I was pretty worn out, too, but from finishing up the staining job on our deck.
Fun? Not really (but the HVLP gun I used made the job *much* more enjoyable).
Satisfying? Absolutely!







FIRST-COAT COMPARISON PIC:


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This is the piece. It's a hard plastic

 

I'm going to say that'll have to come from the manufacturer (provided it's not a disco'd part).

EDIT: If it's no longer available, I don't see why you couldn't make a "flap" type seal from some 2"-3" or so wide 3/32" or 1/8" rubber and a strip or two of aluminum stock. I assume that piece is attached to the window through-bolts for the struts and handle, right?

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Wow, did that turn out great. What you said about enjoyable, man that describes it perfectly. I use to enjoy this stuff, knowing the finish product would be the pay-off. I don't know anymore, for some things, it's not enough lol.

But yea, HVLP for a long time was only crossed/used/talked about when painting vehicles. I've slowly caught on so to speak, - in the way that incorporating in other projects has the same affects on the job as it does on an vehicle. Atomization, better appearence, longer lasting and the use of better products. In a nutshell, HVLP makes a huge difference. Not to mention the speed difference...that matters the most to some lol.

Man , that looks beautiful, nice and even.

 

HVLP FTW! I love mine. Haven't used it on the new house yet.... but I need to go get some paint for Ye' Olde Shoppe and make it purdy.

 

Eh, I should probably have used "tolerable" in place of "enjoyable," but I also wasn't gritting my teeth while doing it. I didn't want to pay someone to do it, and speed was definitely one of the largest benefits. Heck, just trying to stain that lattice with a brush would've taken me longer than the rest of the deck did with the gun, I'll bet!

Thanks for the kudos! I started with the outside of the lattice, rails and balusters, and got most of my miscues and splotches out of the way "practicing" on those. By the time I got to the inside and the floor, I had using the gun down pretty well. I had to brush out only a couple heavy areas where I slowed or stopped moving mid-spray or one reason or another.

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I started the job with a refurb Wagner Power Painter that I bought over a decade ago and had never used. It didn't survive the 10-ft tumble it took when wind blew the ladder over (about 2 hours into the job), so I made a run to Harbor Freight for this air gun. I don't know that I'd try painting a car with it (although some reviews stated those folks did), but for this purpose it worked out fine. Aside form the $$ I had to spend, I'm actually glad it happened. That WPP was loud, heavy, and the pattern is non-adjustable. This gun is certainly worth the $30 or so I have in it (with fittings, etc.)

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Correct. And heck that sounds like a good idea. If I can't get the OEM part or it's way too $$$$ I'll go that route! Trying to keep this cheap but maintained. Won't use it all the time but when I travel with the wife, baby, and husky I'll need the covered room.

 

LOL, I have a Wagner in the box as well. Who doesn't, I think White had one in the box at one time. White and AK are kind of like me, lots of stuff remain in the box, then one day it's like a Christmas shorty lol.

I guess the only thing that sort of sucks with HVLP is how much product you waste cutting in. I mean you really go through it on a vehicle.
As far as guns , started with a cheap Husky, then moved up to a middle of the line DeVilbiss trio. Was really surprised first time with a cheap Husky (prob the same as a HF gun), so I used it for awhile. But I comparing to rattle can lol. Went withDeVilbiss and will never use anything else...for finish anyway. I haven't painted much, like restoring some the older equipment I have that are more than worthy of it. Some of the paint jobs the manufactures use on equipment are terrible. For instance, my 80 gal IR compressor SHOULD look new. It's bolted to the concrete and doesn't go anywhere for the most part. Paint flaked off over time, no primer under the paint and it looks like hell. I'll do it up right one day lol. By far, my most used and favorite tool in the shop. A ton of air on hand and it's quiet when fires up...very little energy usage. It's 220 but only draws power on initial start, pulls less amps than a shop vac running lol. Anyway, I'm going on, but the point I was coming to, between the compressor and HVLP gun I have worked out some beautiful paint jobs IMO. One of my favorites, there's no need for elbow service after a shoot. Not even a wet sand. I would like to paint that 98, it's more than worthy.... Getting to that point is the struggle. Time and life pop ups get in the way...need more of the first, could use a lot less of the second lol.Better mention for I forget, - Incorporating Milton high flow fittings makes a huge difference in volume to the gun as well. Just their hose HF fittings tho, I go elsewhere for High Flow couplers and pretty much everything else. Anyway, that's been a little of my experience to date and paint system set-ups. By little I mean, I probably put way too much into this lol. At one time, I liked restoring, it was the hobby of choice vs necessity lol.

Question, - I've never used a gun in a confined space or in the house. I guess the same principle applies, -close off room, have fresh air and exhaust (windows). In the shop, I filter both. I filter intake with paint booth media. Use regular furnace filters for exhaust, - so fans don't load up with over-spray ( exhaust fans, fans aren't needed on the intake side of course). Curious, do any of you guys use this method for household interior shooting ? I realize household mixes are less volatile, but still, you don't want dirt in the paint. Most likley, I little dust/dirt won't reflect as much in the job vs a vehicle/implement shoot. So, any of yuh shoot in the house yet ?

 

For inside, the HVLP didn't really put out that much into the air. I did my entire basement at the old house before we sold it..... didn't even open the windows. Neither did my parents when they painted their house with my sprayer. I did mine in April/May, so the furnace and A/C wasn't being used much, but I don't think it woulda hurt anything. I didn't even blow out colored snot, LOL.

My HVLP is a Wagner. I'll hafta look up which model it is again, but it is the kit that comes with 2 sprayers.

Tonight I shut down the reservoir.... got lots and lots of bait stolen, but no fish. LOL.