More than one pass when HVLP doors with latex paint?

[BeM81]

Hi all,

Is it okay to do more than one pass with a HVLP gun? After a steep learning curve I think I'm almost there but wondering if I'm drying out the paint by doing more than one pass.

I'm using a 3 stage Apollo 1500 with 2mm tip. I'm diluting Dulux Trade quick drying gloss with around 65% water and 20% Floetrol. I've had some of the famous orange peel effect so keeping it nice and thin which seems workable. I'm trying to keep the flow of paint to a minimal as well so to maximise atomisation. I have the doors laid flat and trying to get a nice even sheen by doing multiple passes with some pause of a minute or two between and then drying with a fan afterwards. I say the fan is the best thing ever for nice even drying.

Any comments or pointers appreciated. Especially regarding the paint I'm using, not sure if there's a better one to use perhaps.

 

[Robbie uk]

You can always thin with warmer water and use slightly less. This will thin it without destroying its covering capabilities.

 

[BeM81]

You can always thin with warmer water and use slightly less. This will thin it without destroying its covering capabilities.

I'll give that a go. I mix my paint with water and Floetrol the day before just because I've had problems with air bubbles when doing it the same day. I give it a light stir before use however I've heard of recently placing the scuttle in warm water helps to warm it up.

 

[Robbie uk]

You can get paint warmers, although a cheap croc pot casserole warmer does the same thing and can be picked up cheap. If it can be thinned by heat rather than adding something into the paint it will keep more of its covering properties.

 

[opps]

the likes of Morrells make a range of waterbased sprayable finishes.

www.morrells.co.uk/waterborne-lacquers-fastmatch-colours/

Their tech support will be able to give you pointers. I only spray Acid Cat with my Fuji HVLP and thus can not help other than agreeing that heat will help to make the paint more viscous.

 

[BeM81]

Thanks @opps I'll take a look. Yes, I had a play with warming the premixed paint up in a bucket of hot water. I was able to add much more paint my doing so.