Better Gun for a Newbie - Tekna or Plus

[cwb90]

I'm looking to buy a new gun and would like to know which would be the better gun for a beginner painter the Tekna (7E7 cap) or the Plus and the reason why. I will be using it only for solvent BC / CC projects. I'm looking for the gun that will be the easiest to use for a novice like a slower gun, good results on metallics, less runs on clear, etc. Is one better than the other? I have the opportunity to purchase the Plus from a friend who used it on one project and is now wanting to sell it for a good price. Money is really not the issue here so if the Tekna is a better choice for me than I would purchase that if it means it will be easier for me to use. My compressor can handle both and I currently have the FLG3 that I will dedicate for primers only.

Also, do all the Teknas spray the same if they use the 7E7 cap?

Thanks for any help,
cwb90

[s2kman92]

I have never used a plus. as for the teknas their awesome.i using the 7e7 aircap and 1.3 needle on both my quickclean and copper and i never had a problem. As for the aircap they should all spray the same as long as it says 7e7 . I would also check out the prolite.i never tried it but i heard its just as good as the other model teknas.and i dont think it cost that much more then the preivous models. Just remember the prolite is a completly different gun so no 7e7

[junk]

I just bought a Tekna Copper. I love it. it lays the smoothest clears. I was looking at the plus or the copper and for the extra money went with the Tekna. From what I read I think either is a great gun, but the Tekna's were really liked so that's what I went with. If the moneys right though I migh pick up the plus and try it out. If you don't like it you might be able to move it along.

[tomsteve]

i also have a copper tekna with 7e7 cap. great gun. atomization is awesome. it lays metallics great and hear its awesome for pearls and candies, too. however, i can screw up ANY paint with it and can make cc run, sag, drip, or OP if i i dont use proper, consistant gun set up/ control.

[cwb90]

Thanks everyone for the advice so far. The only concern I have about the Plus is that I read in other posts that it's a fast gun. I think this means it's spraying more paint and you have to move faster. I'm also concerned about the higher spary pressure required and the "kick" it may have when the trigger is pulled. I'm just in my early stages of learning and would like something that will be more user friendly for me to start off with and then grow with me.

cwb90

[another2centsworth]

Don't worry about "kick"
As far as speed you can adjust your fluid control and distance to tailor it at a speed you are comfortable with. Try the plus (I have had one a few yrs) and if you get it right like was said earlier....you can move it on.
I would like to demo a copper.

[All Dry]

Can someone explain the difference between 7E7 ,HVLP, High efficiency, and compliant air caps. Thanks Mike

[Bob K]

I don’t know if this will help but I will give you my understanding. Others may know more and chime in here to clear things up.

HVLP is a legal term. It describes a set of regulations for spray guns that were set down a few years ago to cause a gun to be less of a polluting instrument. One of the characteristics of HVLP guns is that they are designed to operate with 10 PSI at the air cap. You can not measure the pressure at the air cap but if you set the inlet pressure to what the manufacturer says to, then that will give 10 PSI at the cap. For instance if you set up a Devillbis Finishline 3 so that the inlet pressure is 23 PSI with the trigger pulled then you will get 10 PSI at the air cap even though there is no practical way to prove it. You take the manufactures word for it. HVLP guns when set properly are supposed to give 65% or better application efficiency.

Compliant guns are allowed to exceed the 10 PSI rule if they can deliver 65% efficiency or better using the pressure recommendations of the manufacturer.

7E7 is the code name of a particular air cap made by Devillbis. I understand it to be a compliant cap.

As far as I know the words “High efficiency” are marketing descriptions with out a legal definition. Just a way to suggest that what ever they are talking about is better than a similar product from the past.

Bob K

[Len]

Can someone explain the difference between 7E7 ,HVLP, High efficiency, and compliant air caps. Thanks Mike

Bob is right and the only thing I can add is that a "compliant" gun like the Tekna with the 7E7 air cap atomizes better than the same gun with the HVLP cap. The compliant cap is better for spraying single stage or clears but (in most cases) the HVLP cap is better for base coats. Personally I use the compliant cap on the Tekna for both but this isn't advisable on all guns.

[All Dry]

Thank you guys for the explanatiion. Mike

[turbocobra]

Bob is right and the only thing I can add is that a "compliant" gun like the Tekna with the 7E7 air cap atomizes better than the same gun with the HVLP cap. The compliant cap is better for spraying single stage or clears but (in most cases) the HVLP cap is better for base coats. Personally I use the compliant cap on the Tekna for both but this isn't advisable on all guns.

Any idea why the compliant gun is not as good for base? Is there such as thing as too much atomization?

[Len]

Any idea why the compliant gun is not as good for base? Is there such as thing as too much atomization?

Some guns may give you a slightly better transfer efficiency with an HVLP cap than with a compliant cap. I find that many of the guns I use I just use the compliant cap for base and clear because I like the better atomization. About the only thing I use HVLP for these days is spraying primer but it all depends on the gun you're using and how it performs with each cap.

[armandodiaz]

I'm shopping for a gun that I will probably only use 1 or 2 times. Just wondering would I be better off purchasing a new gun (FinishLine) or for about the same price, go for a high quality used gun like a Tekna or SATA. Buying used makes me a little weary but I might get lucky. What's your opinion?


Thanks,
Armando

[Len]

I'm shopping for a gun that I will probably only use 1 or 2 times. Just wondering would I be better off purchasing a new gun (FinishLine) or for about the same price, go for a high quality used gun like a Tekna or SATA. Buying used makes me a little weary but I might get lucky. What's your opinion?


Thanks,
Armando

There's nothing wrong with a used gun IF you can trust the source. However if a good gun like a Tekna has the slightest damage to the fluid tip it will not work properly and if it has not been cleaned properly then it can cause problems that are more expensive than a new gun would have cost. But if you can trust the source and the price is about half then you should go for used OR you could buy a new gun and sell it when you're finished.