Gone are the days of laborious home and building decoration with messy techniques like dripping paint, brush lines, and cumbersome rollers. Thanks to modern advancements, painters now have the convenience of efficient and time-saving painting methods.
One such revolutionizing tool is the spray gun, which has transformed the paint industry. Different types and sizes of spray guns, including pressure guns, airless guns, and conventional guns, cater to varying work requirements and paint varieties.
If you’re seeking to discern the dissimilarities between HVLP and conventional spray guns, you’ve come to the right place. This article will provide you with a concise and professional comparison of both guns.
What Is HVLP Spray Gun?
The word HVLP is the short form of High Volume Low Pressures. These guns use a high volume of air and transfer this air to low pressure.
As a result of that, they cause soft spray and reduce overspray, saving the cost of the paint.
These guns have a higher transfer efficiency rate with very little waste rate. They can work well than conventional guns.
They atomize paint more accurately and faster using very low pressure and spray soft and even on the entire surface. There won’t be any touchups even while spraying larger areas.
What Is a Conventional Spray Gun?
The conventional spray guns are old model guns that use more air at a higher pressure than those of HVLP spray guns.
These guns can atomize the thick coating also by increasing the pressure. The paint transfer efficiency is vividly reduced to 35 percent and you have to apply the extra coating.
Conventional Spray Gun
These guns are pistol-type guns for spraying paint, driven by compressed air from the air compressor.
They are specially designed to paint larger projects faster than the old brush technique. These guns employ compressors to atomize the particles of paint.
HVLP VS Conventional Spray Gun
The main difference between HVLP and Conventional Spray guns is that the HVLP spray guns normally have a gravity-fed system with a cup placed on top of the gun.
While conventional spray guns atomize coating mixing with compressed air and resulting in a smooth even surface.
Difference Between HVLP And Conventional Spray Guns
These two guns have a lot of differences and similarities according to their structure and work.
Conventional spray guns waste a lot of paint sprayed in the air, so they are not environmentally friendly. While on the other hand, HVLP spray guns limit your waste and are environment friendly.
The conventional spray guns produce 25 pounds of air pressure per square inch to thrust the paint out while HVLP spray guns produce 6 pounds of air pressure per square inch. Both are more expensive and more efficient.
Here are some of the main differences in their structure and working. When you recognize the difference between these two guns, it will be easy for you to select the right one according to your needs.
#1. Air Pressure
There is a lot of difference in the air pressure output between both guns.
The conventional spray guns exercise high pressure and turn out high volumes of paint, with the same inlet and outlet PSI values.
While HVLP spray guns’ outlet PSI values are much lower than the inlet PSI values. So the less air pressure of the HVLP gun makes less overspray and wastes less amount of paint.
#2. Spray Finish
Conventional spray guns produce finely atomized spray and cover a wide range of surfaces making very thin and fine finishing.
While HVLP spray guns create a thicker paint coat because they use low air pressure and make large droplets of sprayed paint. This may sometimes result in the shape of an orange peel or splotchy application.
#3. Transfer Efficiency
The Difference between HVLP and Conventional Spray Guns is also lying in the transfer efficiency of both guns.
Conventional spray guns have a low transfer efficiency rate and can result in more waste of paint affecting badly the surrounding environment.
While on the other hand, HVLP spray guns have more transfer efficiency rate which can result in less waste of paint making smooth final finishing and keeping the surrounding environment safer.
#4. Pollution
The conventional spray guns cause more over-spray releasing more VOCs into the surrounding environment which spread pollution.
While the HVLP spray guns make less over-spray releasing fewer VOCs into the surrounding environment and spreading fewer pollutants.
This is the main difference between HVLP and Conventional Spray Guns as the former is environment friendly and the latter disturbs the environment.
Which Spray Gun Is More Appropriate For You?
Both conventional spray guns and HVLP spray guns are professional and effective. But HVLP spray guns are more popular and widely liked due to their higher transfer efficiency.
The painters need more professional skills to operate these guns so that the orange peel or bubbles may not occur on the surface.
It depends on the type of paint you want to spray because both guns can handle a large variety of materials. Mostly, people like conventional guns for spraying thick paints and HVLP guns for spraying smooth and even surfaces.
You can choose any of the two according to your work nature, paint, and budget to make your work easier and faster.
Precautions To Use Spray Guns
Whatever spray gun you prefer to use, keep the following things in mind.
- #1: Prepare the paint well before spraying
- #2: The area or surface should be well-ventilated
- #3: Take all the necessary protective measures (gloves, glasses, hat, shoes, etc.)
- #4: Keep away the flammable materials (gas, matches, oil, etc.)
- #5: Always clean your gun after spraying paint
Frequently Asked Questions
How Can I Understand Conventional Spray Guns?
Conventional spray guns are air-atomized spray guns. They use clean, dry, and compressed air to transfer fluid from a pot into the material hose and then atomize the stream of paint.
This pressurized paint exits from the nozzle of the spray gun and sticks on the surface.
What Is The Main Benefit Of Using An HVLP Spray Gun For Spraying Paint?
The HVLP spray gun atomizes paint faster and more accurately at a lower pressure than conventional spray guns.
The main benefit of using this gun is to create a softer and even more surface. This gun can cover large surfaces faster making any touchups. Its lower pressure minimizes air pollution.
Can I Spray Paint My House Using An HVLP Spray Gun?
Yes, the HVLP spray gun is perfect for interior paint spray. It has proper control and accuracy to cover the surface easily and evenly. It can apply thinner, even coats with very little overspray.
Which Spray Guns Do Cause More Waste Of Paint?
The conventional spray gun causes more waste of paint due to over-spraying paint.
Which Spray Gun Is More Environment Friendly And Why?
The HVLP spray gun is more environmentally friendly because it does very less overspray and makes the surroundings less pollutant.
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, it is important to understand the specifications and uses of both HVLP and conventional spray guns before making a decision on which one to use for your project. It is recommended to follow the manufacturer’s instructions to ensure proper use of the gun. Depending on the size of the project, either a conventional spray gun or an HVLP spray gun can be used. To determine the best option, consider the scale of the project and choose the gun that best meets your needs.
