Preval sprayer

[Regis]

Last fall I bought a preval sprayer as there was some discussion about it. Ended up trying it and results were terrible & blotchy. It was a cold day (30's) and my dyes are stored in garage at outside temperature. I tossed it in a cabinet until just the other day and though I'd try again. Put a new cartridge on thinned some USMC black and it sprayed perfect (temp in upper 60's). Got a nice even coat. Not sure if it was the temperature or if I had a bad cartridge. If anyone knows, let me know. I'll use it more now for solid colors and probably finishes.

Regis

[CitizenKate]

A Preval sprayer should have no problems spraying very thin liquids such as dyes. I did get one once that I think had a leak in the dip tube or the seal where it connected to the nozzle, and that caused some splotching to occur. I bought another "power unit" (a whopping 2oz. of propellant), and used it with the same liquid and it sprayed fine.

Kate

[PapaWolf]

Glad to see some input on those. I was thinking about trying one myself. My shop in in the basement and the furnace is down there so hopefully it will not have the temperature problem.

[Roger]

i use an airbrush but... the room i do all my dye and glue work in is not heated so, i don't think that the temp was your problem.

i've had water freeze in my spray bottle and the dye flows just fine.

i also spray them without any thinning

[CitizenKate]

I would only recommend a Preval sprayer to someone who doesn't plan to do a lot of spraying. I bought a few of them when I was just experimenting to see how well spraying dyes or finishes works on my projects. It's a very cheap way to go for a small number of projects, but if you're going to spray a lot of projects, there is a point of diminishing returns where it is actually cheaper to get a small compressor and either a single-action sprayer or an air brush.

Also, if you're spraying spirit-based dyes near a furnace, make VERY sure you have good ventilation. Hmmm... now that I think of it, you should do that anyway, but just be aware that a furnace and solvent fumes are a very hazardous mixture.

Kate

Glad to see some input on those. I was thinking about trying one myself. My shop in in the basement and the furnace is down there so hopefully it will not have the temperature problem.

[whinewine]

I would only recommend a Preval sprayer to someone who doesn't plan to do a lot of spraying. I bought a few of them when I was just experimenting to see how well spraying dyes or finishes works on my projects. It's a very cheap way to go for a small number of projects, but if you're going to spray a lot of projects, there is a point of diminishing returns where it is actually cheaper to get a small compressor and either a single-action sprayer or an air brush..

Kate

Kate, you're absolutely right. But the preval is great for certain things. I've sprayed neatlac (just make sure it is absolutely cleaned after spraying, otherwise it'll clog the power unit & render it useless) in addition to dyes. I have an airbrush, too, but I also use the prevals. It's very easy to keep the dyes I use most in the glass jars with a power unit attached; then, I can grab whichever one I need & do a quick spray. At some point, I plan on getting an airgun, but for now, I use the prevals.

Btw, Harbor Freight has a self-contained spray unit that you fill with the preferred liquid & you pressurize it from your compressor. I have one, but just haven't used it yet.