Eyger

When you're painting, do you pull off the material at the end of your stroke, when changing direction?

For example: (try to imagine the diagram as a paint stroke from left to right)

air on----material on----paint paint paint paint paint paint----material off----air still on.

Then back and fourth.

Does that make sense?

I've always been taught to let go of the trigger to stop spraying paint, but still hold it down just enough to have air coming out. What's supposed to be the 'correct' way?

shocker911

i always release the trigger at the end of the stroke

so i do

pull trigger paint paint paint paint paint paint release trigger

Eyger

right so you leave the air on right?

kmt63

yea you leave the air on at the end of each stroke so you dont get an uneven spot when you pull the trigger again.

precisionsc54

Exactly what he said

h22ej8

i usually get the material going, and leave material spraying just a touch past the panel as well, not sure if that was also part of what you were describing?

j_bizach

Leave paint on the second it takes to go to the next line isnt worth pulling off the trigger plus pulling off the trigger can cause you to end paint early or start paint late giving you thin spots on the edges. Guess its just the way i was taught i know guys who do it different.

Eyger

That's interesting. I feel like I get mixed information from people, and I have a feeling it's just a personal preference. I was under the impression that you can "save" material by letting off of it at the end of the stroke, so you don't go spraying paint into the air on to nothing.

Cool.

92cxturbo

everyone has a different techinque

kmt63

if i paint a small part i always just leave the paint spraying.but when im doing larger panels i run off the end and let off leaving the air on then before i get to the edge i start the paint again.it was how i was tought to do it by a pro painter.its not a big deal to just leave it spraying too.i dont think you would save alot of paint.

MoreBoost!

x2

Eyger

I think you could save a good amount of material, if you let up off the paint after every stroke, especially when some of these paints cost tons of money.

Additionally, I thought that when you leave the paint on you have the possibility of getting more specks of paint on a different panel that you already painted, contributing to orange peel.

Some interesting feedback. Again, I think it's personal preference.

92cxturbo

If your paint dries too fast and your in a crapy booth then yeah that could happen. The best way is to NOT paint by panel, if you have the abilty to go long distances.(whole side of car) Either way if your paint is dry'n before get you around the whole car you gonna have extra orange peal from no flow and possibly even dieback

candyman206

staying on air at end of each pass lessens the chance of splatter too

Eyger

Interesting. Do you think that the paint should still be wet when you get back to where you started? I've always been taught to lead with a wet edge, but come to think of it, was never told how to finish?


Right, that's a good point as well. But the question I'm referring to in my first post, is weather or not you let up off of the material when you come to the end of your arm movement.