"Equipment for spraying requires besides the spraying machine a pressure tank with suitable cocks to regulate pressure, which will vary from thirty to fifty pounds, a suitable hood provided with fan to draw off any fine spray away from the workman, proper racks for taking care of the finished work. Work done with spray does not require any wiping up."
[Illustration: Fig. 110.--AIROSTYLE PLANT INSTALLED FOR THE GAS LIGHT AND COKE CO., LTD. OPERATOR AT WORK ON GAS METERS.]
It will be convenient now to consider the length of time involved in spraying, as compared with that involved when painters' brushes are used.
In dealing with this question, it should be pointed out that while some little gain is apparent in the actual time occupied in handling the article, which is mostly done on turn-tables when spraying, yet no note is taken here of the difference in handling, but only the time occupied in covering the article with paint, japan, etc.
We will take, by way of example, a modern gas fire. Very few of these are now brushed. It is the consensus of opinion that a gas fire takes 10 minutes to brush.
To spray one, with a superior finish, takes 30 to 45 seconds, and even where some difficulty is experienced in handling, or where it is the practice to have the firebricks in place beforehand, so necessitating the use of a mask, in no case is a greater time than 1½ to 2 minutes taken. A cycle lamp, small size, takes fully 2 minutes to brush properly. To spray the same lamp takes 10 seconds. A gas meter, 5 or 10 light size, takes 7 minutes to brush. To spray one takes 1½ minutes, allowing for the time occupied in fixing and removing the somewhat elaborate mask employed for covering the indicator glass, badges, name-plate, etc.
A motor headlight takes nearly 20 minutes to brush properly, whereas to spray one takes but 1½ minutes at the outside.
To brush a cycle frame takes 10 minutes or so (brushing is still done for coloured work).
To spray either in japan or colours takes 1 to 1½ minutes, and when it is considered that a heavier coat can be applied than is the case when brushing or dipping, it will be admitted that such a result compares favourably even with dipping.
A 2-seater motor body takes from 25 to 45 minutes to brush properly.