Gravity of Suction Spray Paint Systems?

[Lionelgee]

Hello All,

I am thinking of making the step up from using pre-mix aerosol spray paint tins to the real McKoy. From a quick look online there seem to be two main types: gravity fed, which has the paint pot above the spray gun nozzle; and suction, that has the paint pot below the spray gun nozzle.

I already have a compressor :) I have a range of pneumatic mechanic's tools - just not a spray paint gun yet.

I would be mostly painting things like chassis and I might have a go at panel painting. I am a novice and do not intend doing spray painting for a living.

I also noticed that some spray systems vary in price from $34 for a kit; to well over $500, just for the hand piece alone.

What are the main differences and applications between gravity and suction - is one more advantageous than the other? Or is one more flexible than the other and better suited to smaller - occasional jobs?

Is High Volume Low Pressure really the duck's guts like some of the advertising material suggests?

What are the brands that people would recommend for each type gravity/suction?

What sort of cost would get decent quality system?

You know a spray gun where I am not encouraged to practice my swearing due to shoddy results directly attributed to tools with poor adjustments or weak componentry, awkward to hold. I have to compensate for my own lack of ability after all.

Your thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

Kind Regards
Lionel

[Perentie Brad]

Hi Lionel,
I'm not a professional spray painter however the Army kindly trained me as an aircraft painter as an addition to my trade.

Suction or gravity? its a personal preference and also depends on what you are painting whether the pot underneath is obstructive to the job, gravity feed is also slightly more forgiving to people who don't clean their guns as well as they should because gravity helps the paint to the nozzle.

Personally I prefer suction because it is easy to put the gun down whilst spraying and it is easier to tilt the gun without paint spillage.

As to brands there are many, as with all tooling you get what you pay for, I'm not suggesting you buy a $600 gun if you are only doing odd jobs but I wouldn't recommend something from Super Cheap. One of my guns I've had for 20 years and because I looked after it and cleaned it properly, and more importantly didn't lend it to anyone, it still works fine.

Hope this helps

Brad

[POD]

I'm also not a professional spray painter.
I recently bought a spray gun and did a little bit of internet research beforehand, it seems that gravity fed has largely replaced suction fed guns in industry. One advantage I found with my gravity fed gun over my old suction fed one is that you use all the paint; with a suction fed gun there will always be a certain amount of paint left in the bottom of the pot that the suction tube won't pick up.
My gravity fed gun came with a bracket for hanging it in when you want to put it down.
With a low pressure / high volume gun, there is much less overspray, i.e. a far higher percentage of the paint actually ends up on target, which as well as reducing waste also means that you don't get overspray on everything in the same postcode like you do with the older style guns.