If you’re new to spray finishing, or making the leap from compressor-driven spray guns to a full blown turbine system, researching the various options can be daunting. What size turbine do I need? How many stages should it have? And which gun is the best choice for me? There may, in fact, be more than one turbine unit that suits your needs. Likewise, one or more HVLP spray guns may tackle the jobs you have planned. Let’s look at one particular setup as an example… a Mini-Mite 3 platinum paired with a G-XPC spray gun.

The G-XPC is an HVLP spray gun designed to run on a high volume of air delivered at low pressure. Turbine units typically produce 6 to 9.5 psi of air pressure, compared to well over 100 psi for traditional air compressors. This, along with advances in spray gun technology, gives turbine systems a distinct advantage with far less overspray. The G-XPC is a pressure-assisted, gravity feed style spray gun with several unique benefits. First, the 400cc fluid cup is side-mounted, which decreases the overall profile of the spray gun. A smaller gun can more deftly spray inside cabinets or confined spaces. Another benefit is the “swivel and set” fluid cup, allowing you to spray at any angle. This is normally reserved for more complicated pressure pot systems, but with the G-XPC just rotate the cup to the desired angle and spray a flawless finish.

The features just keep coming with the G-XPC, including a side-mounted fan control knob and a quick-release pressure tube. Just retract the red collar to easily release the pressure tube from the fluid cup lid, to depressurize the gun. If you’ve ever sprayed with Fuji Spray HVLP guns, you’re already familiar with the chemical resistant, ergonomic handles for improved control, but what you may not have seen is a spray gun with a kickstand! Ever try to set a gravity feed spray gun down on a workbench? Usually they would just tip over, and require a special stand. The handy flip-down kickstand on the G-XPC allows you to set the gun anywhere to manipulate workpieces, and get right back to spraying with almost no down time.

The G-XPC has interchangeable air cap sets, available separately, to really dial in the gun for the finish you’re spraying. The G-XPC comes standard with a 4H (1.4mm) air cap set, but I recommend adding a 3H (1.0mm) air cap to your collection.

An air cap set includes a matching needle, nozzle, and air cap.

The blue threaded aircap collar is used interchangeably with any G-XPC aircap set. The 1.0mm needle and nozzle set are particularly useful if you intend to spray clear finishes, and want a furniture-quality topcoat.

A handy spray gun holder is included with the Mini Mite unit, and offers a great way to store your gravity feed or bottom feed HVLP gun. The post is long enough for secure storage, yet the fit lets you easily drop the gun fitting in place. A sturdy, comfortable handle on top of the turbine lets you “grab and go” for on-site spray jobs.

Overall, the Mini-Mite turbine sprayer is a compact, portable package that can be used with several different HVLP guns. Start with this capable mid-level turbine, and a single HVLP gun, and add additional spray guns as your workflow requires.

Turbines are typically available with 2-5 “stages” or fans for various output levels. In all honesty, when spraying clear finishes with this 3 stage turbine, I choke the air valve down slightly. This means a 3 stage turbine has power to spare for spraying clear finishes like lacquer, polyurethane, and shellac. If you’re spraying mostly thick coatings (that look more like yogurt than paint) you’ll need to thin the product slightly, or upgrade to a 4 or 5 stage unit.

The turbine has a washable filter to protect the internal components. Between spray sessions, wash the filter with warm soapy water to maintain peak performance from your turbine. The filter design is so smart on Fuji Spray turbines – you don’t need to remove any plates or covers to access the filter. I recommend having at least two filters on hand, to avoid down time as one filter dries. Ultimately, there’s very little you need to do to maintain your turbine sprayer.

But do remember to place the unit directly on the floor, at least 15 feet from the spray area each time you spray.

Hoses attach to the spray gun with a quick-connect coupler. If your kit doesn’t come with the blue and clear “flexible whip”, I recommend adding it to your spray rig. The whip is a 6’ long extension that attaches between the spray gun and the solid blue hose, for improved flexibility around your project.

An inline air valve is supplied with the turbine hose, and lets you dial in the air pressure as needed. It’s intended to be installed right at the gun, but I always install mine between the main hose and the flexible whip. This has the advantage of less bulk, and more maneuverability when spraying in confined spaces.

Here’s one you’ll hear me say time and time again:

Filter anything and everything that goes into the fluid cup!

It prevents problems before they even start, and leads to a more enjoyable spray finishing experience. Pouring clear finishes through the appropriate strainer before spraying will make sure that your finish is finely atomized, and lays down like glass.

With the right sized aircap, spray finishing is quick and easy. In fact, it’s more than twice as fast as a wipe-on finish. After all, an HVLP gun only takes about 2 minutes to clean.

Imagine, a finely atomized finish for buttery smooth finishes that beg to be touched. Elevate your finishing game with a Fuji Spray HVLP Turbine system today.