Apollo 1050VR

[khaos]

Anyone using or has used this system? I have been checking it out for some marine applications but it looks like it could be great for finish.

Links: Manufacturer (http://www.hvlp.com/turbine_detail.php?id=10) and Woodcraft has a bundle (http://www.woodcraft.com/Product/2083052/36516/Apollo-HVLP-1050VR-Power-Series-5-Stage-Turbine-with-7500QT-AtomiZer-Quick-Release-Cup-Gun.aspx)with ALL the goodies

[frank134]

Yes I have it and it work great. I had it for almost two years now. Not one problem.

[bill_l]

I've been using one for about eight years and I swear by it. I shoot mostly water based finishes and the results are exceptional.

Bill

[khaos]

Thanks guys! Thats about 8 for non against... :)

[bruce_taylor]

I am familiar with it and have used one a friend has, just like any of the other hvlp systems on the market I have a graco 9100 and it works just as well and costs quite a bit less. Sherwin williams sells the graco 9100 under there label also. It is nice to have one the has a parts house repair service local, the little things like o-rings and seals, needles etc. are a bit of a pain if not available locally. Good luck!

[letterman7]

Ok, not having one but using HVLP guns in the shop for sign and automotive use... what makes this different than a "regular" HVLP gun with a 1.8 tip and a decent compressor for 1/2 the price? Does it pre-heat and remove any water and impurities in the air? Will the compressor unit work with other HVLP guns or do you have to purchase theirs? Just askin' is all - if it pre-heats and filters the air it would make a nice addition to the shop not to have to run the big tank when I need it!

[srwtlc]

I used to use a HVLP turbine system in the past (Croix CX8) and it had an option for a remote 2 quart pot that allowed the gun to be used in any position. Most of these units have an attached can which can be a limitation depending on what you spray. For me it was invaluable to have the remote gun/pot setup!

[bleeth]

Anyone who can correct my assumptions please do. I have never owned or worked with someone who owns one of the HVLP rigs with electric air driver. If you are doing all in shop work than buying a complete HVLP rig if you have a decent compressor makes no sense at all since you have the air and only need adequate separator/filters to shoot whether using an HVLP pot or not. If you are doing field (or end of dock) work it may make sense as a portable compressor that is capable of driving a paint pot without constant interruption can be more expensive particularly when buying new as well as the size and weight of one and the power requirements (220 single phase or gasoline). The only problem with the field work is that your portable compressor will also drive an air sander whereas the dedicated HVLP rig only will run the pot.

[bruce_taylor]

The advantage of the turbine is it provides a higher volume of air at a lower psi
than a standard air compressor, about 7-9 psi the hose is more like a garden hose size for the increased volume. Almost no over spray and the air is dry and a little on the warm side which helps dry time. The portability is a nice feature too.If you have a good size shop compressor with a dryer then you can buy a hvlp gun and it will work similiar, but not exactly the same. For water based finishes it is not as big a deal but for conversion varnish or and oil based coatings it can be a pain if your dryer isn't really perfect. I like and use my turbine run hvlp exclusively for my finishes and it provides a hi quality product with little headaches, My air with the mediocre dryer and filter doesn't produce the quality air I need for finishes. It blows stuff off and runs sanders and nail guns fine though. Just my two cents (worth about a penny these days)

[bleeth]

Thanks for relating your personal experience Bruce. Very informational. Due to the low volume of actual wood product until recently I have been outsourcing all my finish work. However, we have been getting more wood and veneer work lately and I started an in-house finish program. I got lucky and picked up a pretty large screw compressor for a very good deal and the advantage of it, besides the high volume and quick charging time, is the air does not get moisturized like a standard compressor. If I decide to keep the finish shop going I need to learn more about our options.

[bruce_taylor]

I see hvlp units on craigslist regularly for 3-$500 so readily available a a reasonable price. The capspray 8100 or 9100 is a nice unit that is the most prominent one I see used. I use electric sanders on site because I my onsite compressor is good for nail guns but wont run a sander. I would like to have a screw compressor but can justify the cost or the space it would require.

[srwtlc]

I believe that the better route to go for "in house" finishing is air assisted. You don't need a large compressor to keep up with the cfm consumption of a conventional system with an HVLP gun. Better transfer rate and less overspray. Initial cost is more, but in the long term.....

Air Assist
Combines the hydraulic atomization of airless with the atomization
of air spray. Ideal for many finishing and coating applications, air
assist offers high production levels and a relatively smooth finish -
perfect for wood furniture topcoats or fabricated metal parts.

http://www.finishsystems.com/aaa.html

I'm far from an expert in the subject, but have a family member that has been in the cabinetry finishing business for many years and air assist has been the preferred system.

If portability is a concern or initial layout for equipment, then a turbine system is nice. I quickly grew out of mine though and in now sits on a shelf. I have a conventional HVLP with a 2 gallon pot now, but my smallish compressor can't keep up on a long run of spraying. Air assist will be next.

[michael_schwartz]

I spray with a smaller LVLP conversion gun that I run from a mid sized (3HP) compressor. The over spray is manageable. If you already have a compressor that puts out enough air you can get setup with a decent gravity gun, couple of different tip sets, regulator, and basic air filter for under 400.00

The fans in the turbine unit have more in common with a vacuum cleaner motor than a compressor. With that being said they produce the volume of low pressure air required far more efficiently than with a compressor. If your comparing the higher end turbine units, the main thing you want to compare is the quality of the gun.

Conversion guns work buy allowing higher pressure air to expand at the aircap.

The turbines are a good deal if your starting from scratch and you do not already have an adequate compressor, or if you need to run it off 110 on a job site, and portability is more of a concern.

If I were going to spend $1000-1500 or more on a turbine I think I would just invest in an AAA (air assisted airless) rig at that point. I am considering purchasing one myself. As Scott mentions these are the current trend for production. HVLP of course is the new conventional.

If you go with AAA, or even a siphon feed gun, or pressure pot you will probably still want a basic gravity cup gun. They are easy to clean and when you have to go spray one single part, or a small project they make the most sense at times. Everybody has to have at least one. Even if you just use it for dyes, or stains. With waterborne I pour the remanning finish back in the can, rinse out the cup with water, run water through the gun until it comes out clear, swish a bit of of denatured alcohol around the cup, run it through the gun back into the container (try to reuse cleanup solvent!), flush the DNA out with water, and then clean off any residual finish from the air cap with a scrub brush. The process takes about 1-2 minutes. If I am switching from one finish to another I might even skip the alcohol.