well i always wanted to start learning to paint
i just need to know what spray gun i should buy for, piming, paint and clear coat

and how do i get a color to match properly

 

For occasional painting on personal projects, just get one quality gun. Generally, HVLP wastes a little less material, works slower, and uses lower air pressure. RP usually wastes more, covers faster, uses more air pressure and provides better atomization. If you take care of it, cleaning it properly after each use, a good gun will spray all three. You'll have to decide on a tip size, which is difficult to advise about since it is partly personal preference and also depends on what type of gun and what you'll be spraying with it. SATA is the best and most expensive, DeVilbiss is probably second imo. Gravity feed usually produces the best finish but can't spray upwards.

 

Oh and getting color to match is in the mixing. Since you won't likely have a full paint rack, scale, etc. to mix from, you'll need the place you buy the paint from to make color cards from the possible paint variations. You clean part of your car, spray the area and the color card with clean water and look at them in the sun or at least under a high quality lamp. If one is perfect, just write down the variation code. If none match exactly, you can look at it with the tech who sprayed them and discuss what needs to be different. GL

 

^^ X2! And if you're looking for long term investment for a gun and aren't concerned about a pricy one time payment, definitely get the SATA... Like delsolproblems said, they're the absolute best and is all I ever use.

 

Oh and I will be doing a write up very soon on my EM1... And delsolproblems will also be there for constructive criticism lol... Kidding man... No hard feelings from 92 00 forums 'eh?

 

will be looking forward to that FEAR
i might get a devilbiss then or a sata

whats does hvlp stand for and is that a gravity feed

 

HVLP: High Volume Low Pressure
RP: Reduced Pressure

Both come in siphon, gravity feed and other types.

 

RP and HVLP are just compliances. The guns are not very different mechanically, just designed to meet either RP or HVLP specifications. Some RP guns even exceed HVLP transfer efficiency requirements, so they can actually be called HVLP guns.

 

If going to paint over your whole car then try reading the sticky thread, and not sure about matching colour paint..

 

Sata's are great and everything, but buying an expensive gun right out of the gates is unnecessary to me.

I would just buy a good gun for 100 bucks, like sharpe finishline models or even like an ATD leonardo gun, was pretty damn good considering it was like 70 bucks. I was really surprised.

Just buy something cheap to start out, once you get more into the technique and feel better about painting, you can step up. Once you do, you have the old gun you can use for just primer and then the newer one for paint and clear.

 

Most guns can be very good. When you purchase an expensive one like a SATA, you're paying for the guarantee that this one will work wonderfully and for a good long time. I've watched two people buy the exact same 30$ gun and one of them sprayed perfectly while the second must have been it's retarded cousin. The first sprayed well for something like two months of daily use and then started sputtering in the middle of a job. You won't get better paint jobs from buying a SATA over a DeVilbiss, but with hobby painting you might only buy one primary paint gun in your lifetime. If the money isn't a bother to you, it could be the difference between using a good gun or the best gun for all the painting in your life.

 

If you have a community college near you check to see if they have autobody classes. It is a great start, you use their paints, and learn to fix problems as well like runs.

 

If you buy one gun for all your painting, make sure you buy numerous tip sizes to adapt to thick primers. If you use a tip for thick primer on paint, it will spatter out and leave lots of orange peel. If you use a finer tip with thick primers, it will clog up the gun and spray like sh*t.

Do some reading online about the materials youll need. Then once you have everything, practice before you start spraying your car.

 

^^^ really great advice...never want to give your first attempt on the piece you're actually going to be doing! this will help you iron out any errors and learn to correct yourself.