Hi just borrowed old mans electric spraygun (prolly half my age) he said he hasn't used it in years and i will have to clean it with thinners or "proper" turps....

any way i borrowed it to have a play with an old bumper bar that i am "recoin"(nah just playing teaching myself paint related stuff).

I ask are these units any good when used on an Car panel or automotive in general.... what type of paints can it take..(would ask father but again he has prolly forgotten all these niggly bits)

Cheers Geoff

these are no good for sprayin pannels, best of using a gravity fed spray gun off a compressor

WHS^^ either a gravity or syphon fed gun from air compressor to paint cars with

the electric/ air less guns are great for painting around the house

ie under eve's logs in the garden doors and walls etc
not for metal on cars

thanx for backing us up frank

whats the reasoning for electric gubs no good for cars?

i assumed this was the case but wonder why?

the electric guns cannot atomise the paint to fine enough particles
to allow for the really even and smooth coverage that the automotive paints require

painting wood/doors etc at home are fine as those paints can be laid on "thick" and you will not see the difference
auto paints require really thin coats ie a factory paint job including clear is iirc
around 10-20 microns thick

you can try your heart out on an old panel but it will be s**t

as frank said , attomization can not be achieved in a fine enough ratio of air particles to paint, also the pressure from an electric spray gun is not enough to achive the metioned air to paint ratio , auto paint has to be applied in thin wet coats otherwise runs, ect will form hence when painting a car it may be nessacary to apply more than 3 coats of paint to achive a fine smooth finish before the clear or baking takes place

Thanks Guys.. i think i will borrow his Air Compressor and get my self a paint gun and have a play over the next 12 days....

best idea EVER

a decent spray gun will set youback about $150 and that will do a really good job( there is no difference in either gravity fed or suctions guns
they both apply the paint the same way!
gravity fed is more ergonomic and u will need a stand for it
suction guns are not as ergo but no stand is needed

u will need to get a kit for it for the needle and nozzle

about 1.8m for spraying primers etc and down to 1,2-1.4 for clears and paints

a 1.6 is a good genral use and gives good coverage of primer ( an extra coat may be needed ) and is fine enough for clears and paints


u want a spraying pressure of around 18-26 psi
make sure there is 10mtr + of air hose from compressor to a water trap then more hose to spray gun

also any decent spray gun will have 3 adjustments
1 at the bottom this adjusts the pressure out the nozzle
you will want this so when u press the trigger the gun justs moves back slightly personal
1 will be in line with the needle and trigger
to adjust wind it fully out, depress trigger and wind the knob in untill it justs starts to push the trigger
this is where the gun is desgined to spray
last one is the fan control
this controls the spray pattern of the paint
too much air and the fan shape will be s**t
too little and it will squirt into a point



this is a pick of suctions gun i found to help describe the above