1st. timer...LVLP or HVLP?

Tom Bond · Jul 16, 2017

Going to do my 1st. tractor paint on my 961. Tin was done by previous owner so the rest is up to me. I understand the prep is the biggest of the job and will do what needs to be done. My question is....LVLP or HVLP sprayer? Not going to do many jobs with it. The tractor and maybe a trailer here and there. My compressor is rated at 6 cfm @ 90 psi so what I'm reading is a LVLP sprayer is what it can handle. But..If the psi at sprayer is 30-40# on a HVLP sprayer, would I have enough CFM with my 2 HP compressor? Or do I go with the LVLP sprayer to be safe? Not really sure with all the articles I've read. Want to make sure it will spray the required primer and paint needed. Which brings me to tip sizes. What would be the best size for my application? Sorry for all the questions, but like I say, I'm a newbie to this and want to try to get it right. Thank you!

ptfarmer · Jul 16, 2017

HVLP, this is the gun I used on my two tractors https://www.harborfreight.com/20-oz-8-cfm-gravity-feed-spray-gun-67181.html

Stephen Newell · Jul 16, 2017

I don't care for the HVLP sprayers. They seem to spray more air than paint. The size of the tip really depends on the viscosity of the paint you are using. For primer you might use a 1.8mm tip. If you are using an alkyd enamel for the topcoat a 1.8mm tip will work for that also. Some automotive paints are thin as water. It would be easier to spray thin paint with a smaller tip. A smaller tip such as a 1.4mm would spray the thin paint in a finer mist which would lay out better. Using a smaller tip with a thicker paint such as an alkyd enamel would cause you to over-thin the paint giving you bad results so you need to match the tip size with the paint or you can spray everything with a larger tip but it may take you a great deal of practice to get the results you want. Myself I spray anything from tractors to fine furniture with a cheap harbor freight 97855 siphon sprayer with a 1.8mm tip.

ptfarmer · Jul 16, 2017

(quoted from post at 20:14:44 07/16/17) HVLP, this is the gun I used on my two tractors https://www.harborfreight.com/20-oz-8-cfm-gravity-feed-spray-gun-67181.html

Here's one of them (with the HVLP you loose less paint to over spray than the old siphon gun, the HVLP uses less cfm also).

1st. timer...LVLP or HVLP?

Tom Bond

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ptfarmer

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Stephen Newell

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ptfarmer

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