Automobile Information & Articles

Conventional high-pressure spray painting yields a transfer efficiency of about 20-25%, which means 75-80% of the paint is wasted. To meet new government regulations, heavy industry developed new High Volume Low Pressure (HVLP) systems that are about three times more efficient (75-80% efficiency) than traditional sprayers. Quality paint is very expensive, so a system will justify its costs with one or two big jobs (such as a house or collector car).

Home shop paint over spray is more than just an unnecessary expense, it's one of the most difficult and messy nuisances in a restoration project. The acid- etch primers, which bite into everything from freshly finished fenders to your tool box, tools spare parts&every piece in its path (old style lacquer primers used to dust off the surfaces). Controlling over spray is a big help in keeping your shop clean.

An HVLP system lets you use techniques developed for heavy industry in a home shop. As you help preserve a healthy environment, you also save a considerable amount of time and money.

How It Works
A relatively simple but high-speed turbine fan draws air though a replacement filter. It's forced through several stages resulting in a high volume flow pressure (less than 7 PSI) air. Since air heats up as it is compressed, the air that is delivered is warm and dry, ideal for spraying paint.

In "conventional" high-pressure (35 to 80 psi) systems, as the compressed air is triggered out of the gun, it expands. This "blasting " effect, while good for atomizing paint, also propels the paint particles. The result is over spray, poor transfer efficiency and high material usage. Too both the oil and water that conventional air compressors spit out are eliminated. No oil is drawn into the air stream and the turbine delivers constant temperature, humidity, air pressure and volume.

The Accu spray HVLP system, offered by Eastwood, gives you all these advantages and more. The spray gun is one of the most advanced in it's class. You can easily control fluid flow and spray pattern, size, shape, and direction.

Fan size is regulated by a control knob on the back of the gun. Turn it to change from a full wet pattern to a small round one. The spray pattern shape is easily controlled by the spray cap. By turning the cap, you can get a round, vertical or horizontal spray pattern. A needle adjustment screw, also on the back of the gun, allows you to control the fluid flow rate.

This unit comes with a matched atomizing set (needle, nozzle, and air cap). This should cover most spraying done in an automotive shop. Other atomizing sets are available. Consult our Technical Services Dept. for specifics.

Painting with an HVLP system requires no more special technique than painting with "conventional" high-pressure systems. Good shop practices should be followed. The paint should be thinned as required, and the spray pattern checked on a test surface and adjustments made as required.

As always, spray with straight, smooth, even passes. Keep the gun parallel to the spray surface, about 6-8" inches away. Note that more detailed spraying can be done with the gun as close as 1" from the surface.

HVLP spraying makes it easier than ever for the home auto restoration enthusiast to get a quality paint job, while saving material and helping protect the environment.