It is … Adjust the knob on the side of the spray gun to the width of spray pattern you want to achieve with the paint, and then adjust the paint volume control knob on the top of the spray gun to its half-open setting. #2. NOTE: Rustoleum now heavily pushes a product line that is water based. Thread Tools. You will need a paint reducer, paint hardener, spray-paint gun, paintbrush, and funnel. After a brief explanation of how the gun works, I was told that if 'blobs' are shot out of the gun even after thinning, I am not getting proper atomization. It is not particularly suitable for painting … How to Thin Paint for Spray Gun - Measuring Viscosity - Ozito tool tips This was a time when calling a product “enamel paint” was a powerful marketing move. How to Spray Latex Paint with HVLP? Think of thickness in terms of being thin and runny like water or thick and syrupy like honey. Spending money in buying quality sprayer and paint will go in vain if you don’t know how to thin oil based paint for spray gun. Acetone: is possible but not recommended. Refill the spray gun and test the paint again. Fill the paint cup with enamel paint and attach to the HVLP Spray Gun. Why Should You Thin Enamel Paint: Then you can use additives or water for thinning the paint. This along with some 2.0mm gravity feed guns is available on my Amazon store at or directly at I selected the guns simply by reading the star ratings and honed in … Pour all of your paint into the bucket that you intend to use for that day. To sum up, thinning paint for spray gun can be a bit tricky. Follow our directions below and you will be spraying latex paint in no time. Mix the thinner in the right amount properly and make sure the consistency is just right to cover a surface. Any Acrylic Enamel Hardener will work. I've found about 25 percent thinner works about right for HVLP spray, but notice that when it … Link to … It is a good idea to buy extra paint for future touch-ups, too, as finding the same color could prove to be difficult later on. I would recommend two thin coats rather than one thick one. The purpose of thinning is to improve viscosity and allow for easier spreading out and about a given surface. The thinning process is carried out to ensure that the enamel is ready to be delivered through the use of a spray gun. Add ½ cup of water to the paint for every gallon of paint that … Does this paint generally need to be thinned from the can? First, go to an area where it does not matter if you have a spill while you are transferring the paint and mixing the paint. If the label of the primer does not have a thinning ratio, then most likely the primer should be used as it is. Acetone can dissolve plastic, for example. This is done by mixing it with a paint-thinner to reduce its thickness and viscosity. Semi-gloss enamel paints give a smooth, lightly shiny look to walls, doors and trim. Cans of compressed air can be used but work out very expensive in the long run. Enamel is simple oil-based paints that are ready to use. How To Thin Latex Paint for an HVLP Spray Gun . It is also a good … I want to paint my restored Wisconsin engine with Valspar tractor and implement enamel with hardener from Farm & Fleet. The paint needs to pass easily through the gun's nozzle to achieve an even color across your auto's surface. Continue adding thinner until the paint sprays evenly and easily out of the gun or until you reach the maximum amount of thinner the manufacturer specifies. Thanks for any advice. Observe the paint again; if it’s accurate, your thin paint is ready. Guests; Share; Posted December 3, 2008. Like, cleaning walls for painting as smooth layers as possible. Usually, water based paints need less air than lacquer or enamel paints. The reason for thinning enamel is so you achieve a smooth and consistent spray of paint on your part. Use enamel … I have used a product called "The Wet Look". I was concerned because like Paula said the paint will start to get too thick from just being opened and painted with the brush. Thinner: Can be Used For Enamel Paints: Water: Yes, but only if Enamel Paint is water-based. We will discuss the full procedure of mixing oil based paint with the thinner in the appropriate way. Thread: Enamel paint and thinning (for spray) question. The average range used is 40-80 PSI. Acetone can be used for cleaning off enamel paints from brushes and other surfaces but if it is used as a thinner it can come to complications. Thinned it with what? That is what I had experienced so I have been using paint thinner to thin it a bit. Gentlemen, How do you know when a paint is thin enough to use in a spray gun? Reseal the cap, and then adjust the pressure of the spray gun to 20 pounds per square inch. Put some thinned enamel paint in a spray gun, and spray some paint on the selected spot. Two brands are Thin your automotive paint to a more appropriate consistency before you attempt to airbrush for an … Then adjust the regulator on the handle. If the paint is too thick, it won’t come out like spray. What you are painting is important to a certain extent, but more important is what you are painting with. Then I noticed that it seemed to take longer for the paint to harden. Spray Equipment. Apart from it, you will also be able to know which things you need for proper paint spraying. Latex paint is a water-based paint. From here, you know which one requires more water to be thinned. Total paint nerds unite! Oil based paint uses petroleum-based solvent as its medium, while latex paint uses water as its medium [source: JoePullaroInc].Until recently, you could only spray with oil-based paints, since they were thinner than latex paint, did not dry so quickly and did not clog the spray gun's nozzle. Show Printable Version; 07-18-2007, 10:21 AM #1. Guest BJM. Spray cans suitable for small jobs come pre-mixed, but when you apply acrylic enamel with spray equipment, you should always thin it with the reducer recommended by the manufacturer. View Profile View Forum Posts Diamond Join Date Dec 2000 Location Coastal Dogpatch, SC, USA Posts 51,479 Post Thanks / Like Likes (Given) 2952 Likes (Received) 5833. Step 3 Set the fluid volume … If the proportion is not okay, then add some more thinner and put the mixture in the spray gun. Enamel vs Latex Paint; How To Thin Paint for a Paint Sprayer. Jump to Latest Follow 1 - 20 of 41 Posts. I was just trying to apply color rather than protection, but it was my first time with the spray gun, so it wasn't perfect. Thinning to a consistency of milk will provide you with a good starting point. Acetone is not a thinning agent, so if you use it as … Unless you are spraying acrylic enamel from a can, you will need an air spray gun … Gun and hose kits; Paint hoses; Spray guns; Tips and housing; Tip extensions; Filters; Fittings #4. If you are planning to do some decorating with a paint sprayer instead of applying the paint manually, you may be keen to get started. It took me weeks to work up the courage to actually put that gun together and open that paint can. With this Table, we will give a quick overview of all thinners that can and cannot be used to thin Enamel Paints. Stirring the Paint Thinning automotive paint is necessary before using a spray gun to apply the paint. The latex enamel may be difficult to work with. It is generally thicker than oil-based paint and it must be thinned with water, especially if you intend to distribute a thin mist of paint over a surface using a paint spray gun or nozzle. Armed with bits and pieces of info on how to go about painting high gloss, I ordered my first quart of Fine Paints of Europe Hollandlac Brilliant oil enamel, a little paint spray gun and a little air compressor. Enamel at that time was known as vitreous shell surface of porcelain and ceramic tiles which were impermeable, sanitary and very tough. So if an Acetone diluted Enamel Paint is used on plastic it can come to complications. How to Thin Latex Paint For a Spray Gun. Remember not to be too aggressive in adding water or thinner to your material. Thinning Rustoleum paint to spray w/ gun. Instead use 100% acrylic enamel paint. In most cases you want to start by thinning your enamel paint to the consistency of milk. Does not work with Oil Based Enamel Paints! Open the paint reservoir cap of the HVLP spray gun and pour the paint mix in. With a spray gun, you can use enamel paint on the model. For example, if you are painting a small panel or a motorcycle gas tank, you should use a … If you add more than … When spraying paint with a compressed air spray gun – whether gravity feed or siphon feed, conventional or High Volume Low Pressure (HVLP) – it’s important to have the gun set up properly for the job. Things You will Need. Turpentine: is Possible but is definitely not recommended! Step I: Thin the paint; Even before you start out, you have to thin the paint. Spray a test panel to check … 2. If you did not just get the paint from the store where it was shaken by the paint mixing machine, then you stir that paint making sure that you get the paint in the bottom of the can to … Don’t forget your low-tack masking film, which you should use for not damaging the ‘model’. Milacron. Acetone can thin Enamel Paints but it is not recommended to use Acetone as a thinner. How to thin latex paint for your HVLP, gravity feed or cordless sprayer etc., is the same regardless of the type of paint sprayer you are using. This flow property of a fluid is called viscosity – it’s considered low when the fluid is thin, and high when it’s thick. 1; 2; 3 ... For example, their "high temperature black semi-gloss enamel" shoots as a fair match to GM OEM A6 compressor paint (which was enamel - NOT lacquer like so much of everything else under the hood of a 60's GM product.) When the finish is too thick for the spray gun you’re using, it will come out slowly (if at all) and will spatter – creating little visible droplets that produce a bumpy finish. View at: In this video, I show you how to measure the viscosity of paint, using a #4 Ford Cup. PRAYING LATEX PAINT atex paint (the kind normally used with a brush or roller) is a difficult medium for most spray guns, but you e thinned for HVLP spraying, and typically 5-10% works for pressure feed, while 10% or furniture use, do not use latex wall paint. You will also need a compressor with a tank and filters to provide a constant supply of air. However, you may need to thin the enamel more or less depending on the pattern you’re looking for, and the way your airbrush acts. Paint thinning requires care in order to arrive at the right viscosity for application and to avoid over-thinning the paint. The wrong reducer can lead to defects such as dripping, separating and a bumpy texture known as eggshell. Guest BJM Posted December 3, 2008. In this case, you may add a small amount of Floetrol additive and a small amount of water to aid in thinning the paint. If the paint is too thick, you won't have an even flow out of the airbrush gun and the gun will continually get clogged. You can get hardeners on ebay pretty cheap. Thin the paint with water and mix well before spraying. Air pressure, also known as PSI (pounds per square inch of pressure), can vary depending on the gun and material being used. How to Thin a Semi-Gloss Enamel. If you are thinking of mixing oiled based paint and using a spray gun, … However, there are things you need to do before opening paint. I have always used a spray can in the past but this engine is special to me. Also, for thinning purposes, read the instructions carefully. But when it’s the right viscosity, the spray … The general rule for how much to thin oil based paint for a spray gun is to remove about 1.5 cups of primer from a 1-gallon can and then add 1.5 cups of thinning agent to the product. Insufficient thinning results in the paint coming out of the spray gun in unsightly blobs or not at all. Higher quality latex paint usually is thicker than those with lower quality. These days … Link to post Share on other sites. Make sure to read the paint can and gun instructions to see what the recommended PSI is. Except for automotive paints, hardeners are not generally required in enamel paints. See if the paint and thinner are equally mixed or not. The origin of enamel paint was in the 1800s when the paints were less reliable and whitewash paints were known to smudge off. If you're familiar with your gun, you should have no problems. Step 3: Fill the gun with paint #1. In my previous video, “Mixing Paint & Filling a Spray Gun, Small Shop Spray Painting Part V” I simply guessed when I thought I had it thin enough.