The Basics Of Paint Guns

We paint a lot here in the shops, and although we try to always pass on the tech and tips, sometimes we have to skip over the basics in order to show you the cool stuff. So Truck Tech co-host, Jeremy, is going to run through the basics of paint guns.

When it comes to guns there are a ton of options. Between different brands, types of guns, and even fluid tip sizes, it can get overwhelming. The old-school method is a conventional gun. The cup is below and holds the paint that’s drawn up through the tube by the air vacuum. The downfall other than its size is the amount of air pressure it takes to operate.

Then there are gravity-fed guns. The cup sits on top of the gun and gravity feeds paint to it. That means it takes a lot less air pressure to operate. There are 2 types of gravity-fed guns: a standard and an HVLP (or high volume low pressure). HVLP guns actually have a restrictor inside that restricts the air.

So while conventional guns are still out there and get the job done, you definitely have more advanced options. Conventional guns are good for spraying things like sound deadeners and undercoating, and even upholstery glue.

When it comes to gun operation, you should know what you’re using. For instance, the knob at the bottom controls air pressure. Above that is the fluid knob which controls how much paint comes through the gun. And above that, there is a fan control which controls how wide or tight you spray through the air cap.

Moving on to the parts of the gun, you have a needle that runs through the inside of the gun that moves when you pull the trigger and allows fluid to pass. On the back is the fluid control and up front is the fluid nozzle. Both the nozzle and needle can come in different sizes depending on what type of material you’re spraying. For something thick, you want a bigger nozzle and for something thinner like a base coat, you’ll want a little smaller. To top it all off you have the air cap on the end. For more tech, stay tuned to PowerNation Garage!