Replies

1. 
   Kevin | Apr 16, 2007 09:35pm | #1

   It depends a lot on what you intend to use it for. I mean in terms of size. A good quality gravity gun is easily the most versatile spray gun you could buy. But it only holds so much clear and wouldn't be well suited to large, complex pieces of furniture.

1. 
   GRW | Apr 16, 2007 11:31pm | #2

   Kevin,I'm about to finish a set of kitchen cabinets. I usually do smaller jobs. I don't mind refilling a gravity feed tank. I just need to learn about the systems, and which company makes one worth buying.
   Thanks.

1. 
   Kevin | Apr 17, 2007 12:34am | #4

   Sounds like a gravity gun would probably be ideal for you.

   Which company makes a good one isn't as objective as you would probably prefer. Most of us who paint or finish for a living have definite favorites and obviously our differences in opinion are keeping a variety of manufactors in the black. The best general advice I can give you is that you get what you pay for. IOW, I would not recommending going out and buying one of the ubiquetous el-cheapo gravity guns that can be found just about everywhere, at least not as a primary workhorse gun. They are very cheap copies of a German SATA which would cost you significantly more money but would also vastly outperform the Chinese-made copies.

   Personally I'm a DeVilbiss fan and absolutely love my GTI. But I've heard very, very good things about the C.A.T. "Jaguar" gravity gun and I also have a very favorable opinion, based on experience, of the Binks M1G gravity gun. All of which are going to cost somewhere in the neighborhood of $400, give or take $50 or so.

   I'm not sure what you mean by learn the systems. A gravity gun is pretty much plug-and-play. Although I'm probably hampered here by my experience. Could you maybe be more explicit about what you mean?

1. 
   nikkiwood | Apr 17, 2007 08:21am | #6

   Kevin,What do you recommend for turbine powered HVLP systems -- on the high end?********************************************************
   "It is what we learn after we think we know it all, that counts."

   John Wooden 1910-

1. 
   Kevin | Apr 17, 2007 05:54pm | #8

   That you'll have to ask others about. I've only played around with a turbine system once and just don't have enough experience with them to feel like I could give you an informed, useful opinion. I presume that the same basic "you get what you pay for" dynamic applies. But other than that I really can't say. It's the one spray system that I know the least about.

2. 
   nikkiwood | Apr 17, 2007 06:00pm | #9

   Thanks.............********************************************************
   "It is what we learn after we think we know it all, that counts."

   John Wooden 1910-

3. 
   observer | Apr 17, 2007 09:10pm | #11

   I use an Accuspray 24K with #10 gun. It's a well made, well performing three stage unit with onboard compressor so can run pressure, siphon or gravity guns. Accuspray is a reputable manufacturer and parts availability is excellent. A 4 stage version (240K) is available with slightly higher output but I spray only lacquers so have no need of it.

4. 
   Kevin | Apr 17, 2007 09:51pm | #13

   The company I work for owns an Accuspray HVLP 1 quart pressure cupgun (also the #10) and I can attest to it's quality. Incidently, Accuspray was the first to the market with a pressurized gravity gun.

   One of the most brilliant things that Accuspray has come up with is the disposable nylon needle valve ends which significantly lower wear on the tip since it's a nylon-on-metal contact area rather than the conventional metal-on-metal contact area. I'm surprised that others haven't copied it except that they're probably counting on replacement parts as a revenue stream.

   My one complaint with the Accuspray gun I have is that it doesn't atomize as well as I'd like. On the other hand, it uses significantly less air at the nozzle to do it's thing... which means significantly less overspray.

   Also, unlike most other so-called "conversion" (i.e., non-turbine) HVLP guns out there, the Accuspray appears to be designed from the ground up to be an HVLP gun rather than a converted pre-HVLP design. Which I'm sure is why it uses so much less atomizing air.

2. 
   observer | Apr 17, 2007 08:37am | #7

   I'm curious what the advantages of a gravity gun are?I don't have your expertise on the subject, but I've always thought the pressure pot system to be most versatile, ie. working in tight spaces, unrestricted gun orientation, control of materials feed pressure, large matreials resevoir and so on.What am I missing with regard to the gravity setup?

1. 
   Kevin | Apr 17, 2007 06:18pm | #10

   Well I would say that they are roughly equal in terms of versatility but at opposite ends of the spectrum in terms of ideal application situations.

   One huge advantage of a gravity gun is that it's just so much simpler that it takes less experience/knowledge to actually use competently. The learning curve, IMHO, is much, much shorter with a good quality gravity gun. And because they kick out less material while atomizing incredibly well, they are the most forgiving spray equipment in existance in my opinion... which makes them particularly well-suited to small projects. Much moreso than a pressure pot system.

   While it's true that with the fluid cup on top of the gun it is less able to navigate tight spaces, some brands are better than others. One of my chief complaints about the SATA line (which is very widely copied by other manufactorers) is their really tall material cups. DeVilbiss and some aftermarket suppliers take a vastly more practical approach and increase the circumferance rather than the height as a means of increasing capacity. This has two advantages: 1. it reduces the overall size, and 2. it lowers the center of gravity which is actually the more important consideration, IMO. The taller SATA-style cups when full require more physical strength to maneuver and require the sprayer to essentially fight that counterweight when spraying... which is an unnecessary PITA.

   There are actually an increasing number of aftermarket cup systems for gravity guns which give you unrestricted gun orientation. I started out using a DeVilbiss system and have since switched to a 3M system with which I can spray upside down at will, with the added benefit that the cup liner is disposable and reduces the surface area that has to be cleaned after using the gun. All of them work by effectively turning the gravity gun into a siphon-feed when it's upside down.

1. 
   observer | Apr 17, 2007 09:15pm | #12

   Thanks Kevin. I did my learning curve on cheap conventional guns on a pressure system so had no trouble adapting to quality HVLP equipment in the same configuration. My only regret is that I didn't do it years ago and save myself all the grief finishing has caused me.

1. 
   Kevin | Apr 17, 2007 10:14pm | #14

   I own both and really value my conventional pressure pot set-up which is dedicated to spraying nothing but clear finishes (lacquers and conversion varnishes). I would definitely be hampered without it. So I don't want to be misunderstood as favoring gravity guns over pressure pots. However, most of what I spray is actually automotive primers and basecoat paints/clears (but not on cars... long story!) and a gravity gun is absolutely THE idea gun for these materials and especially how or rather what I'm spraying them on.

2. 
   Railyn | Apr 16, 2007 11:56pm | #3

   Try this site. It may not be what you are looking for but there is a lot of information.

   http://www.hvlp.net/webstore.htm

   Ray

3. 
   terrylee86 | Apr 17, 2007 12:40am | #5

   Try spraygunworld.com.  They have all the guns you could possibly want and could make recommendations on a compressor.  I have a 5 HP Ingersoll Rand 80gal. upright,  got it locally for $850.  A good HVLP gun will be $250-500.  I have a Sata RP, but there are a lot of good guns out there.  Call their service dept. and they will walk you through every scenario, they will tell what is best for what you do.  They sell every good brand so they are honest in their opinions.  I think they are on the west coast so they are open late for us in the eastern time zone.

   Terry