Documenting the build of my garage/shop
smedlin
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So, as my wife said today, "This is getting real".
After spending the past few months devouring everything I could on the subject of Hydro-dipping, I've decided to take the plunge and do it.
This will be just as a "hobby", something to do when I come home from my day job.
However, after reading, asking questions, and paying attention, there is not really any "hobbyist" to hydro-dipping. You either do it with those DIY kits, are you do it with the big boys, not much in-between.
So, I've ordered my tanks TODAY. They are from eptex. Yes, I did the searches here and saw some negative stuff. I also saw the threads where @EptexCoatings was trying to fix things.
So far, I've had nothing but great dealings with Enrique, the sales manager guy from eptex. Very responsive.
Anyway, I ordered an 8ft dipping tank and a 6ft rinse station. (if I dip something bigger than the rinse station, I'll just wash it by hand.. probably won't happen often, but the dip size is there if I need it).
The wife and I are signed up to do training next month at Big Brains. Really looking forward to that. They seem very friendly.. @BigBrainGraphics .
This thread is really to document my journey of creating my hobby shop. It won't be a big production shop.. but, I'm not doing production work.
After spending the past few months devouring everything I could on the subject of Hydro-dipping, I've decided to take the plunge and do it.
This will be just as a "hobby", something to do when I come home from my day job.
However, after reading, asking questions, and paying attention, there is not really any "hobbyist" to hydro-dipping. You either do it with those DIY kits, are you do it with the big boys, not much in-between.
So, I've ordered my tanks TODAY. They are from eptex. Yes, I did the searches here and saw some negative stuff. I also saw the threads where @EptexCoatings was trying to fix things.
So far, I've had nothing but great dealings with Enrique, the sales manager guy from eptex. Very responsive.
Anyway, I ordered an 8ft dipping tank and a 6ft rinse station. (if I dip something bigger than the rinse station, I'll just wash it by hand.. probably won't happen often, but the dip size is there if I need it).
The wife and I are signed up to do training next month at Big Brains. Really looking forward to that. They seem very friendly.. @BigBrainGraphics .
This thread is really to document my journey of creating my hobby shop. It won't be a big production shop.. but, I'm not doing production work.
Comments
Already have plans on replacing my 21g compressor with a 60g one (from hb), running copper lines, ect.
I ran a dedicated 120v power line to my garage a few years ago. Now I need to run a 220 for the dip tank.
I've got a "cubby hole" that's 3ft wide and 4f+ deep (kind of like a closet, but no door). It's FULL of junk right now. I'm going to be cleaning it out and making it into my paint booth.
Wife is already wanting a blast cabinet. Was talking about it just this morning. Will probably get a HB one
(there is an HB a few miles from where I work.. I drive past it everyday.)
I REALLY have been thinking about doing this for awhile now.
I've put the deposit down for training at Big Brain. The dates are locked in for next month.
Going to get all "learned up"
Been working on my "garage shop".
First thing was to finish a new stand I've been making for my 14 year old reef tank. I've been working on this stupid thing on-and-off for OVER a year. Kind of forced myself to finish it before I could move onto something else.
But, it's all done, Got some friends coming over Sunday to help move it into place.
Next step was tearing down old shelving units and replace them with 6 foot shelves. These will hold paint and other supplies. Took forever to build. Really sturdy though...
The wife is REALLY expected about going to training. Will be cool to do stuff together.
@K2Concepts I started to order the guns just now. Put the Devilbliss into my shopping cart, then went to the Air Gunsa link.
But i'm really not sure which ones to get. I thought most people are using the same gun/tip for base and prime.
I was going to get the 1.3 for clear and the 1.5 for prime and base.
But should I get a third one? One just for prime, one just for base and one just for clear?
And do you recommend the Devilbliss Air gauge to be used on the Air Gunsa guns?
I really thought I had all this figured out exactly what to get.
Back to searching, reading, and learning.
Technically you need 4 guns...in theory? 1 gun for activator GPi, 1 gun for primer Air Gunsa 1.5 or 1.8, 1 Air Gunsa gun for base coat either a 1.3 for solvent paints or possibly the 1.5 for water based paints...you can use a 1.3 but just gotta crank up the pressure to around 30 PSI for water based paints and lastly 1 Air Gunsa 1.3 for your clear coat gun...
ANI gauges are expected to be in stock on Friday so I am ordering them now...
gotcha. I'll get 4 guns.
Another question.
I'm doing training at Big Brains in March. They sell the Anest Iwata LPH400-LVX
http://gobigbrain.com/anest-iwata-lph400-lvx-extreme-spray-gun/
It's MORE than twice as much as the Air Gunsa. Are they really that much better? If it will make things easier for a novice/learner, I'd pay the extra.
The few reviews I could find for the lph400 are all glowing raves.
But.. $500 per gun? Are they worth it?
I know, kind of put you on the spot. Your product vs a forum sponsor product.
I would stick with the middle of the road guns until you get your feet under you as far as practicing shooting clear coat...and THAT takes a LOT of practice...once you get your feet wet and kinda familiarize yourself with your guns and what they can and cannot do? THEN go spend a bundle on a bad a$$ gun...
Personally, I would drop cash on a CT30 5 stage filter system and/or a refrigerated compressed air dryer first...both of those items will solve more problems than a bad a$$ gun will...besides you are more than likely going to have to buy both those items anyways? Better to do that out of the gate than to have to figure out you need them anyways later on...
Another week or two I'm getting a new 2 stage compressor and will start running the copper lines. I'll add one CT30 right before the gun hookups.
I figure when it's all said and done, I'll hit about 20k setting this up.
But, like I was telling a friend, I'm not looking at it as just a hobby, but as a part time business venture. Gotta spend money to make money.
And the wife has agreed to NOT get a pool next year, but to build a bass A$$ shop in the back that we can both use.. soo.. I'm trying to get "good stuff" now, that I can just move to the new shop next year or two.
I've learned over time to just buy the good stuff up front. Whenever I buy "ok" stuff, I end up ditching it and buying better stuff down the road. I've wasted SO much money on things like that.. trying to cut corners and save money usually ends up just costing more than if I just did it "right" the first time.
I know clear is the hardest part. Does having that gun make it easier to have a better spray? Or do you use it cause your doing production runs
(I'll never do production runs...)
For both questions? Yes, the gun sprays better and has better transfer efficient. We saved 20% on our matte clear usage when I switched from a Sata 4000 HVLP 1.3 to the Iwata Supernova 1.4 Clear coat (silver cap) version. Yes, increased tip sized, still saved 20%. And we shoot over a gallon of matte clear every day. HUGE cost savings over a year.
But we LOVE the gun for gloss clear on custom jobs also. It atomizes incredibly well and combined with a good clear helps eliminate work cutting/buffing/polishing afterward.
My wife will be doing mostly smaller stuff, cups, tumblers, glasses, stuff like that. She would probably benefit from using the mini gun.
I'll be doing stuff like motorcycles, 4 wheeler, ice chest, stuff like that.
So i was already kicking the ideal around about getting a mini gun just for her clear and a bigger gun for bike tanks and stuff.
I have tried the smaller packages for basecoat and clearcoat a few times and they seemed to work pretty well for the price. Obviously not as efficient and good as the supernovas(that we use everyday) but for someone starting out it would be ideal. Save money, less guns, switchable heads and already adapted to the PPS system!
I even used the 1.8 for activator for a long time with great results until I bought the GPi.
The big thing to remember on the really expensive guns is that you still need to know how to use them! I can put my best guns already setup in the hands of someone with little experience and they most likely will have the same bad results as a cheaper gun. Technique is key!
Just another tool to look into...
Activator
- DeVILBISS GPi EXCLUSIVE HYDROGRAPHIC PACK - from K2
Prime- Air Gunsa Spray Gun - from K2
Base Coat- ANI R150 Mini Spray Gun -from K2
- Anest Iwata LPH400-LVX Extreme Spray Gun (orange cap) - from Big Brain
ClearThat should cover anything I want to do, be it small or large projects.
blah.. just put new tires on my truck today
An even 2k for 4 tires... I'm paying for them and thinking, darn, this is more than the compressor i want..
(and.. i think I'm going to enjoy and fit right in with this forum group...my wife is ALWAYS calling me a dirty old man)