First coat with HVLP gun. How's it look?

It will be interesting to watch and learn from your post. I’m not qualified to comment but would like to know more.

My suggestion is to do some YouTube searches on car painting.

I know, different hobby but if you want to learn how to adjust a gun and what a good spray pattern looks like and how it is achieved, YT has some great videos.

They should give you a good idea of what you are looking for in a spray pattern and how far away to shoot from. If your gun can not accomplish these basics, might consider returning it.

I would not fret about the incomplete coverage. You will get it on the next coat. Better to shoot more coats than put one coat on too thick.

-- Brad, Texas, https://www.youtube.com/user/tonkatoytruck/feed

Thanks Timber. I’ve watched about every video on YouTube about it. I know what kind of spray patterns, etc to be shooting for. My entry level spray gun just won’t get amazing coverage like some of those.

Mostly just wondering if that first coat looks about right? Thanks!

-- Hey you dang woodchucks, quit chucking my wood!!!!

I think it looks okay for a first coat. I normally spray one coat of primer and two coats of paint. The first coat will sometimes show some color through, but that’s usually all covered up after the second coat. No way to tell from here for sure, but I think you may need to add more water to get the flow you are looking for unless you have a large needle in the gun.

-- Dale Manning, Carthage, NY

I used ‘Flowtrol” a special paint thinner for spraying PVA. I had great results, just follow the instructions on the bottle.

-- Love thy neighbour as thyself

I own the same gun and spray top coats with it but never paint. I saw your video and agree with “exelectrician” that flowtrol may be the answer. Your first coat looks ok.

Basically the same gun as the $12 HF purple that I have, and I can get excellent results with it. At least as good as the more expensive guns I’ve used in the past. I use it mostly to spray oil based enamels, but have also used it for Latex quite a bit. You just need to get a feel for what the paint viscosity needs to be and what pressure to use for the application. Never used Flotrol, nor have I ever felt the need to use it. Just thin with whatever is recommended for the paint and shoot (and I tend to thin just a bit more than the recommendation). I also find it works best if left wide open and just adjust the pressure at the compressor to get the best spray transfer. Others will use different techniques with similar results.. that is just what I’ve found works best for me.

As for your doors – on bare wood, there will be areas that soak up more paint than others, particularly with water based paints, so it will almost always look blotchy after the first coat.. not a problem and it will all even out with additional coats.

Cheers,
Brad

-- Brad in FL - In Dog I trust... everything else is questionable

Looks good.

Sand, tack rag, primer

Sand, tack rag, primer

Paint and then sand and tack rag to suite.

Follow the wet line and you’ll be in the ball park.

Well I m an old FART, I like the doors before you painted them ! lol
NEW AGE , I understand.
Is your compressor large enough to keep an even pressure all the time ?
I added a good pressure guage in-line and a water filter as well.
Also use filters to pour paint into gun.
Get the right consistancy of paint as well. (I use a drip method, take clean stick, dip it into paint, then time how long it takes for one drop to drip off.)

-- "My mission in life - make everyone smile !"

I would have gone with an airless if you were putting on thick latex. One primer coat and one finish coat, maybe two. And I would have spent 5 minutes applying the paint and a half hour cleaning the airless.

Canadianchips – I like the doors before painting them as well. However, all our trim and doors are white. These doors were a bargain area find for like $20-30 each (solid doors). A LOT cheaper than buying brand-new solid white doors…

Bill – I already had this sprayer, so wasn’t gonna buy a new airless just for this project. However, I would love to have an airless..someday

-- Hey you dang woodchucks, quit chucking my wood!!!!