estesbubba Posted January 15, 2016 Report Share Posted January 15, 2016 I just need to flush trim the MDF torsion box and add maple edging then I'm ready to finish the top. With the top being 48x72 I don't think my arm will be able to do a full passes across the top. Any suggestions to how to approach something this big? Do I do half passes of 2' doing one side first then the other? I figure this is the perfect project to practice something this big. I'll be spraying waterborrne semi-gloss poly which I normally use a 1.0mm tip. I didn't know if for something like this a 1.4mm tip might be better to get more down and slow the initial drying? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JosephThomas Posted January 15, 2016 Report Share Posted January 15, 2016 Too late to detach the top and lean it against a wall? I did that with a dining table once, worked fine...just lean it to only a 45 or less so you don't risk creating runs of finish. Should be spraying thin coats anyway though. Looks good btw, nice job! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 15, 2016 Report Share Posted January 15, 2016 what finish are you using? If waterbase I would be tempted to roll it on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
estesbubba Posted January 15, 2016 Author Report Share Posted January 15, 2016 The top isn't attached and I thought about vertical but then wouldn't be able to spray one of the edges. I am using waterborne but want to spray it because this is the perfect top to practice on since it's a shop project. I also want to spray about a 1' from the edge under it since there is a 6" overhang around the base. I might just put the gun in my hand and do a dry practice run and see how far I can reach. If I can't do full passes then I'll just try doing one half then the other and see if the overlaps causes problems. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JosephThomas Posted January 15, 2016 Report Share Posted January 15, 2016 If you're using water-bourne, then load the gun up with water and test it out to see if you can reach the center...no need to wet the entire surface, just see how easy it is to get coverage in the center....just do it sparingly and leave lots of time to dry it out before you do the real spray. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chet Posted January 16, 2016 Report Share Posted January 16, 2016 I think it would help to stand on some sort of stool that would get you about 12 - 16 inches off the ground, that should give you a little more reach to the center while keeping the gun parallel to the work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post wdwerker Posted January 16, 2016 Popular Post Report Share Posted January 16, 2016 I have done tops wider than that. Start in the middle as far as your arm will reach spraying with the gun parallel to the surface. Work out to the edge in front of you then go around and do it over again. You have to be methodical and kinda quick. Sometimes I will use 2 light coats back to back switching sides twice. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
estesbubba Posted January 16, 2016 Author Report Share Posted January 16, 2016 Took Steve's advice and as usual it was right on. Here it is with first coat drying. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdwerker Posted January 16, 2016 Report Share Posted January 16, 2016 Looks good to me ! I have been spraying waterbournes for at least 20 years now with HVLP. It's much easier to use now and it holds up better. I was taught when spraying doors and tabletops to focus on getting good coverage on the edges and corners cause the surfaces are kinda obvious. Lightly break the edges and corners so the film can wrap around. If left sharp the surface tension pulls the finish back and leaves an easily damaged edge. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhighlander Posted January 16, 2016 Report Share Posted January 16, 2016 Hard to go wrong taking advice from wdwerker! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post estesbubba Posted January 17, 2016 Author Popular Post Report Share Posted January 17, 2016 Perfect top to practice spraying a large surface and happy how it turned out. I put blower fan on low at the back of the shop plus my crappy box fan behind the booth with the window behind it open. I also had another window cracked open and the surface is smooth with very little dry spray that fell back on it. Took 4 coats because the MDF was thirsty - don't know if shellac or sanding sealer first coat would have helped. No big deal as being able to spray every 1.5 hours is awesome. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davewyo Posted January 17, 2016 Report Share Posted January 17, 2016 Looks great Mike! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mat60 Posted January 21, 2016 Report Share Posted January 21, 2016 Very nice job and I would like to have that in my shop. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-MattK- Posted January 21, 2016 Report Share Posted January 21, 2016 awesome work, Mike! What are the spray booth walls made out of? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
estesbubba Posted January 21, 2016 Author Report Share Posted January 21, 2016 49 minutes ago, -MattK- said: awesome work, Mike! What are the spray booth walls made out of? Pink insulation painted white Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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