Iwata LPH400

Bob Heine

Bob Heine

Oldtimer
Not sure who wrote this or even if it's useful. I believe it was posted on the old site.
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The Iwata LPH400 is an excellent spray gun for the automotive refinish professional. It has gained a well-deserved reputation for proper atomization and superior results.
The LPH400 is available with three caps that make the gun perform different jobs. Generally, the silver (LV) cap is for clears, the orange (LVX) cap is for basecoat, and the purple (LVB) cap is for difficult metallic and pearl basecoats. Only a cap swap is needed with no needle change.
  • The orange (LVX) cap works for both clear and basecoats with satisfactory results.
  • The silver (LV) cap atomizes clears better and the clear will lay out flatter.
  • The purple (LVB) cap will help control difficult basecoat colors.

Initial gun setup is simple:
  • Adjust the air valve knob on the bottom near the air inlet to its fully open position.
  • Adjust the material control valve, the larger knob, so that 3 to 4 threads are visible.
  • Attach a temporary pressure gauge or use an inlet regulator and adjust the inlet pressure.
  • 12 to 16 psi for basecoat.
  • 16 to 20 psi for clears.
  • Pressures are set while pulling the trigger fully.
  • Test your pattern on paper at about seven inches away.
  • Adjust the fan control knob, the small one on top, to the desired length of 8 to 10 inches.
  • Fine tune as needed.

Pulling the trigger of the gun with the pattern and air adjustment knobs fully opened, adjust the air regulator in the spray booth to obtain 1.0~1.1 bar (14~16 PSI) at the gun inlet. In this way the gun will atomize within 0.7 nst z010 PSI) inside air cap.

NOTE
Using a 12 m (50 ft) long air hose, the inner diameter must be a minimum 8 mm (0.315 in) so the gun can have the correct air volume to atomize at 0.7 bar (10 PSI) inside air cap.
 
Some have found that more air pressure than the manufacturer's recommendation is particularly effective when spraying clear, both to perfectly atomize the product and to kick out the faster solvents before they can become mixed into the clear that hits the panel. Both will result in a smoother finish that is less prone to contraction and solvent popping.

Air gauges used on spray guns tend to be pretty inaccurate, but 20-25 PSI is probably closer to the mark for clear on the LPH400.

Note that spraying at higher than recommended pressures puts the gun out of compliance with VOC regulations.
 
I have this gun, but only have the silver cap. Where is best place to get th other 2 ? The silver don't do real well on base coats.
 
My favorite gun! I shoot with an RTI diaphram regulator at the gun set for 20ish with the trigger pulled, main line pressure 150psi, 2.5-3 turns out on the fluid knob, 1.3 fluid tip puts out enough material for me. Paint viscosity differences make the gun adjustments different-a person needs to dial in their adjustments for the products they are spraying.
 
jwimmer;5440 said:
I have this gun, but only have the silver cap. Where is best place to get th other 2 ? The silver don't do real well on base coats.
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I use the silver cap for base all the time - so far no issues whatsoever.
 
Excellent save from the old forum Bob, do you have any others saved?
 
Whiskyb;5548 said:
Excellent save from the old forum Bob, do you have any others saved?
Click to expand...
I put up two others: Paint Gun Adjusting and Fixing Fisheyes. I have Barry's Paint Commandments and will post those in a few minutes.
 
used PPG base today and it went on great, think the trouble I was having is with the cheap bases I was trying to use. Won't use that cheap stuff anymore. I used it on a candy job last year with good results, just didn't put 2 and 2 together. Getting old is so much fun.
 
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