GETTING THE BEST RESULTS WITH EASTWOOD APOLLO TURBINE HVLP PAINT SPRAY SYSTEMS
PREPARATION – Prepare your project the same as you would for conventional spray.
MIXING PAINT – Mix paint ratios the same as you would for conventional spray. We strongly recommend always using slow reducer (high temperature solvent). Many painters suggest additional thinning 5% – 10% to enhance atomization. Additional reduction may be necessary with lower power sprayers.
SETTING THE TURBO SPRAY SYSTEM
Eastwood 5 Stage Turbine Gun – Only one power/pressure available – No variable air control
TP1000 – Select HIGH power/pressure or LOW power/pressure. HIGH power for clear coat and high solid sealers, primers and high solid base coats. LOW power/pressure for lower viscosity paints and easy to atomize base coats. Reduce pressure from HIGH to LOW if experiencing too much overspray. Increase from LOW to HIGH power if application is slow or results are not smooth or perfect.
TP2000 – Set desired pressure for coating to be sprayed. Start with 6.5PSI for sealer, primer, base coat. Test pattern on paper to see droplet or particle size. Adjust higher or lower by 0.5PSI if necessary. After first coat inspect results. If smoother surface is desired increase pressure in 0.5psi -1.0PSI increments to achieve desired results. All paints and spraying conditions are different. Adjust pressure as needed. Generally, clear coats will require maximum pressure (approximately 8.2PSI). Adjust pressure as needed. Same guidelines for solvent or water base paints. NOTE: If desired results are not achieved at maximum pressure, reduce the paint viscosity 5% – 10%.
TP3000 – Same as 2000. This paint spray systems provides a maximum pressure of 10.5PSI if higher pressure is needed. If desired results are not achieved at maximum pressure, reduce the paint viscosity 5% – 10%.
NOZZLE, NEEDLE AND AIR CAP SIZE – Recommended nozzle/needle size may differ from paint manufacturer recommendations. Best default size with Apollo HVLP Turbospray systems for most paint applications: 0.8mm with B-HS (High Solids) air cap. Alternatives: 1.0mm with B-HS air cap or 0.5mm with CC air cap.
SETTING THE TURBOPRO HVLP SPRAY GUN AND FAN PATTERN– Before spraying project, test spray pattern. Tape a piece of paper to the spray booth wall. (Make sure pressure has been set before test). Hold the spray gun perfectly vertical to the test paper approximately 10cm away. Adjust fan pattern to the full open position. Open the paint adjustment knob 3 half turns (1 ½ full turns). Pull the spray gun trigger and release. Observe the pattern. It should be a long narrow oval approximately 10cm – 12cm from top to bottom. Adjust pressure and/or paint adjustment knob to fine tune the pattern.
SPRAY GUN TECHNIQUE – HVLP turbo spray guns are held closer to the work surface being sprayed. Generally, 10cm is the average distance suggested. Some slight adjustments either closer or further back might be necessary. Move the spray gun across the work surface keeping it at the same distance and moving it at the same speed while observing the wetness of the paint edge. Be sure to move the spray gun slightly off the end work surface, quickly release the trigger and then pull the trigger back while moving the spray gun back in the opposite direction. Overlap the previous pattern approximately 75%. Repeat pattern back and forth until the piece being sprayed has a nice even wet coat.
Dry time should be equal or better than conventional spray gun even when using a slow reducer. Your efficiency will increase as you get comfortable with pressure settings, paint ratios and general spraying technique.
See our full offering of Turbine Paint Guns and Supplies here: https://www.eastwood.com/paints/paint-equipment/paint-guns/turbine.html