Killing time... Paint Project Thread

[BaltimoreGS]

Here's a little diatribe on Harbor Freight stores and different types of paint guns I had with tt_four by PM.  Thankfully he hadn't deleted it yet because I didn't feel like retyping it   

-Jessie


Never, I repeat NEVER, go to a Harbor Freight store!!  You will go in for a screwdriver and walk out with a MIG welder because "it was on sale!"     

In all seriousness, I love those stores.  They are a separate operation from the mail order store and do not carry all the same items.  You do have to have good restraint though or you will walk out with all kinds of things you didn't plan on buying.  That gun link you sent (http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=91009) looks to be a case of "you get what you pay for."  It is a gravity fed gun which in a lot of areas is not legal to use anymore.  It is a variation on the old pressure fed guns with a can on the bottom.  Instead of having the can on the bottom it uses a gravity fed cup on the top.  Those guns have a low transfer efficiency rate meaning most of the paint ends up in the air, not on the piece you are painting.  I believe the technical term is "bounce back."  It shoots out the paint with a lot of force and most of it bounces off the area being painted.  It is something like 30-40% of the paint actualy adheres.  Due to environmental concerns these guns are banned in a lot of areas.

The modern standard in paint guns is called "HVLP" which stands for high volume, low pressure.  It transfers a lot of paint with a low pressure stream and have superior atomization compared to the old style guns.  These guns have a transfer efficiency rate of 70% or higher.  Besides the environmental advantages they also save you money on paint due to the higher efficiency in coverage. They are easier on your air compressor too because it uses a lot less air.  Any gun you trade up to will be of the HVLP variety so I think it would be better to learn on one.

The gun I have is an older version of this one:  http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=66222
The regulator that came on it was pretty cheap and broke but the gun itself worked ok.  If it is not too far out of your way you may want to go to the store and see what they actually carry.  Also sign up for their sale flyers. If it's not on sale this week it will be next week...

[dohabee]

Also a tip regarding Harbor Freight purchases, Tons of magazines have 20% off any 1 item coupons in the back of them.

I find them in popular science, various flying magazines, car and driver, etc..

I always end up with a pile of these and the cashiers will let you ring up each item separately so you can use as many 20% off coupons as you want.

[redhenracing2]

Looking at redhens' post ( http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=50319.0 ) it looks like he used the single stage urethane paint so he would be a good one to give an opinion on its ease to apply and overall durability.  Durability and chemical resistance is a big concern with paint.

Yes, it was a single-stage acrylic urethane. Ease of application? Very easy. Only needed one coat (given, it was rather difficult to get a good thick, wet coat without causing runs) and I didn't even use a clear coat. It looked as good the day I sold it as the day I painted it. As far as I could tell, it was very resistant to drips of gas (unlike rattle-can) and was very durable overall. And from a budget standpoint, it definitely gets my recommendation.

[cyberdork]

I was looking at some tack rags at Sherwin Williams, and noticed they're "bleached". Will this affect anything?

[BaltimoreGS]

I was looking at some tack rags at Sherwin Williams, and noticed they're "bleached". Will this affect anything?

I don't know what "bleached" means so I can't say.  Did you ask an employee?

I use these Crystal brand tack cloths that TCP Global carries:  http://www.tcpglobal.com/autobodydepot/itemdetail.aspx?itemno=CRY+PREM-A  Let me know if you plan on ordering anything from that company.  I want to buy a chip chart from them but I don't want to pay $10 shipping on a $3 chart   

-Jessie

[plurpimpin]

hey just wondering if you got the 2nd base color and clear on yet? looks great so far and i learned alot form reading through your post. thanks for the great writeup  it'll definitely help with my winter project

[Adfalchius]

He's waiting on me to tape out the design on the tank.  I'm finishing up some other projects so I'll start on that soon.  I can't imagine he'd want to paint now, though- 20 degrees F is hardly ideal.

[plurpimpin]

oh ok i got ya