I would like to get a decent quality hvlp system. I am not a fulltime woodworker, but want good tools.
Would love to have a Turbinaire, but their price holds me back. I see that Woodcraft is now selling Earlex hvlp Spray Station 5000 for $300.
Anyone know anything about the quality of Earlex? Any experience or leads or reviews will be appreciated.
Thanks,
Alan – planesaw
Replies
Anyone?
I don't know anything about this Earlex, but I did save my money and buy the Turbinaire from Woodcraft and I would definately do it all over again. When I spray Laquer, I get a finish that I believe is 2nd to none. It gives the finished project a very consistant and solid finish. The Turbinaire is definately worth saving your money for.
Hope this helps.
Thanks for the info. I know several who use the Turbinaire and praise it highly. But, they use theirs more than I would. And, I don't need the high powered version to spray latex or thicker finishes.
I am hoping the Earlex will do fine with the thinner things like shellac, lacquer, etc.
Alan - planesaw
I was about to post a similar question about the Earlex 5000. Did you learn anything else? Did you buy one? Should I?<!----><!----><!---->
I have never used a HVLP sprayer but would like to make the jump for a large project near completion. No way I am spending the $$ for the Turbinaire. FWW #137 reviewed five models in our price range... Earlex was not among them, but they did have a CH which did ok. The CH 2500 sells for $299 on Amazon. I can not find the CH 3000 they reviewed.<!----><!---->
Interestingly, you can purchase the Earlex 5000 directly from the Earlex web site for less than it sells for at Woodcraft.<!----><!---->
NC Laquer,
Haven't received any info other than what you see here. Asked at my local Woodcraft and no one there has used one or knows much about them, other than Woodcraft corporate carries them. The people I know all use the Turbinaire.
Not sure what I am going to do yet.
Alan - planesaw
Planesaw,
I have been spraying laquer for about 4 years through a Turbinaire and it works wonderfully. Although the road I went down was a bad deal. I bought a CH because of the price and I spent more time trying to sand and fix the laquer because of the CH gun/unit. I was so mad I took it back, saved my money for 3 months and then went and bought the Turbinaire. I tell you this trying to save you the agony I went through. Someone in the Knots has a saying "buy the best and only cry once." There is a lot of validity to that. Good Luck,
Jeff
Woodman,
What is the CH gun/unit?
Alan - planesaw
Alan,
I don't remember what model it was. I will look online to see if I can tell what model it was by a picture. I will report back if I can find it.
Jeff
Campbell Hausfeld
Thanks for the detail.
Alan - planesaw
I have been spraying all types of paints with my Fuji 3 stage HVLP and just love it!
Greetings.
I too was looking at the Turbine air system, but also due to my own low use requirements did not want to spend that much. Further research lead me to a Wagner Conversion spray gun. http://www.gleempaint.com/hvcongunnew.html
As I already have an air compressor, the cost was much easier to sell to my wife. The results are amazing after two uses. I had been using an older Sharp spray gun, high pressure unit, that I have used for years in automotive body work, and have to say that the Wagner provided a better finish. I would suggest an afternoon of practice prior to spraying a finished piece.
MrBlue
Mr. Blue,
Thank you so much for providing your info. I appreciate that.
Alan - planesaw
The problem with this and other HVLP guns I have seen is that my small shop-sized compressor can not support. I'll keep shopping for a turbine-driven system. (I have my fingers crossed for the Earlex.)
NCLaquer,
Yes, that is my concern also. Although I would like a good reason to replace my current compressor, I would rather put that money towards something with the quality of the Turbinaire. I don't have to have anything soon, so I am waiting for a while to see what develops.
Alan - planesaw
I visited my local Woodcraft retail store today. They had already sold out of the $299 Earlex, but the salesperson spoke highly of it. He seemed pretty knowledgeable about various systems.. he had owned a CH and will never use one again... he classified the Turbinaire as top-of-the-line professional machine, and thought the Earlex was very well made and a good choice for those of us in between. Thus far, he had tested the Earlex only with water. He thought it had good quality components and adjustments. He did not, however, expect the Earlex had sufficient power to spray latex. (This is certainly not my primary use, but it would be good to have the option.)
He is going to give me a call when he gets more stock and offered to let me test it before I buy. Sounds like a plan.
Alan -- I forgot to comment on your "replacing the compressor" comment. I have to laugh because I have had the exact same thoughts.
I own a 4-gal CH compressor. I justified the purchase about 10 years ago to install some molding and I have gone fully pneumatic ever since. It works great..., the controls are not very friendly and I needed to made "riser feet" for it so that that I had room to open the drain plug, but I can't justify replacing it for the purpose of a conversion HVLP gun when it seems that turbine systems are superior.
Gang,
I had similiar experiences with Lemmer's HVLP conversion gun (G928): it worked wonderfully when hooked to my friend's high-CFM compressor, but poorly on my CH "standard-duty" compressor. Rather than upgrade to a more capable compressor, I decided to take the plunge and purchase a Fuji Q4 Pro, 4-stage HVLP unit... and am entirely impressed with the quality of finish I've been able to achieve. I shoot almost exclusively waterborne finishes (stains, lacquers, poly and shellac) in my basement workshop's finishing room. I've still much to learn about spray finishing, but would agree entirely with others' recommendations that you seldom go far wrong by buying quality-built equipment.
Planeround
Planearound -- I have heard very good things about Fuji sprayers... perhaps even better than Turbinaire.
Your unit is selling for $879 on Amazon... did you also need additional accessories for specific applications?
The supplier threw in the spares kit (gaskets, air filter, etc.). I elected to buy the 1mm needle assembly, which turned out to be a good decision, especially when I'm spraying really thin materials, such as watered-down shellac.
The unit is my second HVLP system and I'm more impressed with it than I was my first, which was a Lemmer conversion gun.... but again, the Lemmer's a fine gun but my compressor was holding it back.
You may wish to visit the Target Finishing website, wherein there's somewhat of a manual describing how to use some of their products. The author of that manual outlines how he had some non-HVLP users use his turbine and a few others by other manufacturers - as well as a conversion HVLP gun - and what sort of ratings they gave the various systems. That article revealed what I had suspected, and that is that once you're into the higher-end equipment, I don't believe that there's an awful lot of difference in what quality of finish you'll be able to achieve, from one to the next.
I would highly recommend you contact your local woodworkers club and see if you can get one or more of their members to show you their systems and hopefully let you do a bit of trial spraying in their shop. That's how I selected my second system - the Fuji - and as alluded to, I'm really happy with it.
Planeround
After looking at the specs and prices, I would lean toward the Fuji Q4 over the Turbinair. The only thing I can see that the Turbineair offers over the Q4 is variable speed turbines. If I understand correctly, however, this is controlled at the machine itself, not the gun, making it very difficult to adjust while also setting the flow, etc on the gun. The Q4 is also a heck of a lot quieter. Now if I can convince my wife to let me shell out the $$$.
Just for your info, the Fuji comes with a valve, located right at the quick connect (where the hose connects to the gun...), that's used to dynamically adjust the air entering the gun. I use this all of the time and love it. In fact, I just came up from my shop where I was spraying the oak edging on a countertop I'm doing for a client. You guessed it, I had to tweak the air pressure down just a tad, as I changed from lacquer to polyurethane. The Q4 Pro is indeed a super set-up.
You may also want to buy the flex hose that you can connect between the heavy hose that comes with the unit and the gun. That way you'll have more maneauverability and it's much lighter than the regular hose. By the way, the heavy hose has a rather pungent odor to it, that doesn't ever seem to go away!
Planeround
Planearound -- Thanks for the advice. I have read some reviews on Amazon and planned to purchase the flex hose based on similar feedback posted there. It sounds like this should be a standard item.
Someone also stated that the mini 3-cup set is very good to have. Do you have these?
Do you stick with the standard tip for all of your work? (I think it is the #4?) (Forgive me if you already stated this somewhere in this thread.)
Alan, attached is a pict of the dual motor turbine systems I've built. Built five of these with Fuji and CH guns. I get 10psi with both motors running. Will spray latex paint with ease.
DJK
DJK,
Thank you. Only problem is I am not sure what I am looking at. How difficult would it be for me to build such? I could probably build it, but where would I get parts and how much would it cost total?
Is it HVLP?
Thanks,
Alan - planesaw
You should write this up in detail and FW should publish. We could all learn a lot.
NC, go here http://forums.taunton.com/n/find/findRedir.asp?webtag=fw-knots&mg=06481E11-7C1D-4E39-8901-D103373E152BI did pitch this to FW but they said "it does not pertain to fine wood working". Maybe if I used tiger maple with dovetails and a french polish finish. I've posted the picts and instructions about a half dozen times.DJK
DJK,
In a post you mention you have provided instructions elsewhere as to how to build what you have.
Any chance you would be willing to share again? What would it cost to build such?
Thanks,
Alan - planesaw
Alan, the box with two motors will run about about $225 plus the cost of a gun and hose about $250 more. Here are the basic instructions;- Motors are both Ametek 5.7Ó dia., by-pass tangential discharge
- three stage #116765-00
- two stage #119-412-13
- both are rated 500 hour average life
- Ametek also makes 7.2Ó dia. motors with a 700 hour average life. Make sure the motors are Òby-passÓ design NOT Òflow thruÓ. By-pass have a fan on the commutator end to help cool the motor.
- The 1/2Ó MDF box is 17Ó x 9Ó x 12 1/2Ó for the motors listed. If different motors are used resize the box.
- Air filter is a Fram #CA3915. The two round filters are non woven nylon scuff pads cut to fit over the cooling fans.
- Two 15 amp on/off switches
- Use a 12 ga. power cord.
- The box just holds the motors and filters. ItÕs a cut and fit to build operation. The output of the two stage is connected to the input of the three stage. The three is bolted to the center divider over a 2Ó hole and the two is bolted to the back panel. The outlet of the two is press fit into the divider hole. The two stage holes for the cooling fans, with the nylon pads, are rabbeted to hold the filters. You can use any method or type of filters, they are for course material, not like the Fram type. The main Fram filter is over a 2Ó hole. Build a frame for it and screw it to the box.
- Hose connector. Use a metal funnel cut to fit over the outlet of the three stage and use silicone to seal it. The other end is cut to accept a hose connector. I use a 3/4Ó PVC threaded male hose pipe epoxied to the funnel.
- Wire a switch to each motor and connect them in parallel to the power cord. DONÕT wire the motors in series, they will run half speed.
- I purchase motors from Nationwide Sales and Service 800-555-4493, http://www.shopnss.com. If you have a Granger catalog , they list specs. on the motors but their prices are high. Go to the Ametek web site and check specs. and dealers. Get a three stage with high ÒliftÓ spec. Those will produce the highest psi.
- Hope this helps. Contact me with questions.
- I use a bleeder type gun. If a non-bleed gun is used, a relief valve can be installed at the hose to box connection. It will open when the trigger is not pressed and close when in use.
- You can use a router speed control to vari the air output.DJK
A little late in getting to this original message, but... I bought a Turbinaire a couple of years ago and it has worked great for a variety of finishes including latex. For me it was worth the cost. Takes a little practice to get the spray correct but after that no problem.
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