With practice, you can produce a flawless paint job.
The automotive spray gun has only a few basic controls. The spray cap on the front of the gun atomizes the paint and adjusts for a horizontal or vertical spray pattern. The upper knob at the rear of the gun controls the width of the spray pattern, while the lower knob controls the paint flow. The trigger is depressed to begin spraying, and released to stop. Using a spray gun correctly is a matter of trial and error, but the basics can be mastered by most people with a little practice.
Instructions
1. Remove the paint cup from the paint gun by moving the locking lever counterclockwise and rotating the cup clockwise a 1/8 turn while holding the body of the gun,.
2. Pour the paint into the cup through the strainer. Let the strainer rest on the rim of the paint cup, and fill the cup a quarter full. Thin the paint in the cup according to the manufacturer's recommendations. Attaching the cup to the gun is the reverse of removal.
3. Attach the air compressor to the gun using the air hose. Set the compressor's pressure regulator to 55 psi.
4. Spray a test pattern on a piece of cardboard. Adjust the pattern and flow knobs to get a pattern about 12 inches wide with good coverage but without runs.
5. Paint using steady strokes. Keep the gun perpendicular to your work, and maintain a constant 6- to 12-inch distance from your work piece. Overlap each stroke by 50%.
6. Clean your gun by spraying paint thinner through the gun until the thinner comes out clear.
Tags: spray pattern, your work