Spray Painting

Spray Painting

Album | Slideshow

Last week we got Carol set up with a compressor and spray gun. She has a project due for a charity auction next week, so it was time to get cracking.

I did a fair bit of research to figure out what to get. I also talked to our friend Matt who has an amazing woodworking shop in his garage (3-car garage with room for 0 cars). There is a "new" spray gun technology called HVLP (high volume, low pressure) that produces far less overspray and is therefore more efficient with paint and also less likely to coat the whole workspace in paint mist. But most HVLP guns require a very high capacity (i.e. expensive) compressor.

I finally figured out that there is a special type of HVLP gun called a "conversion gun" that "converts" a normal compressor for its use. A pretty strange terminology since you don't do anything to the compressor. We bought a Wagner HVLP conversion gun and a "normal" compressor. I chose the Makita MAC2400 because it runs at lower RPM than other models so it's quieter and lasts longer. The cooler temperature also means less condensation in the compressed air. And I like the compact shape because it takes up less room in the garage.

When I was trying to get everything set up I went to Fittings Inc. to get air hoses and the fittings I need to plumb for air from the garage to the studio (so Carol won't have to listen to the compressor while working). I thought air fittings were universal, but no. There are apparently 22 different styles of male fittings! It took two trips, but I got there. Fortunately another customer who was waiting there for his order gave me some good advice - use "universal" female fittings everywhere and then it doesn't matter what type of male fitting you use.

For now we've been painting in the garage. The gun is indeed very efficient with paint. It has a 1-quart canister that we would fill halfway. Putting a coat on the entire table and chair set only used half of that. And there is very little overspray.

The past two nights Carol has been working in her studio painting the details on the table and chairs. I wanted to take a photo of her working there but the camera battery is dead. Next time. She's loving the space. It's heated, has good lighting, and I bought Carol an iPod speaker system for her birthday so she has music to work by.

I'll of course post photos of the table and chair project when it's complete.