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Fuji Sprayer Setup
https://www.luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10101&t=42315		 Page 1 of 2
Author:  Mike Lindstrom [ Sat Dec 28, 2013 12:58 am ]
Post subject:  Fuji Sprayer Setup
Santa brought me a 4 stage Fuji sprayer with a gravity T-gun. I totally don't know what I'm doing. Any advice on getting setup in the right ballpark would be appreciated so my trial and error isn't just lots and lots of errors. I've been practicing with Sherwin Williams vinyl sealer and NC lacquer. It amazes me how fast that stuff dries.

Is there some approximate guideline for the fluid control knob? When adjusting it, am I tweaking it a couple degrees at a time, or more like a half a turn? What about the air valve? Is there subtlety to the trigger or is it more of an all or nothing thing?

When spraying, should it be more like a rattle can, or washing the car? Mine's pretty forceful at the moment.

Thanks for any help.

Mike
Author:  theguitarwhisperer [ Sat Dec 28, 2013 1:35 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Fuji Sprayer Setup
I dialed my air hose way down because I was getting bubbles blown into the finish I was using, the air valve on the hose.

Then I dialed in enough laquer to get a good flow without running.

It almost doesn't feel like I'm spraying enough 'cuz it's so much more efficient than the compressor system I was using.
Author:  klooker [ Sat Dec 28, 2013 10:14 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Fuji Sprayer Setup
I find the air valve on the hose the most finicky to dial in. I start with that valve completely closed then slowly open it until I think I'm getting enough air flow, then go to the other settings and back to it if needed. I also have a tendency to bump that valve while spraying & mess up the setting.

Hopefully others with more experience will chime in.

Kevin Looker
Author:  B. Howard [ Sat Dec 28, 2013 10:16 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Fuji Sprayer Setup
I generally set my guns up for guitars to spray a 4" wide (or tall, depending) pattern with the gun about 4-6" away from the surface. You want the surface to wet out so the droplets of material can flow together.You want enough air to atomize the material but not so much as to create a push back off the surface. This will all combine with the speed at which you make your passes and amount of pattern overlap needed as determined by the shape of your pattern to put down a coating of even thickness. It should not feel like either a rattle can or a hose washing a car.
Author:  JasonM [ Sat Dec 28, 2013 11:02 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Fuji Sprayer Setup
using the same set up, full bore at the hose/ gun attachment, and just adjusting the controls on the gun. you just have to mess with it, and learn as you go. good news is you can sand back and redo until you are happy with it. i got bubbles in my first attempts too. imagine every one goes through the same trial and error at first. following the guidelines in the fuji booklet, and not force drying anything (in the first hour)
delivered excellent results in the end. let it gas off slowly and give the bubbles time to rise to the surface and disappear. that was my biggest learning, as a complete beginner a few months ago.


Oh! And dont leave the turbine running any longer than necessary. i left my first one on while i was adjusting things, and burned it out, dead. in about 15 minutes.
Author:  Alex Kleon [ Sat Dec 28, 2013 11:53 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Fuji Sprayer Setup
Your turbine shouldn't have burned out like that, Jason. I use mine for 90 min. at a time with no problem. I also leave the air all the way open, and do some testing on cardboard to get dialled in.

Alex
Author:  Mike Lindstrom [ Sat Dec 28, 2013 1:00 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Fuji Sprayer Setup
I sure remember replying to this at least a couple of different times, but it's not there. I must keep getting distracted before I can finish and hit submit. One distraction was the new washer showing up. Sadly, Santa did not bring that. He didn't even know it was needed until yesterday. Why aren't there lint traps in washers any more?

But back on topic, thanks everyone for sharing your methods. I was hoping to have everyone agree with consistent, easily replicated advice, but of course that's not how things usually go in this pastime, is it?

Mine certainly gets hot. The first time I used it, air wide open, after about 15 minutes of use the hose was pretty hot when I went to remove it. Painful, but not hot enough to burn me.

For those of you with the Fuji gun, when you "dial in enough lacquer," is that like a quarter turn out, or more like 3 turns?

Thanks,
Mike
Author:  JasonM [ Sat Dec 28, 2013 2:29 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Fuji Sprayer Setup
It was the fuji gold 3, with their gravity gun. nothing was bleeding when i wasnt sparying, just pumping air with no where to go, so i think that was the heat issue. first tripped on high heat, then i reset the breaker, cooled for an hour, then it ran for about 5 mins, surging on and off, then dead. fuji took it back, and i went up to the gold 4. sounds like it was infant mortality, if others are not having issues. would still buy another one
Author:  Mike Lindstrom [ Sun Dec 29, 2013 10:19 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Fuji Sprayer Setup
Todd Stock wrote:
very good group of folks there. Also very handsome spokesmodels in the corporate video...thank goodness they did not use actual luthiers/craftsmen ;-).


Yes, that spokesmodel is the main reason I ended up getting the Fuji. Good looking guy, must know what he's talking about.
Author:  Doug Balzer [ Sun Dec 29, 2013 10:25 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Fuji Sprayer Setup
Mike, I've used a Fuji system for 12 years and it works great. In addition to the above suggestions I spent a lot of time in the early days adjusting all of my settings (air flow, lacquer flow, spray pattern) and experimenting on scrap cardboard. Pretty soon you will get the hang of it. Simply put, you want enough lacquer to lay down a solid coat without risk of running. You want enough air flow to finely atomize lacquer without so much velocity that the finish bounces off the piece.
Author:  theguitarwhisperer [ Sun Dec 29, 2013 6:38 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Fuji Sprayer Setup
What are "olids"? For that matter, what's a wet mil gauge?
Author:  Rob Flindall [ Sun Dec 29, 2013 10:09 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Fuji Sprayer Setup
Quote:
The Olids are a meteor shower that appears to originate in the constellation Olideous, and are thought to affect film-forming finishes by causing increased levels of ionizing radiation, resulting in fluctuating speeds in most universal motors and related issues with finish thickness. A wet mil gauge is a measuring tool used to measure thin film thicknesses directly. In December, when the Olids can be seen in the Eastern hemisphere, all major spray system makers recommend using a wet mil gauge to determine if excessive turbine speed variation is present. I apologize for not capitalizing the reference to the Olids...very confusing.


laughing6-hehe

Great and timely thread. My new Fuji System is still sitting here staring at me wondering when I might give it a whirl. Problem is, I'm still in building mode and not quite ready to spray.
Author:  Alex Kleon [ Sun Dec 29, 2013 10:53 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Fuji Sprayer Setup
Rob Flindall wrote:
Quote:
The Olids are a meteor shower that appears to originate in the constellation Olideous, and are thought to affect film-forming finishes by causing increased levels of ionizing radiation, resulting in fluctuating speeds in most universal motors and related issues with finish thickness. A wet mil gauge is a measuring tool used to measure thin film thicknesses directly. In December, when the Olids can be seen in the Eastern hemisphere, all major spray system makers recommend using a wet mil gauge to determine if excessive turbine speed variation is present. I apologize for not capitalizing the reference to the Olids...very confusing.


laughing6-hehe

Great and timely thread. My new Fuji System is still sitting here staring at me wondering when I might give it a whirl. Problem is, I'm still in building mode and not quite ready to spray.


Fill the cup with water, turn it on, and start spraying. It's a good way to get a feel for the gun and the controls.

Alex
Author:  Beth Mayer [ Sun Jan 05, 2014 2:19 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Fuji Sprayer Setup
How did you decide which of the many Fuji systems to buy? I'd like a better sprayer (which wouldn't be hard cuz I'm currently using the Harbor Freight $99 special), but probably wouldn't want to spend more than around $400, unless there were overriding reasons to spend more. Also, for comparable price points, is Fuji better than, say, Earlex or Apollo?
Author:  Rob Flindall [ Sun Jan 19, 2014 1:36 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Fuji Sprayer Setup
I just shot my first coats of vinyl sealer tonight with my new Fuji system and Wowza! Once I got it dialed in pretty good, it laid down a beautiful, flat coat. Why didn't I get one of these systems before!? Lol. This pretty much makes my two compressor guns paper weights now. I'm looking forward to shooting the clear coats tomorrow. :)

Image
Author:  bobgramann [ Sun Jan 19, 2014 12:27 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Fuji Sprayer Setup
Todd, I'm using an Asturo ECO/SX gun. When I use enough pressure to atomize well (40 - 45 lbs.) I get more overspray than I like. Dialing back the pressure results in orange peel (spraying Target EM6000). Would I like the Fuji Q4 better than what I have now?
Author:  meddlingfool [ Mon Jan 20, 2014 7:23 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Fuji Sprayer Setup
I need to get a Fuji as well. Starting out with the Q4 at the beginning is probably the safest bet I would imagine?
Author:  bobgramann [ Mon Jan 20, 2014 9:22 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Fuji Sprayer Setup
Thank you for the information. This is a hard one to evaluate. It sounds like more pressure is better. So, if I keep the compressor, will a better gun allow me to spray a clean coat with less overspray?
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