DES
Well-Known Member
Most of my "ordinary" rockets are two color jobs done with spray cans. If I want to do something special or get creative with effects, it is time to get out the HVLP gun. I have a Badger airbrush, but you have to thin the paint way down, and you just cannot get the film thickness or opacity out of the airbrush that you can with a real spray gun.
The equipment does not have to be expensive. The setup may look complicated, but a decent gun, air regulator and filter can be had for around $100. Add a disposal cup system for convenience, and largely because I'm too lazy to clean the spray cup.
My compressor is a small 2.5 hp "pancake" compressor like you use for roofing nailers running at 150 psi. When I'm spraying with the HVLP, I plug a second airtank in series with its own regulator, for about 15 gallons of air storage, and run a line pressure to the gun about 40 psi. In that manner, the compressor can keep up with the gun fine. You do not need a big compressor unless you are painting cars.
HVLP will spray anything you want, but the water-borne acrylics and polyurethanes like the Createx work well, have a huge color range, and are low-toxicity. You need to wear a mask so you don't breath the mist.
If you search the forum for Createx, there are several threads showing HVLP effects.
The equipment does not have to be expensive. The setup may look complicated, but a decent gun, air regulator and filter can be had for around $100. Add a disposal cup system for convenience, and largely because I'm too lazy to clean the spray cup.
My compressor is a small 2.5 hp "pancake" compressor like you use for roofing nailers running at 150 psi. When I'm spraying with the HVLP, I plug a second airtank in series with its own regulator, for about 15 gallons of air storage, and run a line pressure to the gun about 40 psi. In that manner, the compressor can keep up with the gun fine. You do not need a big compressor unless you are painting cars.
HVLP will spray anything you want, but the water-borne acrylics and polyurethanes like the Createx work well, have a huge color range, and are low-toxicity. You need to wear a mask so you don't breath the mist.
If you search the forum for Createx, there are several threads showing HVLP effects.