High Flow Fittings?

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PostPosted: Thu Oct 07, 2021 1:56 pm
Hi Guys,

Quick question about High flow fittings for my application. Currently using a 5hp/20 gal. compressor with a 3/8" hose (25') and standard fittings. I know the compressor is very small but at present, I am only shooting motorcycle fenders and tanks. I'm getting as good or better than OEM finishes and when I cut and buff, I get it glass smooth,

So, my question is, would I benefit from high flow fittings for what I am doing right now? I will be upgrading to a real compressor within the year but for now, I am making it work for what I am doing. Thoughts??



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PostPosted: Fri Oct 08, 2021 9:16 am
Rebel Racing wrote:Hi Guys,

Quick question about High flow fittings for my application. Currently using a 5hp/20 gal. compressor with a 3/8" hose (25') and standard fittings. I know the compressor is very small but at present, I am only shooting motorcycle fenders and tanks. I'm getting as good or better than OEM finishes and when I cut and buff, I get it glass smooth,

So, my question is, would I benefit from high flow fittings for what I am doing right now? I will be upgrading to a real compressor within the year but for now, I am making it work for what I am doing. Thoughts??


Todays Guns are are designed to be used with Hiflo fittings.
If your not using them your starving your gun of airflow.

HP ratings and Tank size are worthless measurements of a compressor, Its CFM ratings of the Pump it self that matter.

All that said if your tank is really only 20 gal You will not have enough volume of air to run your paint gun with Hi flow fittings IF your Pump provides less than the required CFM requirement of the Gun.
BUT IF you have say a 14-18 cfm pump or bigger and a 5 hp motor on a 20 gal Tank sure it would work. Tank size doesn't really matter its what your pump can put out that matters.
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Line Maintenance A&P Mechanic and MOC Tech specialist.

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PostPosted: Fri Oct 08, 2021 10:37 am
With respect to Dennis, I disagree on the tank size not mattering.

As he accurately pointed out CFM ratings are the critical aspect, however if your tank is too small the compressor will run constantly. This creates heat which creates moisture and unless you have a refrigerated air drier you will end up with moisture in your lines.
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PostPosted: Fri Oct 08, 2021 11:34 am
Thanks Guys, it sounds like adding high flow fittings would only make things worse considering my current compressor situation. Like I mentioned, I am only doing tanks and fenders and so far, they come out great--despite the compressor.

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PostPosted: Fri Oct 08, 2021 1:52 pm
Your gun will not spray at it's best if it doesn't get enough CFM.
If you don't want to go to new fittings, just run high pressure (like 70 to 80 psi)
to the gun and regulate down at the gun.
That higher pressure will overcome the smaller fittings problem
JC.

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

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PostPosted: Sun Oct 17, 2021 10:11 am
With respect to the posts above, the last thing you want to do is run 80 psi to a gun and choke it down at the gun.

hi flow fittings or no high flow fitting the absolute best way to spray is with the gun wide open and regulate at the wall.
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PostPosted: Sun Oct 17, 2021 11:15 am
PainterDave wrote:With respect to the posts above, the last thing you want to do is run 80 psi to a gun and choke it down at the gun.

hi flow fittings or no high flow fitting the absolute best way to spray is with the gun wide open and regulate at the wall.


I started doing this about two years ago and it seems to work just fine. In fact, now I do not have to worry about accidentally bumping the adjustment at the gun while spraying.

I put a gauge on the gun, open the gun regulator full open and then while holding the trigger full open I adjust the pressure at the wall regulator. I then make a note of the pressure at the wall so I don't need to put the gauge back on the gun each time.

This also gives me better access to tighter locations as the gun doesn't have the gauge attached to it while spraying.
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PostPosted: Sun Oct 17, 2021 2:42 pm
A lot of painters choke high pressure down at the gun, I don't.
But I don't see anything wrong with it.
I have high flow fittings, I regulate at the wall until I get
the right pressure at the gun using one of these home made removeable
pressure gages. Then I remove the gage from the gun before spraying.

DSC02762.JPG
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PostPosted: Sun Oct 17, 2021 4:11 pm
JCCLARK wrote:A lot of painters choke high pressure down at the gun, I don't.
But I don't see anything wrong with it.
I have high flow fittings, I regulate at the wall until I get
the right pressure at the gun using one of these home made removeable
pressure gages. Then I remove the gage from the gun before spraying.

DSC02762.JPG



when you choke the gun down you change the air going through the gun from CFM to Pressure, (a nice smooth air flow vs air speeding though the tiny hole you choked down, basically the air don't act real well inside the spray gun) this will/could effect transfer efficiency and the biggest draw back is it does for a fact effect atomization.

you will create more air turbulence inside and outside the gun by choking it down.
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PostPosted: Sun Oct 17, 2021 4:16 pm
JCCLARK wrote:A lot of painters choke high pressure down at the gun, I don't.
But I don't see anything wrong with it.
I have high flow fittings, I regulate at the wall until I get
the right pressure at the gun using one of these home made removeable
pressure gages. Then I remove the gage from the gun before spraying.

DSC02762.JPG



you should be able to figure out how many psi you lose from wall to gun, in one booth where i run nitrogen i have heating elements inside the 1/2 ID 40' hose, so i lose about 20 psi from machine to gun.

my 3 stage SATA filter hose i lose about 10 psi from wall to gun.

hose length, ID of hose will all effect this number.

also 50 psi at the wall gives me

31 psi sata 5500
36 psi sata 5000
and i forget what my 4000 psi is.


but i do like the way you think buddy
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