Air compressors

[Namrups]

Question 1: Has anyone had any experience with the Fortress air compressors distributed by Harbor Freight? They are having a 20% off sale this weekend.

Question 2: If (I said if. I'm still trying to decide) I want to do my own painting would a 26 gallon 175 psi unit be good enough?

[Jeff Kleiner]

1) No

2) No

Jeff

[Skuzzy]

I have a Rolair 60 Gallon (https://www.rolair.com/products/air-compressors/electric-stationary/5-hp-light-industrial) compressor I consider the bare minimum for painting. Getting a water separator and particle filter which would allow enough flow was pricey.

[GoDadGo]

This is the only portable compressor that has ever worked well for me is this one from Dewalt:

https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/dewalt-30-gallon-air-compressor-155-psi-dxcm301?cm_vc=-10011

Running D/A's, cut-off tools, air chisels, spraying primer, and even my gel coat dump gun doesn't seem to phase it.

https://www.bottompaintstore.com/gelcoat-spray-gun-for-gelcoat-or-resin-esg1006-p-10391.html

Good Luck!

[Namrups]

Thanks for the info! Appreciate it.

[Presto51]

Maybe this link will give you more information so you can make a good decision / choice .

https://www.autobodytoolmart.com/air-compressors-for-painting

Ron

[Lidodrip]

I have the Fortress air compressor - 10 galllon / 175 PSI. I got it for 25% off and I have been happy with it. It is quiet and seems well made. I use air compressors more for woodworking which is less demanding. I was able to spray Lizard Skin, but it required some patience which is fine when you are spraying pancake batter. Worked great for powder coating. All painting questions I would defer to the pros like Jeff, but I believe the 26 gallon model uses the same compressor as my 10 gallon model and there is no way that would ever keep up with painting.

James

[Jeff Kleiner]

Namrups,
I got your PM but will answer here so that others have the info...which is just my opinion.

Painting an entire car is different than running air tools or even shooting primer on parts. The key is volume of air; painting is done at relatively low pressure (<35psi) but it takes A LOT of air! The last thing that you want to have happen when spraying color, or especially clear, is to have to wait for the compressor to catch up! Some may have been able to "get by" with less but in my opinion (there's that opinion thing again ;) ) the minimum should be an 80 gallon tank with a 5HP pump (which will require 230 volts) capable of sustaining 12 SCFM at 40 PSI. I don't know if Harbor Freight offers anything that range. Do they?

Cheers,
Jeff

[Namrups]

Namrups,
I got your PM but will answer here so that others have the info...which is just my opinion.

Painting an entire car is different than running air tools or even shooting primer on parts. The key is volume of air; painting is done at relatively low pressure (<35psi) but it takes A LOT of air! The last thing that you want to have happen when spraying color, or especially clear, is to have to wait for the compressor to catch up! Some may have been able to "get by" with less but in my opinion (there's that opinion thing again ;) ) the minimum should be an 80 gallon tank with a 5HP pump (which will require 230 volts) capable of sustaining 12 SCFM at 40 PSI. I don't know if Harbor Freight offers anything that range. Do they?

Cheers,
Jeff

Not that I know of. Thanks for your input Jeff. Really appreciate it.

[Skuzzy]

Namrups,
I got your PM but will answer here so that others have the info...which is just my opinion.

Painting an entire car is different than running air tools or even shooting primer on parts. The key is volume of air; painting is done at relatively low pressure (<35psi) but it takes A LOT of air! The last thing that you want to have happen when spraying color, or especially clear, is to have to wait for the compressor to catch up! Some may have been able to "get by" with less but in my opinion (there's that opinion thing again ;) ) the minimum should be an 80 gallon tank with a 5HP pump (which will require 230 volts) capable of sustaining 12 SCFM at 40 PSI. I don't know if Harbor Freight offers anything that range. Do they?

Cheers,
Jeff

Just FYI. I have not had to wait for my 60 gallon/5HP to keep up. Again though, I think that is the bare minimum for painting a car. It takes a lot of clean, dry air to paint a car.

[JeffP]

I picked up one of these on sale in the hopes that it will allow me to do my own paint..

https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/dewalt-60-gallon-air-compressor-155-psi-dxcm601

Do you think this will be sufficient? Any thoughts on the Black Widow sprayers at HF? They're on sale too and seem to be rated pretty decent. Still trying to figure out if HTE vs HVLP would be better.

[golfobsessed71@gmail.com]

I painted this Viper with a craftsman 6HP/30 gal. in my garage.

I have been painting cars my whole life and spent 16 years teaching OEM paint certification for BASF.

Though not ideal I had to paint this car at home for a reason and wouldn't have done it otherwise.

Laid down plenty of plastic and have access to high end guns and paint... just couldn't move the car at the time and took a advantage of down time... and paint was show quality.

As others have said it's not ideal but doable... Pick a gun that runs on lower CFM... Sata-good, Iwata-good, Teckna-good or if you can find a GEO they will run pretty well on 8-9 CFM and most of these will work well with 20-25 PSI and again as was said volume is gonna be important so find the right gun and NO a harbor freight gravity feed won't do.

I was able to paint and lay out all stripes with no problems and even the blue (which was a three stage color in two stage formula) but I did clear in sections which is when you want the most consistent volume... so keep in mind depending on what your painting clearing in sections can be an option (color not so much)

I took three days to paint the car so again doable.

Also take seriously the air quality, wet compressor or dry (oil-less) which is what I used, don't use a "snowball" for a pre-gun filter, there are better options at your local paint store and some paint stores will rent a Cam-air unit or IRT unit.

I'm about to paint my 33 Hotrod true three stage candy red but not at home... that would never work 162782162783162784162785

[Skuzzy]

Appreciate you chiming in golfobesssed71. I am not a professional painter, by any measure. I find my compressor has enough overhead for my hobbyist attempts at painting cars. I use Iwata guns and it seems to keep up with me just fine. Could I go smaller on the compressor? I probably could, but I am not confident I could have the results you could get. I certainly could not paint metal flake in sections.
I spent more time getting the water separator and filter system which would allow enough clean and dry air flow to paint.

[golfobsessed71@gmail.com]

Appreciate you chiming in golfobesssed71. I am not a professional painter, by any measure. I find my compressor has enough overhead for my hobbyist attempts at painting cars. I use Iwata guns and it seems to keep up with me just fine. Could I go smaller on the compressor? I probably could, but I am not confident I could have the results you could get. I certainly could not paint metal flake in sections.
I spent more time getting the water separator and filter system which would allow enough clean and dry air flow to paint.

I only clear coated in sections... the color was all at one time especially with any metallic or mica would need to be based at the same time... just don't need the constant CFM in base like you would want in the clear.

I wasn't trying to overstep anyone... was just trying to help original post.

[Skuzzy]

I only clear coated in sections... the color was all at one time especially with any metallic or mica would need to be based at the same time... just don't need the constant CFM in base like you would want in the clear.

I wasn't trying to overstep anyone... was just trying to help original post.

I do not think anyone took it as overstepping. I know I did not. It is always interesting to hear how different painters approach the tasks and the requirements associated with painting cars.

I came up with my compressor choice by looking at the guns I selected and then the air requirements needed to use them. Then I factored in some overhead. Choosing the compressor was actually the easiest part of the equation. The filter/separator assemblies took more time and ended up costing as much as the compressor.

When I ran the 3/4" air lines, in my garage, I have one line for painting with which has those high end filter/separators attached to it. The other access points only have a water/oil separator attached. The filter assembly restricts air flow to a maximum of 40cfm, which seems to be enough to paint with.

[golfobsessed71@gmail.com]

I do not think anyone took it as overstepping. I know I did not. It is always interesting to hear how different painters approach the tasks and the requirements associated with painting cars.

I came up with my compressor choice by looking at the guns I selected and then the air requirements needed to use them. Then I factored in some overhead. Choosing the compressor was actually the easiest part of the equation. The filter/separator assemblies took more time and ended up costing as much as the compressor.

When I ran the 3/4" air lines, in my garage, I have one line for painting with which has those high end filter/separators attached to it. The other access points only have a water/oil separator attached. The filter assembly restricts air flow to a maximum of 40cfm, which seems to be enough to paint with.

I'm guessing by what your saying we would have the same approach as I agree with all your saying in particular with it's not all about the compressor... guns airlines and fittings play a big part.

I have a full blown GFS downdraft booth and training center I can use for painting I just couldn't move my Viper at the time.

Trying to answer the original posters question, it can be done with some planning and adjusting beyond the compressor specs... and might involve a bit more wetsand and buff ;-)

[Skuzzy]

I guess we went the long way around to say, the compressor size is dictated by the requirements of everything attached to it. Buying the compressor before you know what the gun/regulator/filter/line size/separator equipment needs are could be a mistake.

[J R Jones]

I guess we went the long way around to say, the compressor size is dictated by the requirements of everything attached to it. Buying the compressor before you know what the gun/regulator/filter/line size/separator equipment needs are could be a mistake.

Skuzzy, yes, and pay attention to the CFM deliverable at of near your operating pressure. Overkill ain't bad in this circumstance.
On a tangent issue, given hose length and pressure drop I rely on inline pressure gages to measure at the gun. I set the pressure and remove the gage, I do not use that device for adjusting pressure.
jim

[Skuzzy]

Skuzzy, yes, and pay attention to the CFM deliverable at of near your operating pressure. Overkill ain't bad in this circumstance.
On a tangent issue, given hose length and pressure drop I rely on inline pressure gages to measure at the gun. I set the pressure and remove the gage, I do not use that device for adjusting pressure.
jim

Quite right. I have a regulator at the connection point for the hose to the gun. I just compensate there as the hose length is always the same. Like you I took a pressure gauge attached to the end of the hose so I could get an accurate pressure drop reading, then compensated with the regulator.

[tomshep]

Need more capacity (tank) and volume.