Cheap gun or good gun?

6

65_Coupe

I am currently stripping my 65 Corvette coupe down to bare fiberglass for a repaint using the original Silver Pearl color. I previously owned a Finishline 2 gun that I just sold to buy a newer gun. My plan is to follow the “Perfect Paint Job” steps using SPI primers and Universal clear and probably Wanda base coat.

I had originally planned on just going with a Finishline 4 that comes with various tips for primers, base, and clear coats until I started researching some threads here on guns. Now I am leaning toward buying a better gun and just selling it after I am finished with it. I have no future plans for doing any more painting that I can foresee. The net cost would probably be about the same, but I wouldn’t have a gun after I am done if I go this route.

It looks like the Iwata LPH400 is a highly recommended gun but would I need more than one cap? It looks like the silver cap is mostly for clear, would I also need a orange or purple cap? What about the primers? Is it ok to use the silver cap for primers or should I buy a cheap Northern Tool or HF gun? Also this company has a kit for different caps and a primer gun, but I have read some unfavorable comments about them: http://www.spraygunworld.com/products/Iwata/LP400DreamOrange.html

I want to do the best job that I can without breaking the bank. Any thoughts on this plan?

Thanks,
Brian
 
From a purely selfish point of view, it will make it easier for us to help you since the Iwata's QC and settings are pretty well known, and if you have that dialed it's a lot easier to eliminate as a source of trouble.

To me it just makes everything so much easier, a bad painter can become a passable one, and a middling painter like me can become a good one when the gun is top notch. I doubt you would regret it.

As far as needing the purple cap, you would need to determine that for yourself once you have your basecoat. Buy enough extra to paint a test panel, a fairly large piece about the size of your hood, painted horizontally. If you can avoid stripes and mottling with the silver cap, you are good to go. The quality of the base has a lot to do with this.
 
I have sprayed silvers out of the silver cap and the gun can be adjusted to do that very well, however the purple cap does make the spraying of silvers a whole lot easier.

The original silver on the vette, is not a bad silver to spray at all. Its a tough call but used Iwata's, do sell good on ebay.
 
What about the primers? If I buy an Iwata with a 1.4 tip, can I spray the epoxy, base, and clear? If so, I will still need a larger tip for the 2K, correct? I did spray some of the silver last year with my Finishline and it came out pretty good, but it sounds like it would be worth the extra $100 or so for the purple cap to make sure.
 
65_Coupe;26805 said:
What about the primers? If I buy an Iwata with a 1.4 tip, can I spray the epoxy, base, and clear? If so, I will still need a larger tip for the 2K, correct? I did spray some of the silver last year with my Finishline and it came out pretty good, but it sounds like it would be worth the extra $100 or so for the purple cap to make sure.
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Epoxy sprays great out of my lph400 with a 1.4 tip. I'm sure it would spray 2k ok too if reduced enough (which you may not want to do). You could probably pick up a cheap gun with a bigger tip for the 2k. I use an Asturomec 9011 for 2k.
 
So would the purple cap or orange cap be better for my silver?
 
The purple one, but I recommend trying out the silver cap first, it's likely that the color you are spraying is not very demanding, as Barry mentioned. If you get a decent brand of base it will probably be a non-issue.
 
If I were you I'd buy the Finishline 4,
With the 4 tip set kit, it can do everything.
I have both, the Finishline 4 and the Iwata.
Get the Finishline 4 and keep it.
 
Do you not see much difference in the gun performance between the Finishline and the Iwata? Also, which gun would be easier to use/more forgiving for a relatively inexperienced user? I have done one total repaint on a Camaro and a few panels on this Vette so I have some experience, but not much.
 
shine;26899 said:
go to northerntools and buy a vaper 2.3 for your primers. good for epoxy or primers .
Click to expand...

Yes, I saw your recommendation in some other posts for this gun for primer. This is what I plan on doing if I buy the Iwata for color and clear.
 
65_Coupe;26898 said:
Do you not see much difference in the gun performance between the Finishline and the Iwata?
Click to expand...

No, I don't.
Finishline sprays base better.
It also will spray poly primers real nice.
The Iwata sprays clears better, but only slightly,
and it's slower.
But there is a big difference in price.

When you get into this range of gun quality,
the painter will make more of a difference than which gun you use.
Which ever one you use the most, will give the best results.
 
I ended up finding a new LPH 400 and a purple cap at a good price so I bought them. I also bought the Vaper 2.3 for the epoxy and 2k. Can anyone recommend a good starting point for settings on the Vaper for the primers?
 
the 2.3 is a big gun ! let your epoxy set covered overnight . i would set it 2 turns out on fluid -fan wide open then back 1/2 turn . air at 35 lbs for a starting point .. this gun is for build not finish so be aware it will shoot heavy.
 
What is the purpose for the induction time? If it shoots heavy is 2 coats enough?
 
I agree with shine. Take advantage of all the qualities of a good gun when you get to base/clear. As expensive as the paint is it makes no sense to scrimp on the applicator.

I go to Harbor Freight or Northern tools if I need a tool I expect to use only one time, which is hardly ever. Sometimes you get lucky with that purchase, as is the case with the vaper. Otherwise, I buy the best I can afford.

Good gun for base clear!

Get the vaper for high builds

Just my opinion, of course
 
There seems to be different versions of the vapor 2.3 I see model number 19023 at Northern Tools which is green in color and then on Amazon they have 19123 which is polished aluminum. The second one has a metal cup and the first has the plastic. Anyone tried both? They are the same price.
 
Whiskyb;29595 said:
There seems to be different versions of the vapor 2.3 I see model number 19023 at Northern Tools which is green in color and then on Amazon they have 19123 which is polished aluminum. The second one has a metal cup and the first has the plastic. Anyone tried both? They are the same price.
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Amazon has the 19123 chrome gun with aluminum cup for $38.91 and the 19023 green gun with the plastic cup for $26.61 so the green one may be their low-price leader. They seem to have the same brass innards.
 
i actually bought the hf purple gun. just for primer . cloud blowing pos as far as i'm concerned. the transfer rate sucked . so far the green vaper is still going. it's a year or so old . if it craps out i will chunk it and buy another one .

but i bought this gun to shoot epoxy and i guess i do it different . i shoot one heavy coat at a time thus the big gun . good luck with what you use . guns gotta fit the hand !
 
jcclark;26902 said:
No, I don't.
Finishline sprays base better.
It also will spray poly primers real nice.
The Iwata sprays clears better, but only slightly,
and it's slower.
But there is a big difference in price.

When you get into this range of gun quality,
the painter will make more of a difference than which gun you use.
Which ever one you use the most, will give the best results.
Click to expand...
I have a "Finishline gun" from EW that is 7 years old. It is NOT a starting line. I'm guessing that it doesn't compare to the FL4? Just a cheap one manufactured for EW? I'm trying to decide if it is worth upgrading to a FL4 or maybe even an Iwata.
 
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