Compressor/Gun advice.

[MusPuppis]

Allrighty,

 

Ive been reading this website the last couple days and the mount of information here is just.. Amazing. I am now armed with a very definate plan of attack once the tear down of my Z is complete.

 

I wanted to ask a couple questions however. I did a search but didnt find much. Thats most likely directly related to me being an idiot, but all the same, I figured I'd post.

 

Ok, I will be sanding the shell down before long and replacing my pans and doing basic rust prevention/repair. Once that is done I will need to lay a coat of primer down to protect the car. Before I can do this properly I will need get/rent/borrow/beg an air compressor and a gun with which to spray. Which leads to my questions;

 

1. What are the minimum requirements to run a paint gun? My budget is very limited so I dont want to waste money buying a compressor that turns out to be overkill.

 

2. What would I be looking for when I go to purchase a gun? I've seen all types. Some at Wal-Mart for next to nothing, some at auto stores for considerably more. What features should I be looking for to get a gun capable of laying primer on without causing trouble? Again, my budget is limited. I will buy the tool to do the job but I cant afford to pay for overkill.

 

3. Ive heard primers have a "window" in which you have to paint the car after the primer is applied. What type of timeframe is this window usually? Hours? Days? Weeks? and what happens if I dont paint within the window? Do I have to sand the primer down and reprime the car or can I lay another primer coat directly over the "old" coat and the move on to painting?

 

Sorry for the questions folks but I've never done body work before so this is all new to me.

 

Thanks.

 

Edit,

 

One more question, lol. I know nothing of brands and types of paints/primers.. Does anyone have a particular primer they've used and been happy with? Kinda like to not buy some primer and find out it sucks, lol.

[Guest Phil1934]

No pro, but have done several.

 

1. I have a 5 HP with a lay down tank. It runs out of air if painting going well. The bigger vertical would be fine with this HP. Also 5 HP trips a 15A circuit on 110V so consider 220V. Also even though an oilless compressor sounds like a good idea, buy a regular one with a separator as the noise from an oilless will drive you nuts.

 

2. I get by with a $20 Sears gun. I don't think it makes that much difference, although I've got a few (yard sales for $5 after someone tries to spray latex) and the spray pattern adjustment varies.

 

3. Two days for DP90. Sand if you wait as you need a "tooth".

 

As I said Dupont, but other brands good, just follow directions and don't mix brands.

[MusPuppis]

Thankya kindly Phil.

 

As stupid as this sounds, I have a rather retarded plan for my 220v circuit, as I figured it would be a problem.

 

I'm gonna build a big-*** 220v extension cord and run it from my Dryer outlet, LOL. I havent measured it yet, but the run from the garage to the laundry room is pretty short. I dont think it would take more than 20 feet at the complete most, lol.

 

I could just run an outlet but as much as I hurt myself playing with my welder and tinkering around in general the thought of dealing with electricity frightens me. I dont know what Im doing anyway and I'd rather not kill myself or burn my house down.

 

Thanks for the info man, much appreciated.

 

By the way, when you say dont mix brands, do you mean primer and paint? Like if I use Dupont primer I should use Dupont paint as well?

 

Thanks kindly!

[Guest Phil1934]

Right, same brands. Probably wouldn't matter but when this catalyzed paint first came out, I shot my old primer and new paint and the paint crazed. Also masks won't help much with isocyanates, but if it's a once every few years like me, just try to ventilate the space. I've got a 100' long 10ga cord for my mig welder that reaches from the dryer to the driveway!

[MusPuppis]

"I've got a 100' long 10ga cord for my mig welder that reaches from the dryer to the driveway!"

 

HA!

 

So much to do, so little money to do it, lol.

[80LS1T]

I dont think 10 gauge is big enough for a 220V(I assume its 220 since your running it from your drier outlet) welder to go 100'. Let me put it this way, my new air compressor which is a 220v/70 gallon/5HP/2 stage Snap-On recommends using 4 gauge wire on 51-75' on a 40A circuit breaker. Now I really doubt that this is pulling more Amperage than a 220v welder. You know what is says for 76' and up.........."call the factory". Probably because they want to know what the heck you are doing that you need to run that much wire! LOL

 

If you want to paint your goint to want a compressor that puts out say 15cfm at 90psi to keep up easily with a paint gun. You can get by with less but you will probably have to stop and wait a lot to let the compressor catch up. Sanders really suck air and if you dont have a good compressor you will really be waiting for it to catch up. You could get by with an electric sander though. A lot of guys do that option too.

 

If you buy a good compressor it will last forever if you take care of it. I just went through this process about a month ago when I bought mine. Here's the post... http://forums.hybridz.org/showthread.php?t=103362

 

Guy

[MusPuppis]

http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=134819-48540-K7060HFV&lpage=none

 

Thats the compressor I'm looking at. It used to be close to 600$ but dropped down 100$. I also have family at Lowes so I can get a 10% discout dropping it to 450$ + tax. It rates at 13.3CFM at 90 psi which is 1.7 short of the number you recommended but 450$ is a massive stretch for me, so spending anything more really isnt an option. This thing seems to be the best I can find for what I'm able to spend.

 

What compressor did you get and how do you like it?

[80LS1T]

Here's what I got.... http://forums.hybridz.org/showthread.php?t=104208

 

Guy