I am just getting into the finishing world at my shop. I have been using a cheap pressure pot and gun and have been achieving decent results but am looking to step up my game.

I am a buy once, cry once type of guy so would like to get something that I can grow into. I will be spraying all waterbased products as my booth is not rated for solevent based material (no explosion proof fans, ect).

I am looking at this AAA setup https://pittsburghsprayequip.com/collections/air-assist-packages/products/graco-24
f155-30-1-merkur-3000-psi-0-4-gpm-air-assisted-airless-sprayer-stand-mount

Wou
ld this have the flexibility to shoot a wide range of primers, topcoats, ect?

How involved is the changeover if I need to change several times in a day?

Thanks for your help

AAA is a good step up for production. I personally have a Kremlin 10-14 and have been pleased with it for the most part.

Change overs are pretty quick but use more thinner than you would with an HVLP. Usually 32 oz per change over is about right if you need it to be clean. Going from clear to pigment is a lot less, going the other way is about what I said.

It's always better to have one for each, but that's just the way it is. I have the one pump and the one gun. I still have a couple of HVLPs around for small things and stains.

Get an assortment of tips. At first the amount that comes out seems like a lot, and it is compared to HVLP. You will thin a lot less. I started out with an 06-114 tip and then tried and 09-134 and thought that was a firehose. Now I use a 12-174 on a normal basis for pigmented.

I can't comment on the pump you linked to
But going with a AAA is the way to go this days
I would look into getting 2 of them if you're doing a lot of finishing
I have a CAT and love it!

Thanks guys. I would love to have multiple pumps eventually but will stick with one for the time being. I'm doing some research on dealers for a AAA setup in my area (Black Hills of South Dakota) and will most likely go with whoever has the best support around me.

Zach

As far as going from clear to pigmented finish and vice versa
CA Technologies makes a "color change manifold"
You can run clear in one hose and then change the valve to the other hose for other color
I'm sure other manufacturer offers this type of accessories

I'd suggest you look real hard at Kremlin 10-14 pump and spray system. If you think of buying something else, go back and look again.

We run CAT pumps and been great for us. I think its worth every penny to get at least 2 pumps. One for clear and one for pigmented.

I have also heard nothing but great things about Kremlins either...

I operate a 1 man custom finish shop in a small yet prosperous city. When operating in a small town you don't specialize, you finish what comes through your shop door. I spray everything from acrylic house paint to oil base enamel and stains to WB clear and pigmented finishes to clear and pigmented CV to clear and pigmented solvent borne 2k polyurethane. I work mostly in the shop but also onsite on occasion.
I've found for me that for spaying WB finishes, l prefer a stainless pot and gun or a gravity feed gun in the shop or for onsite, a turbine set-up. For the past 7 years l've been using Sata 1000k pressure feed guns and they produce a fantastic finish but l switched to a dux pressure feed on a complex piece to limit the overspray and l haven't changed back. The low air pressure needed for the dux to atomize the material seems to minimize the problems that arise at times when spraying WBs.
Yes, l have 2 pneumatic AAAs, 2 airless sprayers, a diaphragm pump, 7 pot set-ups, a turbine and 10 or so gravity guns in the shop, so l have daily experience with most set-ups. Of course my preference may not be yours and the price of a good stainless pot and a top of the line gun, hoses and the air to power them is right there with the cost of a CAT, Kremlin, Graco or Binks AAA pump.
Since spraying is my job l have dedicated clear and pigment finish set-ups for every finish system l use.

I'm a 1 man shop spraying mostly clear CV, occasionally tinted CV. I ended up getting a Graco GX19 unit with the hopper. portable if needed and cleans up easy and with a 15' hose doesn't take much to prime either. I use the Fine Finish tips with it.

Nick,
Do you put material directly into stainless steel pot? I put gallon can or a plastic cup with finish into pot. I’m wondering why you need stainless steel pot. On Dux website they are saying to use stainless. Just curious, maybe contamination is occurring and I don’t realize it.
Thanks,
Al

I always put the paint in a plastic gallon pot and then put it inside the pressure pot. This makes clean-up 100 times easier!