Cheap, hopper-feed spray gun for Duratex - thoughts?

[miked]

I'll be building 2-4 T48s and probably a couple of OTops. The thought of Duratexing them with a roller makes me ill.

I own a big compressor and air tools but no spray gun. I read that you should spray on the spray-grade Duratex with a hopper spray gun.

HarborFreight sells a "Texture Paint Sprayer" that looks like it will do the job. http://www.harborfreight.com/texture-pa ... 66103.html

They also have a normal, gravity-feed gun here http://www.harborfreight.com/20-oz-high ... 47016.html

Having never used a spray gun before (but about a million rattle cans!) is this advisable for the homeowner w/o a dedicated spray booth? What kind of "spray booth" would I need to create in my garage to ensure I don't get Duratex all over the walls and my tools?

Thoughts on all this is appreciated. Thanks.

[Jon Barnhardt]

Have you ever rolled duratex?

If you have, pardon my response...

If not, it doesn't compare to rolling other paints. It is actually a pleasure to work with. I also considered going the spray route, as I have a large enough compressor, but rolling is actually not too bad. Not bad enough to warrant the extra expense/hassle in my case...

[miked]

Hi Jon,

I have rolled Duratex and it's not too bad if you've got one small cab with just the 6 flat sides to deal with. But with horns, you've got the throat and trying to work the roller in there, etc.

I already have the compressor and hoses. All I'd need is the plastic sheeting to create a spray booth (really want some education on this part!) and the spray gun itself ($20). OH...and a gallon of spray Duratex which I'd have to buy anyway (the roller grade stuff) if rolling on.

[Jon Barnhardt]

I see what you are saying. Tight spaces can be a pain. I get in there with a smaller (3" I think) roller, but in those cases a spray gun would be better. My biggest issue is that I don't like the cleanup (with a roller I just toss it after I use it - they are too cheap to clean) and a spray gun looks like lots of cleanup to me!

[Bill Fitzmaurice]

I use the Harbor Freight hopper gun. I recommend rolling the first coat where it's reachable, using the gun only for what you can't reach, then using the gun all over for the spatter coat.

[miked]

Thanks, Jon and Bill.

Bill, please, which gun do you use? It's probably on this page:

http://www.harborfreight.com/catalogsea ... =spray+gun

They have a "texture gun" but the top hopper is open...a recipie for a real mess. Thanks very much!

[Bill Fitzmaurice]

They have a "texture gun" but the top hopper is open...a recipie for a real mess. Thanks very much!

Only if you tip it upside down. Don't do that.

[jswingchun]

Thanks, Jon and Bill.

Bill, please, which gun do you use? It's probably on this page:

http://www.harborfreight.com/catalogsea ... =spray+gun

They have a "texture gun" but the top hopper is open...a recipie for a real mess. Thanks very much!

Use this:
http://www.harborfreight.com/texture-pa ... 66103.html
It works great and is the sprayer that the manufacturer recommends.

[miked]

Thanks, jswingchun. In the past few minutes I emailed Duratex and asked them about that exact hopper gun. Got an email back from Dan @ Duratex saying that was a good gun to use. So that's good news.

I know how much quicker spraying it vs. rolling. Now I just need to decide if it's worth the risk of me messing something up. Bad application, making a real mess, etc.

[LelandCrooks]

Get a big piece of cardboard. You'll get the hang of it in about 5 minutes. Small tip, gun barely open, keep moving and not too close.

[miked]

Thanks Leland. You've got an email coming, BTW. Just a heads-up.

[Jon Barnhardt]

Darn you guys, I just might have to try one of those since the cost is so low...

Also found a coupon for 20% off: DISC20

[miked]

Whoa. Cha-ching! I need a few things from them anyway...or do now. LOL!

[Bruce Weldy]

I know how much quicker spraying it vs. rolling.
.

I beg to differ. The amount of set up time for the sprayer, putting down plastic, clean up time is way more than popping the lid, dipping the roller and getting it slapped on. No run, no drips, no errors (sorry....world series is going on). I've rolled 9 cabinets multiple coats - I would never spray it unless I was manufacturing cabs and had a separate paint booth where everything could stay setup.

Not to mention all the waste you get with spraying.

Oh, and the little 4 inch roller you can get from Leland was no problem getting in the mouth of the T39s at all.

Since you are close by, come take a look at mine.

[miked]

Thanks very much, Bruce! I'm going to take you up on that! You've got an email coming.

Also, the setup/possible cleanup involved with spraying is definitely not lost on me. That's the main reason I'm hesitating about spraying...but thought it wise to investigate the possibility anyway.

For example, if I build two T48s and two OTops, that's four cabs that arent' particularly easy to cover (lots of angles/ports/etc). It's not like rolling paint onto a sealed subwoofer box. In that case it would be worth it to setup a "spray booth" in the garage. An hour to setup and hopefully an hour to clean up. Spraying a first coat on all four cabs would probably take 40 minutes, give or take a few minutes. Doing the same with a roller? You could comfortably triple that time estimate, easily.

Just bouncing some thoughts around. With that 20% coupon I may have to get that gun just on principle alone. I wonder if they'll honor that 20% in the store? Hmmm.