Let me say first that I have never used any spray gun to paint. This is a completely new venture for me. I always had someone else to do the painting for me. Guess it's time for this old dog to learn some new tricks.
As the Harbor Freight 43430 "purple" gun seems to be highly recommended on this site, I bought two of them for my learning experience. They come with a 1.4 tip. I seem to remember that a 1.8 to a 2.0 tip was suggested to spray 2K primer. I can not find a listing for any tips for this spray gun. Where can I purchase the tips?
Any and all suggestions as to getting started are appreciated. Thanks in advance.
Harbor Freight carries one, if you can't find it on their web page you will need to call and ask. It isn't too expensive either.
I use the same gun. I spray epoxy and 2K with the regular 1.4 tip. It works fairly decent. You have to put a few more coats of 2K when you use this gun but it still builds nice. I actually used a cheap $14 conventional gun to spray the first two thick coats of 2K on the car. Then I blocked and blocked and blocked. Between each block coat, I used the 43430 gun to apply a slightly thinner layer of 2K to give me a new starting point to find any highs and lows. This worked very well for me.
Also the 43430 gun with 1.4 tip sprays the SPI epoxy nice. This gun is a nice unit for primer, single stage, and base coat paints but I don't like it one bit for clear coat. I just can't get it to atomize the paint nice and still keep a nice pattern. Thus I'm currently looking for a higher end gun to spray base and clear. I'm considering the devilbiss gfg-670 plus or the iwata lph400. I'll still use the 43430 gun for all primer and other odds and ends though.
There are different nozzle sets availiable from HF, but chances are you will not find them in a store. I have checked several HF stores in the Houston and Dallas/Ft Worth area and none had them. They can be ordered, but the shipping is rather steep at $9.95. There was a recent post here with some part numbers. I tried to search for it but had no luck.
Just a word on the 43430 and clear coat, I bought two of those guns and at first I too was disappointed with the clear coat performance. After hearing everyone say they need a LOT of air and the fact that the specs say, I think like 13 CFM@30 PSI, I removed that 1/4" regulator that came with it and replaced my 1/4" fittings and couplings with larger better flowing parts. It was like a different gun, I mean the difference was amazing and the clear went on like glass. Yep, that thing likes air and if you make sure it gets what it needs you will probably like it a lot. I have just recently up-graded to to a pro quality gun but I intend to hang on to my "purple" guns.
Look at this thread. It has the part numbers for the 43430 gun tips. Just last month I called and ordered a 2.2 due to this post by Basscat. A 2.2 tip is what I spray 2K primer with at auto body class.
I started out using those guns and really liked them. THey are great for beginners but after a while of using them the spray pattern on them always seems to mess up. Now that I work at a dealership we use Iwatas and satas. So Far my favorite clear gun is the silver Sata RP with a 1.5 tip. It lays dupont production clear on like glass. I also used Dupont Apperance clear and Spies clear and it also lays it like glass.
The harbor Freight guns I dont think you can beat for the price. I sprayed a small 2 tone kandy with one a long time ago and it came out great. ( The gun was new though)
Look at this thread. It has the part numbers for the 43430 gun tips. Just last month I called and ordered a 2.2 due to this post by Basscat. A 2.2 tip is what I spray 2K primer with at auto body class.
Thanks to you all for the replys. Your posts are and will be very helpful to me.
Starquest, Oldred, gator412 what I do find interesting is that the 2k primer can be shot with the 1.4 tip. I will try that, but will have the larger tips on hand "just in case". As I stated, I've never done any spray painting and wan't to try it out with 2k primer. I guess I'd better stock up on plenty of sandpaper too. LOL
I went to the Harbor freight site and did a search for the part numbers listed in the post above. Came up empty.
Did a second search for Nozzle Set and came up with part # 45386 which is a 1.8mm nozzle set but it is listed for a gun with the #30224. Wrong gun.
Did another search for Nozzle Set and came up with part # 45395 which is a 2.2mm nozzle set for the #43430 gun.
Went to another site. Came back to the Harbor Freight site to order the 2.2mm nozzle set. Typed in the part # 45395 and got a message that basically said there was no such part.
Cab...I think I paid about 20 bucks for the 2.2 tip. I could not find the tip on the webpage, but calling them they had it. Also just the first set of numbers is the part number.
Frisco..I shot 2K primer with a 1.7 tip at school then used a 2.2 tip. The 1.7 lays down a thin coat while the 2.2 laid down a nice thick coat. with no runs. Mind you I am new at this. After I used both sized tips at school I bought th 2.2 due to how well it covered.
"I own a Harbor Freight 43430 spray gun that is only available with a 1.3mm nozzle. HF does not offer other nozzles for the 43430. I had heard that the HF gun was identical to the PC PSH1 gun. While I do not know if they are identical, the PC 2.2 nozzle fits the HF 43430 perfectly and allows me to spray thicker coatings that are difficult/impossible to spray with the 1.3mm nozzle that comes with the HF 43430. "
The P-C he is referencing is Porter Cable and probably more available and easier ( and EXPENSIVE ) than HF. But if you have a P-C gun......
I'm about to go to my local HF outlet and pick up a 43430 as they are sale priced at $39.99 today and I sure dont want to subject my new mega-buck gun to epoxy and 2K
Looking at my fresh new, made in China box - it says "nozzle" size (scary word) 1.4mm
The actual tip only says 10 psi (g, I guess).
I sure do wish their web site would bring up the numbers
of the 2.2 "nozzle" - usually when I talk to the HF people
I get that deafening silence or blank stare in person.
The regulator looks better than the $20 Devillbiss piece I have for my finish coat gun - but still has that 160 pound max range, 5 pounds per division markings when all you need is 23 in/ 10 out
Oldred,
That's what I said, or at least what I meant - a regulated 23 pounds out, which hopefully translates to ~10 at the cap.
I take back what I said about the HF having a better (looking at least) air regulator than my high buck reg.
The HF piece is a broken PO---- !!!
I tried my good reg on the gun after I couldn't control the air - it was either at 80#, the set compressor output or zero with no adjustment in between. Looks like I will be the owner of 2 expensive regulators. Gas wise in my Guzzle8 F150 4x4 it is cheaper to buy one at Lowes, 5 miles away than exchange the gun at HF which is a 40 mile round trip
Alright I bought one of these purple guns to use at work. I am spraying cabinets and furniture that we make. It is spraying wonderfully! But from experience I know it wont last. What is it that goes wrong with these guns and makes them spray bad after a while? I also am wondering if you can find parts for it. It uses most of the same parts as our old $100 ampro gun but not all the same. The lacquer we use is very hard on the reservoir and lid. They go first. :drunk: :drunk: I think we are going to stick with this gun sense it does a nice job and we tend to destroy them! :sweat: They are easy to find and cheap!
Alright I bought one of these purple guns to use at work. I am spraying cabinets and furniture that we make. It is spraying wonderfully! But from experience I know it wont last. :
I have had several of the 43430's for over a year now and they still spray as well as when I purchased them. I completely disassemble and clean them EVERY time I use them. You cannot clean a gun by simply running a cup of thinner or solvent through it.
How far do you disassemble it? I always remove and clean the air nozzle, needle, tip. and reservoir. Then I will use a round cleaning brush and clean the inside of the gun. Thats the part that I worry about because you cant reach it very well. The conversion varnish we use dries quickly and with no air needed so I am sure it builds up in the hard to clean places over a days use. We get a year max out of a gun.
I clean mine the same, you could soak your gun in lacquer thinner to soften the residue so it can be brushed out. The stuff I use, which is catalyzed is not allowed to start to kick or setup in the gun. After I empty the cup and I am finished spraying I will put a little lacquer thinner in the cup swish it around, dump it out then add a little more to spray out. I then remove the cup, air cap, air nozzle, and needle. Brush everything clean with lacquer thinner, blow dry and reassemble.
I have a cleaning kit that I purchased from Spraygun Depot that has a selection of brushes, both large and small enough to clean the air passages in the air cap and nozzle.
Yep. I have been doing the same. My co worker on the other hand sometimes lets the gun sit over a weekend with the junk still in there! :boxing: I have tried soaking in lacquer thiner but that always seems to mess up the seals. It is good to know that if you clean the gun well it will last.
Finally reading the instructions for my new 43430 gun. What crap!
Pg 5, Item #4 says turn on the air supply and adjust the regulator to between 15 and 50 psi, at the gauge. A pressure delta of 35 pounds sure can make a difference. My Devillbiss says 23 psig makes 10 at the nozzle.What really makes 10 psig on the HF gun ? How can I measure this? Has anyone made up a pressure output measuring gauge? Any sketches? Buy one from DeVillbiss, Binks or Sata?
Or, do you just say @#%& it, check the pattern and paint? ain:
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Related Threads
?
?
?
?
?
Hot Rod Forum
2.2M posts
175.7K members
Since 2001
A forum community dedicated to hot rod owners and enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about restoration, builds, performance, modifications, classifieds, troubleshooting, maintenance, and more!