Electric Spray Gun - Recommendations

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Hammer
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Electric Spray Gun - Recommendations

Postby Hammer » Thu Jan 31, 2013 10:25 pm

I’m looking for recommendations on which electric spray gun is best and/or best value for money? Are there any particular features or functions I should look for?

I would like to entirely PlastiDip my daily driver (not the MX5), and whilst I would like to have an air compressor with all the proper spray gun attachments, I'm afraid I simply don’t have the room to keep one where I live. So the next best thing is to use an electric spray gun. Unless there are other options that I hadn’t considered.

Either way, an electric spray gun should be heaps better than using pressure pack spray cans to PlastiDip the entire car.

Any helpful suggestions will be appreciated.
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Re: Electric Spray Gun - Recommendations

Postby lizard » Fri Feb 01, 2013 7:01 am

My experience with electric spray guns has been nothing but dismal . Even the expensive ones (Wagner) seem to be useless.
The biggest problem is you need to get the exact viscosity for the gun to work . And once you have the gun working the viscosity from the gun isn't correct when it hits the surface been painted :evil: The paint is either too wet and runs or too dry and pits on the surface. If you think about it have you ever seen a pro use a electric gun ?

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Bauer
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Re: Electric Spray Gun - Recommendations

Postby Bauer » Fri Feb 01, 2013 7:28 am

I have never seen anyone recommend an electric spray gun of any brand - unless they were painting their back fence.

I simply think they are not up to the task of a "good" spray job.
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Re: Electric Spray Gun - Recommendations

Postby Mr Morlock » Fri Feb 01, 2013 8:23 am

If you have never done any spray painting do some research. Painting a car in Plasdip sounds crazy to me - do some calcs on how much you require and $$ another big factor is safety. As an example they do not recommend spraying catalysed paints without a good paint mask ( eg Sundstrom) for small items and booth and external air for larger items - like a car. The Plasdip may be a dangerous product- I do not know. I recently read 2 excellent books on painting and no mention of electric guns. A visit to an auto paint specialist will give you some advice but I bet it is do not do it.

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Re: Electric Spray Gun - Recommendations

Postby bigmaxy » Fri Feb 01, 2013 8:42 am

I own and use a Wagner airless spray setup (electric), as do many professional house painters, and it is fantastic for getting great coverage over a large area in a short amount of time.
So those dismissing the product do not really know what they are talking about. Edit. I would never ever think about using it for spraying a car. No way, ever. Right tool for the job and all that.
Having said that. I would have no clue about spraying plastidip through it. As mentioned the viscosity need to be right and I have no clue what options you have to thin down plastidip. Plus that stuff is expensive and you will probably end up with heaps of overspray and wastage in the lines. (basic handheld units are hopeless). They are not economical with paint usage.

If plastidip can be sprayed, once again I have no idea, I would be looking at a typical automotive gravity fed gun with the appropriate sized tip attached to a suitable air compressor.
Good luck.

edit. Google is still my friend.
https://www.google.com.au/#hl=en&tbo=d&sclient=psy-ab&q=spraying+plastidip+through+gun&oq=spraying+plastidip+through+gun&gs_l=hp.3..33i29.1101.14822.0.14994.32.28.1.3.3.1.378.6181.0j11j13j3.27.0.les%3B..0.0...1c.1.3xEazeWe_is&pbx=1&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_cp.r_qf.&bvm=bv.41642243,d.dGY&fp=5ffe1ab5c2868a29&biw=1814&bih=1027
Last edited by bigmaxy on Fri Feb 01, 2013 8:46 am, edited 1 time in total.

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MINX
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Re: Electric Spray Gun - Recommendations

Postby MINX » Fri Feb 01, 2013 8:44 am

PlastiDipping the entire car sounds like a waste of money to me.
What are you trying to achieve?
Is it a beater that you are trying to hide the already bad paint job, or is it purely a cosmetic experiment eg 'look at me I am matte black'

I have just bought an electric spray gun from Bunnings.
I am going to paint our investment property. It is mainly block brick and painted rendered stucko concrete so nightmare to brush on.
The paint guy i spoke to at Bunnings was very knowlegable.
He reccomended not using the Wagner ones. Unles you bought the very top end one (over $1000)
He reccomended for me, the cheapy one they had on special Ozito for $89
It is like a reverse vacuum cleaner. (http://www.bunnings.com.au/products_product_paint-power-spray-gun-ozito-700w-mps700_P1661265.aspx?search=spray+gun&searchType=any&searchSubType=products&page=3

BUT, he said the most important thing was to use "Floetrol" Acrylic paint conditioner.
You must use that to control the viscosity of the paint.
He also reccomened a trick, keep a bucket of water handy to shove the head in to fluch the head clean regularly.

Plastidip is not water clean up, so that wouldnt work. And would require thinner to keep clean.
Possibly lots of clogging.

Good luck though.
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Re: Electric Spray Gun - Recommendations

Postby hks_kansei » Fri Feb 01, 2013 8:51 am

Every review I've seen says they need the paint to be thinned an extreme degree.

And they all seemed to also say that the spray pattern is rather rubbish (lots of spits and stuff), on rough and textured surfaces that isn't a problem (ie: bricks and fences like they're designed for) but on a car you won't be able to get a decent smooth finish.
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Re: Electric Spray Gun - Recommendations

Postby bigmaxy » Fri Feb 01, 2013 8:52 am

Also check this out.
Seems quite doable as long as you don't mind a non brilliant finish.

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Re: Electric Spray Gun - Recommendations

Postby deviant » Fri Feb 01, 2013 10:37 am

I assume Plastidip because it can be removed later? For that to work the paint surface has to be immaculate, it will bond to any chips, scratches, scuffs and fading.

Plastidip has evil fumes, you can't just spray it around the place without looking after yourself or protecting the environment.

Maybe consider a vinyl wrap if the car is worth it.

If it is a real snotter take it to your local tafe and see if they are running a bodyshop course and offer it up for the students to practice painting on. You could also ring around a few local bodyshops and ask if they have an apprentice that needs some more practice.

Another option is a roller and yacht paint: http://forums.justcommodores.com.au/hol ... llers.html

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Re: Electric Spray Gun - Recommendations

Postby bruce » Fri Feb 01, 2013 1:23 pm

DIY vinyl wrap or 50 cans of cheap spray paint.

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Re: Electric Spray Gun - Recommendations

Postby Mr Morlock » Fri Feb 01, 2013 4:35 pm

just to emphasise again. Plastidip may be dangerous- check it- there should be a safety data sheet. Painters reckon if you can smell a 2 pack paint ( or probably any) then stop and replace filters etc.

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Re: Electric Spray Gun - Recommendations

Postby hks_kansei » Fri Feb 01, 2013 5:22 pm

Mr Morlock wrote:just to emphasise again. Plastidip may be dangerous- check it- there should be a safety data sheet. Painters reckon if you can smell a 2 pack paint ( or probably any) then stop and replace filters etc.



http://www.homedepot.com/catalog/pdfIma ... 903769.pdf


Like most paints, wear a GOOD mask.
paper dust masks are not going to protect you.
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Re: Electric Spray Gun - Recommendations

Postby manga_blue » Fri Feb 01, 2013 5:41 pm

hks_kansei wrote:http://www.homedepot.com/catalog/pdfImages/40/4071c074-86d6-4f2b-853e-c86fb5903769.pdf
I think I'd be wearing full scuba gear to spray that stuff!
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