Tips, Tricks & Professional Advice

Finding the right finishing equipment to put the final touches on any woodworking project is always a challenge.  There are so many brands and spray technologies to consider when making an investment in your wood finishing process; it can really be overwhelming.  But you know what’s at stake –getting that perfect finish while being efficient or having to do a lot of re-work only to have the end result come out mediocre.   Well, the good news is Wagner/C.A. Technologies (CAT) is a well-known brand and offers various technologies for the wood finisher. This manufacturer of professional-grade finishing equipment has...

When air tools aren't maintained, they can cause big problems at your jobsite, including delay projects or shut down your facility. Worse, when these pneumatic tools aren't maintained or used correctly, they can cause injury.  Finish Systems has a few ideas for your pneumatics: 1. Maintain your air tools Maintenance includes ensuring people inspect your air tools.  2. Go with the flow ... the right flow Use the appropriate air pressure and flow, according to your manual.   3. Get an audit Audits ensure you're using your tools correctly. People providing audits can also determine leaks and other issues. 4. Train staff Make sure you're training...

A frequently asked question when we are on site discussing spray booths. The manometer is a mechanical gauge to indicate when the exhaust filters require changing and will be inspected during any OSHA inspection.  A manometer has two airports to compare the exhaust fan high pressure in front of the exhaust filters with the low-pressure area on the backside of the exhaust filters. The pressure difference is measured in inches of water column. INSTALLATION OF A NEW MANOMETER Temporarily mount the manometer on an outside vertical booth panel near the exhaust filter frame. Locate your high and low panel penetrations and install the...

When we field a call regarding a heavy spray pattern to one side, or something is in my finish, or my finish looks like it is separating, we often ask if a magnifying glass is nearby. With the aid of magnification you will see that particle that is deflecting the spray pattern, identify exactly the source of the contamination in your finish, and whether your separation has a micro spec of contamination in the center of the separation.   Quickly seeing and identifying the source of the problem that is not visible with normal vision is huge in trouble-shooting a finish...

We have mentioned air line pressure drop, as well as dynamic air pressure readings when previously discussing spray gun air atomizing settings. Air line pressure loss occurs throughout the shop, and insufficient hose size and quick disconnects are the main culprits. Ideally we want the incoming air pressure to our spray gun or air tool at the recommended operating pressure so we have to factor in an allowance for pressure loss due to the length of airline travel. Air line pressure drop is effected by; length of travel, CFM, and air pressure at the source. The chart below illustrates the...