Official Luthiers Forum!

I am looking at investing in a system for spraying finishes. What should I be considering?
Any good resources for reading/researching what's needed? Pictures of your setup? Just trying to get the information needed to move forward.

Any help is appreciated!
Mark

I posted a reply, but on reading your post, perhaps better to ask you a few things first.
Budget? Space available? (thinking turbine HVLP or compressor air system/spray booth)
Completely new to spraying I take it?

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The name catgut is confusing. There are two explanations for the mix up.

Catgut is an abbreviation of the word cattle gut. Gut strings are made from sheep or goat intestines, in the past even from horse, mule or donkey intestines.

Otherwise it could be from the word kitgut or kitstring. Kit meant fiddle, not kitten.

Also what type of finishes are you looking to spray, water born or solvent? Do you already have air?

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Brian

You never know what you are capable of until you actually try.

https://www.howardguitarsdelaware.com/

Colin, Todd and Brian, thanks for replies.

Yes, will be completely new to spraying finishes. Have been doing french polish on the 3 guitars that I've made to date. I like FP, but am wanting to learn to lay down something with more gloss and tougher finish.....

I do not currently have an air compressor but have the space for one and a spray booth or area. I love the durability of the nitro finishes on the guitars that I own but am a little leary about spraying that around my house. But would like to hear the understanding of folks that are doing nitro. Have had bad experience owning one guitar w/a water-based lacquer finish....
Once setup though, will probably want to try out the PolyWhey product that some on here are working with.

Colin as far as budget, I'm willing to invest what's needed to get the job done but not really looking to spend thousands.... Could probably swing a couple of thousand to get fully setup if needed.

Todd, I've looked at quite a few of the HVLP posts and it sounds interesting. I'm just looking for some more basic info on what's needed? Booth? Exhaust system? etc. Basically looking for a resource that lays out the whole system requirements....

Thanks for your help!
Mark

Maybe someone can help me adjust to using HVLP.

I have no problems with th compressor systems, g,et good results but I don't like the overspray.

I got the 3 stage HVLP Fuji system with the XPC gun, gravity feed, and here's my problem.

Bubbles. All over. Little teeny tiny ones.

I check the viscosity with the cup thing it came with but it still bubbles.

I think I may be spraying too close, but I got sick of spraying and sanding it all off so I've just been using the Preval sprayers for my last few guitars since I don't feel like driving over to my friend's spray booth, and they're getting busier anyway.

What's the deal?

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Old growth, shmold growth!

Hijack!!!!-
Wot ja sprayin'?
Got anythink extra in it?

_________________
The name catgut is confusing. There are two explanations for the mix up.

Catgut is an abbreviation of the word cattle gut. Gut strings are made from sheep or goat intestines, in the past even from horse, mule or donkey intestines.

Otherwise it could be from the word kitgut or kitstring. Kit meant fiddle, not kitten.

I use an Iwata LPH-300 w/Devilbiss pressure regulator at the gun, run straight from my compressor. I have a filter/water trap, but I've never actually used it. The end result has always been good.

I use the 3M PPS system, and bought my starter kit from Rockler.

I'm very happy with a Walcom EGO HVLP gun that runs from the compressor. I'm also using the 3M PPS system.

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Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"

I use an Iwata LPH-300 w/Devilbiss pressure regulator at the gun, run straight from my compressor. I have a filter/water trap, but I've never actually used it. The end result has always been good.

I use the 3M PPS system, and bought my starter kit from Rockler.

I've recently started spraying water-based lacquer (after brushing/wiping on finishes) using a 3 stage Fuji turbine with the Fuji XPC gun (1.0 mm nozzle and gravity cup) and the whip hose.
I used to spray (industrial) for a living, more moons ago than I care to remember, anything from small batches of components to trucks with top end spraying equipment, and I have found the Fuji system excellent.

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The name catgut is confusing. There are two explanations for the mix up.

Catgut is an abbreviation of the word cattle gut. Gut strings are made from sheep or goat intestines, in the past even from horse, mule or donkey intestines.

Otherwise it could be from the word kitgut or kitstring. Kit meant fiddle, not kitten.

What type of finish? What type of environment? sounds like it may be solvent pops.

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Brian

You never know what you are capable of until you actually try.

https://www.howardguitarsdelaware.com/

Back on topic, I use both a turbine and and air system. Both have advantages and drawbacks. Being a bit old school I prefer the air set up. For a long time after my speedaire gun wore out I used cheap HF guns and got decent results, and at $20 each they were disposable. I didn't clean them , I would use them for a finish or three and toss em. Since setting up to provide more finishing for other shops and makers I have purchased a Devilbiss SRI pro gun, set up with the new trans-tech cap and I love it. Best gun I have ever used. But I have plenty of air on tap here. Turbines are nice because they are small and self contained, but they are noisy and the hose can be more difficult to move around with. Have used an Apollo for years with great service and results, my apprentice has a Fuji which is very nice also.

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Brian

You never know what you are capable of until you actually try.

https://www.howardguitarsdelaware.com/

Folks,
Thanks for the info! Sounds like for my needs I'll look closely at the HVLP Turbine systems and build me a "knock down" booth in the next couple of weeks. I appreciate the info....

Mark

Hey all,
I am new to this forum. I am building my first prototype guitat (electric) Anyways I noticed the thread was on finish systems and I felt I would share my limited experience. I do not have a big compressor. A simple one that I paid under 200 for. When I bought it I was unaware of the cfs requirements of HVLP, which I would not be able to successfully use. I ended up purchasing a LVLP spray gun from grizzley with a 1.5mm tip. I thinned the varnish (yes I could not get my hand on any nitro or precat so I am experimenting with ACE spar varnish, I don't think its a true marine varnish...seems quite durable.) anyways I am very pleased with the results that I have gotten so far. I am just about to level it off for the first time. I did some minor sanding between coats....and I am just getting the hang of the gun so I know things will be better in the future with practice. Any ways I am on coat 6 all together. I do 2 coats a day....actually they are hot coats because it takes about a day to dry....and on day 6..after I level it off I plan on just doing a thin coat every day for about 7 days...or until I get the results I like....I am new to all this...so any feedback and advice I would appreciate...I know the varnish will urk a lot of people...but I did not like the way poly-acrylates were coming out....and I looked and looked for a pre-cat....(I am trying to stay away from nitro)....but I was unable to get any in small quantities....the smallest they had was 5 gallons....so far I am very pleased with the varnish..but I have to see how it finally cures and the durability of it....I am about to start building some more of various designs...I love building them.if I don't sell them I will have a huge collection lol....and after 30 years of playing, I think I have learned more about the guitar since I began this hobby, than in the time that I have played.

Steve

If you are thinking pre-cat, nitro is easier. Pre-cat is even more unhealthy, all the solvents plus the crosslinkers and acid.

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Brian

You never know what you are capable of until you actually try.

https://www.howardguitarsdelaware.com/

I'm guess solvent popping is not the issue...if you can spray with a preval and not have that issue, I'm assuming you've got things basically under control...

from experience, my guess is that air is being allowed into your fluid mixture in your gun...i.e. you have a bad seal(s) inside of it and it needs to be rebuilt...had a brand new gun that did this and finally after trying everything I got nasty with the retailer and he finally inspected it and found dried out bad seals in the gun...!@#$%^&*((*&^%...sprayed like a dream after that...Binks Mach1-SL run through a pressure pot

thanks Howard. The more I read about laquaers the more confused I get...lol....The more I read they say one product is really bad, then they bann it...then they replace it with nasty stuff....then they say the original stuff isnt that bad but they say not to spray it so they comply with envioro issues....man...I really appreciate you openning my eyes...I would have probally killed myself with that stuff....I think I will finih up the varnish for now then look into nitro for the future...I know I can mail order but was looking for some place local to beat the shipping charges....I was concerned how much would I need bt from what I am estimating with my LVLP gun one gallon will probally be enough for like 8 guitars....anyone have any finishing tricks that they may want to share

Thanks

I just bought the DeVilbiss SRI Pro too (Same as Brian in a previous post) GREAT gun with a good selection of cups available, including the D-Cups disposable system. I love my new gun!