Paint droplet size

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PostPosted: Mon Jun 25, 2012 11:30 am
When I am spraying on my practice hood, it seems like my paint droplet size is a bit large, I seem to be doing this with everything, primer, base, and clear. What is the best way to fix this? Tip size, air or fluid adjustment?
I used 1.7 tip for primer, 1.5 tip for base and clear, have air into hvlp gun set at I believe 35-40 psi (since I cant measure at cap).

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PostPosted: Mon Jun 25, 2012 11:57 am
You need to verify the inlet pressure for your gun, some
do require more than that and air pressure would definetly
change the drop size.
I have a gun that takes 45 psi at the inlet and one that
takes 16 psi so they do vary a lot.
And that's measured at the inlet with trigger pulled.
Both are 10 psi at the tip.
JC.

(It's not custom painting-it's custom sanding)

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PostPosted: Mon Jun 25, 2012 2:18 pm
,,,,Tip size
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PostPosted: Mon Jun 25, 2012 4:54 pm
Screw in the fluid control, turn up the air pressure....This will make the droplet size smaller. :) 1.5mm is a bit large for base/clear but "can" work if its dialed in and your gun travel speed is adjusted to your rate of flow (speed up).

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PostPosted: Mon Jun 25, 2012 5:43 pm
A 1.5 is good for clear,,,but to big for base.
"The number of parasites in the USA has now eclipsed the number of productive members of society"


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PostPosted: Mon Jun 25, 2012 11:14 pm
OldDupontGuy wrote:A 1.5 is good for clear,,,but to big for base.

Good if your trying to put out a fire...well at least for me! :rotfl:

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PostPosted: Mon Jun 25, 2012 11:51 pm
If its a dark solid color or even white, I would say 1.5 would "work" but wouldn't be ideal by far.... For clear, hose it on baby! ;) If you're spraying vertical panels, no....1.4 or even 1.3 is much better for fear of sags/runs. Flat laying large panels can take a little thicker coats without worry. 1.3 or 1.4mm tip is much better for all types of base coat colors, better control and atomization.

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PostPosted: Tue Jun 26, 2012 6:00 am
You can spray with a bigger tip size and still get good results, it's all in the gun adjustment.
When I first went to HVLP I sprayed everthing with a 1.8 for a couple of years before
I learned what worked better. I got really good results with that large tip, so I don't believe the tip
size is as important as everyone believes, it's another small piece of the puzzle, but definetly
not a deal breaker. To small is much worse than to big.
If it's a decent gun and you know how to adjust it you can get good results with most
any std tip (within reason).
JC.

(It's not custom painting-it's custom sanding)

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PostPosted: Tue Jun 26, 2012 8:50 am
I agree with most all input at this point. In light of the tools you have at hand I would go with Bobby first. Turn in the fluid adj. half a turn in at a time while practicing after each adjustment.
Never argue with an idiot, he will drag you down to his level and beat you with experience.

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PostPosted: Tue Jun 26, 2012 11:46 am
Just remember, choking down a gun can hurt its performance, and on some it will effect the spray pattern. I was told by a DeVillBiss rep many years ago that you shouldn't choke a gun down. You should change the fluid tip. I always run my guns wide open!
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