When to Upgrade a Qwik Spray Gun to a High Pressure Spray Rig

For those who have been spraying two-component polymer coatings for a while, you may be wondering if it’s time to upgrade your Qwik Spray Gun to a high-pressure spray rig. The Qwik Spray Gun is VFI’s cartridge-based spray equipment for use with specific coatings that have been on the market almost since the beginning of the company. In fact, we were one of the first to sell a cartridge-based spray system for spray on truck bedliner and EPS theming hardcoats. It has been desirable to many due to low maintenance, portability, and ease of use.

Even though the pneumatic cartridge gun comes with many benefits, there might come a time when you’ll need something else. There are several things to consider that can make the decision to switch to high pressure much easier.

Why Switch to a High-Pressure Spray System?

1. Better for Spraying Large Pieces or Areas

Maybe you started spraying small props, custom signs, truck beds, or other equipment but have since been offered bigger projects. VFI’s Qwik Spray Gun and similar cartridge-based equipment on the market are recommended for small to medium-sized projects. If you’re spraying a piece or area larger than 4×4 or 4×6 feet, a cartridge-based system will not be as efficient. The size of the project can be extended, but it is not recommended. These projects are also pretty flat, with a limited amount of detail.

Those who do use cartridge-based equipment on larger projects accept that they will encounter a lot of overspray. That overspray will cause more required post-work as the piece will probably need to be sanded, depending on the desired finish for the project. Otherwise, this can be avoided by spraying in smaller passes, but the application will be more labor-intensive and time-consuming.

2. Better for Increase in Project Volume

Another reason applicators typically stick to the Qwik Spray System is due to the amount they are spraying. This equipment is desirable for custom jobs where applicators work on one small project at a time or are only spraying a couple of times per month. It doesn’t make sense to spend money on an expensive spray rig. However, if you’re spraying more than you initially were, purchasing high pressure equipment can save you money in the long run due to material costs.

For example, businesses that spray less than 10 truck beds a month would benefit from spraying cartridges of VFI-544 Qwik Spray Bedliner, but if you’re seeing more traffic come through, you’ll probably need an upgrade to accommodate. VFI-542 High Pressure Spray Bedliner sprayed through high pressure equipment is recommended if your business is growing and you’re taking on more projects.

Also, high pressure equipment, because of the increase in pressure and temperature, cures coatings faster. A faster cure is extremely desirable for applicators who need to spray at high volumes so they can get onto the next project quicker.

3. Better if You’re in a Fixed Location

With the Qwik Spray Gun, as long as you have air pressure, you can take the equipment anywhere. However, if you’re not taking your spray gun to various locations for spray jobs, you don’t need portable equipment.

High pressure equipment is not as easily transported, which is why it’s not the go-to for many new sprayers or those who do low-scale, low-volume jobs. Once you know that the location you’re spraying at will be permanent and you have enough space, upgrading your equipment is ideal.

4. Increased Control

A downside of the Qwik Spray Gun is the lack of control when spraying. Once you pull the trigger, you must keep going until the cartridge is empty. If you were to stop midway through the application, the material would become clogged in the static mix tip because it is mixing the material as it exits.

While training is required to use high pressure equipment, once you get the hang of it, you have complete control while spraying. The trigger on the spray gun allows you to start and stop when needed. This is because a mechanical proportioner is typically used to meter out the correct ratio of material and mixes only what is necessary. It’s also desirable because it can pump, mix, and apply coatings with short pot lives very quickly.

5. Increase in Material Options

Not every material is offered in a cartridge-based format; in fact, most materials aren’t. The cartridge-based system, due to its low pressure outlet, is typically used for polyurethane and polyurea hybrid materials. However, urethane and polyurea hybrid formulas will not all work in the Qwik Spray Gun either. If you’re itching to try something new, you may need to get the application equipment to accommodate it. When you switch to a high-pressure spray rig, you get access to more materials and more formulas.

Polyurea is an incredibly fast setting material and requires high-pressure, high-temperature equipment to apply it. Cartridge-based spray guns typically only spray at a maximum of 100 psi and 10 cfm of constant pressure to push material through a static mix tip. If you use a fast material like it in a pneumatic, air-driven gun, the material wouldn’t provide a good mix without gelling and clogging the tip, so it would not have enough time to exit the gun.

6. Improved Cured Surface

While not exactly a catalyst for switching from a cartridge gun to high-pressure, there is also the benefit of having a more uniform, smooth surface. A downside of the Qwik Spray equipment is that you’ll never get as desirable of a finish as you would with high pressure equipment. Due to the lower pressure and atomizing tip on the cartridge, the material reacts more as it exits the gun. The Qwik Spray System’s reaction occurs slower, which allows the moisture in the air and the environment to create foaming. The foaming is the reason it comes out less smooth, with a bit of texture.

For example, the VFI-6171 70 D Qwik Spray Hard Coat is lighter and has a subtle splotchiness in its finish. In comparison, the VFI-6170 70 D Spray Hard Coat, sprayed through high-pressure equipment, comes out more uniform and slightly darker.

As mentioned before, if you are spraying VFI-6171 on larger projects, it will require more post-work than a high pressure spray. If the foaming reaction is not an issue for you, it’s best to stick with the Qwik Spray Gun, especially if your project size and spray volume have not increased.

High-Pressure Equipment Recommendations

VFI manufactures polyurethane, polyurea, and hybrid materials that are mostly applied using high-pressure industrial spray equipment. We recommend finding a high-pressure, plural component spray rig that can run at 130-155°F and 2,500 psi of constant pressure with high pressure heated hoses and 10ft whip hoses. Gun tips will vary by the project and will need to be adjusted on-site. The following machines are capable of meeting these specifications:

• Graco A-XP1 air sprayer (up to 3,500 psi, 170°F, 1.5 gal/min output, & 210 ft hoses)
• Graco Reactor 2 E-XP2 electric sprayer (up to 3,500 psi, 190°F, 2 gal/min output, & 310 ft hoses)
• Graco Reactor 2 H-XP2 hydraulic sprayers (3,500 psi, 190°F, 1.5 gal/min output, & 310 ft hoses)
• Graco Reactor 2 H-XP3 hydraulic sprayers (3,500 psi, 190°F, 2.8 gal/min output, & 410 ft hoses)
• PMC PHX-2 or 25 hydraulic sprayers (up to 3,000 psi, 190°F, 2 gal/min, 210-410 ft hoses)

Graco equipment can be used with Probler P2 or Fusion guns. PMC equipment can be used with AP-2 Air Purge, PX-7 Mechanical Purge, or Xtreme Spray Gun.
Whether you’re using the Qwik Spray Gun or high-pressure equipment, you must always wear proper personal protective equipment. Also, spray in a well-ventilated spray booth whenever possible.

Contact VFI if you need technical assistance when deciding if you should make the move to a high pressure spray rig.