Choosing a Spray System For Finishing A GuitarPart 2: What I Use

[@Cablexman2k]

Hello Chris, I want to let you know that I really appreciate all of these instructional videos. I know it has to take a lot of time and effort to do all these videos. You have a good practical way of explaining these things. There are many who do some instructional stuff, but I think your channel is among the best. Thanks!

[@JetEdz]

Thank you! I have been struggling to understand the bare minimum of what I would need to paint my own guitars (provided I do not use rattlecans). Thank you for taking the time to walk through your gear and decisions that got you where you are... your video was very helpful. Thanks again! Ed

[@jeremyy22]

as someone trying to find my way through guitar building and refinishing, I find your videos so helpful. Thanks for what you do!

[@davismcafee1861]

This video just answered all of my questions about the equipment i would need to start efficiently paint guitars. Thank you for this video.

[@jamesschuster4456]

Thanks for this great video. I'm getting ready to set up a small shop and this info is invaluable.

[@alexanderguestguitars1173]

Good info! I've been using a little 25L portable compressor, and a Graco Finex HVLP gun (gravity fed) to spray my guitars. As a Cabinet Maker by trade, I'm used to spraying furniture using the workshop's gear (usually a big compressor+dryer/Devilbiss gun 1.8mm nozzle). I find that I get good results with the Graco (1.5mm nozzle), but sometimes it can be a pain to set up, and has a far too big cup for what I need. Seeing your results with the LVLP gun, that system seems like I ought to get one of those guns - and a regulator (which I don't have currently). Especially if they don't cost too much. Thanks for the excellent advice again!

[@xm79]

Thanks so much. I learn wood working from you and politics from Crimson guitars.

[@HighlineGuitars]

Now that's a compliment I like! You made my day.

[@Fazman81]

These vids are great I wish they were around when I started. I’ve been spraying guitars for around 20 yrs and everything you said is spot on. I’m going to give that little spray it lvlp gun a try. I’ve been looking for a mini hvlp gun for spraying paint as I have 4 or 5 full size hvlp guns and 2 hvhp guns right now. Thanks for the recommendation and keep up the great work.

[@musicformysanity9050]

Great video man. I have been doing a lot if soul searching about this exact topic. I hadn’t even thought about an LVLP. Thank you for the fantastic info!

[@timsmoot5141]

Thank you for the information . I have been using Preval for spraying lacquer and getting good results, but it's slow. If someone is building a guitar or two, Preval is ideal. I've been wanting to move up to a spray rig, but the compressor requirements have held me back. A customer of mine gave me a practically new 5 hp, 60 gal. compressor, but I don't have 220V at my shop to run it. LVLP might just be the answer. Please keep up the great vids!

[@drjalemar]

Can you please update this topic, very helpful advice.

[@HighlineGuitars]

It's on my to do list. Probably late 2037.

[@TomH_YT]

VERY useful episode.

[@nlsdj6946]

Thanks for the Great Information. its good to see some reality in price and quality being discussed. ps. i look at your shop and see alot of myself in there so i know your for real with what you use and do with those tools. Thanks again.

[@Robin_Coffins]

Thanks a lot for these videos! I bought like 15 air spray guns, paints, magnifying glasses, holders and like 5 compressors for $200 (australian dollarydoos) from this woman a few years ago, selling her late fathers things, she had to get rid of it all. And when i looked it all up, it was worth like $2000! I was going to buy a guitar and paint it for my partners 40th birthday and thanks to this video, i know i have all the stuff needed to do it!!! I DONT HAVE TO BUY ANYTHING ELSE! THANKS!

[@michaeldouglas2634]

Fantastic video. Very informative.. Help me so much in finding direction in what to go get.

[@IPushHard]

Umm, the lesson here is to watch the entire video. THEN comment. : ) I just took a look at some Spray It systems and love what I see. Thanks for the Info! I'm all over it.

[@pipedreamfretworks]

Really helpful. Thanks Chris.

[@franciscosaudielramirez-sa6330]

Hi Chris, thanks for the video. I am planning on painting an electric guitar body and wonder if you could let me know what nozzle tip size you recommend for primer, painting and clear coating. I would like to use water-based acrylic paint. Thanks - Paco

[@HighlineGuitars]

I recommend you check with the manufacturer of the products you plan to use.

[@dkanipeable]

Thanks. Those are great videos and helped clear up some of my spray questions.

[@alavery1065]

I have found your videos so very informative. I feel like I finally have a direction to take in finishing my first build. I wonder though, if you have an updated recommendation for an LVLP kit. It doesn’t look like the SprayIt 33500k is available any longer. There’s the SP-33000k and I suppose I could just get the SP-35000 gun separately? Thank you!

[@HighlineGuitars]

I currently use the QualSpray QS WB-125. It’s more expensive, but definitely much better than the SprayIt because the fluid pathway is all stainless steel, which makes it ideal for water-based finishes.

[@pj2418]

Thank you for your very thoughtful and informative video! I too want to get away from rattle cans but I am having trouble finding suppliers of popular factory guitar colors in CANS (not spray cans). Most of that I do requires that I find original colors for restoration and/or repair. Can you recommend a good supplier?

[@Voartist]

Great video for the spray gun. I have 3 questions. Will the Sprayit 2p-33000 shoot wate-base color and finishes? Second, the smallest tip for it is 1.3 mm dia. Is that small enough for finish coats.Third, does lacquer need to be thinned before shooting if from a spray gun? I've been looking for advice on spray guns for a couple of weeks. I was afraid I'd have to buy a new compressor, but I don't based on your instructions.My colors and clear gloss are nitro in spray cans. Thanks! This appears to be exactly what I've been looking for.

[@johnmcchavs]

VERY interesting. Thank you for that !

[@100amps]

Fantastic video, Chris. Great information. Thanks. .. now about the audio, can you get the mic closer, I had to crank the volume to 3x normal. 🤓

[@HighlineGuitars]

I thought I had the mic close enough (it's one a boom attached to the tripod, but I guess I didn't. Unfortunately, the timing didn't allow for a reshoot.

[@100amps]

It's still a good video. 🍺

[@Rockingoodman]

I agree that you're audio is often challenging. But, I don't care, your videos have taught me more than any other source, including several furniture factory jobs. videos like this are why you are my favorite "woodiographer"

[@SRH58]

Sounded just fine....

[@Starrryyy1]

with a 1.5 HP , 20 gallons would work?, thanks

[@MrKevincryan]

Great info, this is very helpful thanks very much

[@brocky436]

Hi Chris, have become addicted to your videos great to watch and informative too so thanks. I have the same spray station although not the smaller needle valve (which I will try to get hold of) but just one small point, you mention loading up the reservoir with lacquer and using for it for the whole day. Just wondering in practical terms how you would do this. Can you leave the gun without cleaning it out after you have put a coat on? Then if you were to use it on a couple of subsequent days could it be left without any cleaning then too? Or would you decant off the thinned lacquer into another container, clean out the whole system and then continue afresh on the following days?Anyway cheers for a great series of vids, keep em coming!

[@russellscott1151]

Very interesting & helpful thanks.

[@markkicksass2448]

Cool, thanks for the info. What do you do for a spray booth?

[@HighlineGuitars]

This: kzbin.info/www/bejne/e5q1haGZn7prnK8 I have a new booth which I will talk about soon in a new video.

[@johnmiller9219]

Great information. I'm looking to make the leap from rattle cans to spay gun. Where do you get the colors from? I dont find a source for fender/gibson colors in a non-aerosol format. I specifically would like lake placid blue and gibson goldtop

[@HighlineGuitars]

I either use water-based acrylic paint from my local big box arts and craft store or I mix my own from Crystalac CraftNique pigments.

[@johnmiller9219]

@@HighlineGuitars interesting water based huh?

[@HighlineGuitars]

@@johnmiller9219 Yes. No fumes. No flammable volatility. Easy cleanup.

[@ericpestana]

Would this system work for spraying metal flake finishes too? Is a different gun required for that? Very helpful videos BTW, thank you.

[@bradstrickland3398]

Great information! Thanks for the video. Where do you spray? Did you build a booth?

[@HighlineGuitars]

I spray In my garage/workshop. I hang some plastic dollar store painter's drop sheets in a corner and turn on my big ceiling mounted dust extractor. I have an idea for a portable spray booth, but that's down the road.

[@jywll]

Hey this was really great exactly what i was looking for i appreciate the work to put this together. Anything specific about paint you mentioned thinning is that something you always do when using these sprayersor is there paint you can just buy and pour in.

[@HighlineGuitars]

Probably. I've seen it on the shelves, but I have never used it so I can't comment. Every paint I have ever used required thinning.

[@jywll]

Highline Guitars with just regular thinner? Can you share what type of paint you like to use? Like just a regular water lacquer?

[@HighlineGuitars]

@@jywll I rarely paint guitars, but when I do, I use water-based acrylic craft paint, thinned with water.

[@plexibreath]

Great information, thanks! Question for you. Currently I'm using the Preval spray system, which is little more than a rattle can that allows you to use your own paint and mix your own color. But I don't like it. It sprays such that it doesn't atomize the spray into a fine enough spray causing a speckely orange peely finish. For the base coats it isn't such a big deal as I just sand it out. But I'm going to spray this guitar a sunburst, transparent sunburst as much like a 1959 Les Paul Standard as possible. There is no way the Preval system can do that. I'm using Mohawk Piano Lacquer for the finish so that afterward I can do the cold/warm checking to the finish. So my question for you, does the Sprayit LVLP system spray a fine enough, atomized finish that lays flat enough to accomplish a smooth, not-speckely, tinted finish? The guitar you show in this video is sunburst, but I can't see close enough to see how fine the spray is. Thanks, and thanks for all the great videos.

[@HighlineGuitars]

No, it does not.

[@plexibreath]

@@HighlineGuitars That's unfortunate, I like the price. What system would you recommend for my needs then?

[@HighlineGuitars]

@@plexibreath kzbin.info/www/bejne/sIHdfX2nntSfo9U

[@bierce85]

I've heard the LVLP are not good for metallics. Have you tried metallic basecoats with yours?

[@wizardz7938]

About to order my kit anything i should k ow before pressing the button lol

[@acykat2069]

Are you still using LVLP? Crystalac doesn't seem to recommend them or have much info on LVLP.

[@HighlineGuitars]

Mainly for dyes and stains. The needle in my lvlp gun is too small for Crystalac.

[@derekfletcher4354]

I respect what you do. There is a lot of good information here. I will take it to heart and learn from it. Thank You.

[@timogletree8754]

So wondering 2 years later has your opinion changed at all. How well has it held up?

[@HighlineGuitars]

Nothing has changed. I still use the same guns.

[@esharpflat5]

@@HighlineGuitars Thanks! Appreciate your willingness to share your wisdom.

[@Livemusic1800]

Hello. Im looking into buy a small compressor and spray gun to paint a bass guitar. Would you recommend this ??? Or...

[@HighlineGuitars]

I recommend the Earlex 5500. Even better, but more expensive is the Earlex 6003.

[@Livemusic1800]

@@HighlineGuitars ok. What about the SPRAYIT SP-33500K LVLP Spray Gun Kit ???? And maybe run it with a small compressor. Would it hold up.

[@zacheryheater5046]

What brands and types of paints would you use in the lvlp gun.

[@HighlineGuitars]

Anything you can spray in a conventional or HVLP gun, you can spray in an LVLP. I like to use water-based acrylic. No particular brand.

[@zacheryheater5046]

@@HighlineGuitars Watched your next video thank you !

[@SRH58]

How much was the cost of the last system you showed..? Thanks!!

[@HighlineGuitars]

A little over $200. Compressor: amzn.to/2FDXDjg Sprayer: amzn.to/2GefTNT

[@Trauzzinator]

Would a 1.5 hp 8 gallon compressor work well with that gun?

[@runrabbitrun4342]

yes it will be fine, he suggested a 8 gallon tank with a 2 hp, you wouldn't know the difference.

[@sethlogan9724]

I'll be using a 1 HP, 8 G California Air Tools compressor (3.1 CFM @ 40 PSI) for woodworking. Claims a 70/30 duty cycle.

[@LucianoDujmovic]

Hi, I like to know the needle size of the spray it, as I can not find it in my country I want to try to find a similar one. Thanks.

[@HighlineGuitars]

1.3mm

[@jciturr]

Do you think that I could use the lvlp gun with the California Air Tools 8010 compressor? Looking for a quiet compressor

[@HighlineGuitars]

You'll have to ask California Air Tools. I know nothing about their compressors.

[@jciturr]

@@HighlineGuitars thanks!

[@manplay212]

i like this video.

[@zacheryheater5046]

Hello I have a few in depth questions for you. Is there anywhere to reach you?

[@HighlineGuitars]

Here or at www.highlineguitars.com/ click contact and send me an email.

[@matmetmatmet]

Would you use the Lvlp with Crystalac Brite Tone?

[@HighlineGuitars]

No reason not to.

[@matmetmatmet]

Thanks! First time using Crystalac.

[@wizardz7938]

I dont even know what paint you put into these guns

[@djpenton779]

Hey Chris. I bought a Sprayit kit on Amazon based on your recommendation. The kit came with two guns - the larger 33000 and the mini 35000. I am a bit baffled by the mini gun. Unlike the larger gun, the mini gun does not match the exploded parts diagram from the manufacturer. I cannot figure out how to remove the needle for cleaning. Does yours disassemble so you can take out the needle? Also, the mini gun does not seem to have a spring BEHIND the needle, whereas the larger 33000 does. Thanks in advance.

[@HighlineGuitars]

Yes, it can be removed out the back of the gun by removing the paint adjustment knob first.