I've sprayed a coat of oil-based alkyd primer on cabinets (via an HVLP sprayer) and there is a definite texture to it after it's dried. What do I need to do to atomize the particles a bit more -- Higher pressure? Thinner paint? Any tips are appreciated so I can get a smooth finish on the cabinets.

 

smaller tip, more pressure, adjust the tip, thin with penetrol,move further away from surface, move faster. To adjust the tip[if it is possible]turn the cap[counterclockwise] and check spray pattern.Normally the tip should be flush where it exits the piece that the air exits from[very hard to explain]. what kind of sprayer are you using. What kind of texture are you talking about does it feel like sandpaper or look like orangepeel. Be as specific as possible

 

The trick to getting a good spray finish is knowing how heavy to lay the paint on.
You must get it thick enough so that the surface is wet but not too thick so as to run.

I've been hobby painting vehicles for years and still, the exact art escapes me.

 

It's a sprayer a friend loaned me and I don't recall the brand. I don't think it is a really expensive one, although the paint canister and gun are separated by an air and paint hose.

The texture is a close to sandpaper, but I can see some orange peel shapes. The spray is a vertical fan shape. I don't believe I can adjust the shape of the fan. I will most likely go over the cabinet and shelves with sandpaper to see if I can smooth it out a bit. I'm painting over MDF and poplar, and the MDF tended to absorb a bit of the paint.

I held the sprayer about 6 - 8" from the boards and went fairly fast from side to side. Looks like I ended up getting about 60% or so coverage after this first pass and will need to put a second coat of primer on it.

Maybe I'll try thinning out the paint more. I was hoping to get better results...

 

the sandpaper feel is because the paint dries fast and that is because there is so little of it coming out of the gun. Does this run off a compressor or a turbine.Is the air hose 3/4 ". If a turbine--- that will heat the air hastening the drying. Most of the guns can be adjusted for spray pattern-vertical, flat, and round. Are you sure it can't be adjusted. You have to stay parallel to the surface and the same distance away.Try adding penetrol not paint thinner

Gregh makes a point. you may have to get closer to the surface and move slower.Putting on more paint. Keep a foam brush handy if you put on too much. You gotta play with it. If it was just dry spray that would be one thing but you say there is also orange peel. Sand it down and tack it off and play with the sprayer on a piece of cardboard. Remember to overlap the previous pass by about half.


see if this helps
.http://www.spraytechsys.com/literatu...P_training.pdf

 

Thanks for the response. I've sprayer uses a compressor and the air hose is 3/4". I can adjust for flat and vertical, but not sure about the round pattern. This gun does not have a sprayer tip that "clicks" when turned. It's got ring around the tip that screws and unscrews.

Looks like I need more practice! I checked out the PDF and that's the best I've seen about how to use this.

 

to get a round pattern loosen the ring and move the thing with the air holes to like 2 o'clock or 10 oclock 1/2 way between vertival and horizontal and tighten. If that works use it to spray inside corners and faceframes if any.Use the fan pattern for flat surfaces like side panels.. Sounds like you have a turbine and not a compressor.You'll get it. It is pretty easy. Just pay arttention to what you are doing,and get the paint the right consistency.