How big/powerful a compressor do I need?
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Senior User
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 146
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From: SW Indiana
How big/powerful a compressor do I need?
I'm going to try to paint my mom's old Ford, and I have never done this before. Since this will be a good excuse to buy a compressor, which one do I need? 8 gal? Bigger? 115 psi? Or more? Help! Thanks.
Elder User
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 700
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From: waterloo, iowa
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/9...intwork-3.html
scroll down a couple posts and read.... tanks size and psi don't mean squat.
scroll down a couple posts and read.... tanks size and psi don't mean squat.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 26,007
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From: Brentwood,CA
Its all about CFM the more the better.The direct drive units don't deliver enough. The belt drive are better. A HVLP gun is best , try to get a compressor that makes at least 8 cfm at 60 PSI.
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2007
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Originally Posted by ford390gashog
Its all about CFM the more the better.The direct drive units don't deliver enough. The belt drive are better. A HVLP gun is best , try to get a compressor that makes at least 8 cfm at 60 PSI.
If you want a compressor to do it all, get at least a 5hp, 80 gallon tank. You can also mix and match by ganging comressors. My setup is ganged, 1 2hp/20gal and 1 3.4hp/60gal. The combination gives me ~16 CFM @90psi. Good luck there is nothing cheap about this process.
Honestly, if i had a compressor that could do all of the body work type stuff, but was too weak to paint, i'd get a Turbine/HVLP setup.
Cargo Master
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,232
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From: NE Texas
HVLP guns are not necessarily "better." In some locales they are required by law though.
HVLP pro's:
o put more paint on the surface and less in the air, thus being more environmentally friendly.
HVLP con's:
o Requires more CFM, thus a bigger, more expen$ive compressor.
o Requires bigger fittings, hose, regulator pipe thread size, etc.
o Unless you have a BIG compressor and a high CFM gun, paint goes on slower.
o Unless you have the best of the HVLP's a conventional gun will break up the paint better with less CFM requirement
If you are required by law to use HVLP then that's it, end of debate for you, get HVLP.
If you are NOT required, and don't shoot too many paint jobs, a good conventional gun with a moderate size compressor will serve you well.
My $0.02,
HVLP pro's:
o put more paint on the surface and less in the air, thus being more environmentally friendly.
HVLP con's:
o Requires more CFM, thus a bigger, more expen$ive compressor.
o Requires bigger fittings, hose, regulator pipe thread size, etc.
o Unless you have a BIG compressor and a high CFM gun, paint goes on slower.
o Unless you have the best of the HVLP's a conventional gun will break up the paint better with less CFM requirement
If you are required by law to use HVLP then that's it, end of debate for you, get HVLP.
If you are NOT required, and don't shoot too many paint jobs, a good conventional gun with a moderate size compressor will serve you well.
My $0.02,
