This one is for guys that spray paint with a paint gun. What is the top knob for and the bottom knob?

Question

One of them is for the paint product the other for the air pressure. How many turns for the air and how many turns for the paint? This is a cheap gun. Any info would be apreciated. My first time painting.

Regards
Ray

Answer 1

The very bottom knob will adjust the air flow to the fan ports (the little holes on each side of the tip) . The more air ,the flatter and more oval shaped the pattern will become. The less air, the rounder the pattern will be ( this aids in blending and fogging, it's easier to control ) . The top knob will control the amount the trigger can be pulled, thus adjusting the amount of paint. Hope this helps.

Answer 2

Its a balancing act -- "how many turns" depends a lot on the viscosity of the product, how thick you want it applied, how fast, etc. Practice Practice Practice

I like to start out with just some big sheets of plastic, or cardboard.... turn the knobs all the way in, or out, and adjust them to suit, firing off some test shots after each adjustment. With most spray guns, turning a knob all the way in, will shut off the flow of that line, turning them out, will open them up all the way. In some cases, turning a knob out ALL the way will result in the knob coming out of the gun, heheheh...

Note - spray paints (whether using a gun, or cans) can end up leaving too much paint, wherever you happen to overlap your sweeps with the gun/can. To avoid this... start moving the gun sideways BEFORE you hold the trigger, and LET GO of the trigger before you stop moving. This way, your gun is already in motion before the paint starts flowing.... and you dont end up with too much paint in one spot. :D

Cover Everything! Lol... it will quite often take MORE time to get ready to paint, than it actually does to paint, using spray equipment.

Clean Up -- Don't forget to thoroughly clean the gun when you are done using it. If you are using a latex paint, then you can start cleaning it by running water through the gun... literally, fill the tank/bottle with water, and spray it thru the gun. This is a handy method if you are going to be using the gun again the next day, or in a few hours. If you are going to put the gun up on the shelf for some days or weeks between use, though, you need to take it apart and clean it thoroughly.

Oh, some guns allow you to change tips, rule of thumb, heavier paint will use a larger orifice.

Dont forget your face mask, eye protection and appropriate clothing (cap, long sleeves, etc). A charcoal dust mask will also help filter out fumes, if that is a problem with the paint you are using. Always ventilate your work area. No open flames.

Have Fun