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Thad in AR. 
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Joined: 12 Sep 2009
Location: Arkansas
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 Topic: Paint gun???
Posted: 16 Oct 2024 at 5:58am |
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I may be painting a stock trailer soon.
Will blast, prime and paint.
Will most likely use Rustoleum or such industrial enamel. Will a cheap Harbor freight gun shoot acrylic enamel?
How well would light gray from TSC hold up?
Will prep this winter and paint 🎨 n the spring.
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jaybmiller
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Joined: 12 Sep 2009
Location: Greensville,Ont
Points: 24645
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Posted: 16 Oct 2024 at 6:32am |
yes..... I painted my '57 Willys pickup with an 'offshore' touchup gun...... I also painted my father's '67 Mustang with a roller
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3 D-14s,A-C forklift, B-112
Kubota BX23S lil' TOOT( The Other Orange Tractor)
Never burn your bridges, unless you can walk on water
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WF owner
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Joined: 12 May 2013
Location: Bombay NY
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Posted: 16 Oct 2024 at 6:45am |
It will.
For the money, they are a pretty good paint gun, but keep in mind they are a throwaway gun.
A few years back, I decided I was wasting money buying throwaway guns. I did a little research and bought a mid-priced HF gun that had really good reviews. I used it quite a bit in the first couple weeks. It had been cleaned several times and I decided I had better get a few replaceable packings. I went into our local HF and ended up talking to the manager. She said they stocked no parts and gave me an 800 number to call to parts.
I called the 800 number, with the model number of my (two week old) gun and part numbers for the parts I wanted. The guy that answered told me they had none and the parts were not available. When I asked about an anticipated date they would have the parts, he told me "I told you they are not available".
I returned the gun the next day, explaining the story to the same manager I had spoke to before. She told me that she was not surprised and refunded my money.
I ended up buying a similar priced gun from Eastwood and am very happy. Getting parts for it has been no problem.
From that experience, I have decided that I will not buy anything from HF that I may need parts for down the road.
A friend had a similar experience with a Predator generator. HF stocks zero parts locally and every replacement part has to be ordered, IF it is available.
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truckerfarmer
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Joined: 26 Jan 2013
Location: Watertown, SD
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Posted: 16 Oct 2024 at 8:13am |
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I have a cheap Harbor Freight gravity feed gun I used to paint a trailer several years ago. I paid $15 for it back then. They are $17 now, $30 with a regulator. Worked fine with Rustoleum.
For the average guy that is only gonna use it occasionally, there's nothing wrong with them. OK, sure, if your painting on a regular basis, invest in a better gun. But, if it's gonna sit on the shelf most of the time, why waste money on it.
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Looking at the past to see the future.
'53 WD, '53 WD45, WD snap coupler field cultivator, #53 plow,'53 HD5B dozer
Duct tape.... Can't fix stupidity. But will muffle the sound of it!
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steve(ill)
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Joined: 11 Sep 2009
Location: illinois
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Posted: 16 Oct 2024 at 8:19am |
40 years ago i had a pressure gun from SEARS that i painted several trucks/ cars/ tractors with. Always had paint all over the ground when doon. I read about the GRAVITY guns and bought one about 20 years ago.. Was about $15. at harbor Freight. I painted 3-4 tractors with it. worked GREAT.. very little paint loss............ AFter about 5 years i needed a few parts as WF said... Cheaper to just buy a NEW GUN for $15. and start over.. I used that gun for several years, then stopped painting.. Got it out 4 months ago to paint a 18 ft equip trailer.. Still works GREAT...
You need a regulator to keep the air pressure down to 40 psi or so... If you dont have one, get one at Harbor Freight when you get the gun... I also used black enamel from the local Farm Supply and bought a pint of hardener to go in it.. Just mixed a quart at a time and added a few oz of the hardener...and 20% reducer to make it thinner to spray..
15 years ago, but looked a lot like this. ( note, 4000 reviews and 4.5 stars...)
Edited by steve(ill) - 16 Oct 2024 at 8:21am
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Like them all, but love the "B"s.
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jaybmiller
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Joined: 12 Sep 2009
Location: Greensville,Ont
Points: 24645
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Posted: 16 Oct 2024 at 8:42am |
The 'trick' with paint guns.... dedicate ONE for ONE purpose.... ONE for colour, water born ONE for colour, oil ,old skool ONE for clear coat,water born ONE for clear coat,oil based.
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3 D-14s,A-C forklift, B-112
Kubota BX23S lil' TOOT( The Other Orange Tractor)
Never burn your bridges, unless you can walk on water
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desertjoe
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Joined: 23 Sep 2013
Location: New mexico
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Posted: 16 Oct 2024 at 8:49am |
I have had many "shooting Matches" on many different projects thru the years and have always used quality paint guns from Devilbiss to Binks and have had good success with all of them. My current favorite is a 4 year old HVLP Gravity Feed from HF that is many Wonderfuls,,,!! My Motto has always been, "If You Can Tell What Color Paint I Sprayed,,The Gun DID NOT get cleaned well enough,," I really like The HVLP Gravity Feed guns, as the atomization and patterns do their part in putting most of your expensive paint onto the project instead of out in the atmosphere. The gravity feature uses the high volumne, "LOW" pressure principle to put more of your paint onto the work instead of out in the air. Hope this helps. 
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Coke-in-MN
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Joined: 12 Sep 2009
Location: Afton MN
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Posted: 16 Oct 2024 at 11:01am |
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Son buys the H F guns when on there SALE specials - He uses them for his skid loader attachments he sells .
He keeps several on the shelf - has his painter clean after use , but finds they do leak and fail after hard use so a consumable item .
He did use a couple of the old guns I had when first doing painting but was more trouble cleaning and adjusting gun each time it was used so the H F guns either work or are put into parts bin to fix another gun later .
For the price they work and get the job done -
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Life lesson: If you’re being chased by a lion, you’re on a horse, to the left of you is a giraffe and on the right is a unicorn, what do you do? You stop drinking and get off the carousel.
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fjdrill
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Joined: 13 May 2012
Location: Alabama
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Posted: 16 Oct 2024 at 4:48pm |
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Sandblasting stock trailers? They are way too thin; goanna end up with way too many rusted out spots (even using 00 sand). I refuse to do it.
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Dirt Farmer
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Joined: 15 Sep 2020
Location: Illinois
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Posted: 17 Oct 2024 at 12:09am |
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I (don't trash talk me here folks) have had really good luck with John deere primer, granted it's yellow tinted. It flows really good, easy to work with and doesn't show up as bad as gray primer if you get a chip. It comes in gallon, quart and spray cans. For the HF spray guns my local store person said that if I took out their store upscale warranty that I could return the dirty used gun with receipt and they would hand me a new one with no questions asked, I didnt do it cause I would feel guilty returning a gun that I was too lazy to clean. Right or wrong I use Oreilly spray can brake parts cleaner to make cleaning the gun fast and simple then spray a bit of thinner or reducer through it for a final rinse after reassembling. I'm not a professional, just a person who occasionally enjoys bodywork and painting as time and funds allow.
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Thad in AR.
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Location: Arkansas
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Posted: 17 Oct 2024 at 5:29am |
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I had read that acrylic enamel doesn’t work well with help guns. My reason for the question.
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steve(ill)
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Location: illinois
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Posted: 17 Oct 2024 at 8:17am |
Thad... there are basically two types of Enamel paint.
the OLD RELIABLE is Alkyd which has been used for a hundred years.. That is what you buy at the local Hardware store to paint tractors, wagons, outdoor eqiup, etc.. Slow drying and can fade over a period of time when exposed to weather... You CAN add the new HARDENERS to reduce that..
The NEWER enamel paint is Acrylic which is normally used on Automotive Cars/ Trucks. ( you would buy it from a Body Shop / PPG / Dupont) .. It is always sprayed with a Hardener and drys FAST and SHINNY and does not fade over years of outside exposure.. ( i say new, but it has been around a LONG time also).
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alkyd paint and acrylic paint are often used as topcoats. The decorative performance of the two is not the same. Due to its slow drying speed, alkyd paint film is difficult to meet higher requirements, and it is prone to losing gloss and fading after long-term use.
Acrylic paint dries quickly, and the film is hard and durable. Even after long-term use, it can still provide excellent gloss and color retention, making it better for decorative use.
Edited by steve(ill) - 17 Oct 2024 at 8:21am
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Like them all, but love the "B"s.
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desertjoe
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Joined: 23 Sep 2013
Location: New mexico
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Posted: 17 Oct 2024 at 9:04am |
Hey Thad,,as far as I know,,,with the suggested reduction of the paint,, the HVLP guns do not KNOW nor CARE which paint you put thru them. Like Steve says Acrylic Enamel has been around for many years but is still a very good paint along with the newer appropriate Activator/Hardners. The activator(some refer to it as Hardner) add another layer of protection to the paint for longivity of gloss. The activator AND the reducer you use for thining has to be added based on ambient temperature along with the humidity levels. I now use Acrylic Eurethane Single Stage paints with the correct Activators and correct reducer at levels based on ambient temps. the Eurethanes dry to excellent hardness and have great long term Gloss and UV protection. TP Tools has the best pricing and I buy my paint supplies from them. I did paint a tractor for a friend years ago and he had bought his paint at TSC and would not spring for the hardner,,,SO I made him sign a "HOLD HARMLESS" note for the paint gloss,,,,YEP,,in 6 months he was back cause his tractor paint job was faded already,,,,,  In all fairness,,I hAVE NEVER USED TSC paints with their hardner/Activator,, so they may be ok using the hardner/Activator,,,,,, Good Luck,,,,!!!
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200Tom1
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Location: Iowa
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Posted: 17 Oct 2024 at 12:37pm |
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Thad,. Do yourself a big favor, go to Napa and buy yourself a decent gun. I've had mine since the 1970's. It still works as good as the day I bought it. I did buy a HF gun years ago but I tossed it on the garbage after I attempted to paint a cargo trailer.
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DMiller
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Location: Hermann, Mo
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Posted: 17 Oct 2024 at 7:20pm |
Bought Devilbiss HVLP guns for the KW job, not been upset with any aspect of them except the Operator. Takes Practice, LOADS of Practice yet are far easier than the old Siphon Feed Cup guns I used to use and Cleaner.
The PPG paints I have used were all sprayed at LOW air Pressures, 12-16psi at nozzle.
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