Get Spraying with your New Paint Gun, Quick and Easy!

New Paint Gun? Not Sure What To Do Next?

Here is a Quick and Easy guide so you can start spraying your project in no time, you might be surprised just how easy it is.

To start things off there are a few pieces of equipment you will need before you get to painting.  These items are required and you will not be able to continue without them.  In addition to your new paint gun you'll need:

1. Air Compressor (Preferably one that exceeds the minimum CFM of the paint gun)
2. Air Filter, can be disposable or Wall Mounted Unit (This will make or break the overall outcome of the paint.  Even a little moisture or oil can ruin the paint)
3. Gun Mounted Air regulator
4. Lacquer Thinner (Used to clean the gun after Painting)

Air Fitting and Regulator

Now you're Ready to set up the gun.  Depending on which paint gun you have, it may not have an air coupler attached to the bottom.  All you need is a little teflon tape (found at any hardware store) wrapped around the threads, First screw on the regulator then screw on the air fitting and tighten using the supplied wrench. This will ensure an air tight seal to the paint gun.

!QUICK TIP! 

!WHEN WRAPPING TAPE AROUND THREADS REMEMBER TO WRAP CLOCKWISE, THE SAME DIRECTION THE THREADS TIGHTEN.  IF REVERSED THE AIR COUPLER WILL UNWIND THE TAPE AS IT IS SCREWED ON!

Setting Air Pressure

Next you'll need to adjust the air flow to the gun.  This is where the gun mounted regulator comes into play.  On the box or in the manual of your gun there will be a recommended air pressure the gun operates most efficiently.(ex. 30 PSI)  Completely open the air flow adjustment on the gun and do not touch it, from now on the regulator will control the air flow through the gun. After your compressor is turned on and filled, connect the gun without the paint cup attached and pull the trigger completely open.  You will need to the adjust the regulator to match the recommended pressure for your gun. (ex. so the needle reads 30 PSI) Now that you have set the regulator unhook the gun.

Fan Size and Fluid Adjustment

This part can be tricky since the material you are spraying dictates the how big the fan size should be, how far away to hold the gun, and the overlap. Look to the packaging of the material you will be spraying to find the recommended values.  As a general tip, open the fluid adjustment all the way so the trigger can be fully engaged. If you are worrying about running the paint turn the fluid control in and slowly bring it back out as you get more comfortable spraying.

Mixing Paint

This also depended on the Material being sprayed but generally the mix ratios are printed on the container or packaging of the material you will be using. Attach the paint cup and pour in the paint.  You're almost ready to paint!

Remember to attach the paint cup and pour the paint into gun without the air line attached to the gun.  It is easy to bump the trigger and accidentally spray paint where you don't want it.

Attaching the Air Line

After the paint is in the gun and the lid is on tight you are ready to attach the air line and get to painting.  Make sure you have a panel or piece of cardboard to use to test the pattern of the paint.  This is when you will use the fluid control and the fan adjustment to get the desired pattern for the material.

Get to Painting!

There you go now you can start painting all of your projects with you own paint gun.  At first it can be difficult to remember to do all of the steps in order but it wont take long to become second nature.

DONT FORGET!

Cleaning you gun is just as important as setting up to paint!  All you need is an empty metal paint can and some lacquer thinner and its that easy.

After you are done painting detach the gun from the air line.  Then Empty the paint cup into the paint can. Now using a funnel or a squeeze bottle (I'VE FOUND THAT A CONTACTS SOLUTION BOTTLE WORKS BEST) filled with thinner, hold the paint gun over the paint can with the trigger pulled and pour the thinner into the gun where the paint gun attaches.  The thinner will run through the gun and out the nozzle.  Continue to pour thinner until it comes out of the gun clear.  Make sure you clean the gun immediately after painting so the paint does not dry in the gun.

Check out the Eastwood Blog and Tech Archive for more How-To's, Tips and Tricks to help you with all your automotive projects.  If you have a recommendation for future article or have a project you want explained don't hesitate to send us an email.

jrees@eastwood.com or  mmurray@eastwood.com

- James R. / EW