Brain,
Your continued use of that Binks #26 ("Rosie") is just another example that it's the person not the equipment that does the job right. I'm sure it won't be a stretch for most list members to see the parallel between older bikes and riding ability as well.
Just in case Rosie wins the race between you and her on who will die first, I recommend you get the Iwata W-300 spray gun. If you need to get an HVLP (high volume, low pressure) gun to meet CA regulations, then it would be the LPH-300. While an HVLP may save a milliliter of paint over a conventional one, I don't think they give quite as good of a result. I use both in my multiple gun collection. The 300 series is larger than a spot repair gun and smaller than a standard size that come with those top cups big enough to paint a locomotive. Neither you or I are big so it is a good size for us.
When I was fresh back from England, I asked Jim Recay what spray gun he used and he really liked the gravity feed Binks-Bullows 630 gun. He went on about how gravity feed guns can use paint down to the lost drop unlike the then more popular siphon feed guns. So since he was all enthused about his, I got one too. I never asked him who inspired him to get that gun but a year ago at the Handmade Bike Show I learned while talking to Bill Boston. Jim had learned framebuilding from Bill. Bill got the idea for them when he visited England in the early seventies and observed what was their favorite equipment. Bill didn't stay in one place too long on that trip but did pick Harry Quinn's brain for a couple of weeks. He also visited my favorite builder, Johnny Berry.
The other best option is the Sata Minijet4. Most Satas are huge with square corners. It atomizes really well too. They didn't used to have a nozzle size bigger than 1.0mm on their Minijets but now they are available in a 1.3 or 1.4 size. I've tried it out an it was very nice but don't I personally don't like the feel as well as the Iwata.
Doug Fattic
Niles, Michigan USA
>
> Doug,
>
> I just wanted to put in one anecdote regarding painting. There was a
> considerable amount of discussion about painting on the framebuilders list not
> long ago. Most of it had to do with the newer waterbourne paints as opposed to
> the solvent based paints. There was a certain amount of discussion about which
> spray guns are best or preferred and how many paint guns each hombre hangs on
> their holster.
>
> I didn't get to add this to the discussion at the time, but I will do so now
> just to hear the audience gasp and point fingers. Most pro painters use at
> least two or three different spray guns to hose down the bikes. Generally one
> for primer, one for color coats, one for clearcoats. I really don't know why
> (OK, yes I do, but I don't see why it is necessary). I use the same spray gun
> for everything! I've been using the same single spray gun since 1982 for every
> single coat on every single bike I've painted since that time. I even brew my
> morning coffee in the paintcup. ;-) As far as I know, I don't have a
> reputation for doing crappy paint jobs. I've never had a single problem with
> doing this and I wonder why so many painters have so many guns. I'm
> comfortable with my OLD Binks #26 gun. I can shoot a hole in a silver dollar
> before it hits the ground with it. Anyway, just wanted to say that, because
> I'm apparently some sort of freak.
>
> My Binks is about to die. I have other guns, and always have. But I like using
> my one pet spraygun; and until it dies and I bury it somewhere in the
> backyard, I will continue my odd ways.
>
> Anyway, I thought you might get a laugh out of my tale, Doug. The rest of you
> can gasp and point your fingers and whisper behind my back "there goes the
> freak-boy who uses only one paint gun".
>
> Brian Baylis
> La Mesa, CA
> No, my spraygun does not have a name. But come to think of it, it should. I
> hereby dub her "Rosie the paintgun".