What Size Air Compressor For Hopper Gun

For a hopper gun, you’ll need an air compressor with a CFM rating of at least 4-8 and a PSI rating around 40-60. HP should be in the 2-3 range, and the tank size should be around 6 gallons or higher.

What Is A Hopper Gun?

A hopper gun is a painting tool that utilizes compressed air to atomize coatings for better coverage and faster results. The hopper gun works by drawing in paint from the large hopper at the top of the device, then pressurizing it with compressed air from your air compressor. This pressured mixture creates a fine mist, which you can then spray on the intended surface.

Once you have a better understanding of the CFM & PSI, HP and gallon size requirements for your hopper gun, you can then choose from many models available on the market, that offer a variety of sizes to fit most applications such as paint sprayer, tire machine, impact wrench, jackhammer, die grinder, plasma cutter and many more.

Types of Hopper Guns:

There are a few different types of hopper guns on the market:

1- Gravity Feed Hopper Guns

2- Siphon Feed Hopper Guns

3- Pressure-Feed Hopper Guns

1- Gravity Feed Hopper Guns:

Gravity feed hopper guns are the most common type of hopper gun, and they work by allowing gravity to pull paint from the hopper into the air stream. The nozzle size is usually smaller than other types of hopper guns, which makes them perfect for lighter paints and coatings like lacquers, stains, and varnishes.

2- Siphon Feed Hopper Guns:

Siphon feed hopper guns work by using a tube to suck up paint from the bottom of the hopper, creating a vacuum that pulls heavier paints and coatings like enamels and latexes through the nozzle. These types of guns are great for thicker and heavier coatings, but they require more air pressure than a gravity feed gun.

3- Pressure-Feed Hopper Guns:

Pressure-feed hopper guns are the most powerful type of hopper gun and use pressurized air to atomize the paint from the gun itself. This allows for even greater coating coverage with heavier paints and coatings, but requires the greatest amount of air pressure to operate.

Air Compressor for Hopper Gun

The size of the air compressor you need depends on the type of hopper gun you plan to use, as well as the types of coatings you will be using. For gravity feed hopper guns, you will need an air compressor that delivers at least 4 CFM (Cubic Feet per Minute) at 40 PSI (Pounds per Square Inch). For siphon feed hopper guns, the minimum requirement are 6 CFM at 40 PSI. Pressure-feed hopper guns require the most power and will need an air compressor that puts out 8 CFM at 40 PSI.

If you are using heavier coatings, then you may need an air compressor with higher specifications to get the job done. For example, if you plan on using a siphon feed hopper gun for enamel paint, then you will likely need an air compressor that produces 8 CFM at 40 PSI.

7 Important Factors to Consider When Selecting an Air Compressor for Hopper Gun:

When selecting an air compressor for Hopper gun, there are a few important factors to consider, such as:

1. PSI Rate:

The most important factor when selecting an air compressor for a hopper gun is the pressure rating. For gravity feed guns, you will need at least 4 CFM at 40 PSI; for siphon feed guns, you will need 6 CFM at 40 PSI; and for pressure-feed guns, you will need 8 CFM at 40 PSI.

2. HorsePower:

Horsepower plays a major role in determining the power of your air compressor. Generally, you will want at least 1 HP for gravity feed guns and 2HP for siphon and pressure-feed guns.

3. Tank Size:

The tank size is important because it determines how long you can use your hopper gun before the tank needs to be refilled. A larger tank means more running time, so it’s best to get an air compressor with a tank that holds at least 6 gallons or more if possible.

4. CFM Air Output:

The flow rate of the air compressor also plays an important role in selecting the right size unit for your hopper gun. The higher the CFM rating, the more powerful your compressor will be and thus the better results you will get.

5. Flow Meter:

A flow meter helps you measure how much air is being delivered to the hopper gun at any given time. This allows you to make sure that you are getting enough air pressure when using heavier coatings such as enamels or latexes.

6. Duty Cycle:

The duty cycle of an air compressor describes how often it can be used during a period of time without overworking itself. Make sure to find an air compressor with a good duty cycle so that it can provide continuous power for longer periods of time.

7. Portability:

Depending on the type of hopper gun you have, portability may also be an important factor when selecting an air compressor. If you plan to use your hopper gun for commercial projects or in other places where having a larger and heavier unit isn’t ideal, then look for an air compressor that is lightweight and easy to move around.

Selecting the right size air compressor for hopper gun can make all the difference between a successful painting project and one that turns into a disaster. Following these tips will help ensure that you select the right size air compressor to get the job done quickly and efficiently!

Factors In Detail:

Now let’s discuss these 7 factors one by one in detail.

PSI Requirement for Hopper Gun:

The most important factor to consider when selecting an air compressor for a hopper gun is the pressure rating, or PSI (Pounds per Square Inch). For gravity feed guns, you will need at least 4 CFM (Cubic Feet per Minute) at 40 PSI; for siphon feed guns, you will need 6 CFM at 40 PSI; and for pressure-feed guns, you will need 8 CFM at 40 PSI.

CFM Requirement for Hopper Gun:

The flow rate of your air compressor also plays an important role in selecting the right size unit for your hopper gun. The higher the CFM rating, the more powerful your compressor will be and thus the better results you will get. Make sure to find an air compressor with a good enough flow rate to meet the needs of your hopper gun.

Horsepower Requirement for Hopper Gun:

Horsepower plays an important role in determining the power of your air compressor. Generally, you want 1 HP or more for gravity feed guns and 2HP or more for siphon and pressure-feed guns. The higher the HP rating, the better the performance you will get from your hopper gun.

Tank Size Requirement for Hopper Gun:

The tank size is important because it determines how much running time you have before the tank needs to be refilled. A larger tank means more running time, so it’s best to get an air compressor with a tank that holds at least 6 gallons or more if possible. This ensures that you don’t run out of power in the middle of a painting project and have to wait for your air compressor to refill.

Flow Meter Requirement for Hopper Gun:

A flow meter is also an important factor to consider when selecting the right air compressor for your hopper gun. It helps measure how much air is being delivered at any given time and allows you to make sure that you are getting enough pressure when using heavier coatings such as enamels or latexes.

Duty Cycle Requirement for Hopper Gun:

The duty cycle of an air compressor describes how often it can be used during a period of time without overworking itself. Make sure to find an air compressor with a good duty cycle so that it can provide continuous power for longer periods of time.

Portability Requirement for Hopper Gun:

The last factor to consider when selecting an air compressor for your hopper gun is portability. If you’re planning on using your hopper gun for commercial projects or in other places where having a larger and heavier unit isn’t ideal, then look for an air compressor that is lightweight and easy to move around.

Conclusion:

Finding the right size air compressor for a hopper gun can be tricky, but with the proper knowledge and understanding of what factors to consider, you can easily find the best air compressor for your project needs. Make sure to take into account CFM rating, flow meter, duty cycle, portability, and any necessary accessories before selecting the perfect unit for your painting project. With the right air compressor in hand, you’re sure to get optimal performance from your hopper gun!