Compressors

[JoeRuscito]

I currently have a 4.8 cfm compressor that seems to be doing the trick. I’m up to silver coats on the wings and soon will be laying a white coat of polytone. It works well for the poly fiber coats but I do then to do a lot of waiting in the booth for the pressure to catch up. I tend to do two wing bays at a time. This hasn’t been a problem because the poly fiber stuff blends so well I don’t end up seeing a line between bays.

Now I’ve heard the top coats. Ranthane is what I’m using. Should be sprayed in one pass without delay. Otherwise you will see transitions in the color. What has everyone’s experience been? Is there a compressor that won’t break the bank that would keep up with the gun? I haven’t been able to find anything affordable? I’m considering “Y”ing together a few less expensive compressors...

[Mesteve]

I don't have a compressor suggestion (other than the aviation department at the local "tool freight" store), but rather than teeing 2 compressors together, have you though about teeing several accumulators/tanks together? It'd be a much cheaper route than multiple compressors...

[Meyer]

Depending on weather and your timeline, you might be able to rent one.

[JoeRuscito]

Renting is a good idea! Ill look around. I currently have a 20 gallon tank. In order to do a whole wing I think I would need 80 plus gallons.

[jiott]

If you are going to use multiple compressors, I would think you would hook them up in parallel. Then the reservoir volume and HP would be additive. Correct size piping where they join would be very important also.

[jmodguy]

And how much house current do you need to run 4 compressors??? 🧐

[jiott]

Don't have personal experience, but I've heard that HVLP is the preferred way to spray these coatings.

[efwd]

I used a Craftsman 20gal to apply polytone and I used the HVLP gun without an ounce of trouble that I recall. Eh, I didn't spray great big wings either though. Oratex, so the only thing I sprayed was all the fiberglass, plastic and invasion stripes.

[jmodguy]

I use an Iwata Supernova HVLP and a 5 hp dual stage 80 gal compressor and it was working pretty hard to keep up. Rent it if you can’t buy it.
make sure you have proper filters, water traps etc.

[rv9ralph]

Joe,
You have to match the CFM requirement of the spay gun to the CFM output the compressor. Even is you rent one, you have to make sure the compressor output is in excess of the gun requirement.

Also, piston compressors are more efficient than oilless.

Ralph