Painting - General suggestions about spray guns

I build computers on the side and I've amassed a wealthy collection of old computer cases. Right now custom computer cases are all the rage. To keep up with the best, I want to learn how to spray paint my own cases. I've done it twice with DuPont brand automotive spray paint with amazing results.

My expectations I feel are quiet realistic. I'm looking to get the type of finish you'd see on a car off the lot. Only a single color, with no fancy graphics. I've done it with spray paint so I know its within my learning ability.

Just the other day I went to my local hardware store looking for spray guns and air-compressors. The sales person recomended that I not spend so much and instead buy a $70 Wagner airless spray gun. I bit the bullet and took the Wagner home. On the box is says its single speed and puts out 5.4 GPH.

When I shot a layer of primer I was a little worried about how thick a single pass puts on. When I put the water based paint on my worries were confirmed. The paint was real thick and had the kind of texture you'd expect to see in a bedroom on drywall. I went back to the hardware store and they told me to thin the paint down and use a finner nozzel.

On my second paint attempt with the thinned down paint and finer nozzel the same isues occures. A single pass yeilds way to thick of a coat. The difference this time around is the drying time. With the thinned paint I get runs.

What do I have to do to get thickner coats of paint? Do you believe its the paint mixture, the type of airless gun (maybe for for a $120 wagner), or is it an issue with airless guns in general (meaning I really need a air-compress and air-spray-gun) ?

The Wagner is the wrong type of sprayer
You don't mention what paint you are trying to squirt through them, but either it's the wrong paint for the object, or the wrong sprayer for the paint
And those sprayers are so-so even for latex house paint (which you should not be using) anyway

I'd suggest checking out the Eastwood Company's website
It's set up for cars, but the info on detail spraying is excellent
You'll at least get a quick over view of what's involved with a quality custom paint job-it's not just for large car projects, there's valve covers, wheels, air cleaner covers, motorcycles and helmets too
The different types of solvent-based paints, and the new water-based finishes also
They do also sell products and I can strongly recommend them

here's a few links to get you started, I'm sure you'll figure your way around the site quickly:
http://www.eastwoodco.com/jump.jsp?itemID=1436&itemType=CATEGORY&iMainCat=688&iSubCat=1436
http://www.eastwoodco.com/jump.jsp?itemID=12296&itemType=PRODUCT&path=1%2C2%2C1334%2C1339&KickerID=306&KICKER
http://www.eastwoodco.com/jump.jsp?itemType=CATEGORY&itemID=1334
http://www.eastwoodco.com/shopping/product/detailmain.jsp?itemID=15328&itemType=PRODUCT&iMainCat=1488&iSubCat=1489&iProductID=15328
http://www.eastwoodco.com/jump.jsp?itemID=865&itemType=CATEGORY&iMainCat=688&iSubCat=865

I'd suggest returning the Wagner if at all possible, as they gave you (IMO) very bad advice

This is the ideal candidate for an HVLP system of some sort
perhaps with a little more info we could help a little

What type of material are the cases?
How many do you need to paint?
Will they be all one color/style, or do you need room for some custom work?
Do you have a preference for the paint type?
One time project, or on-going?

This info might help suggest a better course for your project

That Wagner airless puts out the right amount of paint for spraying large surfaces or maybe fences as you have found out.

What type of paint are you using???
If acrylic enamel with or without activator you need to paint a fairly thin first coat and when set up, meaning still soft but will not stick to your finger if you touch it, then spray medium coats to finish.
Each coat needs to set up to be not tacky but not to dry that the next coat reacts.
If you wait too long between coats the fresh paint might react and wreck the finish. If you do blow it you would have to wait several weeks for the paint to cure.

The type of gun to use would be an air operated trim or touch up gun for something as small as a computer case.

Here is one type of airless that might work:
Click image:
<img src="http://s7ondemand1.scene7.com/is/servlet/izoom/DoItYourself/8012445?wid=200&hei=200&fmt=jpeg&qlt=75,0&op_sharpen=1&resMode=trilin&op_usm=0.0,0.0,0,0&iccEmbed=0"> (http://www.doityourself.com/invt/8012445)

This style of gravity sprayer in a touch up gun and a compressor may be what you need:

Click image:
<img src="http://s7ondemand1.scene7.com/is/servlet/izoom/DoItYourself/u177618?wid=200&hei=200&fmt=jpeg&qlt=75,0&op_sharpen=1&resMode=trilin&op_usm=0.0,0.0,0,0&iccEmbed=0"> (http://www.doityourself.com/invt/u177618)

This is going to be an on-going project. I'll be painting both metal and plastic (computer cases, keyboards, CD-ROM drives, etc). I'll be doing the work at home. Right now I have 6 practice steel computer cases. I don't see myself painting more then 3-4 cases a year. Cases come in steel, aluminum, and plastic. I don't have a particular preference for paint only because I'm so new at this... I wouldn't know what to be looking for. Ideally I'd like to be able to run to the local hardware store and get a custom color. High gloss finishes is what I'm after.

I don't have the artistic ability to get fancy with custom graphics or do fancy multi-color blends. I was originally looking at those HVLP guns. I went into the store expecting to dish out $200-$300. At $70 for a wagner I was skeptical and even asked if I should buy the more expensive $120 airless wagner. To my suprise he said no. I even pointed at a spray that that needed an air-compressor and he said they get a lot of returns on them. So I asked the guy if I could return the unit if I wasn't happy. He said yes.

My biggiest fear is spending to much on a system. I still consider my usuage to be within the realm of a hobbist. If in a few years my side business booms and I'm making the bucks, you bet I'll go all out on a good system. Then again I never like to buy cheap products. If its really worth the investment I'll save my pennies.

No more than you are painting you might be better off just using rattle cans - the ones that have a fan tip. An airless is really to big for painting small items. A good cup gun [and air compressor] would work best for solvent based paints or an HVLP unit.

I'll clean the gun tonight and return it tomorrow. So now that I'm looking back at HVLP spray guns I'm browsing Amazon's website and seeing the Porter-Cable PSH1 gravity feed spray gun selling for around $80. This now leads me to another question.... the air-compressor.

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B00005R1IK.01._AA280_SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg

Link: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00005R1IK/qid=1149977604/sr=8-2/ref=pd_bbs_2/103-7293054-1300609?%5Fencoding=UTF8&v=glance&n=228013


On Amazon the reviewers were saying it needs at least 1 1/2 HP. Goes gallons matter? And can I get a decent unit for $200? Coul you guys thrown some brands & models worth looking at0.

BTW -- You guys have been a huge help. Thanks.

I have never bothered to get a gravity feed gun as most of my siphon feed guns still spray well. Different guns have different cfm requirements. It is best to have a compressor that will support the cfm usage. A bigger tank has more room to fudge than a small one. Painting takes as much cfm/air or more than most other pneumatic tools.

...I even pointed at a spray that that needed an air-compressor and he said they get a lot of returns on them.

That's because most are sold to people thinking they can spray latex through them
That doesn't work too well

My biggiest fear is spending to much on a system. I still consider my usuage to be within the realm of a hobbist. ...If its really worth the investment I'll save my pennies.
For four units a year, it is not worth the investment (from a business perspective)
I'd suggest sticking with rattle cans for now

For four units a year, it is not worth the investment (from a business perspective) I'd suggest sticking with rattle cans for now

Well I'm not really looking at this from a true business staindpoint. It's more of a personal hobby that I want to get into. I can think of tons of things I'll be paint: my kid's toys, funiture, auto body kits, and then the profit side... computers. What I also like is the fact that with a spray gun, I can get custom colors simply by going to HomeDepot which is just down the block (less then half a mile).

The air-compress, hell I can think of so many uses for one. -- Actually I can only think of three... spray gun, pressure washer, and nail gun (which I don't own yet, but would like to).

I just can't justify a $500+ system. $200-$300 is reasonable.

You could get the guns for compressors for under a hundred bucks, heck that Devilbliss pair is $100

The compressor....a little portable is not going to do it for a paint gun
I haven't checked the specs lately, but I'd think you'd be looking at around $300 for something with enough guts to spray paint

If you could find a decent sprayer for 50 and the compressor for 250...maybe it could be done for 300 total

You just need to find the specs on the gun(s) you'll be using, and find a compressor that can produce more than you'll need