Elegant Entry Divider - Wood Tools

6Gluesfions
6(ANSWERS
the bosics of
SPRAY FINISHING
I'ue always appliedfnish by brushing or wiping it on, but I'd lilee
to try spraying. Does spraying ffir any aduantages, and what
equipment will I need to get started?
A You con ochieve professionol-looking sproy finishes
DauidValish in your shop with either point or cleor topcoots by
Schuyler, NE using o high-volume, low-pressure (HVLP) sproyer.
The main advantage
of spraying is speed.
Plus, spraying lays
down a smooth finish thatt
free of brush marks.
Ifthese benefits appeal to
you, then you first need to
transfer eficiency (how much
coating reaches the surface) as
low as 20 to 45 percent.That
means 55 to 80 percent ofthe
finish you spray bounces off
as overspray. These sprayers
cost as little as $25.
(middle left). It comes with a
regulator that lets you reduce
the pressure at the gun. (The
gun shown is a "gravity-feed"
version with the cup on top.
"Siphon feed" models have a
cup on the bottom.) These
choose the right sprayer. A11 HVLP Sprayers - Highvolume,
usually cost $50 or more.
fall into one of two categories:
standard, or high-volume,
Iow-pressure (HVLP).
Iow-pressure (HVLP)
sprayers, on the other hand,
deliver a high volume of air
Another option is to use
an HVLP rurbine (bottomleft).
It produces airflow using an
Standard Sprayers - A and coating at low pressure integral fan instead of an air
standard spray gun (top left)
draws from an air compressor
and sprays out air and coating
material (paint or finish) at
high pressure (up to 80 psi).
Standard sprayen, though, have
(15 to 50 psi).This yields a
transfer efficiency of 75 to 90
percent (see lllustration below).
Ifyou already have an air
comPressor, you can get an
HVLP "conversion" sprayer
compressor. Most turbines are
designed for professionals and
cost $250 to $1,000. But the
Fine Spray from'Wagner sells
for less than $125. Learn more
at WagnerSprayTech. com
HVLP Turbine System
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woRKBENcH ft FEBRUARY 2005