Gunsmithing Iwata LPH 80 and Cerakote

[230grRN]

OK you cerakote wizards out there is it worth the cost? I'm currently using a Sharpe Finex FX1000 and although I feel the gun is of decent quality I just can't seem to get the results I'm looking for its either laying down to much material or I'm having dry spray issues.

So do I ditch the Sharpe and drop the coin on the Iwata or not?

 

[Mark Housel]

Re: Iwata LPH 80 and Cerakote

I'm sure you can't go wrong with the Iwata, but I have this exact model Finex and have never had any issues with it at all?

It is starting to just plain wear out the threads on the piece that holds the spring in place from taking it apart to clean it.

If anyone knows off hand where to buy replacement parts...?

 

[sab9259]

Re: Iwata LPH 80 and Cerakote

You can order finex rebuild kits from NAPA autopart stores.

Fwiw ive sprayed automotive paint (and own)with iwatas, finex, and sata jets, for the money finexes cant be beat for the average job

 

[230grRN]

Re: Iwata LPH 80 and Cerakote

Mark how are you running the settings on your gun? How many turns from closed are you running your fluid adjustment give or take of course? I just can't seem to decide how to set this adjustment. Also how much inlet air pressure are you running and are you using a the air adjustment knob on the bottom of the gun at all?

Sorry to bombard you with questions, but a good starting point would be nice.

 

[Twisted300Win MAG]

Re: Iwata LPH 80 and Cerakote

What size fluid tip is in your Sharp? Cerakote is very thin when compared to standard automotive paints, which is what the Sharp is build to spray. The 1.0mm tip that usually comes standard is a bit much IMHO I would personally try a spray gun with a 0.6-0.8mm fluid tip. The larger tip is not atomizing the material enough leaving orange peal or when you run the material control knob all the way in your just putting out little balls of paint and a whole lot of air, resulting in dry spray. With the right size fluid tip you should run your air pressure within 1-2psi of the recommended inlet pressure from the manufacture. Then adjust your fan to the desired size and shape. Then adjust your fluid until you get a full even pattern. Also check your gun for wear and damage. Believe it or not a bent needle or damaged fluid tip or air cap can cause piss poor spray patterns. You cant go wrong with Iwatta, SATA or devilbiss spray equipment. You just have to match you needs with your set up. Sorry for the long winded post just trying to help.

 

[Mark Housel]

Re: Iwata LPH 80 and Cerakote

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 230grRN</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Mark how are you running the settings on your gun? How many turns from closed are you running your fluid adjustment give or take of course?

<span style="font-weight: bold">Mine is a 0.6mm tip and I am generally somewhere around 1 turn out or less. I tend to tweak it depending on the color and what I'm shooting. I mostly am coating small things like pistol slides and small parts though.
For many things I have the Fan control completely closed or only slightly opened. This would probably be different for something large like a rifle.</span>

I just can't seem to decide how to set this adjustment. Also how much inlet air pressure are you running and are you using a the air adjustment knob on the bottom of the gun at all?

<span style="font-weight: bold">The regulator into the gun is set at 30PSI. The air adjustment at the inlet is adjusted so that it sprays well? I don't know off hand how many turn out from closed.
That has been "set it and forget it" for the most part.
</span>

Sorry to bombard you with questions, but a good starting point would be nice.

<span style="font-weight: bold">Not a problem. I'm certainly no expert but have just experimented to find what works for the things that I am doing. If I started doing rifles, then I'm pretty sure it would be back to the drawing board.</div></div>
</span>

 

[Mark Housel]

Re: Iwata LPH 80 and Cerakote

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: sab9259</div><div class="ubbcode-body">You can order finex rebuild kits from NAPA autopart stores.

Fwiw ive sprayed automotive paint (and own)with iwatas, finex, and sata jets, for the money finexes cant be beat for the average job </div></div>

Thank you. It's on order. I wouldn't have thought to look there and my internet searches hadn't found them?

 

[230grRN]

Re: Iwata LPH 80 and Cerakote

Thanks for the info and tips guys. I may order up 0.6 tip and play around with that, I have been running a 0.8 tip which is what NIC recommends, but I feel like it really lays it on there when the gun is adjusted to spray correctly. Thanks again guys.

 

[smschulz]

Re: Iwata LPH 80 and Cerakote

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Twisted300Win MAG</div><div class="ubbcode-body">What size fluid tip is in your Sharp? Cerakote is very thin when compared to standard automotive paints, which is what the Sharp is build to spray. The 1.0mm tip that usually comes standard is a bit much IMHO I would personally try a spray gun with a 0.6-0.8mm fluid tip. </div></div>
This^^^^
I use the same gun and was using the default 1.0 tip then put in the .8 tip and it made a HUGE improvement.
The results were fantastic.

 

[sab9259]

Re: Iwata LPH 80 and Cerakote

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Mark Housel</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: sab9259</div><div class="ubbcode-body">You can order finex rebuild kits from NAPA autopart stores.

Fwiw ive sprayed automotive paint (and own)with iwatas, finex, and sata jets, for the money finexes cant be beat for the average job </div></div>

Thank you. It's on order. I wouldn't have thought to look there and my internet searches hadn't found them?



</div></div>

No problem. I have a few piece of kits laying around so i may have what you needed laying around.

 

[seanengman]

I went from using the cheap POS gun the goes in the sample kit to a SATA Minijet 2 with 1.0 fluid tip. I bought Iwata LPH80 and love it. Best purchase I've made thus far. However, I believe I need a new fluid tip or needle for it. I just ordered up a SATA Minijet 3 with 8.0 tip. I really enjoyed using the 1.0 SATA. It had good coverage and I did really well with it. I currently spray around 5-10 guns per week professionally. I like the 1.0 with the thicker paints like the bright purple and some of the other thicker bright paints that NIC has to offer. Has anyone had difficulty with certain Cerakote colors being too thin and how do you deal with that?