How do I prepare the paint?

Always prepare paint in a clean, dust-free environment. Paint has a remarkable ability to pick up dirt. Dirty paint will not only clog your spray gun,...

Read the rest of this article...

What causes a top or bottom-heavy spray pattern?

Horn holes plugged - Clean holes with non-metallic point (i.e. toothpick) Obstruction on top or bottom of fluid tip - clean Cap and/or Tip seat dirt...

Read the rest of this article...

What is the NFPA?

The NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) is a non-governmental agency that creates safety guidelines for various industries. NFPA 33 is written...

Read the rest of this article...

What types of requirements or permits would we need to put in a vented paint booth?

You might not need a permit from your state air pollution control agency if you are using "very little" paint, but the fire department will probably w...

Read the rest of this article...

Should a lubricator be used on a diaphragm pump?

No. Lubricators are not recommended on diaphragm pumps. An air filter is recommended to maintain good clean dry air.

What are the advantages of using electrostatic equipment over conventional spray equipment?

There are many advantages to using electrostatic spray equipment. The primary advantage is an increase in transfer efficiency. (45% - 90%) With the in...

Read the rest of this article...

What parts of the spray gun require lubrication?

The fluid needle packing A, the air valve packing B and the trigger bearing screw C require daily lubrication with a non-silicone/nonpetroleum gun lub...

Read the rest of this article...

What is a "Quality Finish"?

A quality finish is a finish that meets the needs of the manufacturer and the ultimate product owner. A couple of points must be remembered. 1. It ...

Read the rest of this article...

Do I need an Air Make Up unit with my spray booth?

The proper air flowing into a spray booth meets the following conditions: 1. Adequate volume 2. Adequate velocity 3. Clean 4. Conditioned if neces...

Read the rest of this article...

The pump on my lube truck seems to operate fine, but material volume has dropped. What might be the problem?

If the pump is being used outdoors and the temperature has dropped, the material has thickened resulting in lower pump performance. Pump performance c...

Read the rest of this article...

I maintain my sprayers with my own mixture of spirits, solvents and mild cleaning solutions. Is there any material I should avoid using for this process?

Our pumps are designed to withstand almost all solvents and cleaning solutions. In general, it is recommended that you complete your cleaning by flush...

Read the rest of this article...

I cannot trigger my spray gun. What causes this problem?

Trigger safety is in the SAFETY position. Put trigger safety in SAFETY OFF position. Refer to your Instruction Manual for the operation of your partic...

Read the rest of this article...

What causes dry spray?

A dry spray finish is characterized by a rough, almost sandpaper texture. It can be caused by several things including the coating, setup and techniqu...

Read the rest of this article...

Why should I use a Wet Film Thickness gauge?

A wet film thickness gauge is designed to give the spray operator immediate feedback as to the film build just sprayed. In most cases, measuring the d...

Read the rest of this article...

What is the typical annual schedule for dry filter spray booth maintenance?

Preventative maintenance on a spray booth will help reduce the likelihood of fires and explosions. -Regular maintenance of the booth system and mai...

Read the rest of this article...

What is the air consumption of a diaphragm pump in cubic feet per minute?

As a general rule PUMP RATIO X FLOW RATE (GPM) @ 100 PSI = CFM. All diaphragm pumps are a 1:1 ratio, therefore the flow rate in GPM will equal the cub...

Read the rest of this article...

How do I care for heated hoses?

A heated hose is an electrical product and should be handled as such to prevent damage. Some best practices to reduce hose damage include: DO'S 1. U...

Read the rest of this article...

Where can I find out more information regarding spray gun fundamentals, material application, finish problems, and the latest information regarding spray gun technology?

Please refer to the following list of publications offered on this web site. The documents are in pdf form and represent the most asked-about questio...

Read the rest of this article...

 What type of respirators are available for spray finishing?

Spray finishing creates a certain amount of overspray, hazardous vapors and toxic fumes. This is true, even under ideal conditions, and there is no wa...

Read the rest of this article...

There is oil leaking out of a small hole underneath the air motor of my pump. Can this hole be plugged?

No! If oil is coming out of the small hole underneath the air motor of your pump, the throat packing should be replaced. It may also be advised to ens...

Read the rest of this article...

How often should I tighten the packing nut on my airless sprayer?

It's a good practice to check the packing nut on a weekly basis and slightly tighten if it is necessary. Paint visible in the wet cup or on the rod su...

Read the rest of this article...

I am experiencing orange peel in my finish – my finish is irregular and bumpy with craters.

“Orange Peel” can have multiple causes. It happens when the surface of the coating starts to dry before the base paint dries. The main causes are: ...

Read the rest of this article...

What size air hose should I use for my spray gun?.

The size of an air hose supplying a spray gun is dependent on the length of the hose required and the air volume requirements (CFM) of the spray gun t...

Read the rest of this article...

Cleaning procedures for polycabonate booth walls

1. Wash the booth walls with a mild soap or detergent (such as Joy Dishwashing Liquid) and lukewarm water, using a clean sponge or soft cloth. DO NOT ...

Read the rest of this article...

I have a new diaphragm pump and it leaks almost immediately after installation. This leak usually occurs around the diaphragms, or at the manifolds. What can be done?

Polypropylene is a very soft almost waxy material that when it is compressed, instead of pushing back against the compression, like a Buna material, i...

Read the rest of this article...

Do I have to flush my sprayer at the end of the day?

It is recommended that you flush the unit out every night to prevent paint from curing in the pump, which can be time consuming and costly to correct....

Read the rest of this article...

What is the difference between Conventional, HVLP, Turbine HVLP and Trans-Tech (LVMP) technologies?

Please refer to the following: Conventional: Conventional spray guns typically operate at pressures of 40- 60PSI out of the air cap. Atomization is t...

Read the rest of this article...

What is the proper method of adjusting the "Fluid Adjustment Knob" on a pressure feed gun?

First let’s define the primary purpose of the Fluid Adjustment Knob. Located directly in front of the Fluid Adjustment Knob (Figure 1) is a spring tha...

Read the rest of this article...

What is the minimum velocity of paint in a circulating system?

Circulation of paints and similar materials containing pigments or fillers requires fluid flows velocities high enough to maintain the contained parti...

Read the rest of this article...

What codes does my booth required to meet?

Most municipalities/cities require that paint booths, including installations, meet National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Chapter 33, OSHA 1910,...

Read the rest of this article...

How do you solve the problem of fracturing diaphragm pumps while they are being used as a feed supply pump?

It is not recommended to use a low-pressure pump to feed a high-pressure pump without the addition of a high pressure check valve installed directly b...

Read the rest of this article...

What causes excessive pressure drop on the main line gauge of the filter/regulator?

The compressor is too small to deliver the required air volume and pressure for all tools in use. The compressor is not functioning properly. There ...

Read the rest of this article...

Can I mount the electrostatic air hose to a reel mounted on a trolley cart which is grounded? Do I need a grounding wire at the gun to prevent paint from coming back to the painter holding the gun?

Gun grounding to the hose reel is required. The grounding of the reel and the pump is more critical. You need to ensure a wire is run from the base o...

Read the rest of this article...

What are my options for mixing two component materials.

There are currently 3 primary methods for mixing two component materials? Hot Potting Mechanical Proportioning Electronic Dosing W...

Read the rest of this article...

What is the importance of the quality of water in a pretreatment process?

Water is arguably the most important component in the pretreatment process comprising greater than 95% of the pretreatment process chemistry. Surpris...

Read the rest of this article...

How does heat relate to viscosity in a coating?

Before tackling the heat vs. viscosity issue, let’s review the importance of viscosity.  When setting up a spray gun, the choice of air caps and ...

Read the rest of this article...

How do I improve booth energy efficiency?

-Start by upgrading the fan motor. Replace it with one meeting the newer, premium energy efficient electric motor standards. These motors are constr...

Read the rest of this article...

How do I get the pump to prime, especially first thing in the morning after it's been sitting all night?

The most common cause of this situation is an intake ball that is not seated properly. Tap on the pump lower with a rubber mallet to dislodge the bal...

Read the rest of this article...

Why is air control equipment necessary?

 Raw air, piped directly from an air source to a spray gun is of little use in spray finishing. Raw air contains small, but harmful quantities o...

Read the rest of this article...

What is the life expectancy of my hose?

HELP - Hose Expected Life Predictor is a guide used to explain the factors utilized in choosing paint hose materials. Please visit http://www.hosco....

Read the rest of this article...

What horsepower compressor will I need to operate my spray gun and tank or pump?

Possible solutions: Check your part sheet or service bulletin for the air flow required for the particular spray gun and pump. Pressure tanks c...

Read the rest of this article...

Material Safety Data Sheets vs. Product Data Sheets

A Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) is required to be on-site at a spray finishing location. OSHA dictates the on-site requirement as well as the cont...

Read the rest of this article...

What is the difference between a valve and a regulator?

In this example we will compare an air valve and regulator although the same data could be applied to fluid valves and regulators. In figure 1 below,...

Read the rest of this article...

How do I back flush the fluid hose to my pressure pot and why should I do this?

The cost of many modern coatings is in the area of $100 per gallon or more. If one can recover the coating from the fluid hose before flushing the hos...

Read the rest of this article...

Facebook Linked-In Twitter YouTube

Digg Reddit StumbleUpon Delicious