Which paint spray gun should I buy for applying RustBullet?

[robroy]

Hi!

I plan to apply RustBullet to part of my frame and suspension arms, and I'm curious to know which paint spray gun is recommended. I may also want to use this spray gun for painting small parts later, such as an air cleaner box.

I'm using a large compressor with a good sized tank (the stand-up kind), but I don't think it's capable of high pressures; I normally operate air tools on it at 90psi. It goes higher, but probably has a maximum of around 150psi.

I'd prefer to buy an American or European make, and I'm aiming for a price of no more than $500.

Thanks very much for your outstanding advice!
-Robroy

[OldGuy]

They give some specs on the Rust Bullet site:

http://www.rustbullet.com/Application.htm

Scroll down to the set up you think you will use, for example:

"Use standard production type spray equipment. Air supply must have an effective moisture trap. Use air pressure at the gun of 45-70 pounds. Use 15-20 psi pot pressure. Do not agitate in pressure pot. We recommend straining through a nylon bag strainer."

OR

"HVLP may be used as well, 20-50 pounds with a 1.0 to 1.7 tip. Rust Bullet® Automotive (Silver Label) is formulated slightly thinner to flow smoothly through HVLP automotive finishing guns and produces a finish comparable to Powder Coating. It is best to use a gravity feed HVLP. Three coats of Rust Bullet® Automotive should be sprayed two to three hours apart using the HVLP system to achieve the recommended dry film thickness."

Hope that helps.

[robroy]

Hi OldGuy! Thanks very much for your reply.

That info is indeed useful, thanks for including it!

What I'm really curious to know is if there are any specific paint guns that people have had good success with (since I need to buy one). Like a specific make/model.

Thanks again,
-Robroy

[robroy]

Hello 71PA_Highboy,

Thanks for the detailed reply! Is this the gun you're recommending?

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/d ... mber=90977

I see that this is a $60 gun while the one DeVilbiss that showed up in my search was $170, so I'm guessing that this is Chinese-made; is this correct?

I see your point that it makes sense to apply crude material like RustBullet with a gun that's not necessarily a long-term keeper.

Thanks again for your great advice!
-Robroy

[robroy]

Hello again! I searched for HVLP and found a gun that has a purple body, but it's a smaller "detail" type gun:

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/d ... mber=46719

I'm guessing that this gun wouldn't be a good choice for covering a section of the frame since I'd have to continuously re-fill its paint cup, but I could be wrong.

Thanks!
-Robroy

[71PA_Highboy]

Actually,

I use this one:

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/D ... mber=43430


The tip size works out to a 1.4mm


r/

eric

[robroy]

Here's the thread covering the Rust Bullet application; it worked great!

http://www.fordification.com/forum/view ... hp?t=35234

-Robroy