Just got the engine out & am looking at doing a re-spray in my bay. I have never painted w/an actual gun so it will be a learning curve for sure.

I was wondering what type of hvlp gun would be recommended? Their are simply so many to choose from for a newb it is rather difficult to make a decision.

My compressor is a 33 gallon, 2hp craftsman, 6.4 [TT_SCFM] @90 PSI

With that being said is there a specific proven hvlp gun that would be suitable for my needs? Im only painting the engine bay for now but id like to eventually dab into spraying some spare panels and such and seeing how it goes.

While were on the subject what do you recommend i use to fill holes in the bay? Being that this is the 3rd engine going into this car & another separate setup there are "Alot" of small screw holes and such from previous parts and set-ups I would like to fill & spray over.

Is Evercoat Metal Glaze recommended as the filler over standard bondo?

Is it recommended to sand down to metal or only in areas that will need filler? For the rest is there a recommended break down in grits to use before priming?

Ill continue to research however wanted to decide on a gun & order the supply's while i gather technique & method.

Thanks guys!

 

For bays, I like small guns. It is kindof impossible to know what to recommend without a budget.

The holes should be welded and ground down if you can. If not, a putty metal epoxy can work if properly prepped but it isn't really recommended.

Personally I like rage gold over bondo.

Sanding down to metal is necessary in areas you want bondo, but what you'll have to do to the rest depends on what paint is there. If it is OEM urethane paint, you will be fine scuffing with higher grit sandpaper (check your p-sheet for your primer). If it is rattle-can enamel, it needs to come off completely.

 

I hear ya, as for budget, basically something that isnt going to cost me a kidney as it wont see much use, plan is to spray the bay and misc items later down the road. I will not be turning this into a career, just want to get some things done on my own, starting with the engine bay. Its currently on the oem paint & will be sprayed with the oem paint. Basically its just very dull and greyish in some areas because of various fluid spills and such over the years. Especially being its a 93 "captiva blue pearl" and on original paint w/at the least its 3rd engine/setup.

Thanks for the information, i really appreciate it. Ill look into having a local w/welder swing by to fill the holes as it seems this would be the best method of filling

 

You need to match the cfm of your compressor to the cfm usage of the gun. If you have a paint gun that uses 9cfm and your compressor has a max of 6 cfm, youre going to have issues...

 

Very true.

Why not try a touchup gun at first? To be honest, I've gotten great results with the touchup hvlp gun from HarborFreight, even with urethane paints. Just make sure it is very clean and go slow with the clear if you are going single stage. Just don't use a touchup gun for metallic colors, it won't look the same as the overall if you use a different gun (the nozzle size changes the way the metallics align.)

If you're looking for a mid-line gun, consider devilbiss finishline.
A low-line gun, Grizzly has an LVLP gun that is good for all-over jobs with a decent finish for around $50 that would not tax your compressor. (http://www.amazon.com/Grizzly-H7666-...1173665&sr=8-1) Other needles are available as well.

A low-low budget gun kit, the Vaper 3-piece gun kit isn't bad for the money, especially for a beginner.

 

Thanks bud ill check those out! Im willing to spend 100-150 for a decent gun that will last a while. Hate re-buying tools but at the same time dont wanna spend $500 on an air gun i may only use for a few panels. Thanks for all the info though, ill be doing some reading this weekend!

 

If you need to buy new, Devilbiss finishline guns fall within that range and they are great (but likely way too much for your compressor.)

If you don't mind used, you can find good Iwata/SATA guns in your price range. Rebuild kits with new seals are available for the better guns and the spray quality will be more consistent. Check craigslist, ebay, ask around at local body shops.