Spray guns and compressors - advice needed

rvich

rvich

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I have decided to do my own paint and am exploring options. First, I live in an isolated location, so have the choice of one shop that mixes automotive paint. Over the years I have done a fair amount of business there for various projects and have found reason to argue with much of the advice I have been given. So instead I thought perhaps I could start an argument here.

They are willing to mix the paint and put it into rattle cans. The cost of 4 ounces of paint in a rattle can is around 40 dollars (about 15 of which is for the can). I could probably paint a roadster tank and two side panels easily with two cans. So this is one possibility. Or I can set myself up with a paint gun and compressor.

I presently have a small compressor in the shop that will deliver about 3 cubic feet at 90 pounds of pressure. I am being told that I need twice that volume if I effectively want to run a decent spray gun. My problem is this, first I don't really have space for a larger compressor, nor do I really want to buy one if I don't need it. It seems to me that any project small enough to be painted with a rattle can, should be able to be done with the smaller compressor. The advice I am being given is that I won't be able to deliver enough paint to keep it wet. On a motorcycle tank?

Any advice is welcome, more so if it is any good!

Russ
 
Hi Russ,
Brent Budgor here, The Vintage Vendor in Vermont. I don't claim to have all the answers, but I'd be happy to talk with you and try to answer any questions you have, probably much easier than typing.
You can call me from 8am to 10pm Eastern Time @ 802 485-4238. I'll try to help you in any way I can.
Regards,
Brent
brent@vintage-vendor.com
www.vintage-vendor.com
 
rvich said:
I have decided to do my own paint and am exploring options. First, I live in an isolated location, so have the choice of one shop that mixes automotive paint. Over the years I have done a fair amount of business there for various projects and have found reason to argue with much of the advice I have been given. So instead I thought perhaps I could start an argument here.

They are willing to mix the paint and put it into rattle cans. The cost of 4 ounces of paint in a rattle can is around 40 dollars (about 15 of which is for the can). I could probably paint a roadster tank and two side panels easily with two cans. So this is one possibility. Or I can set myself up with a paint gun and compressor.

I presently have a small compressor in the shop that will deliver about 3 cubic feet at 90 pounds of pressure. I am being told that I need twice that volume if I effectively want to run a decent spray gun. My problem is this, first I don't really have space for a larger compressor, nor do I really want to buy one if I don't need it. It seems to me that any project small enough to be painted with a rattle can, should be able to be done with the smaller compressor. The advice I am being given is that I won't be able to deliver enough paint to keep it wet. On a motorcycle tank?

Any advice is welcome, more so if it is any good!

If you are not wanting to do paintwork on a regular basis, the sensible thing to do is hire equipment needed as and when required. But unless you are already reasonably good at spraying already, it might be better to do all the prep work yourself, and find a pro to do the actual refinishing?

Russ
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I used to do my own painting and got pretty good at it but found that the cost of small quantities of paint became prohibitive. Also I didn't do it frequently enough so any paint I had stored after a job would be no good when I went to use it again. I only used a small compressor like 3 HP and a touchup gun. This was just before the upside down HVLP guns came out. The bigger the better with compressors. As much as I would have liked to continue doing this it just wasn't worth it anymore.

I used to have a young painter from tech school in the local body shop that would listen and understood my needs. He did a great job but these places come and go faster than my projects do. I'm now dealing with a place that does mostly custom work on Harleys and he is excellent, ridiculously cheap, likes old British stuff, and cranks the work right out. This is hard to find among painters. No offense intended Brent! I once waited 2 years for a Norton tank and sidecovers from an "artiste" - more like a ripoff artist. He got me realllll good.

Russ
 
No offense taken Russ. There are plenty of guys out there that do nice work and don't charge an arm and a leg. Hopefully I'm one of them.
Brent
The Vintage Vendor
 
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