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Author Topic:   Air Supply and Spray Gun For Gel Coat Resin

flboy0638 posted 12-23-2010 09:27 PM ET (US)
I just bought an air compressor tonight. I hope it will be strong enough for me to spray [Spectrum Desert Tan] gel coat [on a NEWPORT 17]. What do you guys think? It is a 2-HP 8-gallon 125-PSI portable electric air compressor Model 67501 from Harbour Freight. Any advice you might have is welcome.
Jeff posted 12-23-2010 09:40 PM ET (US)
It will work fine for a small area, but it will lose too much pressure over time to give you the sustained PSI to do a large spraying. In other words, if you have, say, a three-foot-square area it will be fine; an entire hull, no way.
Jeff posted 12-23-2010 10:03 PM ET (US)
If you are looking to do an entire hull or, a like large job I would consider this at an absolute minimum. The larger tank will help to hold a greater pressure over extended uses like spraying.
I would recommend more powerful unit like this though. It will make your life and the project much easier.
http://www.chpower.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ chPrd3_10051_10001_106413_-1_10646_10692_
This one would be better.
http:/ / www. northerntool. com/ shop/ tools/ product_200396622_20039662 2?cm_sp=Upsells-_-Top%20Sellers-_-Product%20Page
One like this would be preferred.
http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200375221_200375221
flboy0638 posted 12-23-2010 10:50 PM ET (US)
I [am] glad I asked. I [am] taking back [the compressor I bought and] getting a bigger one.
[What is] your favorite [spray] gun for doing an entire boat?
Jeff posted 12-23-2010 11:43 PM ET (US)
Buy the best gun you can afford. DO NOT get one at Harbor Freight. Every single time I have bought a gun or anything that had to do with spraying from them I have been left very disappointed.
I would recommend a gravity feed HVLP gun. A larger tip size is going to be better for spraying gel coat resin.
Good
http:/ / www. northerntool. com/ shop/ tools/ product_200319459_20031945 9?cm_sp=Upsells-_-Top%20Sellers-_-Product%20Page
http:/ / www. northerntool. com/ shop/ tools/ product_200320615_20032061 5?cm_sp=Upsells-_-Top%20Sellers-_-Product%20Page
Better
http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200353774_200353774
Best
http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200355935_200355935
BTW, Have you already bought your gel-coat from Spectrum?
modenacart posted 12-24-2010 11:02 AM ET (US)
It really depends on how you plan on spraying. I mixed my gel coat with 50% duratec and a gun with a 1.4 mm tip gave much better results. There was far less orange peel.
modenacart posted 12-24-2010 11:07 AM ET (US)
I used a gun that was about $50 and I bought it from carquest. I don't think you need a $200 gun because you have to sand and polish anyway.
contender posted 12-24-2010 01:19 PM ET (US)
Harbor Freight = Garbage Freight. I'm not saying that everything they have is junk, but most of it is. Jeff is correct you need a sprayer/compressor that can handle a large job and maintain pressure. You are going to have to spend some coin on a good gun, purchasing junk is what you will end up with,junk. If you plan to shoot paint, I think its best to do it from a pressure tank than a gun. 1st of all it holds a lot of paint, second the weight of the gun is cut in half. Also if you mix a color you will have plenty in the tank so you do not run out....Noel
modenacart posted 12-24-2010 03:43 PM ET (US)
I wouldn't mix more than a pint at a time. I would mix a pint, spray, rinse and spray acetone. After two pints, I would take the gun apart and clean. I got very good results with my $50 gun.
modenacart posted 12-24-2010 03:44 PM ET (US)
I would spray the acetone into bucket. Also, acetone is not considered harmful by the EPA so don't worry about getting on the ground.
captainbrent posted 12-30-2010 06:12 PM ET (US)
I re-gelcoated at least 25% maybe more of a 13' whaler 2 years ago in my side yard. I have a true 5 Hp air compressor (220 20 amp) with a 16 gal tank. The air compressor ran a lot while I was spraying the boat, not continuously, but almost. What I learned: Be sure to use the repair cream to fill any areas that you have repaired or you will end up with pin holes in the final product. Spray a lot of material so it looks glassy or you will have a lot of sanding with 600+ paper to get the final product smooth. As Modenacart stated clean your gun often and mix small amounts of gelcoat, as it sets up quickly. You will find yourself spraying and cleaning with acetone like a crazy man. Don't spend a lot of money on the gun.. and practice first before you shoot the boat. Good Luck.
Binkster posted 12-30-2010 08:46 PM ET (US)
I prefer Awlgrip. A lot easier to spray and no after work.
modenacart posted 12-31-2010 09:45 AM ET (US)
I would calculate how much you need to spray before you start.
flboy0638 posted 01-18-2011 02:02 AM ET (US)
Calculate: 17 ft Newport Boston Whaler
I am thinking of going with Awlgrip. Easier on the compressor as it is not as thick as gel and not as much sanding. Still debating..
dino54904 posted 01-19-2011 01:06 PM ET (US)
I used Awlgrip Awlcraft 2000 in Oyster color on my Outrage. After four years of use I am very pleased with the results. The paint was easy to apply, needed little or no wet sanding, needs no waxing and has been durable.
modenacart posted 01-23-2011 09:13 AM ET (US)
Calculate means to calculate the sq-ft and then how much volume to get the thickness you want. I did mine in sections to help keep this more accurate.

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Author	Topic: Air Supply and Spray Gun For Gel Coat Resin
flboy0638	posted 12-23-2010 09:27 PM ET (US) I just bought an air compressor tonight. I hope it will be strong enough for me to spray [Spectrum Desert Tan] gel coat [on a NEWPORT 17]. What do you guys think? It is a 2-HP 8-gallon 125-PSI portable electric air compressor Model 67501 from Harbour Freight. Any advice you might have is welcome.
Jeff	posted 12-23-2010 09:40 PM ET (US) It will work fine for a small area, but it will lose too much pressure over time to give you the sustained PSI to do a large spraying. In other words, if you have, say, a three-foot-square area it will be fine; an entire hull, no way.
Jeff	posted 12-23-2010 10:03 PM ET (US) If you are looking to do an entire hull or, a like large job I would consider this at an absolute minimum. The larger tank will help to hold a greater pressure over extended uses like spraying. I would recommend more powerful unit like this though. It will make your life and the project much easier. http://www.chpower.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ chPrd3_10051_10001_106413_-1_10646_10692_ This one would be better. http:/ / www. northerntool. com/ shop/ tools/ product_200396622_20039662 2?cm_sp=Upsells-_-Top%20Sellers-_-Product%20Page One like this would be preferred. http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200375221_200375221
flboy0638	posted 12-23-2010 10:50 PM ET (US) I [am] glad I asked. I [am] taking back [the compressor I bought and] getting a bigger one. [What is] your favorite [spray] gun for doing an entire boat?
Jeff	posted 12-23-2010 11:43 PM ET (US) Buy the best gun you can afford. DO NOT get one at Harbor Freight. Every single time I have bought a gun or anything that had to do with spraying from them I have been left very disappointed. I would recommend a gravity feed HVLP gun. A larger tip size is going to be better for spraying gel coat resin. Good http:/ / www. northerntool. com/ shop/ tools/ product_200319459_20031945 9?cm_sp=Upsells-_-Top%20Sellers-_-Product%20Page http:/ / www. northerntool. com/ shop/ tools/ product_200320615_20032061 5?cm_sp=Upsells-_-Top%20Sellers-_-Product%20Page Better http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200353774_200353774 Best http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200355935_200355935 BTW, Have you already bought your gel-coat from Spectrum?
modenacart	posted 12-24-2010 11:02 AM ET (US) It really depends on how you plan on spraying. I mixed my gel coat with 50% duratec and a gun with a 1.4 mm tip gave much better results. There was far less orange peel.
modenacart	posted 12-24-2010 11:07 AM ET (US) I used a gun that was about $50 and I bought it from carquest. I don't think you need a $200 gun because you have to sand and polish anyway.
contender	posted 12-24-2010 01:19 PM ET (US) Harbor Freight = Garbage Freight. I'm not saying that everything they have is junk, but most of it is. Jeff is correct you need a sprayer/compressor that can handle a large job and maintain pressure. You are going to have to spend some coin on a good gun, purchasing junk is what you will end up with,junk. If you plan to shoot paint, I think its best to do it from a pressure tank than a gun. 1st of all it holds a lot of paint, second the weight of the gun is cut in half. Also if you mix a color you will have plenty in the tank so you do not run out....Noel
modenacart	posted 12-24-2010 03:43 PM ET (US) I wouldn't mix more than a pint at a time. I would mix a pint, spray, rinse and spray acetone. After two pints, I would take the gun apart and clean. I got very good results with my $50 gun.
modenacart	posted 12-24-2010 03:44 PM ET (US) I would spray the acetone into bucket. Also, acetone is not considered harmful by the EPA so don't worry about getting on the ground.
captainbrent	posted 12-30-2010 06:12 PM ET (US) I re-gelcoated at least 25% maybe more of a 13' whaler 2 years ago in my side yard. I have a true 5 Hp air compressor (220 20 amp) with a 16 gal tank. The air compressor ran a lot while I was spraying the boat, not continuously, but almost. What I learned: Be sure to use the repair cream to fill any areas that you have repaired or you will end up with pin holes in the final product. Spray a lot of material so it looks glassy or you will have a lot of sanding with 600+ paper to get the final product smooth. As Modenacart stated clean your gun often and mix small amounts of gelcoat, as it sets up quickly. You will find yourself spraying and cleaning with acetone like a crazy man. Don't spend a lot of money on the gun.. and practice first before you shoot the boat. Good Luck.
Binkster	posted 12-30-2010 08:46 PM ET (US) I prefer Awlgrip. A lot easier to spray and no after work.
modenacart	posted 12-31-2010 09:45 AM ET (US) I would calculate how much you need to spray before you start.
flboy0638	posted 01-18-2011 02:02 AM ET (US) Calculate: 17 ft Newport Boston Whaler I am thinking of going with Awlgrip. Easier on the compressor as it is not as thick as gel and not as much sanding. Still debating..
dino54904	posted 01-19-2011 01:06 PM ET (US) I used Awlgrip Awlcraft 2000 in Oyster color on my Outrage. After four years of use I am very pleased with the results. The paint was easy to apply, needed little or no wet sanding, needs no waxing and has been durable.
modenacart	posted 01-23-2011 09:13 AM ET (US) Calculate means to calculate the sq-ft and then how much volume to get the thickness you want. I did mine in sections to help keep this more accurate.