cupgun vs spray gun/ gravity feed vs suction feed

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#1

I’m thinking about buying spray equip, I’d like to make some parts and spraying gelcoat would greatly expedite the mold making process and ensure a nice working surface, but I’m unsure of what equip. to buy.

is a cup gun or a spray gun with a ~2mm tip better?
from my understanding these guns take abuse and cleaning solvents are harsh so life time of equip may be an issues Correct?
is it necessary to have high quality gelcoat spray equip or is the generic spray gun suffecient?
what would be better gravity feed or suction feed?

#2

I have a cup gun (gel coat gun) and a $20 harbor freight gravity feed gun with the tip drilled to 2mm http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=43430 , both work great. But I use the gravity feed gun more because you dont need to have the gun pointed down for it to work like the cup gun.

The + side of the cup gun is it is quicker to clean.

I would stay with gravity feed over suction.

#3

i have a cup gun and its all i have ever used…works like a charm just make sure to not point it down while in use and to spray before you point it down else it will drip all over the place…after you drip the first time and im sure you will…you will learn :stuck_out_tongue_winking_eye:

#4

As a Chinese HVLP gravity gun with proper 2.2mm set up is very cheap, why not have one as well as a cup gun?

#5

yup cant go wrong having a backup just incase something were to happen right?