[Kampr]

I'm going to buy an hvlp paint gun soon. Problem is that my compressor is only 8.5 cfm. I don't have to have a bigger compressor for other uses but would for this paintgun. I may buy a bigger compressor in the future but not now. My question is, if I borrowed a compressor comparable in size to mine and connected them together with a T on the outgoing pressure lines would that work? Two 8.5's together should be 17 cfm? Has anybody done this before?

Thanks
Danny

[J Cal]

I'm no expert, but that's what I did when I painted my car. I had a craftsman 5 hp 25 gal compressor and borrowed a simmilar one off my brother and linked together like you suggested, they just barely kept up. Because they were both running constantly the air comming out was pretty hot and moister would pass right through my water trap. I ended up solving this by buying a 50' length of that cheap plastic air line, left it coiled up and put it in a 5 gal pail of ice and water. I put this setup between the output of my compressors and my water trap and it solved my problem. My next big purchace for the garage will be a "real" compressor. Good luck!

[oldred]

Kampr, That should work just fine but be sure the electrical circuit can handle both compressors. If they both kick on at the same time it could add up to a huge AMP draw and trip the breaker if they are on the same circuit, not a nice thought if you are half way through the paint job.

[shine]

be sure to use hvlp fittings on your air lines.

[Kampr]

Originally Posted by shine

be sure to use hvlp fittings on your air lines.

I've never had anything hvlp. Are the fittings not interchangeable or is there some other reason to use them? Thanks for all answers.

[milo]

Originally Posted by Kampr

I've never had anything hvlp. Are the fittings not interchangeable or is there some other reason to use them? Thanks for all answers.

Don't worry that came from behind the dugout... don't sweat the small stuff..
of course they are interchangeable..

[shine]

hvlp fitting have a larger hole for more air flow. same with regulators and cheater valves.

the small stuff is the difference between doing it right and just getting by. check your facts, i'm not a spectator.

[jcclark]

Can you reccommend a place I can buy these HVLP fittings?

[milo]

by the time it gets there it can't matter

[fitzwell]

...yeah, but you gotta GET it there, big bore fittings available @ your local Napa

[shine]

any paint supply will have them. i don't pretend to be smarter than the folks that designed these guns. i use iwata guns and follow their advice . my paint booth is set up for hvlp. i shoot at 10 lbs and have no problems. many painters have bought these new guns but are having fits with them. fittings and regulators are a lot of the problem. my old binks reg/trap was pretty much useless under 20 lbs. iwata , sata and most other suppliers have useful q&a web sites with professionals to answer your questions. i would recommend going there with your paint questions. hub on the ASET web page is really helpful. he's known as Dr Gun good luck.

[oldred]

Fitting size does matter, a lot in fact, regardless of which side of the regulator it's located. I ran into this recently with a cheap gun regulator(diaphragm type) that, although it regulated the pressure just fine, it has a bore of quite a bit less than 1/4" at the smallest point and will simply not flow enough volume. The fittings MUST be big enough to flow what the gun requires.