Question:

I’m considering buying a 2 part spray machine (plural component proportioner). Can you advise me regarding the difference between high and low pressure proportioners? Also… Do you carry products for both types?

Answer:

A high pressure proportioner generally can spray consistently at over 2,200 psi, and the low pressure proportioners pretty much max out (or can’t reach) that high a pressure. The low pressure proportioners generally operate around 1,800 – 2,000 psi. Most industrial or commercially applied coatings require aroun 2,200 or higher to mix properly in the spray gun. Many of these coatings also require heated application around 150° F or higher, and most low pressure spray machines aren’t able to heat the products.

The cost for a low pressure proportioner versus high pressure in the same brand  is usually around $5,000 – $10,000 less. You can expect to pay about $20,000 for a Graco E series proportioner setup as compared to $28,000 + for the EXP series high pressure units.

The coatings have very similar specs, but are formulated based on your spray equipment. Most Graco proportioners for coatings are high pressure, and the spray foam is usually low pressure. Some commonly available used proportioners (like Vortex) are low pressure and use the low pressure polyurea. All depends on what equipment you are purchasing to do the job. Costs for polyurea as used on bedliners, vehicle exteriors, equipment, and general application run about $28 to $38 per gallon. Some coatings are specialized, and are higher in cost.

Another alternative for businesses who are getting started applying polyurea coatings is the cartridge spray gun. We market the Rhino/Line-X Alternative cartridge products, and the RLA Cartridge Spray Gun is about $525 at the time of this article. The cartridge polyurea is formulated specifically to mix in the mixing tube. It’s applied by the cartridge spray gun and not specifically considered “low or high” pressure. Of course… The cartridge products are much more expensive per gallon due to the cost of the cartridge, mixing tube, and labor (about $75 per gallon retail).

Spray Lining and Coatings markets virtually all polyurea coatings through distributorship agreements with a variety of chemical manufacturers. Call us at 855-545-4900 for additional information whether you are purchasing a plural component sprayer, or interested in cartridge applied coatings.