tip size and adjustment explained please?

[keith_y]

Im a 2nd generation auto painter thats been painting professionally for about 3 years and prepping for much longer. Ive left collision for restoration so I need to be able to paint clear "slicker". Ive had so much opinion and "theory" on tip sizes to only confuse me even more. I know that Sata's seem to output more than Iwata per same tip size. Im an Iwata user, LPH400 1.4 and WS400 1.4. Most painters, however, use Sata so the tip size debate has been very, very confusing.

Barry says use 1.4(which I do) but what I dont understand is in the "Adjusting Your Paint Gun" article he says to turn the fluid adjustment all the way in and begin backing out until it sprays properly. So basically Im asking if Im using a 1.4 and dial it in, is that not the same as using a 1.3 or smaller?

 

[DATEC]

By dialing it in you are tuning your setup to perform its best like adjusting the carb on you hot rod to allow just the right amount of gas to pass through your 650 double pumper by doing so doesn't make it a 600 single.
You are just fine tuning the 1.4 you would do the same with a 1.3 to get it to perform it's best. You also have to remember that everyone's technique is differant and as such those two peoples guns, assuming they are exactly the same setup, will be adjusted differently for the owners technique. So what works for one is not what works for all it is just a starting point that only you can finish adjusting to the way you spray and the atmosphere you are in.
A 1.3 would be good for a slower painter and can help with certain metallics it might help get better matches but could be troublesome with the blend on hotter days. The 1.4 is a good all a round performer that does the majority of everything very well when setup for the user and will perform overall paint jobs better then the 1.3.
The 1.3 atomizes material finer then the 1.4 and as a result mil thickness for each coat would be reduced just slightly which also in turn would allow for the paint to dry faster. If doing only one or two panels the 1.3 would work great but on a large overall mabey not so well because by the time you get to the area you started it might leave a dry spray (hase) line because it dried too fast. You can adjust your mix for it but unless your a slower painter we won't go into that.

 

[keith_y]

By dialing it in you are tuning your setup to perform its best like adjusting the carb on you hot rod to allow just the right amount of gas to pass through your 650 double pumper by doing so doesn't make it a 600 single.
You are just fine tuning the 1.4 you would do the same with a 1.3 to get it to perform it's best. You also have to remember that everyone's technique is differant and as such those two peoples guns, assuming they are exactly the same setup, will be adjusted differently for the owners technique. So what works for one is not what works for all it is just a starting point that only you can finish adjusting to the way you spray and the atmosphere you are in.
A 1.3 would be good for a slower painter and can help with certain metallics it might help get better matches but could be troublesome with the blend on hotter days. The 1.4 is a good all a round performer that does the majority of everything very well when setup for the user and will perform overall paint jobs better then the 1.3.
The 1.3 atomizes material finer then the 1.4 and as a result mil thickness for each coat would be reduced just slightly which also in turn would allow for the paint to dry faster. If doing only one or two panels the 1.3 would work great but on a large overall mabey not so well because by the time you get to the area you started it might leave a dry spray (hase) line because it dried too fast. You can adjust your mix for it but unless your a slower painter we won't go into that.

Thank you!

 

[Barry]

Datec explained it well but to ad to what he said, in a production shop a 1.3 will work fine (depending on gun) because you are doing small areas and most production clears are low medium to low solids for speed.
We have 1000's of painters in the north that use 1.3 but rarely in the south as the over atomizing with humidity can cause a problem with high solids clears.
Also a call i get a lot with first time users of the universal is clear laid great but I used more then normal on the side of car? First thing i say is you used a 1.3. always the case.

RE adjusting gun:
Again, if your using 7600, 2021, 2042 gun adjustment is not really important but going to an HS clear, now wall pressure and gun adjustment gets critical.

 

[AAE]

Datec explained it well but to ad to what he said, in a production shop a 1.3 will work fine (depending on gun) because you are doing small areas and most production clears are low medium to low solids for speed.
We have 1000's of painters in the north that use 1.3 but rarely in the south as the over atomizing with humidity can cause a problem with high solids clears.
Also a call i get a lot with first time users of the universal is clear laid great but I used more then normal on the side of car? First thing i say is you used a 1.3. always the case.

RE adjusting gun:
Again, if your using 7600, 2021, 2042 gun adjustment is not really important but going to an HS clear, now wall pressure and gun adjustment gets critical.

Iwata recommended a 1.6 for high solid clear with my LPH300. Made a huge difference over the 1.3 with Universal.

 

[DATEC]

AAE, what size tip do you use for base? Or do use a differant gun. I looked at the 300 for smaller jobs and jams but went with the 80, I have 2-400's with 1.4's at work. I'm thinking that the 1.3 might work best for base and might change the base gun to it to give it a try.

 

[keith_y]

Datec explained it well but to ad to what he said, in a production shop a 1.3 will work fine (depending on gun) because you are doing small areas and most production clears are low medium to low solids for speed.
We have 1000's of painters in the north that use 1.3 but rarely in the south as the over atomizing with humidity can cause a problem with high solids clears.
Also a call i get a lot with first time users of the universal is clear laid great but I used more then normal on the side of car? First thing i say is you used a 1.3. always the case.

RE adjusting gun:
Again, if your using 7600, 2021, 2042 gun adjustment is not really important but going to an HS clear, now wall pressure and gun adjustment gets critical.

I see. So many different theories and variables. Im young enough to have never sprayed conventional. Learned on Sikkens HS with LPH400 1.4 and W400LV 1.4 in always humid central MS. Now Im in humid mornings/dry afternoons central TX. The texture never mattered in production. The next shop was PPG HS -shopline, Envirobase, Deltron and Global clears in one shop. Never undertood why. Now Im with RM Diamont base and DC5335 clear, sometimes HOK for a cheaper alternative. Im about to order whatever clear you suggest for all over restorations on my own dime to see if I can get a better product for me. Then hopefully change the owners mind. Thank you!

 

[keith_y]

To add to my experience and confusion, I was told by several people including SATA and IWATA reps to always spray the guns adjusted wide open. If they werent working wide open I needed a different gun or setup. Now that several years have past, Ive moved to a slightly different climate, and different needs of spraying, I find that to not be the case at all. Im just now learning how to adjust a gun for temp/climate, product. It's been a steep learning curve and struggle for me. But Im not gong to let this beat me. With awesome folks help, like yourselves, I hope to become a very good painter.

 

[Kroozen]

I was talking to a painter today about universal and was telling him it's a high solid clear and a 1.4 tip is recommended. He looks at me funny and says I thought you was suppose to go lower with us clears. I asked him what tip he was using and he said 1.2. I told him that was to small for universal. He then says that what he was told to use for water. I told him water was different and he said that's what he was told to use for everything. He thought I was crazy and basically walked way from me

 

[AAE]

AAE, what size tip do you use for base? Or do use a differant gun. I looked at the 300 for smaller jobs and jams but went with the 80, I have 2-400's with 1.4's at work. I'm thinking that the 1.3 might work best for base and might change the base gun to it to give it a try.

I use a Sata 4000b with a 1.3 for base.