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HVLP material thinning

33K views 18 replies 10 participants last post by  CApainter 
#1 ·
Just got my first HVLP - Graco 9.0 4-stage turbine. Totally used to airless & not having to thin my product. For those of you that spray with an HVLP, what needle size do you typically use for oil enamels and how much do you thin them? Do you use straight thinner, or Penetrol as well? Thanks for the help.
 
#2 ·

Percent Smallest Unit Projector Set Projector Set
Material Reduction Recommended Recommended Orifice Size (in.)​
Pro Mar 200 10-15% 9100 4 to 5 .070 to .086
Pro Mar 400 10-15% 9100 4 to 5 .070 to .086
Super Paint 5-15% 8100 3 to 4 .051 to .070
Classic 99 5-15% 9100 3 to 4 .051 to .070
Ceiling Paint 5-10% 5100 3 to 4 .051 to .070
DTM Water Base 0-5% 5100 3 to 4 .051 to .070
Acrylic
Chem Lack 2-4% 9100 3 to 4 .051 to .070
Metal Latex 5-10% 9100 4 to 5 .070 to .086
Style Perfect 10-15% 8100 3 to 4 051 to .070
Classic 99 Alkyd 5-15% 5100 3 to 4 .051 to .070
Industrial Enamel 5-15% 5100 3 to 4 .051 to .070
Quick Dry 5-15% 5100 3 to 4 .051 to .070
Enamel
DTM Alkyd 2-5% 5100 3 to 4 .051 to .070
Polane Mfg. Rec. 5100 2 to 3 .031 to .051
Water Base Epoxy 5% 9100 3 to 4 .051 to .070
Nitrocellulous Mfg. Rec. 5100 2 to 3 .031 to .051
Lacquer
Opex Production 10% 5100 3 to 4 .051 to .070
Lacquer
Water White 10% 5100 3 to 4 .051 to .070
Lacquer
Multi Spec 0% 8100 4 to 5 .070 to .086
Tile Clad 10-15% 9100 4 to 5 .070 to .086
Polyurethane 0% 5100 3 to 4 .051 to .070
Sealer​
0% 5100 3 to 4 .051 to .070
Latex Primer 5-10% 5100 3 to 4 .051 to .070

Incredicoat 5-10% 8100 3 to 4 .051 to .070
 
#6 ·
If having several projector sets are not in the budget. Investment in a Ford or Zahn cup to determine relative viscosity when reducing paints and coatings is relatively inexpensive.

Some materials are more thixotropic than others. Also some reducers especially aliphatics and aromatics react differently with alkyd paints.

Best Bet IMO is to take that new rig outside, fill the pot or cup with water and practice manipulating the controls while watering the flowers at the same time.
 
#7 ·
New HVLP - orange peel finish

Trying out my new Graco 9.0, 4 stage HVLP on some old furniture. Using BM Satin Impervo alkyd, #4 fluid set (1.8 mm). I thinned the paint by 10% w/mineral spirits and also added 5% penetrol. Still getting an orange peel finish. Any suggestions? Thanks.
 
#8 ·
Trying out my new Graco 9.0, 4 stage HVLP on some old furniture. Using BM Satin Impervo alkyd, #4 fluid set (1.8 mm). I thinned the paint by 10% w/mineral spirits and also added 5% penetrol. Still getting an orange peel finish. Any suggestions? Thanks.
This is why i like spraying waterbornes, acrylic, and latex so much better than oil. Even with a 1.4 mm tip it lays out smooth.

Also, there is no replacement for a large air tank with a good compressor. I use a 25 gallon portable compressor. So much better.
 
#10 ·
Oil lays down great, but drys no where nears as fast. My favorite material to spray HVLP is Aura satin. Lays out like glass and drys hard.
Don't get me wrong, oil levels great, but I can get waterborne stuff to look just as good. It just takes a little fine tuning and adjusting.
 
#12 · (Edited)
Consider the physics of the rig. High volume-Low pressure= larger droplets.

Turbines generate heat=faster evaporation of reducers.

Plain old unfamilialarity with new rig.

Adding of Penetrol? Why? BM's alkyd Satin Impervo should lay out flat as a cake after a 4.0 Richter quake.

BM has tech sheets on all products on the website. Many times paint clerks give out bogus information.

Look at it this way. Car and bike painters use HVLP almost exclusively anymore. They have to be doing something right.

If none of this works out, do what some others have done and use the turbine for a really upscale, outdo the neigbors, hair dryer.
 
#13 ·
Consider the physics of the rig. High volume-Low pressure= larger droplets.

good call

Turbines generate heat=faster evaporation of reducers.

true

Plain old unfamilialarity with new rig.

that will do it
Adding of Penetrol? Why? BM's alkyd Satin Impervo should lay out flat as a cake after a 4.0 Richter quake.

maybe

BM has tech sheets on all products on the website. Many times paint clerks give out bogus information.
thats true

Look at it this way. Car and bike painters use HVLP almost exclusively anymore. They have to be doing something right.

Yep, except automotive refinishing techs get training every year and have formulas to follow, as far as calibration (gettin dialed in) reducers, extenders, etc. Us painters sometimes don't get a proper training in using equipment with the different finishes we may want to use! (maybe thats something union painters get in those classes they got to take?)
If none of this works out, do what some others have done and use the turbine for a really upscale, outdo the neigbors, hair dryer.
anyways.
 
#16 ·
The old learning curve..

Paint stores have demo nights for contractors. I went to take a look at my first HVLP demo, a precursor to Cap Spray. Single stage turbine with a shoulder strap, the gun was basically advanced Kirby vacuum cleaner. The hose was stiff, Looks like Tygon.. I bought the demo from the rep and he tossed in a whip.

First time out I am going to paint a door on a garage for good customer. I put the whip on the wrong end attaching it to the outlet on the turbine.

Melted it..

Still have the unit and the rebuild kits from Cap Spray work on that old rig. Hook up a long extension cord on that sucker and rough cut casing and sash with it.

Modified took an old needle from one of those Taiwanese knockoffs of a DeVilbiss sawed it off to fit lengthwise and had it machined to make the gun spatter.
 
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