess I'll be buying more red. Will also try thinning more when I do the other side. I honestly didn't think I'd use as much paint as I did but then I also guess a 1/2pt isn't as much paint as I thought it was either.

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: Becoming a spray painter?

Doesn't using a 50/50 of Acetone & Mineral Spirits, at the same total % thin rate as straight MS, help w/ the orange peel?

You said you were slow. Doesn't too much paint volume out the tip or too slow a sweep rate do it too, doesn't it? Both put too much paint on the surface too fast.

 

[Outback Jack]

Re: Becoming a spray painter?

Great Thread here and lot's of good info. Will be following this one. Thanks everyone.

 

[zool]

Re: Becoming a spray painter?

Alot of conditions cause peel, temp, gun distance, gun setup, ect...heres an info page on causes/cures..

Paint Defects Solution Guide, Orange Peel | DuPont Performance Coatings

Some of the better paint systems compensate for temp with multiple reducer choices...

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Becoming a spray painter?

I really think you should use a 50/50 MS/ Acetone mix to thin and I'd kick it up to 20%. I'd also recommend 35 to 40 psi @ the gun. And play with your volume control. The Orange peel should get alot better.

 

[bonz_d]

Re: Becoming a spray painter?

Guys, that's why I'm here! To learn.

After looking again at it as it dried it does look better and actually much better than I expected for a 1st time. Believe me I'm going to play with it and learn. As to the slow part I think much of it is the gun and should be marketed as a LVLP gun as opposed as a HVLP gun.
It says to use 30psi and has a spray width of only 7-9" which is small compared to most other guns I'd looked at. But yes I plan on playing with the pressure also but one at a time so I can get a feel for what each adjustment is doing.

The Rusto sheets just says to thin with MS so is it really safe to mix the 2 solvents? Again, I've never done this so it's all new to me. And yes I am having fun! Wife says I've become OCD, I say it's just AR!

I promise to post pictures in the morning when I can get it outside in better light.

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Becoming a spray painter?

Yeah, it's OK to use the 50/50 mix. I use it all the time. And don't be afraid to thin it more than they say to either. Been there done that as well.

 

[Yacht Dr.]

Re: Becoming a spray painter?

Please be aware of the thinners Evaporating between coats in the cup and in the mix.

Meaning .. just having the first mix/coat being perfectly reduced .. does not mean the next coat has the proper ratio of thinners in it if its the same batch that you mixed in the first place.

I use a ZAHN #2 cup for EVERY coat I put on. zahn #2 Ford #4 Viscosity Charts

I normally use about 17-18 seconds for Imron or awgrip(awlcraft2000)

I had one spray job that I did with a mix in a pressure pot .. I thought the viscosity would stay the same being in a contained pot. I was wrong ..

So if your not mixing for spray to spray then you might consider your reducers are evaporating in the pot or mixing bucket. That could create a problem with your coats.

Stay safe.

YD.

 

[bonz_d]

Re: Becoming a spray painter?

As promised.

Reference of before.



One coat,




This picture is partly the cameras fault. Dirty lens, sun glare.


Sorry I couldn't get clearer pictures with more detail.

 

[Yacht Dr.]

Re: Becoming a spray painter?

Please be aware of the thinners Evaporating between coats in the cup and in the mix.

Meaning .. just having the first mix/coat being perfectly reduced .. does not mean the next coat has the proper ratio of thinners in it if its the same batch that you mixed in the first place.

I use a ZAHN #2 cup for EVERY coat I put on. zahn #2 Ford #4 Viscosity Charts

I normally use about 17-18 seconds for Imron or awgrip(awlcraft2000)

I had one spray job that I did with a mix in a pressure pot .. I thought the viscosity would stay the same being in a contained pot. I was wrong ..

So if your not mixing for spray to spray then you might consider your reducers are evaporating in the pot or mixing bucket. That could create a problem with your coats.

Stay safe.

YD.

Bump to top

YD.

 

[bonz_d]

Re: Becoming a spray painter?

Thanks YD! Yes I was aware of the evaporative nature but I wasn't aware of how quickly it happens. Yesterday I think I used up that 9oz. that I mixed in less than 45 min. from the time I mixed it. I also need to correct myself. Rusto says to thin with Acetone and not mineral spirits.

I've got to pick up another 1/2pt of that color to finish the other sides and am going to try it thinned more.

Where to get or what to use to measure the thinner? With this small amount 15% is only 1.2oz. I have a small measure cup that goes to 20ml but that gets tedious converting to oz size.

 

[gm280]

Re: Becoming a spray painter?

Glad to see some pictures here. Looks good too... I've reread most of the comments again to refresh myself to what is going on now. I see you are spraying and practicing...nothing wrong with that for sure. See how quick pride shows up when you accomplish something you've never done before. It is a great feeling too.

As far as "Orange Peel" goes, a lot of professionals still get some orange peel even after years of spraying. Sometimes it's the gun, the paint, the thinning, the humidity, the air pressure and a long list of other issues. Paint drying before it really adheres to the surface/finish is the major contributor of that. BUT, in most cases, Orange Peel can be rubbed out with polishing compounds...if it isn't too bad. But keep trying and you will see that your project will turn out so much better then you once thought... :thumb: :thumb:

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Becoming a spray painter?

Adding MS to the Acetone allows the Paint to flow out a bit more before it cures. Acetone "flashes" off faster and can cause the OP! That's why I use the 50/50 mix. Seems to work well for me. Thinner mix = finer paint droplets too!!! Keep experimenting you'll find the proper mix for the gun and when you do it will flow like silk for you.