Success Applying Fluid Film with $20 HF electric paint gun

[JohnOfTheJungle]

I wanted to share my experience using Fluid Film with a HF Electric paint gun.

https://m.harborfreight.com/5-gph-electric-paint-spray-gun-62267.html?

As a proud owner of a 3rd gen living in Brooklyn, I have challenges that my truck is already fairly rusty and I don’t have space or a garage to use an air compressor.

I wanted to do fluid film as I’ve heard great things and I want this truck to last as long as possible, knowing that rust is my biggest threat.

I read many threads on how to apply fluid film - some people use spray cans, some buy a gallon and brush it on, others use a hand spray bottle (sounds miserable), and the best recommendation an air compression with the $79 spray kit from fluid film with the gallon bucket.

I ended up buying the gallon bucket, and saw 1 YT video of a guy using a $20 electric paint gun from Harbor Freight. I decided to test it out myself, and it worked pretty well!

Here’s my setup:

I was in a hurry so didn’t take progress pics but I will take a few after pics later and add them in

Here are a few tips:

1 - it was cold out, I used a heat gun to warm up and liquify the goop in the hopper for a minute before spraying

2 - the gun is loud, recommend earplugs. Also respirator

3 - it doesn’t like to spray upside down, plan to put the truck on jackstands and roll under it with a creeper

4 - the gun comes with an 8" extender that I think could work for spraying inside the frame rails. I didn't have time to figure out how to put it on the gun so didn't do that part yet.

Here’s a link to the gun I bought - https://m.harborfreight.com/5-gph-electric-paint-spray-gun-62267.html?

I was able to put on 1/2 gallon in about 10 minutes - until the neighbors got pissed at me for doing it at 10pm in the street.

 

[Beaumont67]

JohnOfTheJungle - sounds good.
- was their much oil mist in the air, using the electric sprayer ?
- which is the common problem, using an air pressure spray gun

 

[amalik]

FF is some good shit. Maybe that's why it smells like shit, perhaps.

 

[kolelt]

FF is some good shit. Maybe that's why it smells like shit, perhaps.

To me
It smells good lol. Kinda has a apple smell lol

 

[thegipper]

I've used fluid film before but I actually prefer LPS 3. It dries to a soft "wax" like film that doesn't get everything oily AF. I think LPS 3 is a superior rust inhibitor based on the various testing I've read. The coating lasts a very, very long time. It meets a ton of aviation and MIL spec corrosion protection requirements.

I just put it in a spray bottle and apply it underneath my rig everywhere that I'm trying to protect. I also spray it in the frame throughout the various holes in all directions. A gallon of it is about 80 bucks on Amazon which should last you many, many years.

As a bonus, it also smells wonderful.......unlike my wife's cooking.:behindsofa:

LP3 on Amazon

 

[TrexRunnerGirl]

I'd be interested to see the before and after pics. My runner is rusty also..midwest salt kills everything.

 

[JohnOfTheJungle]

Haha, love the banter.

So - in order, here are my responses

Mist in air - yes there was mist in the air. But it wasn’t all mist, I would say it would mist a bit then spray thicker. It would mist more if the level in the hopper was low and it wasn’t picking it up consistently or if I was trying to spray upside down.

I was okay with the mist though as I was outside, and also just happy it was working.

Smell - I don’t find it too unpleasant. Kind of like a mix of chapstick and wet wool - but not a chemical smell. One of the things I like about it is that it’s mostly derived from lanolin (from sheep), so it feels pretty safe and clean.

It also cleans off pretty easily with soap and hot water.

LP3 - haven’t heard much about. Looks interesting, anything I can spray without needing a compressor and spray gun setup is good for me. FF is cheaper tho, and since it stays semi-wet it acts as a lubricant keeping bolts and stuff from getting stuck.

Pics - I didn’t do a great job of documenting. Also I will be the first to admit I didn’t get great coverage everywhere, I was in a hurry and wanted to just get something done before the first snow hits. I was going for minimum viable product here... something is better than nothing mentality.

Here are some before pics that show you the general level of rust I have:

I wire wheeled most of the rust off of my Upper Control Arms a few weeks ago and painted them:

Here are a few shots post Fluid Film. Just to note - for as many spots as I could access I wire brushed off rust, sprayed on an acid based rust remover, then sprayed on black rustoleum.

The Fluid Film itself won’t dissolve rust or cover it with a paint or anything. But it WILL soak into the rust and help keep it from getting worse.

Here are some after pics, sorry the lighting is bad.

I need to take the front wheels off and skid plates and really hit the lower control arms and spots like this:

One note - keep it off your brake discs (wrap them in bags when you spray) and off your exhaust




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[JohnOfTheJungle]

I forgot to mention - here's the original YT video that gave me the idea to use the HF sprayer for this.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-dS09cqjgqA

 

[ToyotaBrah]

Nice job, man! I have been using the aerosol cans, but I might give this a shot.

I agree on the smell. It's not terrible at all.

Also, when you plan on spraying it again, coat the bottom of the doors. That's another area where I have seen rust occur. It doesn't affect the paint.


If you get any on the rubber door seals, wipe it off. It has been known to swell rubber.

 

[silver4est]

how does it hold up to the car wash?

 

[JohnOfTheJungle]

how does it hold up to the car wash?

I haven’t washed mine since applying but I plan to only power wash the body and not wash underneath it until next spring after the snow is done.

From what I’ve read a car wash will remove most of the protection, better just to touch it up where needed with more fluid film, but not wash it off.


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[m0ist]

is this any better than coating the frame with used motor oil?

 

[JohnOfTheJungle]

As far as protection goes I don’t know.

I could see oil being more liquid and a lot messier, leaving stains on your driveway, etc. if your truck is more of a farm rig then it probably doesn’t matter all that much.

I think one of the advantages to fluid film is that it can be washed off and isn’t super nasty.




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[aontkos]

I feel bad for you guys that live up north.

Having this stuff all over my truck would drive me nuts. I would think that I had an oil leak, power steering leak, transmission leak, and fluid leaking from both of my differentials....

 

[Beaumont67]

is this any better than coating the frame with used motor oil?

Undercoating with used motor oil, died out in the early 1980's / due to acid in the contaminated oil.

 

[kolelt]

I feel bad for you guys that live up north.

Having this stuff all over my truck would drive me nuts. I would think that I had an oil leak, power steering leak, transmission leak, and fluid leaking from both of my differentials....

Nah. It's not bad. It's just maintaining your vehicle. It's also more then just against salt or the weather. Also good against off roading in water and mud. NJ isn't that bad with rust compared to some states. My 4runner is actually very clean. Ofcourse it had few spots on the body. But otherwise you couldn't tell. Fluid film is good insurance.

Eastwood makes one called heavy duty grease. With a extended nozzle. I used it to spray into rocker panels, and other cracks. Including my frame. Again, it's great against water.

 

[19963.4lsr5]

The jeep guys spray linseed oil. It dries to a wax coating.


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[ThorInc]

I've used fluid film before but I actually prefer LPS 3. It dries to a soft "wax" like film that doesn't get everything oily AF. I think LPS 3 is a superior rust inhibitor based on the various testing I've read. The coating lasts a very, very long time. It meets a ton of aviation and MIL spec corrosion protection requirements.

I just put it in a spray bottle and apply it underneath my rig everywhere that I'm trying to protect. I also spray it in the frame throughout the various holes in all directions. A gallon of it is about 80 bucks on Amazon which should last you many, many years.

As a bonus, it also smells wonderful.......unlike my wife's cooking.:behindsofa:

LP3 on Amazon

Amsoil chain lube is also am amazing film that prevents binding & an amazing rust preventer. Aerosol can goes a long ways.

 

[19963.4lsr5]

Amsoil chain lube is also am amazing film that prevents binding & an amazing rust preventer. Aerosol can goes a long ways.

Now that you mention it, I used a lot of fogging oil to try and rust proof stuff.


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[Mudeprived]

I did this last year with the same sprayer and it worked out ok. My only complaint is all the dirt and grime it collects. My new yellow Bilsteins looked 10 years old after a couple weeks and they still do. DIRTY