Air Compressor help

« **on:** May 06, 2009, 11:39:15 PM »

I bought a new compressor so I can finish the paint properly on my project... Problem is I am clueless on how to set this thing up.

I always used my dad's growing up and it was already assembled

So I have this machine that I need to wire in a 240 to. I think I can handle that part. But I also bought an air filter, regulator and lubricator. I am guessing that I wont need the lubricator part for painting and that it is just for air tools(impact wrench, sanders, etc)

I know I read that the filter would be quite helpful for painting to keep any water out of the spray. Is there anything else anyone can think of to tell me on maintenance or use of this thing??? I know I am supposed to drain the water from the bottom of the tank, and check and fill it with oil but that's about it.

Specs:
60Gal ASME Tank
3.2HP Motor (per ISO 1217 standard)
Air Flow 10.2 SCFM @ 90 PSI
135 max PSI

« **Reply #1 on:** May 07, 2009, 12:21:33 AM »

My 3 horse will barely keep up w/ the gun. Watch the oil closely, I've seized a rod twice. Damn thing holds less than a qt.

« **Reply #2 on:** May 07, 2009, 12:32:36 AM »

Mine holds exactly a quart according to the manual

« **Reply #3 on:** May 07, 2009, 05:45:27 PM »

My recomendation is to get some runtime on it, then switch it over to synthetic recip. compressor oil, Ingersoll Rand makes a good oil but a bit expensive, I sell Amsoil and they make a good compressor oil that is much cheaper...

As far as the filter, I run mine right off the air tank, it has a drain built in to it, as far as the tank drain, do yourself a favor and get a 90* elbow and a ball valve in the size of the drain hole and plumb it out from under the tank.

10 scfm is not a lot of air for sparaying, keep an eye on the runtime, the more a compressor runs, the more moisture you have to deal with.

GT

« **Reply #4 on:** May 07, 2009, 06:37:23 PM »

I'm sorry Glenn, did you say something? I was watching the Anime bouncing boobies right above your post.

Ray

« **Reply #5 on:** May 09, 2009, 07:54:17 AM »

I sure as hell am no expert but I will offer what I did on top of the good advice that you've already received.

I ran a water trap/regulator as far down stream from the compressor as I could get. I then picked up a second water trap cheap and plumbed it in series with the first one. From there I ran one of those cheapy disposable filters right where I hook my hose up.

At the gun I ran a disceccant (sp?) type water filter.

You might not to need go to this extreme but I was painting in the heated shop while we were having floods & snow outside and the air was full of moisture and I still didn't have any issues with water.

Well, actually...........I guess I did.......While spraying the last coat on the deck I exhaled out of my mask and there was enough condensation inside my mask from breathing that I spit water on the wet deck....

Hah.......told you guys I made just about every mistake a guy could do....

« **Reply #6 on:** May 09, 2009, 09:18:59 AM »

Keep in mind also that a hvlp(high volume/low pressure), will use alot less air than a siphon feed. And that paint fumes can be explosive, I would try to have the compressor, outside or in another room so there is no chance of a spark from it touching things off. And that charcoal filter type resperators aren't any good against paints that contain iso syiniades(sp?) O.k. I'll shut up now.lol

« **Reply #7 on:** May 09, 2009, 01:33:52 PM »

All good info!! I have a siphon feed gun because it said it uses less CFM's than the HVLP guns... I am confused now.

« **Reply #8 on:** May 09, 2009, 01:38:11 PM »

Quote from: The Chaz on May 09, 2009, 01:33:52 PM

All good info!! I have a siphon feed gun because it said it uses less CFM's than the HVLP guns... I am confused now.

I use a pressure pot for big jobs (best of both worlds).

The HVLP should use much less air pressure and volume both.

A siphon gun will use more air and more paint due to "drift", an HVLP gets a lot more paint to the surface w/o much overspray...

Not my wisdom, my uncle is a body/paint guy for a living....I follow his lead...

GT

« **Reply #9 on:** May 09, 2009, 03:50:05 PM »

Quote from: The Chaz on May 09, 2009, 01:33:52 PM

All good info!! I have a siphon feed gun because it said it uses less CFM's than the HVLP guns... I am confused now.

Don't confuse the cup be-ing on top of the gun as a "siphon feed" Siphon feeds are pretty old school. I bet yours is a hvlp gun.

« **Reply #10 on:** May 09, 2009, 08:14:12 PM »

I have the one with the cup on the bottom.. Please correct me if I am misunderstanding, but I understand HVLP as High Volume (High CFM's) Low Pressure. Does the lower pressure translate to the lower volume of air being pulled from the compressor? I did see a gun labeled at Harbor Freight LVLP but it looked cheap and I have never heard of that one...

« **Reply #11 on:** May 09, 2009, 08:33:53 PM »

High volume of material (paint) low air pressure.......

The Harbor Freight one is perfect................................ ...........for paintin tractors

I have actually used the cheapie from The Home Depot made by Husky, it actually is a nice piece for the $$$$ I painted a dirt bike frame and a motorcycle trailer the same color, came out nice but not a lot of smooth, flat surfaces like a boat, soooo grain of salt that.

GT

« **Reply #12 on:** May 10, 2009, 06:27:05 AM »

Not that I know anything but I used a cheapy ASTRO LVLP gun with a 1.4 nozzle for mine. A number of people had recommended it to me (painter types) and so I tried it. Worked fantastic.

I paid $70 give or take but it looks like they may have gone up.

I had never heard of a LVLP since the rage was always the HVLP deal but these LVLP work very well with smaller compressors. For what its worth..

http://www.autobodytoolmart.com/p-11608-astro-lvlp-gravity-feed-spray-gun-evo4014.aspx

« **Reply #13 on:** May 10, 2009, 09:23:23 PM »

Quote from: jrork on May 10, 2009, 06:27:05 AM

Not that I know anything but I used a cheapy ASTRO LVLP gun with a 1.4 nozzle for mine. A number of people had recommended it to me (painter types) and so I tried it. Worked fantastic.

Will the 1.4 tip be large enough to spray primer surfacer?

« **Reply #14 on:** May 11, 2009, 05:27:56 AM »

I did. I used both PPG primer surfacer and it was a bit spitty (if that's a word) and I used Omni which is PPG's ugly stepsister and that sprayed fantastic. The Omni gave you the option of adding just a splash of reducer which thinned it enough that it would spray really nice yet still build fine.

As an alternative, ASTRO sold the guns with a 1.8 nozzle too but I just went with the one gun.

The Chaz

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