Cherry Finish For Poplar - Part 4

Spraying the color:

I’ve decided with the darker cherry color for my table (number C4). Spent the better part of 6 hours spraying my dye and stains to my test board. Holy crap guys/gals this was one aggravating day and an amazing day all rolled up into one. I’ve must of cleaned the spray gun several hundred times (not really but sure felt like it) between all the combination's of dye/stain/water based.

NGR dye and fast drying oil stain pretty much dries instantly. So you don’t have the work time like the box-store hand wiping stuff. I just couldn’t seem to find my color that I matched confidently by hand wiping. I’m telling you guys/gals, this fast drying dye/oil is a whole different animal, light clear and even color.

By dinnertime I knew I was getting close, so had a quick dinner thought about it. Went to the garage… turned the board over filled the gun and sprayed. I was done and nailed the color in no time, just that fast.

In conclusion, the biggest problems you will experience is keeping the coats light and to slow down. When you slop on box-store stain by hand its slopping and mopping hitting it again move! move! move! Spraying is a different move! move! move! Hard to explain…you need to experience it. Once you do…you’ll never want to go back.

My small spray gun is Vaper HVLP detail (touch-up gun) $26.00with a 1.0 fluid needle. Max gun air pressure is 21psi. Just love this little guy. My only complaint is the cup cover (plastic cap) had cracked all around the vent not long after I purchased it. The orange looking thing attached to the gun is a small line dryer. Lets not take a chance of water from the compressor getting in the finish. You can find these at the auto body store, get 2 for I think $20.00The larger spray gun is a Husky HVLP brand (reportedly made by Campbell Hausfeld) Around $79.00ish with a 1.4 fluid needle. Max gun air pressure is 40psi. I’ve sprayed poly with this gun at 10psi… less over spray, works real nice.

PLEASE read your dye and stain cans for proper use, handling and clean up. Dispose all rags/paper towels properly. As we all should know rags/paper towels soiled with dye’s finishes, solvents are a SPONTANEOUS COMBUSTION fire hazard. Dispose of properly!
Don’t forget to buy some paint strainers. Who knows what kind of crud is swimming in your dyes/stains waiting to clog up you spray gun. One last thing…be good to your gun keep him clean, even more so, with water based products