Thoughts on heated spray systems

Adding heaters for better performance in a lacquer spray setup. December 12, 2000

Question
We have been thinking about adding a heating system to our Kremlin setup. We use mainly post-catalyzed lacquers over vinyl sealers for our stained work. We use mostly acrylic lacquer over white vinyl primer for our whites. We might switch to conversion varnish to increase the durability of the finish.

The literature claims better flow without thinning and improved performance by less experienced sprayers. Has anyone found this to be true?

My thinking is that the heat may not be good here in the southern summers for conversion varnish, but that it may help in the winter. We’ve had trouble with conversion varnish if the temperature gets very much below 70 degrees in the paint room.

Forum Responses
Once you buy it, you will like it. It is true about the flow out. Just don’t cook your finish in the system. Keep the temperature where it should be and make sure it re-circulates as required.

Bob Niemeyer, forum technical advisor


We use heated systems for everything. The flowout of product is night and day. We even use it on our contact spray system. With catalyzed finishes, you cannot raise the temperature as much as you would with lacquers, etc., or you will kick your finish prematurely (like maybe in the lines).

I never did heat my conversion varnish due to the fact that the material seemed to get pretty hot just through re-circulating it. When we did this we were only using about 5 to 7 gallons per pump, per day and only mixed two gallons at a time. On lacquers, heated is the only way to go.

Go with a heater to maintain consistent viscosity and better atomization. Kremlin heaters are the best on the market, available in explosion-proof and non, 115 and 220 volt.
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