Rod Wuetherick on sun 13 feb 05
We just bought a Devilbis HVLP pressure feed system which was insane in cost
in the first place. $585.00 for the gun and another $300.00 for the pressure
pot. To those that may wonder why such an elaborate gun for spraying glazes
we are not using just for glazes. Anyways here is the rub.
I brought in a sample of 2 glazes that I use and my wife's Gesso to run
through a poise cup\viscosity meter to have the gun fitted with proper
needle etc. We also brought in a small canvas and a pot to spray. What a
wonderful experience to spray with this setup. Tried it with the pressure
pot and without, defiantly decided to go with pressure pot - amazing.
Now here is where I got dumb. I brought it back to the studio hooked it up
to my compressor system and it didn't work all that well at all. Looked at
my compressor after talking to the distributor and found my compressor is
only 8 SCFM and I need 18 - 20 SCFM to run my gun. So now we must wait a few
months until we can afford a new compressor. I was going to buy a new
compressor soon anyway but as many of you probably already know a compressor
that has 18-20 SCFM is in the $1800.00 range for a single head and $2400.00
for dual head setups.
So my question to you other HVLP users is, what SCFM are your compressors
running at what PSI? Did you have the needle fit to your spraying needs or
did you just ball park it? Do you thin your glazes down?
I'm not bringing this unit back, even though it will end up being just about
$3000.00 to be totally setup. It will pay for itself very fast. When we were
testing at the distributors I was getting enough glaze on, evenly in one
pass - versus the old siphon feed setup we were using. I would say that this
girl can lay glaze on forms at least 10 times faster at a minimum. It took
sometimes 3-4 passed to get good glaze coats. Overspray and bounce back are
almost negligible.
So anyways could you let me know what setups you have and how they work for
you?
Peace,
Rod
Vince Pitelka on mon 14 feb 05
> We just bought a Devilbis HVLP pressure feed system which was insane in
> cost
> in the first place. $585.00 for the gun and another $300.00 for the
> pressure
> pot. To those that may wonder why such an elaborate gun for spraying
> glazes
> we are not using just for glazes. Anyways here is the rub.
Rod -
I am curious why you didn't buy a true turbine-driven HVLP system instead of
a conversion gun that runs on an air compressor. For what you spent, you
could have gotten a good turbine system that needs no air compressor.
- Vince
Vince Pitelka
Appalachian Center for Craft, Tennessee Technological University
Smithville TN 37166, 615/597-6801 x111
vpitelka@dtccom.net, wpitelka@tntech.edu
http://iweb.tntech.edu/wpitelka/
http://www.tntech.edu/craftcenter/
pdp1@EARTHLINK.NET on mon 14 feb 05
Hi Rod,
If you need a larger capacity Compressor...
Check your local Newspaper's want-ads over the next few
weeks...and or cruise the alleys and so on looking for
disused ones inside of fences or at the backs of COmmercial
Buildings, where you can go around front and ask them about
it.
Find a nice used one, for one-tenth the cost, change the Oil
if you want, care for it, and use it for the next several
decades.
I had a real nice 85 CFM @ 150ish, 3 cyl Ingersoll Rand, 4
cyl. Side-Valve Walkesha powered outfit, but I sold it
recently oweing to my Moveing plans. I paid $250.00 for it,
it was made in 1940, ran fine, nothing wrong with it, and a
new one is what, 20 grand or something? And the new ones are
really stupid looking on top of that...I would be embarassed
to be seen with a new one they look so bad now.
Long as it works fine when you go out to kick tires, it will
work fine for a long, long, long time to come.
Keep the Tank free of accrued condensations...let it blow
itself out the drain plug or petcock now and then...
...and be a happy boy...
I got my 1928 "Curtis" 12 CFM of 120 psi (@400 RPM) Single
Stage for $35.00 some years ago, and have not finished it up
yet as for paint and details, but, if you really DO feel you
want a new one, do look into the "Curtis' brand...they
(still) run 'slow', and are well made, and like anyone
else's, no matter what they tell you ( look at, read their
specs) the basic specs as for effeciency have not changed in
75 or 80 years or so. Stay away from the ones that run fast
or are not Cast Iron. They are junk, and usually, 'noisy'.
I am surprised you need SO much Air...
I have run a Paint Gun a few times over the years, and at 18
lbs thereabouts, and on a little tiny old Compressor whose
Cylinder would fit in a Coffee-cup...and I had all the air a
boy cold want to get LOTS of Paint on whatever Car or
Machinery or other I was Painting...I mean all the Paint a
boy could want, too, getting delivered...uh-puh-lenty...
18 - 20 CFM sounds like a lot of Air...I mean, you gotta let
up on that trigger once in a while don't you?
Lol...
Too, the size of one's Tank, as for reserve, is
important...and, if one wants, one can get an ample sized
Tank or Tanks, and have a smaller Compressor that can fill
them at liesure, for intermittant uses of Air which the
Compressor itself might not be able to keep up with
otherwise.
Good luck..!
Phil
el ve
----- Original Message -----
From: "Rod Wuetherick"
<<<<<<>>>>>>
< I was going to buy a new
> compressor soon anyway but as many of you probably already
know a compressor
> that has 18-20 SCFM is in the $1800.00 range for a single
head and $2400.00
> for dual head setups.
Tarrant, Derek on mon 14 feb 05
-----Original Message-----
From: Clayart [mailto:CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG] On Behalf Of Rod Wuetherick:
"I was going to buy a new compressor soon anyway but as many of you probably
already know a compressor that has 18-20 SCFM is in the $1800.00 range for a
single head and $2400.00 for dual head setups."
Dear Rod,
HVLP as you know means High Volume Low Pressure.
Normally operated traditional small compressors won't work unassisted.
However, consider getting a LARGE pressure vessel, old Bulk LPG tank for
example and use it as a reservoir.
Set your small compressor up to pump this ONLY to the level needed by the
HVLP gun (say 20 psi) and check the allowable max pressure on the tank as an
additional safety measure. This can be quite cheap and will allow you to
spray for quite a while before the air pressure drops too low.
Unless you are spraying for a large amount of time your small compressor can
catch up in the down time.
Regards,
Derek in Weaverville, NC
Vince Pitelka on thu 17 feb 05
> Do you use a turbine at the art centre or compressed air? I'm suspecting
> at
> the art centre you would have a very large centralized compressor with
> feeds
> running via copper to all your work areas? That being said 18-20sCFM
> wouldn't be a problem for you.
Rod -
Yes, there is compressed air plumbed throughout the Craft Center studios,
and we do our spraying in a big DeVilbiss industrial spraybooth. But
several of my students have purchased small turbine HVLP systems, and they
work very well. I have used the HVLP conversion guns, and I like the
results, but in general, but the transfer rate is higher with a true HVLP
turbine system.
- Vince
Vince Pitelka
Appalachian Center for Craft, Tennessee Technological University
Smithville TN 37166, 615/597-6801 x111
vpitelka@dtccom.net, wpitelka@tntech.edu
http://iweb.tntech.edu/wpitelka/
http://www.tntech.edu/craftcenter/
Rod Wuetherick on thu 17 feb 05
Vince,
For many people and probably in most cases your question leads to definite
good advice. I actually priced out some turbine systems. With my situation
though we have many tools in the studio which are air driven; extruder,
grinders, sanders, brad nailers, etc. What was prompting me to buy a larger
compressor (before HVLP) is stone; air chisels etc. as I have these tools as
well. So the compressor is justified by the dependence of our investment in
existing tools.
Though defiantly if someone was thinking of purchasing a HVLP system and
didn't have a need for a large compressor then going the turbine route would
defiantly be the prudent choice cost wise. In addition if having 220 power
is a problem, portability etc. are at issue as well then the turbine system
wins again as they are all as far as I know regular 120, 15-20amp (or
thereabouts.)
Defiantly something to think about if one is thinking of investing in HVLP.
Do you use a turbine at the art centre or compressed air? I'm suspecting at
the art centre you would have a very large centralized compressor with feeds
running via copper to all your work areas? That being said 18-20sCFM
wouldn't be a problem for you.
I'm still interested in hearing what sCFM's people have had success with.
Peace,
Rod
> Rod -
> I am curious why you didn't buy a true turbine-driven HVLP system instead
of
> a conversion gun that runs on an air compressor. For what you spent, you
> could have gotten a good turbine system that needs no air compressor.
> - Vince
baxleypottery@netzero.net on thu 17 feb 05
For those that are interested,
www.harborfreight.com has a standard plug in 25 gallon air compressor for $150.00 plus free shipping. The auto touch up gun is $25.00. Total is less than $200.00 and you are good to go. I love my set up from harbor freight. I set my compressor at 40psi.
Cheers,
Michael
www.baxleypottery.com
Kansas City USA
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