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Why use a Paint Viscosity Cup. Ford No. 4 . Plastic
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1. Accurate Viscosity Measurement
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Measures the flow rate of paint or coating, which is essential for proper spray gun performance.
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Ensures your material isn’t too thick (which can clog the gun) or too thin (which can cause runs and uneven coverage).
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2. Standardized Reference (Ford No. 4)
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Ford #4 is a common industry standard used for water- or solvent-based coatings.
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Ensures consistency across batches and shops—critical for quality control and matching manufacturer specs.
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3. Essential for Spray Equipment Setup
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Helps you tune paint viscosity to match your LVLP or HVLP spray gun requirements.
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Prevents issues like orange peel, dry spray, or dripping due to improper viscosity.
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4. Easy and Repeatable Use
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Simply fill the cup, start timing when you lift it, and stop when the paint stream breaks.
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Gives you a repeatable flow time in seconds, which you can match to your paint product's specs.
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5. Lightweight, Durable Plastic
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Plastic is corrosion-resistant and won’t react with most common paints or solvents.
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Ideal for casual users, mobile painters, or quick-shop setups.
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Lightweight and easy to clean—unlike metal cups that may corrode over time.
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The benefits of a Paint Viscosity Cup. Ford No. 4 . Plastic
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1. Accurate Paint Flow Measurement
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Measures the time it takes paint to flow through a standard-sized orifice.
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Ensures your paint has the correct thickness (viscosity) before spraying.
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Critical for avoiding runs, sags, orange peel, or poor adhesion.
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2. Essential for Spray Gun Tuning
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Helps you match paint viscosity to the spray gun’s requirements—especially important for LVLP, HVLP, and airless sprayers.
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Prevents clogging, uneven spray patterns, and overspray.
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3. Ford No. 4 Standardization
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The Ford #4 orifice is a widely used industry standard, especially for automotive and industrial paints.
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Ensures repeatable and consistent results when comparing batches or following manufacturer specifications.
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4. Lightweight & Durable (Plastic Design)
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Plastic cups are lightweight, easy to handle, and resist corrosion from solvents or water-based paints.
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Ideal for frequent use without worrying about rust or chemical reactions.
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5. Quick and Easy to Use
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Just fill the cup, start the timer as it drains, and stop when the paint stream breaks.
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Gives you a flow time in seconds to compare against product guidelines.
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6. Improves Finish Quality
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Ensures you're spraying paint at its optimal consistency, which leads to:
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Smoother finishes
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Less material waste
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Fewer reworks or touch-ups
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Uses and applications of a Paint Viscosity Cup. Ford No. 4 . Plastic
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1. Automotive Painting
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Ensures proper paint viscosity for basecoats, clearcoats, primers, and single-stage finishes.
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Essential for tuning paint flow for LVLP or HVLP spray guns, helping prevent runs, dry spray, or orange peel.
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Common in body shops, collision repair centers, and custom paint studios.
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2. Wood Finishing & Furniture Coating
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Used to check flow rates of varnishes, lacquers, stains, and polyurethane.
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Helps achieve smooth, even application on cabinets, tables, and wooden fixtures.
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Widely used in woodshops and furniture manufacturing.
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3. Industrial Coatings
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Controls viscosity of industrial paints, epoxies, and protective coatings applied to machinery, metal parts, and equipment.
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Supports quality control and consistency across large batch applications.
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Standard tool in manufacturing and fabrication facilities.
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4. Paint Quality Control & Testing
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Used in labs or production lines to test paint batch consistency before shipping or application.
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Compares viscosity over time to monitor shelf life, mixing accuracy, or formulation stability.
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5. DIY, Hobby, and Small Workshop Projects
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Assists DIYers in getting professional results on automotive restoration, furniture painting, or custom builds.
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Compatible with small compressors and spray setups commonly used at home.
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6. Spray Equipment Setup
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Helps users adjust thinning ratios when paint is too thick out of the can.
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Ensures proper flow for different spray systems like:
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LVLP (Low Volume Low Pressure)
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HVLP (High Volume Low Pressure)
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Airless sprayers
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