buying a compressor for HVLP gun

[Barf Head]

So i bought two HVLP guns, and being the retard that I am, I just assumed/hoped that they would work with my two year old Iwata Sprint Jet. HAHAHAHAH.... now I find out that my sprint jet makes all of .5 cfm, and my spray guns need like stinkin' 13 cfm!!! (at 30 psi) so I need a new compressor. anybody know of a good one? as in, makes 13 cfm at 30 psi and is less than like $500? What do you guys use?

---until i get a new one i'm going to have to settle for having a nice spray of air and paint for 2 sec, then waiting 15 sec for enough air to build up in my hose again. Sighhh......

[cdsgrafix]

at home depot there is a 230v 60 gal floor compressor for $400.

[Barf Head]

oh yeah. thats the other thing. can I get away with having a less powerful compressor and a big tank? as in, spraying for 30 sec then waiting a min for the tank to fill up again? do you have any idea how long 60 gal of air will last? Thanks

[Slamin Sam]

oh yeah. thats the other thing. can I get away with having a less powerful compressor and a big tank? as in, spraying for 30 sec then waiting a min for the tank to fill up again? do you have any idea how long 60 gal of air will last? Thanks

What are you going to be painting? The compressor listed above may work but need to make sure on the cfm.

Sam

[ShanePatrick]

....I was wondering the same thing, but I haven't bought the Iwata (going with iwata too, as a result of reading this forum) spray gun yet, sometime in the next 6 months. I noted what cdsgrafix said about the home depot compressor; any other compressors out their people are using? I would like to know what they are. Also what attachments do we need? Like water traps? or what else?
Thanks alot for any info you provide on this, good question barf head, I'm sure others wondering the same thing...
Shane

[Barf Head]

I'm going to be painting mostly smaller stuff like computer cases and plexiglass panels, but I would like to be able to do a car. Mainly I will use the guns with clear and primer, butoccasionally auto air paint. What I've been doing for now is just spraying a one second burst of air/paint then waiting about 10 seconds for enough air to build up in the hose again. Using this method, it's really really hard to get an even finish, and depending on how patient you are, you have to reduce the paint alot to get it to flow with the low air pressure. Again, with this method, you cant just dial in the gun and spray a nice smooth consistent finish. However, my hope is that with a bigger tank, I'll be able to spray at least one body panel/side/ section of whater I'm painting evenly, and then wait like 2 minutes until the whole tank fills up and then spray another section, giving a much smoother finish.
by the way, the reason I'm focusing on tank size, rather than getting a compressor that makes enough air to begin with, is that guns reqire upwards of 10 cfm @ 30 psi, and compressors that make this much air are at least $500, (As far as my research can tell... If somebody knows one that's not, let me know) which is out of my price range.

lets see what the people who actually own the nice compressors have to say... ;-)

[Burton]

Ok well there is a big difference between a computer and can hehe. For smaller jobs like motorcycle tanks and golf carts you can get away with one of the 33 gallon 110v craftsmen (Stay away from the pro series it actually gives less CFM.... dont ask why the sales people will start to get confused and run into walls. Its not a pretty site....)

A larger tank will help but even for a car a 80 gallon will be depleted fairly fast. Which means you will be dependent on the operating CFM. Tank size helps but there is no real way around CFM ratings at the lower range compressors.

What you could do is get that 33 gallon and when the time comes get another 33 gallon and daisy chain them together for more air. I wouldn't suggest adding a tank without another compressor though. You will short lift the small compressors the put on there. Another answer would be to put one together yourself. Buy a nice motor and small tank then when the money allows get a bigger tank for the motor you have.....

[Barf Head]

Thanks for the help! I'll check the craftsmans out.

I should have thought this out a head of time and gotten that Sharpe Titanium gun that only takes 4 cfm... cheaper than a compressor.

[Burton]

Yeah but a better compressor is the best investment you can make IMO. Guns are nice but there is no way around a nice big compressor... I dealt with a small one for a long time and every time I see that lil guy I just kick myself for not making the jump earlier to the new compressor.

[Mike K]

CFM is from the compressor (pump) and tank it is sized to which provides the RATED CFM/PSI. The compressor is only going to pump "X" amount of air into the tank. You could stack 6-80 gal tanks together with the original compressor that came on the first 80 unit. You will have a LOT of RESERVE but the compressor will
a. Not give you the stated CFM/PSI as it now has 5 other tanks to fill
b. It's cycle time to refill these 6 tanks will be greatly increased.
The Rating is based on running and providing this rating constantly.
You use more than this rating,and the psi &cfm will keep dropping cause your using more than it can produce.
HTH.

[Barf Head]

thanks for the info. Just to clarify, I was more wondering like what compressors you guys use, than trying to start a discussion about tank size vs. CFM. Anyway, thanks so much for all the help! :)

[willz0072002]

heres my 2 cents...

I started with a 30 gallon craftsman..for around $150 used at a pawn shop..it can do tanks, I have done completes, but such a super pain waiting for it to build up in between panels when clearing especially..u can do it but alot more wetsand/polishing afterwards..

then i got a craftsmas 60 gallon for $250 used..worked ok (loooud) for 6 months..then blew up..literally..those things are disposable and not meant for anyone using it alot..(i use my everyday)

So finally i stepped up and bought a quincy 60 gallon for $699 on sale new..the thing is sweet..fully serviceable (the sears ones arent) and should last forever. Im daisy chaining mine to my old compressor..we'll see how it goes but ill tell you it is worth the investment the first time...

[Big B]

I have a 20 gal. Coleman powermate. it has 1.8 hp (running) and puts out 7 cfm at 40 psi. This is more than enough to run my Iwata LPH 100 for stuff I paint ( helmets, smaller peices). I don't know how it would do for a whole car though. When you run a compressor for too long (if it has to work to hard to keep up with the amount of air your gun is using), you start to get moisture in the tank. Moisture is not your friend. No matter what compressor you get, you should also have a moisture trap to keep the water out of your gun. don't install it right at the compressor, put it down your air hose a bit. When it's all said and done, get the best/biggest compressor you can afford, or save up and get a really nice one. You won't be dissapointed. Another idea would be to get one that will work well for the small stuff and then rent a big one for those big jobs.

[Barf Head]

Thanks so much Big B! thats what i was looking for. (thanks to everybody else too.) Do you by any chance know the model #? (i dont see any 20 gal compressors on coleman's web site) are you by any chance talking about the "Premium VL0551109.01 http://www.buypowermate.com/product.asp?product=VL0551109.01&section=AC"? if not do you think it would work? (it's only $300- i cant afford a $600 compressor)...

[FrogDog]

oh yeah. thats the other thing. can I get away with having a less powerful compressor and a big tank? as in, spraying for 30 sec then waiting a min for the tank to fill up again? do you have any idea how long 60 gal of air will last? Thanks


1 cf = 6.4 gal :tup:

[Barf Head]

big b: actually i found it so dont bother with the link. thanks

[Big B]

Cool. I think the 11 Gal. one would work for your small projects. it just might not have the life of the more expensive one.