Spraying Automotive Paint with HVLP Sprayer?

[Adams1stCuda]

Has anyone ever sprayed automotive paint with a HVLP sprayer/gun?  I have a Earlex HV5500 that I've used with great results for other paint jobs and am wondering if it would work to spray the interior areas.  My plan is to clean up the interior body and spray before laying insulation and putting everything back together.  Any general recommendations for this? TIA...

[jimynick]

While having used a few HVLP guns, I've never heard nor used a Earlex product and can't offer an opinion. But, I did Google it and it looks like it'd do. HVLP is a good thing inside the car as by it's nature, it emits less overspray and that's something to be thankful for. Filter the paint properly and reduce it accordingly, set the air pressure, check the pattern on a piece of cardboard, modulate your trigger finger to control runs and "give 'er!". 

[cuda hunter]

I've sprayed both interior and exterior of a few cars with an hvlp.

I thought that is what everyone used to paint cars.   

[JS29]

/quote]   YUP!!!

[1 Wild R/T]

/quote]   YUP!!!

Accept what he's talking about isn't the same as a typical automotive HVLP gun....   But it should be fine for interior work....  I sprayed one of those rigs when working on industrial equipment, it never played the paint as nice as an automotive gun but it would be fine for smaller jobs as long as you have reasonable expectations

[Adams1stCuda]

Accept what he's talking about isn't the same as a typical automotive HVLP gun....   But it should be fine for interior work....  I sprayed one of those rigs when working on industrial equipment, it never played the paint as nice as an automotive gun but it would be fine for smaller jobs as long as you have reasonable expectations
[/quote]

For sure...wouldn't dare try the exterior with it.  I know my car will prob never get the type of restore or quality of work like that detailed in Cody's painting how-to, but just want to still make it nice for my wife.  Will do the exterior right if/when she/we ever decide to re-do it...agian.

[ec_co]

it should be fine. I've researched similar type units for interior and exterior paint work and they work great without the headaches of a compressor + inline equip. harbor freight has a cheapo unit for under $150 and there are plenty of videos on youtube showing how well they work,  (just one example https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pcesd4ZhK5Y). most are full blown exterior jobs, but shows what they are capable of.

[RUNCHARGER]

Hmm: Auto paint isn't cheap. I would experiment with some cheap (Summit type) stuff first.

[rhamson]

I've sprayed both interior and exterior of a few cars with an hvlp.

I thought that is what everyone used to paint cars.   

HVLP uses less paint as the liquid is under pressure and requires less air that causes over spray. For areas that have a lot of room I use a gravity feed gun as the liquid reservoir on top doesn't bump into things in tight spaces. I use a pressure pot for interior work as you can easily turn the gun up side down and around obstacles easily. The only thing you need to know in both cases is the size of the tip recommendation by the paint manufacturer.