Sprayers for clear coat

**dZign Tank** · 01-14-2008, 10:23 PM

hi all,

so i've been using Varathane Diamond Polyurethane for several of my projects.

its getting to be such a hassel to try and apply it by hand with a roller, and the results suck.

so now i'm looking into spraying solutions so i'm hoping someone can clear some confusion for me.

1. i believe they make a Varathane Diamond spray can, how good is that? is that better than a roller at least?

2. for spray solutions, i've read that HVLP is the way to go, but i can't afford a big systems, so then are there any affordable spray setups that cost around $100 in total? what about those cheap paint sprayers with just a can like thing, i think they run on electric?

my needs are for woods, and clear coats over spray painted wood, so its not super fine work here.

also, all of it is indoor, so all i'm really looking for is a pretty good smooth finish.

i've been using a roller the whole time, so i think anything will be better than that.

thanks!

**Jim_J Lazy 3** · 01-15-2008, 12:00 AM

Do you have a compressor? It'll need to have a 20 gal tank or better, but if so, the Apollo HVLP cup set is in that price range. I used one for 6 years with excellent results, however, I spray precatylized lacquer. I personally don't know if you can thin poly enough to spray, and then get a build or not. I hate the stuff, thus the lacquer. I have the Graco 4 turbine HVLP rig now... now THAT'S a spray rig!, but pretty pricey if you don't need it for your business........ Jim@JLazy3

"The only thing certain in life ...is uncertainty!"

**dZign Tank** · 01-15-2008, 01:18 AM

no, no compressor....

what about airless sprays?

**stretch2187** · 01-15-2008, 08:28 AM

Yes you can use an airless spray rig like what a painter would use. You have to get a smaller tip and the price of a low end one runs around $300. I have sprayed polyurethane using the rattle cans that are available. It gave me good results, but it's expensive over the long run.

**dbriski** · 01-15-2008, 11:45 AM

Here is an all in one true HVLP turbine spray system for $100. http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?p...69&filter=HVLP Now I can't say that its any good, I haven't used it. Most of the reviews say its not a bad sprayer, and its the best value in sprayers.

If you do get it, please let us know how it works.

I have this http://www.grizzly.com/products/Prof...un-1-5mm/H7667 that works with my compressor. It actually works pretty good and doesn't use too much air, with a 30 gal compressor I can spray about 6 shelves before the compressor turns on.

I have sprayed Polycrylic and Water baised Lacquer and Shellac with this gun.

**Postman** · 01-15-2008, 11:50 AM

Regarding the airless sprayer; I have a Titan 440i commercial airless sprayer but I use it only for spraying latex and mostly outdoors. They operate at around 3000 psi. The bounce back and overspray you get with these sprayers is tremendous. I wouldn't use one, at least one like mine, for furniture or cabinets unless I was painting them with an enamel.

If you get a compressor you can use a conventional gun which does a super job but you still have a bounce back problem and you need something to take moisture out of the air being delivered to the gun unless you are using a water based finish. You can use an HVLP gun with a compressor but you need a large capacity compressor for high air volume and you still have the moisture problem. HVLP is great but for me it took some fiddiling around to get the right tip/needle combination for whatever I'm spraying. That problem is easily solved with a #2 Zahn or #4 Ford cup to measure viscocity unless you are like me and wait to buy one until you get sick of guessing.

You could try getting a good Purdy brush for polyurathane. That might make a difference for you.

**dZign Tank** · 01-16-2008, 08:12 PM

yeah looks like i just may have to try this all in one. it looks like it may do.

thanks!

**stretch2187** · 01-16-2008, 10:21 PM

At work we do 98% of our finishing using an airless sprayer. It's a low end Graco and it sprays lacquer really well. We really don't do anything special except use a fine finish tip from Sherwin Williams. If the pressure is set too high, we get a little bounce back, but it's not a problem if the pressure is set correctly.

**woodmannie** · 01-17-2008, 06:37 AM

Looks like the one I got from Harbor Freight. Mine was on sale for $40. It works really well. I sprayed laquer, poly, and paint through it with no problems. Just clean it when your done. Poly likes to gum up if you don't.

wm