HVLP info

[doubt at inwave.com (Nate Mellom)]

Mark,
I restore furniture for a living, and I use a HVLP setup everyday.  We 
have a Binks gun and American Turbine, the total setup package was 
something like $550.  The gun alone is $350. 
The basicsL
HVLP (high volume, low pressure) uses a self-contained turbine 
(basically a vacuum cleaner in reverse) to provide air to the gun via a 
5/8" air hose.  No compessor is needed.  HVLP, since it's lower 
pressure, but uses a lot of volume of air compared to a 
compressor-driven system, creates a very smooth, even spray with minimal 
over-spray, since the material is hitting the piece being sprayed at a 
lower speed.  The gun is very nice because of it's adjustability.  You 
can put on a lot of material very fast if you open up the air and 
material flow valves wide open, but with the right combination of 
settings you can almost use a good HVLP gun for air-brushing. 

I would recommend a good name (Binks and American Turbine are pretty big 
dollar, Pro setups), or a recognizable name like Campbell Hausfield or 
Accuspray (the one you are looking at).  Make sure the gun has stainless 
internals, so you can spray water and latex-based materials.  Don't get 
one of those crappy plastic econo-models you can pick up for $50.  I use 
a siphon type gun (air pressure pressurizes the cup, which is under the 
gun, and forces the material up the intake tube and into the airstream), 
but a lot of guys like gravity feed guns.  The only downside to a GFG is 
you have to make sure the gun is upright, or you'll starve the gun of 
material and get crappy results.

If I think of any more pertinent info I'll be sure and pass it along.

Nate