Conversion or Turbine HVLP?

[julian abram]

For years I have used Wagner Conversion guns for finish work with good/acceptable finish on projects. I've been thinking recently about upgrading to a nice Fuji turbine unit, perhaps a Q4, or a higher quality conversion gun. I like the conversion gun since I'm experienced with it and would have a new learning curve with a turbine unit. Also I have a 5hp air compressor on a 60 gal tank so air supply is not a problem. My projects seem to be about a 50/50 mix of clear finish/stain and paint. Everyone seems to love the Fuji type turbine units but I can see there are both pros and cons with
it as well as conversion units. Your thoughts on Conversion vs. Turbine pros & cons? Any recommendations on high quality Conversion or Turbine units to consider for purchase?

[John TenEyck]

Easy choice - conversion gun. You have a compressor big enough to power any gun you would want. A high end turbine gun will not produce a better finish than a conversion gun costing 1/3 as much. Portability would be the only advantage for a turbine gun.

If you are going to put a lot of miles on a gun by all means buy a $500+ Iwata, Sata, etc. If you are a hobbiest you'll do just as well with a $300 Qualspray or similar and have a lot of cash to spend on something else after not buying a high end turbine. My strongest recommendation is to buy a pressure assisted conversion gun with the 3M PPS cup system and the N/N's needed to cover whatever whatever range of products you want to spray. I spray everything from 20 sec. #4 Ford cup Sealcoat shellac to 500 sec. BM Advance paint with one gun with no thinning.

John

[Andy Giddings]

+1 on John's comments. I have a Fuji - they are really good units but noisy and the hose is much larger than a conversion unit, which makes them unwieldy even with the additional whip hose. Now I have a better compressor than my original pancake I'm considering switching over to a conversion for that reason alone. Portability is not an issue for me though.

[julian abram]

John and Andy, thanks for the good input. You confirmed my thoughts which was to upgrade to a better conversion gun instead of switching to a turbine. Thanks for 3M PPS tip, was not aware of that system. I watched the 3M video, looks like a slick system that saves a lot of cleanup. You saved me $$ over the turbine setup. I'll buy a $300 conversion gun and the 3M PPS then use the savings for a better air dryer/water separator.

[Peter Froh]

Best of both worlds!!

http://www.fujispray.com/compressor-spray-guns/

Here is a quick review from a member of a Canadian woodworking forum.
https://forum.canadianwoodworking.co...un-non-turbine

[Curt Harms]

There's one other factor that favors the conversion gun in some (most?) cases. I have an Earlex 5000 unit that does a gret job given what it cost. There is always quite a bit of air coming out when the motor is running. If you're spraying some place that isn't pretty dust-free you could stir up dust that a conversion gun with far less airflow will not. I have an old Porter Cable PSH1 gun that has far less air flow but still puts down a nice finish. The Earlex is portable though which can be handy when the weather is nice.

[Andy Giddings]

There's one other factor that favors the conversion gun in some (most?) cases. I have an Earlex 5000 unit that does a gret job given what it cost. There is always quite a bit of air coming out when the motor is running. If you're spraying some place that isn't pretty dust-free you could stir up dust that a conversion gun with far less airflow will not. I have an old Porter Cable PSH1 gun that has far less air flow but still puts down a nice finish. The Earlex is portable though which can be handy when the weather is nice.

Curt, I think the Earlex is one of the few HVLP guns on the market that bleeds air when you're not spraying - most guns these days are non-bleeder (ie no air is emitted) so not an issue or disadvantage

[Curt Harms]

Curt, I think the Earlex is one of the few HVLP guns on the market that bleeds air when you're not spraying - most guns these days are non-bleeder (ie no air is emitted) so not an issue or disadvantage

Thanks Andy, I thought must turbine units were still bleeders.

[Rob Young]

Thanks Andy, I thought must turbine units were still bleeders.

All turbines MUST bleed the air while running. Either through the gun or through a valve at the turbine or both. The back pressure is not good for the turbine.

My turbine does have a bleeder valve on the unit and so can use a non-bleeder gun. However the recommendation from the manufacturer is that I'll get longer life from the turbine if I use a bleeder gun. I added a remote start ($25) to the turbine and use a bleeder style gun and make a conscious effort to NOT POINT THE GUN AT THE WORK WHEN NOT SPRAYING. Problem(s) solved.

[Andy Giddings]

All turbines MUST bleed the air while running. Either through the gun or through a valve at the turbine or both. The back pressure is not good for the turbine.

My turbine does have a bleeder valve on the unit and so can use a non-bleeder gun. However the recommendation from the manufacturer is that I'll get longer life from the turbine if I use a bleeder gun. I added a remote start ($25) to the turbine and use a bleeder style gun and make a conscious effort to NOT POINT THE GUN AT THE WORK WHEN NOT SPRAYING. Problem(s) solved.

Correct, although I think we were talking about the gun rather than the system. Fuji. for example, sells non-bleed guns and recommends them for avoiding the issue that Curt has with his Earlex http://www.fujispray.com/hvlp-spray-guns/