HVLP Spray Guns: Which is best for under 150.00

[Lloyd McKinlay]

The best source for information on Fuji HVLP product is Roger Phelps, formerly Phelps Refinishing and has been a Fuji dealer for many years. He has lots of hands on experience. Google him or find a link at the Fuji site under authorized dealers.

[Mike Henderson]

mike, thanks for the advice. i'll give the #6 nozzle a try... do you have any tricks for figuring out how much material is left in the cup?

I have a gravity feed gun with a plastic hopper so I can see how much material is in the hopper. I don't have much experience with suction guns.

Mike

[Bruce Wrenn]

Last year, I bought a couple of the HF conversion guns (the one without the regulator) to spray a set hand rails I was rehabbing. Paid $9.99 each for them at side walk sale. Kept primer in one, and paint in the other. Probably one of the best twenty bucks I ever spent.

[Ron Natalie]

I've got an Ingersol-Rand one I bought at Tractor Supply. It's worked well for me. While it was more than $9.99, it was under $100 ($89) and it includes an inline pressure regulator so you can leave your compressor alone and adjust it at the pointer you're using it.

[James White]

HF 20% off coupon.

http://www.harborfreight.com/digitalsavings.html

James

[John Gregory]

I don't think you can go wrong with Earlex, Here is one to consider. I have the 5000 and love it. This 3500 is at Amazon for about your budget. IF you want a spray station.
http://www.amazon.com/Earlex-HV3500-...ata/B003F095CQ Portability is nice.

[Ted Baca]

Thank you all for your replys. I have been looking at Homestead Finishing, but they have a lot of models to choose from.
I need to do more research to determine which gun will meet my needs and provide options for any future expansion of needs. It looks like 150.00 may not be enough to get what I need. If anyone knows who made the Porter Cable maybe I can find the equivilant. My needs as mentioned will be for all stains and finishes so having interchangeble nozzles and needles is a must. I think the gravity feed makes the most sense unless someone can provide a scenerio where the syphon type is better. As far as the Earlex and other similar models I have ruled those out and am really mentally set on a compressor driven guns. The 'Conversion Guns' are mentioned to be air hogs but my compressor as mentioned is has a 30 gallon tank and I have two 50' hose reels, 1)20 foot reel and about 30-40 feet of copper line, so I have plenty of storage and the compressor has a fairly good recovery rate. Most projects will be smaller and probably not require a full cup of stain, so I don't feel too concerned about air volume demands. With that said any more ideas on which models to look at? Thanks for all the help so far.

[Mike Henderson]

I think it was on this forum someone posted who made the gun for Porter Cable. I don't really remember the name but DeVilbiss popped into my mind when I was considering your question. I do remember it was a well known spray gun manufacturer.

[Yep, looks like it was DeVlibiss. Take a look here and select PSH1. Looks like the PSH1 is still available from Amazon. I bought my second PSH1 gun from eBay and got a pretty good deal (new).]

Mike

[BTW, no matter what gun you buy, get a welding tip cleaning set. These are wires of different sizes which have been roughened. If you get any clogs in the nozzle, use the tip cleaning wire (of appropriate size) to clean the tip.

Also, it took me a while to learn how to clean the gun properly. You need to take the nozzle off AND the orifice behind the nozzle (you need the special wrench which is included with the gun to remove the orifice). Clean the orifice and the inside of the gun well. I mostly use water based finish so I use a hose and squirt water into the areas. Additionally, if you have a situation where the gun is not spraying properly, check the bleeder hole in the top of the reservoir. It'll plug up with material and then air can't get into the reservoir so the material doesn't flow. It took me a while to figure that one out the first time.]

[john bateman]

If you decide on a conversion gun, check out Paint Sprayers plus.
The Asturo line is a little more than the price you want to spend, but they have a kit with a small gun, 3 nozzle sets, and a small cup. But you can add a 400cc cup for $22. This will spray pretty much everything. The QualSpray QS125 kit that Homesteadfinishingproducts.com sells is the same thing if you prefer to buy there.
http://www.paintsprayersplus.com/ and click on "Fine Finish Spray Guns"
http://www.paintsprayersplus.com/pro...aster-Kit.html
http://www.paintsprayersplus.com/pro...minum-Cup.html

They also have a house brand called JET which are knockoffs of the Asturo at lower prices.

All the choices make it a bit confusing, as I'm sure you're finding out.

[frank shic]

only thing i hate about conversion guns is that the compressor is so loud compared to an airless or an help turbine!

[Van Huskey]

Thank you all for your replys. I have been looking at Homestead Finishing, but they have a lot of models to choose from.
.

I love to research things as well, but sometimes I get into paralysis by analysis but honestly all you need to do it make a mental list of your desires/needs and know your compressors output and give Jeff a call at Homestead. The guy is one of the finishing gurus and will not steer you wrong, whatever he recommends would be the way I would go, even if it was contrary to popular internet opinion.

[John Coloccia]

I love to research things as well, but sometimes I get into paralysis by analysis but honestly all you need to do it make a mental list of your desires/needs and know your compressors output and give Jeff a call at Homestead. The guy is one of the finishing gurus and will not steer you wrong, whatever he recommends would be the way I would go, even if it was contrary to popular internet opinion.

I just bought a gun from him tonight. I don't even think they're open on Fridays, they were there He seemed pretty knowledgable and was able to steer me to right what I needed without much fuss.

...and I spent right about $150.

[Fred Voorhees]

I have been using this gun and love it.

http://www.gleempaint.com/hvcongunnew.html

[John Coloccia]

Hey, you know I just want to plug two guys who have helped with spray gun matters the last 2 weeks or so.

These two guys:

http://www.spraygunrepair.com/ - Paul Masters
http://www.homesteadfinishingproducts.com/ - Jeff Jewitt

Both of them have gotten my business lately, and will continue to get my business as I grow, because apparently I annoy my local paint supplier that I had been using. When I call my local guy, the guy behind the counter always seems to be annoyed, as though I'm wasting his time. It's not like I'm a tire kicker. I go in to buy, but he never seems like he wants my business and is completely unhelpful. The owner is nice, but he's never there. The last straw was when I needed to rebuild my Devilbiss EGA...after huffing and puffing the doofus took the part numbers I needed, and then just never called me back...which is exactly what I thought he would do and I was annoyed at myself for even trying.

Paul is relatively local to me (about 1 hour away), and had what I needed on hand to get me going again. We had a nice chat, I played with his dog, and found out that he also rebuilds guns to sell at very good prices. You can really get a deal from him on a high end gun if he happens to have what you need.

And of course Homestead hooked me up yesterday when my cheap clear coat gun completely fell apart (a box store special), leaving me high and dry with no way to spray. I don't think it took but 5 minutes on the phone to get it done. I'd still be on hold with my local guy and who knows how long it would take to actually get what I need, assuming he actually orders it.

Anyhow, it's so refreshing, and rare, to work with people that I can trust and that don't waste my time that I just had to plug them.

[John M. Johnson]

This one has served me and many others well. You can get a 20% off coupon pretty easily so that makes it a great price. The down side is that it only has one tip. I believe woodcraft sells other tips that fit it.

http://www.harborfreight.com/high-vo...tm_source=1002

James

They do have additional tips for this gun:

1.7mm tip 10190 $8.10
2.0mm tip 10191 $8.10

I use the 2mm for thinned latex all the time and it works pretty well.