IM A NOOB, NEED RECOMMENDATIONS ABOUT COMPRESSOR

[bjtkilla]

I HAVE A CENTRAL PNEUMATIC 1/8 HP COMPRESSOR. I AM GOING TO PAINT THE FAIRINGS ON MY MOTORCYCLE AND AM WONDERING IF THIS COMPRESSOR IS BIG ENOUGH TO USE A SPRAY GUN? THANKS.

[Bahamut]

I would have to say no... I recomend at least a 2hp 8 gal compressor for running a small gun. 5hp 30 gal for any kind of larger HVLP spray guns.

[hairbag]

its all about the cfm "cubic feet of air per minute" the horse power is irrellevant since some compressor motors are far more efficient than others thus put out alot more cfm. i think most spray guns(iwata's anyway) recommend you use about 50psi at the regulator and 10psi at the spray tip for most automotive paint. when run through a standard airhose it transaltes into about 1.2 cfm. but higher hp does mean greater cfm.

i just bought myself a small pressure pot sand blasting unit (95$ on ebay)for doing bike tanks and fenders and it operates at 60-125 psi and requires a minimum of 6 cfm - 20 cfm to work properly. so now i seriously need to upgrade my compressor.

its all about the cfm, noise is a big factor too especially if your going to be using it alot.

[bjtkilla]

u guys are awesome, thanks a lot!

[bjtkilla]

Originally Posted by Bahamut

I would have to say no... I recomend at least a 2hp 8 gal compressor for running a small gun. 5hp 30 gal for any kind of larger HVLP spray guns.

what exactly qualifies as a "small gun".
i dont have the money for a 5hp 30 gal
and the largest thing i plan to pain (at this point) is a motorcycle fairing.
if i upgrade to the 2hp would i be ok to paint with my gun, bought it from harbor freight and these are the specs:


20 OZ. GRAVITY FEED SPRAY GUN

* Best mix of paint and air pressure
* Uses most oil based paints
* Adjustable fan pattern and volume control
* Includes cleaning kit, wrench and barbed inlet fitting

Required air supply: 1-3 HP compressor; Required air pressure: 50-60 PSI; Air consumption: 5 CFM; Nozzle size: 1.4mm; Cup capacity: 20 oz.; Air inlet: 1/4''-18 NPS; Overall dimensions: 13-1/8'' H x 6-5/8'' L x 4'' D; Weight:: 1.5 lbs.

[bjtkilla]

for an air compressor, when it says "gallons", is that gallons of compressed air it will hold before it has to refill again? and if a tank is refilling, should i not paint while its doing this?

[redneck]

Originally Posted by bjtkilla

for an air compressor, when it says "gallons", is that gallons of compressed air it will hold before it has to refill again? and if a tank is refilling, should i not paint while its doing this?

the amount of gallons that the tank holds is at the time when the compressor shuts off at the max. pressure, when PSI drop to a preset limit it will turn back on

[Bahamut]

Sounds like you're using a conventional nozzle setup on the gravity feed gun you have. In that case a 2hp would be plenty for painting small things like fairings for bikes and such. Keep in mind what hairbag said earlier in this thread. It's all about CFM. With the Conventional tip you will be using MUCH less CFM than a HVLP model gun (HVLP = High Volume Low Pressure). HVLP guns use a high volume of air at low pressure to atomize the paint as opposed to conventional models that use just use high pressure, this helps avoid bounce back and overspray. Anyway to make a long explanation short... your gun should work fine with at 2 hp compressor. As for gallons the compressor holds... The tank is just a buffer for your compressor. It fills the tank to max pressure then shuts off. This insures that you get steady pressure all the time. As for using the air in the tank while the compressor is going, that's fine also. So long as you aren't using the air up faster than the compressor can fill the tank back up. I usually try to keep my compressor from running for more than 2 minutes at a time. Otherwise it gets hot and could seize up on you. I hope this makes some sense to you.

[birichino]

killa,

Have you thought of renting? Not a good long-term solution but still an option.

Another option is Craiglist, I got my 30 gal monster air compressor there. I would check it out, I saved major skrilla by buying used. Of course I just used the money I saved on supplies

Good luck bro,

[bjtkilla]

I FOUND A 5HP compressor, 150 PSI, 20 gallon TANK!

-It needs connecting rod kit.
-Missing shroud, cable, and quick-release coupler

if i buy this stuff, is it a cheap and easy fix or is it complicated and expensive?

[birichino]

I would find a local pro/mechanic, or call the manufacturer to see how much or if it is even repairable. That will help you see if the invetment is worth it or not.