Spray Can finishing

After any comments about which brand / model / version spray can finish is good on wooden display boxes, platters etc - non food contact items - using both softwood and hardwood timbers. Finish either semi gloss or gloss , clear as well as coloured but mainly clear.

Toying with the idea of a spray gun setup, but not justified really as most items are oil / wax finishes if not raw.

Thanks for all comments - if minor brand product, please suggest a local Brisbane supplier if possible

Regards

UPO - Richard

You probably need to determine what sort of finish you want before the gun to apply it. There is no one right answer to your questions. Nitro lacquer, polyurethane, varnish, shellac, oil/wax, oil. They all require a different approach, and mostly, gun.

What do you want to achieve?

You could try something like a Preval sprayer, they are cheap to buy but each canister is around $15 but it is super convenient and you can throw the empties in the recycler-

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Preval Spray Gun By Preval

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$22.95

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Preval Spray Gun by Preval - The Preval Spray Gun is a versatile spray applicator for all kinds of liquids. The sprayer is designed to spray an ultrafine mist ideal for latent print development. Preval sprayers require an additional surcharge to ship by air. Power units are disposable and when depleted can simply be replaced with a new power unit. Each Preval Spray Gun comes with a refillable container jar that can hold any fluid you choose. An included power unit attaches to the top of the bottle and sprays up to 473.1m

Thanks Tom - occasionally have the need to apply a clear finish in either gloss or semi gloss. Mostly smallish items - boxes, platters ( non food ) childrens furniture when not brightly coloured.

Looking at a " better" spray can product if there is one - for the area to be finished, a spray gun is to my thinking at this stage, overkill as I expect the finish wasted by leaving too long between uses and the waste left in the gun & pot just to spray a small box as well as the time issue seems not worth it. Am I wrong in my thinking ?

Thanks

UPO - Richard

Thanks Ubernoob - never heard of the Preval system - will follow up - all options considered.

Regards

UPO - Richard

Hi Richard,

If it's a spray lacquer you're after you could try Mirotone Spraylac - comes in rattle cans from Timbecon, Carbatec or some luthiers' supply places. In a can they don't do anything with a higher sheen than satin - called satin gloss I think, but it looks satin to me. It's pre-cat lacquer, dries almost instantly.

There is a gloss Spraylac, I believe, but that doesn't come in rattle cans.

Brian

Hi, I use Wattyl pressure pack cans, in a semi gloss. To save a lot of spray can use, apply a coat of sanding sealer, end grains may require an extra coat.
When you decide to go for a spray outfit, look at using Stylewood, I think it's a Wattyl product also. Can be left in the gun for a while with out drying out.
Mixing it with the required thinner, dries really quick. If you don't want to go the compressor route for painting, have a look at the electric spray guns.
Kryn

Just had a look at another forum - wood turning - and in reply to an issue with applying finishes, it was suggested that an airbrush may be worth a go - anyone able to comment ?

Only had a quick look at the Supercheap web site and they show 2 units - know nothing more than that but the small capacity and simple design looks as though may be worth it for smallish boxes and platters etc.

All comments appreciated

Thanks

UPO - Richard

I bought one and used it twice, you'd be able to pens with it but a mini/repair type spray gun would be a better option.

For car stuff I have an Iwata W400(pretty sure), I am rubbish at painting but to me it seems like a nice gun, I also have an Iwata Kustom TR airbrush, it was a really stupid purchase on my part, was pretty spendy too!

Looks like this-

http://www.tiendaracingcolors.com/We...OLUTION_TR.jpg

Quote:

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Originally Posted by UPO

Thanks Tom - occasionally have the need to apply a clear finish in either gloss or semi gloss. Mostly smallish items - boxes, platters ( non food ) childrens furniture when not brightly coloured.

Looking at a " better" spray can product if there is one - for the area to be finished, a spray gun is to my thinking at this stage, overkill as I expect the finish wasted by leaving too long between uses and the waste left in the gun & pot just to spray a small box as well as the time issue seems not worth it. Am I wrong in my thinking ?

Thanks

UPO - Richard

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For SPRAYING CLEAR, then, Yep, you are wrong. If you already have a compressor then get yourself a spray gun and learn to use it. It doesn't have to be expensive - have a look at the Star guns priced about $150.

There is very little waste involved. Just buy small quantities. One 4ltr can of nitro sealer and one of precat gloss finish. It will have a shelf life of a couple of years so you should be able to use it in that time.

The time thing is an issue but you have it the wrong way round. Spray guns are the time saver. Quick setup and quick cleanup with minimal waste age. Very fast drying nitro means you can do coats about 30 mins apart too. And the main thing is once you are finished you are finished - no going back to touch up just this one little bit like with wipe-on poly or shellac.

For the small items you mention, you don't need a powerful compressor. 2hp / 25 litre at a pinch but 2.5hp / 50 litre is better.

Spray cans can be good but it's an expensive way to go.FWIW, I use Spray Easy brand - largely because they are the cheapest brand I know I can get a good finish out of. They dry very quickly, 10 mins till touch dry so as fast as lacquer. Silky smooth finish straight out of the can.

COLOURED finishes are different. If you need a variety of colours then rattle cans probably are the way to go.

And no, an airbrush is NOT good for finishing - unless you have a lot of spare time. Air brushes are made for detail work - not for flat areas. Also nothing that comes out of an airbrush self-levels - it's too dry for that due to fine nozzles and large air volume.

if you must go small, look for a touch up gun, but really a standard gun can do everything a touch up gun can and be just as neat.

So really, a modest compressor, a moderately priced gun, and a commitment to learn is all you need. Disregard the advice you will no doubt receive about needing a humungus compressor and a spray booth and other fancy gear.

Cheers
Arron

Sorry, I forgot. You will need a water trap too. I use the $12 from Bunnings and have not had a problem, though I acknowledge that people spraying larger areas usually seem to end up using something much more costly.

I use this ..... Septone Aerosol Paint - Acrylic, Clear Topcoat, 400g - Supercheap Auto ..... for my boxes

Leaves a lovely smooth mirror finish and does about 3 boxes and is very convenient. No need for compressors, spray guns etc

+1 for the Preval system. Sometimes use that too but you have to thin the lacquer, shellac, poly etc a little more than normal but it works well.

No one has mentioned the Wagner spray guns? Are they worth considering?

Hi UPO,

You can buy Preval from Supercheap Auto too. Same price as the craft online place. They definitely have a place and the cost of guns, compressors etc soon adds up if you are doing a small number of small jobs.

I have used spray lacquer for some small jobs I have done recently and the results are pretty darned good. The automotive grade lacquer from Supercheap is much better than what you can buy in Bunnings in my experience.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by barri

I use this ..... Septone Aerosol Paint - Acrylic, Clear Topcoat, 400g - Supercheap Auto ..... for my boxes

Leaves a lovely smooth mirror finish and does about 3 boxes and is very convenient. No need for compressors, spray guns etc

+1 for the Preval system. Sometimes use that too but you have to thin the lacquer, shellac, poly etc a little more than normal but it works well.

No one has mentioned the Wagner spray guns? Are they worth considering?

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I have 5 of the Wagner guns including the 'fine finish'. None of them is suitable for fine finishing. If painting outdoor furniture or a fence then they are good.

I also have the Wagner Wallperfect. It baffles me how they can get away with so relentlessly overselling the system.

Cheers
Arron