I've been "doing well" with a pancake compressor and a HF HVLP gun, but recognizing the limitations as well as the short life of my compressor running 2 hour long spray jobs....(what it takes to spray a few dozen T&G board), I've long been looking at say a Fuji 4 stage. Unfortunately Fuji like everyone else is price gouging the the price of all their sprayers seems to have gone up many times the CPI 9%. There's no way construction and shipping costs have gone up that much. 2 years ago they were affordable but I didn't think I needed one, now I think I need one and holy heck the prices!
At that price point, a 20-30 gallon compressor starts to look attractive and cost far less. And I can run more tools I'd like to run (I do more than just WW in the shop). Like a sandblaster. Or a die grinder.
But I'd hate to get a 30 gallon and a good gun and then still wish I got the Fuji. Anyone do that? Go bigger compressor and still wish you got a 3/4 stage?
FWIW, portability/hose management is not an issue for me.