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Hey Dean
Google this… National Pavement Expo.
There are 2. One is in Las Vegas…I believe this December…3-5…?
And the other is in Nashville…Mid January…?
That’s where you’ll see the machines.
That said…you and I may have talked before. Are you close to OH? Swing by.
Dan
P.S. Someone said Sun Belt Rentals = the old Nations Rent company…may rent them. But…probably a select locations.
P.S.S I have both Titan and Graco. I also use a conventional…that I love…well…for certain jobs.
Keep in touch.
DanHello Nathaniel
I give away all my prices in my book = per foot, curb, playground games, standard stencils, large stencils…etc.
But…that’s my area. I live in a larger city…many stripers…so…paint is less expensive…competition is probably more than normal.
So…sometimes bidding is an art. It does have to do with your overhead and your competition…but as you get experience…you know what jobs will take more time…and what jobs you can easily move right through and still make them look beautiful.
The “Auto Layout”…I’ve written before,,,my opinion…here it is in a nutshell…sorry that’s an American idiom…here it is…all condensed into a tiny little statement…”Paint (2) polka dots on the ground, 36′ apart. Now…stripe a line perfectly straight between them. Now…paint (4) polka dots in a perfectly straight line. And…here’s the spacing…36″ between the first 2…then 24” to the 3rd dot…then 36′ to the 4th dot. Now…so…here’s what you have . . . . OK? Stripe (2) perfectly straight lines between the 36′ gaps…skipping the smaller middle gap. Can you do that? Everytime? Can you even place the dots in a straight row? I can’t. Now turn 90 degrees…and do it again. In other words…all lines need to be 1) Straight…2) “Lined Up”…3) The same length.
Nathaniel…this is my opinion…auto layout is over rated and over priced. I’m completely open to discussion. I am. But…this thing isn’t being picked up by others = competition…and it doesn’t have the momentum that the Lazy Liner does. The Lazy Liner was a game changer. Now we’re all riding. But we’re not all “auto layout” …ing. I’ll wait another couple years. Again…I’m open to hear from you.
Dan
OK…let me say it first…”and that was in a nutshell?”
Sorry.Hey Dean
It’s rare that I sweep or blow off the lot.
I do carry a wire brush. Only when there’s a small area of dirt on the line…do I actually clean. And…it only takes a few quick brushes. My guns…and yours will blow some of the debris away…right before the paint hits the pavement. That said…if there is too much dirt…the paint will hit the dirt and then the dirt will fly away…taking the new paint with. No big deal…I just hit the “skipped spot” again.
Truck docks are the worst.Raymond
How are you?
Parts and older used equipment is hard to come by.
At least it’s hard for me to find good stuff.
I think it’s a testimony to our industry = we all keep the good stuff.
Where in CA are you?
How many months in a year do you work?
Do you use all airless?
DanHello STVSLOAN
I’ve used a landscaping trailer for 16 years.
Mostly it’s great…but it has one problem…rain.
I do stripe parking garages…I can fit into the low over hangs.
But…once a year…I’ll get hammered with rain…either going to or coming from a job.
I’m like you…I don’t want to carry everything either.
One day I’ll change…but hopefully to a Low Enclosed Trailer.
Last…but to get all my equipment in…I’d need more floor space than my 5 x 10.
Anyhow…
See ya.
DanShoal Creek…that makes sense.
The HRL-1 worked for me. And…I didn’t change out the interior of the stencil gun. It’s a Binks 2001. I did try an air cap that had the little pin holes in the sides…to fan and atomize the paint upon exiting the gun…but they weren’t needed. I simply went back to the original “set up” that the gun came with…including the Air Cap…which has no pin holes…and all was well. I believe it’s because the original set up is for thick striping paint. The paint I had going through the system was house paint = smoother and more than likely thinner. The gun did fine and I wasted money on the other interior “set up”.
The compressor never stops. The frame…see my video…both the explanation part and Part 3…where I start it up…fills with air and when a certain pressure is reached a relief valve “pops off” allowing the pressure to drop and then rebuild. Well…the compressor never stops…the frame fills almost immediately…and the air supply is constant…between 60 – 80 lbs. Shoal Creek…it’s always enough to atomize the paint…and again…especially if I’m right…in that…the Primer and Oil based paint are probably thinner and even easier for the HRL-1 to spray.
Shoal Creek…search out what is best for your company plans. If I can quote you a price on the HRL-1…cool. We’ll build it just like you need it…probably just like mine. I’ll even throw in a stencil.
Let me know if I can help.
DanHey Shoal Creek
Honestly?…here’s what I’d do.
I wouldn’t spend $4000.00 on a conventional for one job.
That said…I would keep it all in mind.
If I lived in a Four Season climate…and I do…I would own one…and I do…wish I had two…will one day.
(How’s that for a sentence?)
I would bid the job. Buy a different tip for that type of painting = specifically for “Painting” not “Striping”.
The fan is different. The spray is dispersed differently so that you do not have twice the thickness on the overlaps. (Striping tips assume no overlapping…though we all do it for Stop Bars etc.)
OK…spend $40.00 for the different tip. Create waste cleaning. Store it or use it up somehow.
That said…if I saw a repeated need for Oil Based or Acetone Based etc…I would seriously look into a Conventional. But…that’s me. Many crews simply buy another Airless…dedicate it to a color and type of paint and then?…never clean it.
Let me know how it turns out.
Dan
P.S. I’m thinking that the Needle, Fluid nozzle and Air cap…(you may not need a different Air cap)…for the HRL-1, may cost around $30.00 each? I’d buy the $40.00 painting tip.
P.S.S. I did use my Conventional years ago to paint my neighbor’s house. It was the same color. We didn’t cut anything in. It went well. Then I used my Airless to paint my sister’s house. It also went well. So the over all answer is yes…you can use these to do other things.
Keep in touch.
DanHey Shoal Creek…
1) You can hit me up with a PM…
2) or…ask me here…others may like the info.
I don’t mind.
DanShoal Creek
Hey…try Maintenance Inc., for some paint too.
They’re in Wooster OH.
The person’s name is Mark.
800.892.6701
I purchased from them years ago and it always worked out.
Let me know.
DanHey Oklahoma Striper
How are you?
I used to live in Tulsa…had a blast…anyhow…I’d like to answer your post as I read down through it.
Here we go…
1) I wrote a post titled “$75.00 Striping “Machine”…is it worth it?. That is my opinion on those kinds of “machines”.
a) They’re good for an owner who has a very few lines.
b) They’re good for a school who lines in the grass for baseball.
2) Rolling…when I hand roll blue for a “Blue Block” H/C I pick up debris = small pebbles etc.
a) I also have a hard time filling in the cracks…unless its a new parking lot…or still a nice one.
b) I would be too afraid of having an ugly edge…so ugly…from pushing down to fill in irregularities…that the owner would never call me again.
3) No prep is needed. If you’re thinking “rough it up”…the parking lot already is…especially if it’s needing a Re-stripe. Besides…asphalt is known as a “flexible” pavement. I do realize over time it solidifies…however, it’s more porous = paint can grip it. Again…no prep. Maybe blow it off with a hand lawn/leaf blower.
4) Right here…before I mention the bending lines and stencils…my best advice…though it may sound self promoting…buy my book.
a) I discuss simply moving the machine around a corner like a grocery cart with bad front wheels. So…do not “pop a wheelie”. I also discuss the great “trick” associated with the airless machines. I own a Graco and a Titan. I show no preference…except price.
b) Stencils…I have them for sale. The prices already include shipping. BUT…if you need 2 or more..call me. I’ll ship to the same address at the same time and save you money. Please don’t order 2 and pay shipping twice…well…kinda twice. (I’d ship them together anyhow and charge you less…and then send the difference…in money…back to you.) Anyhow…check out my site.
c) ALSO…I can cut anything…anything. Let me know what you need. I’ll give you a price. You decide.
5) As far as Red…and Fire Lanes. Here’s my best thought. Re-stripe what’s there. Here’s why….if they need an occupancy permit…I believe the Fire Department…or someone like that will visit to make sure their trucks can get close to the building. They will request/demand at the that time…Fire Lanes. So…if you’re doing a Re-stripe…Oklahoma…just Re-stripe it. Also…I’m not sure Red is required. If it were…it would be everywhere. Just Re-stripe what’s there.
a) Now…that said…visit a Super Market. View the Fire Lane. Could you suggest something like that for your customer? = a 4″ line…4′ out from the front sidewalk…running parallel to the building?
b) Or…will the “Loading Zone” area…for buses prohibit parking…thus fulfilling the No Parking thing?
6) Pricing…I also have an article on this forum titled…”Pricing a Striping Job”…but it’s located under the “Pavement Materials” tab.
a) Most of us have a minimum charge…maybe $200.00? …the job you’re bidding will cost more than that.
b) I bid per foot…most of us do. I also bid stencils…per stencil…maybe $15.00 each to whatever. Sometimes it depends on volume and/or size. 12″ is very common. $15.00 to $18.00 each…or…$2.00 per digit…or?…it depends on you…your over head…your competition…etc. Check out the article. And…again…sorry…check out my book. I tell everything…including curb and games.
Last…I want to say something…do this. Get a machine. A real one. It’s airless…check this out…you say you work on “everything in between”…well an airless striping machine is the same thing as an airless paint sprayer…except it has wheels. That’s it. You could use this to paint buildings etc…as well as offer another service.
I hope my post isn’t too long. I hope I’ve helped. And…I know you can do this.
Keep in touch.
DanHey Shoal Creek 249
Hit me up on my site.
My shop number is there.
On the paint…Sherwin Williams or PPG should easily be able to answer = if they won’t sell it or don’t sell it…it’s not legal anymore.
In OH it’s the Waterborne and Acetone.
I can’t even buy Alkyd. So…that makes it easy.
The 8900 is a great steal. I paid $3500.00 for a 3900…and a few readers couldn’t get close to that…especially if it’s in the store = no shipping charges to add on! I love my Titan.
Here’s a weird question…how used is it? It may be one of those situations where someone ordered it…tried it…can’t make it…blah…blah.
Make sure it isn’t too good to be true…take a look at it…decide.
Call me…we’ll talk…and let me know how it works out.
Congrats.
DanHey Shoal Creek 249
I know just what it is…I use one.
Matter of fact…go to my web site… http://www.americanstriping.com
Click onto the Videos page.
There is a (3) part video on a “Conventional” Line Striping Machine.
In part (3)…I fire it up and allow you to hear it…and…
…I have a “bleeder” gun attached.
Here’s what it is.
A compressor compresses air and sends it to (4) places.
One place is to the actual striping gun.
When I open a valve…the air is allowed to get all the way to the gun and actually flow right through it.
Let’s call this a stream of flowing air…ok…ok…
…let’s all act like the striping gun is actually “bleeding” air…or air is “bleeding” through the gun.
All I have to do now is pull the trigger.
When I do…the paint is then allowed to pass through the gun…and into that flowing stream of air…it’s audible…and feel-able too…if you stick your hand under there.
Anyhow…the paint stream obviously mixes with the air stream and out comes a spray.
When you shut the trigger off…the paint stops flowing…but the air does not…until you then close the valve that allows the air to flow.
Now…if you have time…watch the video…and I love this machine…especially if you work in a (4) climate zone = cool and cold temps.
Last…I’ll sell these machines from my site soon. You’ll get the same prices from me but…I’ll throw in a stencil for free. Check out my “Buy Supplies” page and pick a stencil…$105.00 or less.
Call me for machine prices…let me know if I can help.
DanHey Shoal Creek 249…how are you?
Yeah…you hit it right on the head.
Either…
1)…pay an inexpensive bill and maybe wait for the paint to arrive…or…
2)…pay an inflated price…(that’s not a fair assumption)…and have no commitments and the paint is almost everywhere.
You know what?…don’t quit…here’s what I hear; you’re wanting to deal with PPG.
Here’s my idea…
Is there more than (1) PPG dealer nearby? Sometimes the store location dictates what the Manager Chooses to carry. Case in point?…the store I deal with is almost dominated by contractors. The store…same franchise…down the street is dominated by “Retail” people. So…the latter store Manager carries no striping paint. My point? Maybe you’re in the “wrong” store…whether owned by the Corporation or a Franchisee. So…is there more than (1) PPG store nearby? And…are all the customers wearing white painter pants?
Now…here’s my next thing…some PPG stores are owned by Franchisees = owned by the person behind the counter…like a fast food chain = “Individuals” = anyone wanting to own a PPG store.
And…some are still owned by “Corporate” = the Franchisor.
Now for my disclaimer…I think…and here’s why…I receive calls from a PPG store, paint sales guy. He wants to sell paint. I ask where his stores are located. He says…(2) places…just (2)?…AND…the (1) store I pass on the way to my shop isn’t one of them. Maybe he’s a Franchisee…owning (2).
Now…the store location I pass?…it’s loaded with contractors and gobs of (5) gallon buckets of paint. (No Retail person buys a (5) gallon supply of paint.) My conclusion?…this is either a Franchisee in a Contractor’s market…or…a “Corporate” owned store selling to mostly Contractors.
Either way…it’s a Contractor store.
So…maybe you’re in a Franchisee = “Person Owned” store that cannot commit to buying a truckload of paint…to secure the low price…to pass on to you…because they’re in a “Retail” dominated area.
Again…try another location…maybe find out where the “Corporate Owned” store is…or at least where the Contractor Dominated store location is. (If I were a Franchisee located in a Contractor Dominated area…I wouldn’t be too afraid of ordering a truckload of striping paint…give everyone the same low price to make sure I sold it all.)
Maybe I’m on to something. At least it’s a try.
Then you decide the rest = to buy or not to buy…at that location…intermittently…or (80) gallons at a time = (1) skid. I’m hoping you’re very fortunate and find a “Corporate” owned “Contractor Dominated” store.
There has to be a store that sells striping paint to a few stripers…somewhere.
Let me know. If I’m wrong…so be it…I apologize. But…don’t quit.
I won’t either. I just cannot imagine PPG cannot compete.
Keep in touch.
Dan
