Hey all,
I have spent the last to days refinishing the 5 wheels of my old Ford, I was gonna use the usual spray cans but I got a HVLP (high volume low pressure) sprayer in Aldi for 12 quid.....so I thought, why not.....

I have never done anything but "CAN" spraying before, and I had heard that you cannot get a decent finish with HVLP sprayer. I thought it couldn't be worse than getting brushstrokes all over the things so I went ahead and did it......What a result

Had to thin the paint heavily, practiced on an old panel I had lying around, and the wheels look fantastic. I am delighted.

The question:

Has anyone tried doing a whole vehicle with HVLP ? I would love to know the result.

Regards,
Shane.

PS> I used the same sprayer two days before to do some waxoyling.....these things are great.....ALDI rule.

Using waxoyl in the same gun before spraying paint was a bit dodgy.
I've got one of those guns you mention, but it has the blower with it too so cost around forty quid from Aldi iirc. They are for spraying creosote on fences mainly, but they don't do too badly with heavily thinned enamel on parts for the engine bay etc. Definitely better than brushing it on, and yes, I reckon you could do an entire car with one but I wouldn't recommend it other than an absolute last resort.

Nah, not too dodgy.....I striped the whole thing down, cleaned really well and it was fine.

Like you said, the paint was very heavily thinned..... about 80%.

After a few coats,(and it needed lots) it really is like glass.

Regards,
Shane.

Shouldn't that be gloss?
The problem with spraying enamel thinned out like that is firstly, it runs too easily, secondly it's covering strength is diluted, and lastly it takes too long to dry. there are better alternatives.

I would agree there, it does run very easily. On the trial panel I had set the gun to a high delivery rate......I may as well a thrown the paint on ....After I dialled it way down it was fine....I reckon you could use the paint less thinned but the finish would suffer.

Overall, I still reckon its a great finish for mech. parts and stuff like that under the bonnet and I reckon you could do a panel with a bit of time and care. Of course for a real pro finish your right in saying there are much better alternatives...but on a budget of 12 quid and an ancient tin of Rustoleum....you could do worse...

I also think experimenting with the right paints for the job would be essential for a decent finish too.