paint cup filters

[SuthnCustoms]

Len..i was looking in the store for the little plastic filters that fit in the inside bottom of the finishline III guns cup..do you have them?..if not..where can i get some?

[Ranchero_65]

Most guys I know and myself toss those. There not needed sence you strain the paint before you pour it into the cup .. You do strain your paint don't you ?

[CoolasIce]

Using the filter and straining the paint can't hurt anything, right?
So why not do both.:rolleyes:

[SuthnCustoms]

i ALWAYS strain my paint before being poured into the gun..even though thats been done..those little cup filters always seem to find stuff the strainers didnt ..THATS why i need more..

[X711]

The little filter will restrict the actual flow of the paint. You are far
better off tossing the filter and run your paint through 2 fine mesh filters
as you pour the paint into the gun.

The only thing the little filter will buy you is pain. As you paint the car you
will notice that you will have to keep screwing with the needle adjust on the
gun to compensate for the reduced flow of the paint.

Without the filter you typically wont have this problem.

><

[Serge]

Toss the darn things...they are just trouble...

Buy a box of fine mesh filters and keep it by the mix table (I swear by Gerson fine filters)...and strain all of your paints.

No one I know uses them...

[Mooch]

If you strain your paint the way you should there is no need for gun filters.

And if you don't strain it as you should the gun filter will clog anyway.

Chuck them and use good strainers and you will be good to go.

Mooch :D

[CoolasIce]

I have regular mesh filters which I use and I have seen, what looks like some kind of debri/dirt/trash/etc in the paint on the car. I assume it's undissolved paint beacause it is the same color as the paint. I have let the paint dry and wet sanded it and the bits/clumps are the same color completely through.
I don't know where it's coming from. I tried to use a coffee filter, but it's too fine to let the paint through. And I am using the gun filter also.

[X711]

Serge, I use them and agree there excellent !

><

[X711]

CoolasIce.

When mixing paint here is how I do it.

If you do not have a paint shaker, Stir the paint completely in the can.

Pour paint into a "Clean" mixing cup using a fine mesh filter to trap lumps in
the paint or debris.

Leave the strainer in place and now add the hardner.

Leave strainer in place and add reducer as required.

Mix paint completly and let it sit for a few minutes.

Mix it again and then empty it into you gun using a fresh fine mesh
filter.

When you are finished painting "Clean your gun completly" when you think its
clean, "Clean it again just to be sure" That would be the whole gun. You
will need to disassemble it to do this !

Now your problems are solved !

><

[isprayum]

each day, my clear gun gets used 8 hours straight. I just keep refilling it and clean it at the end of each day. the cup/lid accumulates chunks at the top after a few hours. for this reason, I DO use the small sata filter in the cup. it keeps any little chunks out of the car. I can say for sure that it doesnt restrict the paint flow at all until it gets clogged up. I can also say that one sata cup filter has lasted me more than 5000 collision jobs since I decided to see how long I could use one

[Len]

each day, my clear gun gets used 8 hours straight. I just keep refilling it and clean it at the end of each day. the cup/lid accumulates chunks at the top after a few hours. for this reason, I DO use the small sata filter in the cup. it keeps any little chunks out of the car. I can say for sure that it doesnt restrict the paint flow at all until it gets clogged up. I can also say that one sata cup filter has lasted me more than 5000 collision jobs since I decided to see how long I could use one

That's the first decent reason I've heard to use a cup filter.

[SuthnCustoms]

thanks for all the replys & reasons to not or to use them..ive always just used them because they come with them..that makes sense to use them if i dont clean my gun in between coats because of the clumps that could form...so..im only a novice painter..at the most every few weeks actualy spray..so should i just toss them & make sure i run a reducer or cleaner thru the gun before another coat just to make sure?
now that it was mentioned..the gun did seem to spray different at times after a few coats..i only usualy mix just enough to spray one full coat..then let flash dry accordingly & then mix another batch for another coat..
in between coats i have run reducer or thinner through it to clean it out..depending on what type of paint im spraying..whats the best thing to maybe run through the gun to clean it out before the next coat to eliminate clumping?.....is acetone ok for that for a finishline III? since acetone pretty much cleans about everything ive seen?

[isprayum]

how long do you wait between coats? you shouldnt get clumps between coats. I say that after your first coat, refill it and hang it up. no need to wait too long. when its the right time, just grab it and spray. just keep an eye on the cup vent. keep it open

[Len]

If you spray all day with the same gun without cleaning the cup then the cup filters could serve a purpose. If you spray base then clear you shouldn't have a particle problem and the filters are not really necessary.

[CoolasIce]

Thanks, X711.
If there is undissolved paint, your routine will find it.

BTW
I use an inline air filter like the one shown.http://autobodystore.net/Merchant2/graphics/00000001/SHP8100.jpg Since it was new, I imagine it's possible there was some debri in it like paper lint that could get into the paint until it blows clear.