Spray guns

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rhncue

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I've been spraying cues now for 20 years with cheap Harbour Freight and such gravity feed guns most of which are Chinese knock offs of the Sata brand of gun. I've read a number of times of fellows up grading their gun with great results so I've decided to buy me a new gun for my belated Christmas present to myself. Now for my question, what brand and model would you buy if you had 500.00 or so to toss out the window? Many talk about Satas but there are a number of different models. Lee Malakov recommended another brand. I don't want to buy the most expensive just because it is the most expensive but I want don't just want another cheap gun. I want performance for spraying Urethane Auto finish on cues. What are your informed recommendations on these guns?

Dick
 
I have been using a sharp gravity feed gun for years now. It works fantastic. I believe I paied something like $500 for it 11- 12 years ago. I believe a similar one today is around $350. Chris.
 
IMHO Sata minijet. Before he passed away, Chester Krick tried all kinds of different spray guns, from cheap to ultra expensive. I finally convinced him to try the Sata mini jet, and he said it was better than any of the others he had. Blud told me to use one, and I've been using mine now for about 9 years. I use the 1.0 SR nozzle set. Use to have the .8 regular nozzle set until I dropped the needle. Of course the sucker landed right on the tip.
Scratch one needle. I think the 1.0 SR(spot repair) is better than the .8.
One more thing about the sata, the finish on the gun is really high quality, very smooth, makes it a breeze to clean. Use to be a little over 200.00, I'm sure they've gone up a bunch since then.
 
I did the same thing for years Dick. I used a Harbor Freight 29.99 special for years. Then I talked with others and have purchased several guns over the years. None were what I would call great. Some costing several hundred. I found this gun thru a friend of mine who shoots custom mororcycles. He has used this gun for years and does some of the best custom work on bikes I have ever seen. I took his advise not only because he was very good at painting bikes, but thought to myself how small the bike parts are and the detail it sprayed. Much like cues I thought.
I bought it and have never looked back. It is truely one of the best guns for cues I have ever used. The atomization is awesome and really saves me a ton in clear due to it's fine spray and adjustable spray pattern. Easy to clean and maintenance as well. It has a great air flow with 12 holes in the front of the nozzle instead of the 2-4 holes the cheap guns have.
Take a look, here is a link to one on ebay. Same model I use and would not ever change!
Hope this rambling helps,
Jim Lee

http://cgi.ebay.com/DeVILBISS-Start...3|66:2|65:12|39:1|240:1318|301:1|293:3|294:50
 
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rhncue said:
I've been spraying cues now for 20 years with cheap Harbour Freight and such gravity feed guns most of which are Chinese knock offs of the Sata brand of gun. I've read a number of times of fellows up grading their gun with great results so I've decided to buy me a new gun for my belated Christmas present to myself. Now for my question, what brand and model would you buy if you had 500.00 or so to toss out the window? Many talk about Satas but there are a number of different models. Lee Malakov recommended another brand. I don't want to buy the most expensive just because it is the most expensive but I want don't just want another cheap gun. I want performance for spraying Urethane Auto finish on cues. What are your informed recommendations on these guns?

Dick
Click to expand...
I have sprayed finishes for over 15 years. I have several diferrent spray guns ranging from Sharpe to Binks to Sata's . I now have a Finex gun in my shop that I use for all my finish work which is made by Sharpe!. It will sprays as good as any others that I have used.

Keep in mind that I spray 2 butts and 4 shafts at a time.

I think I paid about $120.00 for this gun.
 
cutter said:
IMHO Sata minijet. Before he passed away, Chester Krick tried all kinds of different spray guns, from cheap to ultra expensive. I finally convinced him to try the Sata mini jet, and he said it was better than any of the others he had. Blud told me to use one, and I've been using mine now for about 9 years. I use the 1.0 SR nozzle set. Use to have the .8 regular nozzle set until I dropped the needle. Of course the sucker landed right on the tip.
Scratch one needle. I think the 1.0 SR(spot repair) is better than the .8.
One more thing about the sata, the finish on the gun is really high quality, very smooth, makes it a breeze to clean. Use to be a little over 200.00, I'm sure they've gone up a bunch since then.
Click to expand...

So you're the reason Chester talked me in to it!?!
Dick, All of the above that Steve says....except the price! It is now the MiniJet IV and is around the $320-70 range last I looked. I bought the MiniJet III when they first hit the market. Know a guy that has been using the MiniJet II for 12 plus years and getting great results.
I feel fortunate enough not wasting any money on other brands so I really have nothing to compare it too. I do know this...the gun does everything you will ever need for shooting cues and is built to last. I use the 5 ounce aluminum cup which is plenty for a groups of 6-10 cues at a time.
This depends on how you set the gun up for delivering the goods. The only difference between the III and IV is one more fine tuning adjustment on the gun.
Easy clean up and maintenance is important to me also.
Spend the little extra on their air micrometer that screws in line right at the gun. This is an easy guage to use for setting the exact air requirements needed to ensure the finish will atomize properly.
Don't forget a dessicant trap to keep the line clean and free of moisture and oil debris.
It's kind of like most other things......everyone has their own opinion.
Happy spraying.......
 
A local guy does custom bikes.All his spray guns are Iawata brand.
His have a teflon nozzel for easy cleanup with 2 part paints.
They maybe worth looking at. They have ranges from large gravity feed to the pencil type.

Hope this helps you and not confuse.
Neil
 
At work we spray lacquer every day and sometimes 2 part automotive clear on consumer models that go out to retailers for review. We have 6 Sata Mini Jets, from older model #1 to the brand new model #4. I was able to "get" a brand new Sata Mini Jet 4 since I'm friends with the spray guy. Now I just have to build a cue to use it, lol.

I'm not experienced by any means with this spray gun, except for the few times I use it at work, but our painter at work says they are the best brand. He also has the Sata brand pressure gage on the bottom of each of the guns and says that is definitely worth it.
 
Chris Byrne said:
I have been using a sharp gravity feed gun for years now. It works fantastic. I believe I paied something like $500 for it 11- 12 years ago. I believe a similar one today is around $350. Chris.
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Chris, which model?
 
You yanks kill me, lacquer and varnish :shudder:

Does anyone that side of the pond ever finish a cue the way god intended with raw linseed oil or have you all a 2nd job selling micheal jackson gloves and talc?
 
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Wity said:
You yanks kill me, lacquer and varnish :shudder:

Does anyone that side of the pond ever finish a cue the way god intended with raw linseed oil or have you all a 2nd job selling micheal jackson gloves and talc?
Click to expand...

Anyone who was taught to use linseed oil, either boiled or raw, had a fool for a teacher. Years ago I read a number of articles on finishes wanting the best for both looks and protection. I ran across, and still have an article that was put out by Fine Woodworking Magazine that was a study on the affects of different finishes and the transfer of moisture on wood products. The very best was a coat of paraffine that completely sealed the wood and allowed no transfer of moisture what-so-ever so was rated at 100. The absolute worst was Linseed oil that actually attracted moisture and was rated at -3.0. All the other types of finishes were somewhere in between with all of the oil finishes near the very bottom of the list as far as moisture protection.

As usual, the Brits are a century behind in technology.

Dick :D
 
Thanks for the many recommendations. I've been reading articles on all of the guns mentioned. Most of the write-ups I've read say that the Sata 4 is the best on the market. One article has the Sharp as a more economical alternative. One article had a fellow say that he has used a Sata for 12 years and loved it but tried an Iawata and says he would never go back to the Sata. Decisions, decisions. I guess I'll think it over the rest of the day and place an order tomorrow. Thanks for every ones time recommendations.

Dick
 
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Well, I sprung for the Sata minijet with the 1.0 orifice this afternoon. 299.99 with free delivery. I talked to the salesman for awhile and he recommended a 1.4 orifice for a 2 part clear Urethane as it is thicker than a lacquer type of finish however he said that with the minijet I would have to use the 1.0 and might have to use a little reducer when mixing. He also said that the Sata and the Iwata were very comparable and the only real difference would be in getting parts quickly. He said local places would have the Sata parts where as you would have to probably order the Iwata parts on line. I was going to get the Iwata as it is about a 100.00 cheaper but they don't carry the mini Iwata in stock. He also said that if I've been using the Harbour Freight gun that I'm not going to believe the difference in finish that this gun will put on. I can't hardly wait.

Dick
 
I bought a DeVilbiss HVLP Gravity feed spray gun to paint my Chopper. I have painted a cpl friends Choppers and my custom 1980 Stepside Chevy pickup, and my dads 70 Barracuda. Its a great gun. I used a suction cup Binks #7 for about 15 years and it worked great as well, but the gravity fed gun is by far much more superior....I paid 347.99 for my DeVilbiss HVLP gun...
 
rhncue said:
Well, I sprung for the Sata minijet with the 1.0 orifice this afternoon. 299.99 with free delivery. I talked to the salesman for awhile and he recommended a 1.4 orifice for a 2 part clear Urethane as it is thicker than a lacquer type of finish however he said that with the minijet I would have to use the 1.0 and might have to use a little reducer when mixing. He also said that the Sata and the Iwata were very comparable and the only real difference would be in getting parts quickly. He said local places would have the Sata parts where as you would have to probably order the Iwata parts on line. I was going to get the Iwata as it is about a 100.00 cheaper but they don't carry the mini Iwata in stock. He also said that if I've been using the Harbour Freight gun that I'm not going to believe the difference in finish that this gun will put on. I can't hardly wait.

Dick
Click to expand...
Dick,
I shoot 2-1 mix ureathane with my 1.0sr, on the final coat I put in a splash of ureathane reducer.
Once you get that baby dialed in, get ready for some amazing stuff.
 
cutter said:
Dick,
I shoot 2-1 mix ureathane with my 1.0sr, on the final coat I put in a splash of ureathane reducer.
Once you get that baby dialed in, get ready for some amazing stuff.
Click to expand...

Sweet!!! Your finish does look very good. I can't wait. Like a new toy.

Dick :grin:
 
Here is a picture of my Big Dog I painted back in early 2007. I used my DeVilbiss HVLP gun...I used Dupont Hot Clear Urethane
bd1.jpg
 
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