How to use an automotive paint gun is a major task, before doing a finishing job, I mean painting. Staining, painting and other projects that require finishing can be demanding tasks. When your project is finished and ready to stain or paint, you’ve probably already spent a lot of time and money in preparation and the materials.
Spray gun sprayers or pneumatic sprayers or air sprayers will help you accomplish your work faster, and also deliver the top-quality results you’re searching for, regardless of whether you’re a DIYer or professional.
Why should you think about spray guns, and what kind of spray gun do you choose?
Advantages of spray guns
Spray guns provide a variety of advantages over traditional staining or painting techniques.
- The spray finish is tolerant. Because a spray finish is constructed in thin layers, minor bumps and scratches aren’t as apparent as they would be with the use of a brush.
- Spraying is quick. The finish can be sprayed onto items that are of any size or shape quicker than done using the use of a rag or brush. Additionally, the atomization process of stain or paint reduces drying time so that you can sand or recoat your projects within a shorter period of time. Because the finish dries quicker, dust particles have little time to get settled on your final piece.
- Spraying is versatile. Nearly any finish that can be applied using brushes or rags can be reproduced using the use of a spray gun. However, some sprays cannot be applied using the use of a brush. Certain finishes, like lacquers, and a variety of water-based substances are best applied. Spray guns also let you employ special techniques, such as toning or shading that are difficult to achieve with a hand.
- Spraying provides you with greater flexibility and control. You can control the rate of application as well as the thickness of your coats more effectively with a sprayer as opposed to using a rag or brush. With an air-sprayer, it is possible to adjust the pressure of air as well as the flow of fluid and the size of the fan to ensure that you’re applying thin and uniform coats across all the surfaces of the workpiece. Spray guns can also make it easier to access small spaces or corners which are difficult to reach using brushes.
- Spraying is simple. While it may seem intimidating, using a spray gun is actually quite easy to master. It is often possible to master using a gun quicker than with a brush.
- Spraying provides quality and reliability. Without a doubt, one of the main reasons to buy an air-based spraying system is the quality of the finish. Marks from rollers or brushes are no longer an issue. Problems with drips runs, and sags, as well as trapped air bubbles, are significantly diminished or eliminated. If properly set up and used properly the sprayer system will provide an elegant, high-quality, and durable finish in just a lesser amount of time to brush.
Selecting the pneumatic spray gun
The various sprayers are made to meet the needs of different materials and applications being coated. Every set-up has three fundamental elements: a gun that sprays the finish, the cup or pot that stores the finish, and a power source, which moves the finish through the gun, and then atomizes it when it reaches an air cap.
Although there are many kinds of gun models, the function is essentially similar. They have inlets for fluid and air and a needle that is fluid the tip, and an air cap. It is where the air that comes from the air compressor flows through the hose before entering the gun’s handle. Fluid is introduced into the gun close to the front, either via an open cup that is attached directly to the gun or the pressure pot that is remote. A screw at the side of the gun controls the flow of fluid through the end. Another screw regulates the amount of air that is passing through the cap, thereby controlling the fan’s pattern.
A spray gun should be equipped with a container that can hold the material to be used. The containers, which range from a cup of 8 ounces to 10-gallon pressure pots are able to be placed either above, below, or to the spray gun. The position of the container will decide the way the material is pumped through the firearm.
Pneumatic spray guns employ compressed air to move substances. Based on the type of spray gun chosen, the compressor must deliver anywhere between three and twelve standard cubic feet of air per minute (scfm) with a weight of 40 pounds/square inch (psi). The majority of 5-6 horsepower models are sufficient; however, it is recommended to select an air compressor of 30 liters or more.
The majority of spray guns operate between 30 to 80 psi. It’s essential to remain aware of the pressure at which the gun can operate. Inability to regulate the pressure of the air to the max rating could cause harm to the weapon.
Spray guns come in various types, such as general-purpose pressure-feed, siphon-feed gravity-feed, and detail. The most appropriate choice is contingent on the viscosity and type of the material you’ll be spraying, the variety of painting jobs, your finishing requirements, and the cost.
- General-purpose spray guns can be used for various applications. They are able to be converted from siphon-feed to pressure-feed. This allows a wide range of substances to be sprayed – from latex to stains. It is also possible to convert from non-bleeder type to bleeder type. Non-bleed guns stop the airflow once the trigger is released which is the ideal and most well-known practice.
- The guns that use pressure utilize compressed air that presses the container, bringing the fluid to the point of the gun, where it is atomized through the air that is passing through the air cap. Pressure-feed systems need to be properly sealed in order to function properly. Pressure-feed guns provide a number of advantages over other models They can have the pressure of the material adjusted to transfer fluid to the gun, which allows thick or heavy substances to be sprayed and the pressure of air on the tips can be controlled independently of the fluid pressure, which means that the material is sprayed more quickly.
- Siphon feed guns contain a container of material that is situated below the gun. The inlet is filled with compressed air and is pushed through the gun, creating an air vacuum that is then released at the cap. The lid is fitted with an opening for venting that allows air to flow into the cup. The difference in pressure between air exiting the gun’s tip and the air that enters through the vent hole results in an air siphon that pulls material into the tube of fluid. The material then flows through the tip of the liquid which is then mixed with the air that comes from the cap before being at a point of atomization. This type of gun isn’t as effective when spraying larger substances. Siphon-feed guns are best used with medium or low viscosity substances like acrylics, dyes, stains, and enamels.
Guns that feed on gravity work in a similar way to siphon-feed guns. However, the canister of material is situated just above the gun. This allows gravity to aid in the entry of the gun, resulting in positive pressure on the fluid. This is essential when you are using lower gun pressures, such as those found in HVLP equipment. It can also allow slightly heavier materials to be sprayed. A better gun’s performance and substantial cost savings on materials are among the advantages of this type of gun.