Product Review by Phil Stevenson
Xcite™, the new air-assisted airless spray gun by Kremlin Exel North America, has been in production for over six months. AWFI uses the gun for training and testing in their training center. The gun has been receiving positive reviews from training attendees and AWFI staff. Finish quality of the coatings applied using the gun received high marks in all categories of finish quality.
New features include a fluid line swivel fitting for improved maneuverability and ease of removing the in-line filter screen for cleaning and maintenance. The fluid nozzle features a new design using a unique secondary seal to prevent fluid from backing up from the tip into areas on the fluid nozzle behind the air cap. This feature keeps the gun operating smoothly, even when the tip seal begins to get worn and impacted. The feel of the gun is very comfortable over long periods of use due to its unique ergonomic design.
The manufacturer advertises that the gun can spray coatings up to 86% transfer efficiency, however, AWFI has not concluded its evaluation or verification of the transfer efficiency of the gun.
The only materials that did not spray well through the gun were two-component urethanes and some water-based products. The gun appeared to cause micro-foam to form in the finish that remained in the coating after the finish was dry. With most of the materials in which the spray gun caused micro-bubbles, the problem could easily be rectified by re-formulating the coating material. Further testing will be conducted to resolve these minor issues. This article will be updated to include any new solutions that are discovered as product testing continues. The only other factor one needs to consider with the new gun design is that many parts cannot be interchanged with previous spray gun models.
“The gun had a high-end feel of quality.”
“The gun was very comfortable to use.”
“I liked the way the gun laid down a super-smooth finish.”
“I was pleasantly surprised with how little over-spray the gun produced.”
External Link:
xcite-airmix.com