another “Which Gun?” thread

M

MAKZ06

Newbie
Apologies for dredging up a topic that’s probably been covered before but even after searching and reading a multitude of old threads I’m still left with the question of what to buy.
I’m a complete rookie with no painting experience aside from spraying multiple layers of SPI Epoxy in between sanding and bodywork sessions.
Currently using a cheap Star lvlp for the epoxy which has a spray pattern I wish was wider and leaves a lot to be desired. The 72 F100 was stripped to bare metal and is getting closer to a final spray of Epoxy after the umpteenth blocking session with a few low spots and imperfections to still address. I also have a 68 Cougar in the garage which will be next up in line after I get the truck complete.
Anyway, based on my limited knowledge, I’m leaning toward an old-school single stage paint as opposed to base and clear. I see that the Iwata LPH400 is highly regarded here, but I also see a lot of that praise directed at its clear coat application. I also see it has a narrower spray pattern and likes a slower movement. Seems like a wider spray would be easier for a beginner and have fewer chances for screwup? Anyway, the Devilbiss Tekna Copper is another I see mentioned often, and it has I think a wider pattern, but also quite a bit more expensive.

So, that’s a long winded request for recommendations on which gun to buy, specifically for a newbie and for single-stage paint. Less concerned with cost than with ease-of-use for a rookie... I was about to pull the trigger on the Iwata but then started wondering if there may be a better choice if I’m not doing clear...

Also would like a recommendation for paint. I plan to go back to the original Bahama Blue. I haven’t found a local Paint Jobber to see what they carry and recommend. SPI is just 20 minutes up the road from me but unfortunately they don’t offer blue...

Thanks
 
Single stage sprays the same as clear. Just think of it as tinted clear. LPH 400 1.4 will work nicely for epoxy, single stage or clear. I don't think a BC/CC job is harder to spray than a single stage, and it is getting hard to find a single stage that is good. PPG Concept will cost as much as BC/CC, anymore. Prices have gone insane.
 
texasking said:
Single stage sprays the same as clear. Just think of it as tinted clear. LPH 400 1.4 will work nicely for epoxy, single stage or clear. I don't think a BC/CC job is harder to spray than a single stage, and it is getting hard to find a single stage that is good. PPG Concept will cost as much as BC/CC, anymore. Prices have gone insane.
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Thanks for the input. I’m always looking for all the advice I can get.
Havent made my mind up yet on single stage. Part of the reason for thinking I would go that route is due to the look. Really prefer to have the look of the old paint that I haven’t really seen with CC. Other reason was thinking a less than perfect spray job could be more easily cleaned-up by color sanding and buffing. I may well be wrong on that too.
 
MAKZ06 said:
Also would like a recommendation for paint. I plan to go back to the original Bahama Blue. I haven’t found a local Paint Jobber to see what they carry and recommend.
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May be wrong to generalize, but most jobbers are going to recommend a single stage that has the highest profit margin. There is a ton of single stage paints, but most are geared towards commercial or low quality automotive use. The number of quality single stage paints has dwindled, and the cost of anything good has increased to the point of BC/CC being the same price or cheaper. I did an old Chevy truck last year that was 2 toned beige and red. I called to see how much a couple quarts of the beige was in Concept to do the inside of the cab, and the cost was astronomical. Concept is a quality single stage, but they are phasing it out because they don't sell enough.
 
Sounding like the LPH400 and PPG Concept if I go single stage. I still need to do more reading and research on advantages/disadvantages of single vs 2 stage for a rank amatire
dhutton01 said:
I have sprayed a lot of SPI single stage with an LPH-400, most of it black, and it turns out pretty good.

Don
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that TA is awsome!
 
Sounding like the LPH400 and PPG Concept if I go single stage. I still need to do more reading and research on advantages/disadvantages of single vs 2 stage for a rank amatire
dhutton01 said:
I have used the PPG Concept. Its on the 55 in my avatar. It’s very nice but the price is ridiculous as Texas says. The only SS I will use is SPI.

Don
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I wish Barry made a blue...
 
Sounding like the LPH400 and PPG Concept if I go single stage. I still need to do more reading and research on advantages/disadvantages of single vs 2 stage for a rank amateur.
thanks everyone for the great input so far.
 
Start by knowing the capabilities of your compressor. If you are constantly running when spraying, air getting hotter and hotter, low volume low pressure might help. You do not get that fan you want, and end up with peel due to low pressure. Move up into a hvlp gun, and you get orange peel due to the fact you are moving more volume thru the gun at the same lower pressure, even though the hvlp is atomizing the paint better. Then you can even move to more of the good old binks #7 guns where its high volume and high pressure.

so if your compressor only runs a few minutes and its off for 5, you can probably move up to a higher pressure gun, but hooking a thousand dollar gun to a 5 gallon pancake compressor is not going to get you a million dollar paint job.

as far as being an amateur, like some of us are, base clear lets you go back and just put more color on without really building up alot like single stage would. It definitely lays smoother, all the peel us usually in the clear and that is all you are polishing. Maybe you have a jobber with some mis tints you can practice with, but again capabilities of your compressor. Most clears out there want you to really hose it on with big pressure that alot of people simply do not have a compressor that can keep up.
 
Chris_Hamilton said:
Glasurit has a great single stage line. Glasurit 22. I prefer it over PPG DCC (Concept.) Any BASF/RM distributor has it. Cost is slightly less but I can't promise that as it's been a few years since I've shot any 22.
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its been years for me as well but the glasurit 22 line is the nicest ss i have ever shot. lays out like glass. i have been using utech now for prob 5 years. i actually shoot more of this now than i do base. they have a couple diffrent lines. the 500 is the cheaper line and does great for what i need it for since its just sanded and artwork done over it anyway but they have another one that is real nice. its the 350. that is less watery than the 500 and flows out real nice with great gloss. these all sand and buff easily as well. great looking ss and doesnt break the bank either.
 
Thanks for the great info.
Compressor is an ancient 80gal 2 stage Kellogg American beast from 1945 that my step dad used to use. Even have the old Binks model 26 he sprayed with. It hasn’t had any trouble keeping up with the cheap gun I have or with the Vaper hvlp I used when spraying SlickSand on the hood and roof. I have to wait often for it to catch up when I’m sandblasting, but it’s adequate with the DA sander or air hog.
I've plumbed a long run of iron pipe with risers, drop offs, drains, etc with a 4 stage desiccant system.
 
Jim C said:
its been years for me as well but the glasurit 22 line is the nicest ss i have ever shot. lays out like glass. i have been using utech now for prob 5 years. i actually shoot more of this now than i do base. they have a couple diffrent lines. the 500 is the cheaper line and does great for what i need it for since its just sanded and artwork done over it anyway but they have another one that is real nice. its the 350. that is less watery than the 500 and flows out real nice with great gloss. these all sand and buff easily as well. great looking ss and doesnt break the bank either.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the good info and sharing your experience.
 
LOL, just for clicking on that wish post, now a little Neptune either orange or blue gun shows up, but the box actually says DeWabbis. I guess Elmer Fudd designed them. He has not been cancelled yet has he?
 
Pulled the trigger...
Still haven’t decided on paint but plenty of time to make a decision before I’m to that stage.
7560910D-4D3A-4FF4-8088-56B8812DA207.jpeg
 
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