spray guns or spray cans

[coldwood]

Hi

I'm wondering if anyone uses  any kind of spray gun for scroll projects?

I was using a spray can then started using a preval aerosol with water base deft varathane.

The preval aerosol is about $10.00 Canadian so im wondering if anyone is using and inexpensive spray gun.

I have a compressor and I see, Lee valley Canada sells a sprayer for about $56.00

I would not need a $300.00 unit , just something  for scroll projects.

Thanks Jim

[kmmcrafts]

I have a few higher end spray guns as I used to work the autobody business.. and spraying from the equipment seems like a very good idea IF.. you're able to set up and spray a lot of pieces at once.. Otherwise you'll spend about the same money every time you clean up the spray equipment.. Now.. you did mention water base.. and assuming you can do a good clean-up with just soap and water.. It may very well be worth the effort.. I know there are some folks on here that use spray equipment.. and have much success with it.. It doesn't work well for me as many of my items are "made to order"  rather than a built up stock for in person shows.. so many times I'm only putting a finish on 1-2 pieces at a time.. the clean up time to clean the spray equipment would out weigh the cost of just using a spray can.. I don't know how hard it is to clean some of the cheaper spray guns but mine you have many pieces to take out and clean.. so you basically take the gun apart and clean up all the pieces etc..

I suggest a small spray gun rather than the larger ones.. maybe look at touch-up guns with smaller paint cup.. 

Years ago I bought a quart can of water based poly.. I never did open it up.. and I keep thinking I need to just do the spray gun thing.. a can of the stuff locally is about $8 ( I think 16 oz. can) and a quart is like $12.. so yeah.. If I got a small touch-up gun and could do several pieces at a time.. It's save me a lot of money.. and I probably will do this once I start running my CNC sign making business soon...

 

[BadBob]

I use airbrushes and spray acrylic paints and shellac.

Acrylics are no big deal for clean up I use generic window cleaner to clean my equipment. It cost about $1 for half a gallon the last time I bought some.

Shellac is more expensive to use, but the cleanup is simple, and if you don't get it all out, a bit of denatured alcohol will loosen it up.

I rarely use a rattle can for painting.

[Rockytime]

I have several air brushes. I was a model railroader for many years. I can't imagine spraying anything very large. However, I don't recognize your air brushes so they may be perfect for larger things.

[amazingkevin]

7 hours ago, coldwood said:

Hi

I'm wondering if anyone uses  any kind of spray gun for scroll projects?

I was using a spray can then started using a preval aerosol with water base deft varathane.

The preval aerosol is about $10.00 Canadian so im wondering if anyone is using and inexpensive spray gun.

I have a compressor and I see, Lee valley Canada sells a sprayer for about $56.00

I would not need a $300.00 unit , just something  for scroll projects.

Thanks Jim

I really love the fine atomizing from the Perhaps!! So much that I wanted to know how much and how to fill them with an air compressor ends up there's 100 pounds in each areosal canister and you fill them with a car tire valve stem from the auto parts!!!

[BadBob]

2 minutes ago, Rockytime said:

I have several air brushes. I was a model railroader for many years. I can't imagine spraying anything very large. However, I don't recognize your air brushes so they may be perfect for larger things.

A Badger 155 Anthem Air Brush with Single needle/nozzle sprays pencil lines to 3" spray pattern. I would think three inches is  plenty big enough to spray any thing your going to cut on a scroll saw.

I used to work with someone who restored cars, entered them in car shows, and had a wall full of trophies. He painted his cars with an airbrush and lacquer. One panel at time.

They make airbrushes that spray larger patterns.

[Rockytime]

2 minutes ago, BadBob said:

A Badger 155 Anthem Air Brush with Single needle/nozzle sprays pencil lines to 3" spray pattern. I would think three inches is  plenty big enough to spray any thing your going to cut on a scroll saw.

I used to work with someone who restored cars, entered them in car shows, and had a wall full of trophies. He painted his cars with an airbrush and lacquer. One panel at time.

They make airbrushes that spray larger patterns.

My brushes sprayed a smaller pattern. I understand a 3" pattern would be adequate and would spray a finer and more controlled pattern. My cuttings are rarely greater than 9X11 inches.

[kmmcrafts]

I think the wider spray setting on a good air brush system would spray better than a spray can.. some spray cans these days have a decent spray.. but boy back in the day they was terrible to try to use..LOL.. back then if you wanted a decent finish a spray gun was the way to go.. LOL.. 

[crupiea]

I use spray cans for just about everything. Do some airbrush stuff but mainly its the cans. 

[Ctutor]

I use the "Critter" spray gun for finish spraying. It only requires about 40 PSI and the spray material is in a pint "Mason" jar. The clean up is easy cause I have a jar filled with either acetone or thinner and switch jars when I am finished and spray that through the "gun" . If you get one make certain you get the one with the stainless feeding tube. The aluminum breaks easily.  You can not alter the spray pattern but for finishing you don't need to. They are inexpensive and work well.

[Bill WIlson]

I use cheap HVLP guns with my air compressor to spray shellac.  I've not tried spraying anything else with them.  One of the many reason's I like spraying shellac is that clean up is so easy.  Since these guns are used exclusively for shellac, I don't always take them apart and thoroughly clean them after spraying.  I always spray a little denatured alcohol through them after finishing and then a little more before using them the next time.  I take them apart maybe every 3rd or 4th time I use them.  I also use ammonia water to clean external surfaces and/or any parts easily removed.  Be careful with anything aluminum though, as ammonia will etch it.  DAMHIKT.

[coldwood]

This may be the spray gun I was wondering about. they sell them at Lee Valley in Canada and have free shipping right now.

I just use water based, Deft finish. 

[NC Scroller]

If you looking for a spray gun you are best to get a HVLP gun or better yet HVLP system (no compressor required).  I have this one from Rockler.  Though is was on sale for less at the time.   https://www.rockler.com/rockler-hvlp-finishing-sprayer .  HVLP stands for High Volume Low Pressure. I only spray water based finish with it.

[Davevand]

23 hours ago, NC Scroller said:

If you looking for a spray gun you are best to get a HVLP gun or better yet HVLP system (no compressor required).  I have this one from Rockler.  Though is was on sale for less at the time.   https://www.rockler.com/rockler-hvlp-finishing-sprayer .  HVLP stands for High Volume Low Pressure. I only spray water based finish with it.

I have the Summit version of this sprayer and like it a lot for spaying both shellac and lacquer. I thin the finish just a bit and they spray great. I also spay water based poly and that sprays ok, but not great.  If I remember correctly I paid $49 for mine when it was on sale, for that price it was definitely worth it.

[MrsN]

From time to time I think about getting stuff to do spraying but so far I stick to my rattle cans.

Very interesting information that everyone shared. I hope I remember it if I ever decide to take the jump.