Cheap but effective HVLP gun?

[cgv69]

I have some kitchen cabinets I need to paint. I will probably roll the face frames but want to spray the doors and draw fronts. I will probably be using Benjamin Moore's Advance or Sherwin Williams Proclassic alykd resin enamel paints.

At this time, I only have a small, 4 gal twin tank contractor type compressor that's rated at 4.4cfm at 90psi so I don't know if HF's $15 HVLP gun is an option? Between Christmas and this Kitchen remodel, funds are low so I don't have a lot of money to spend here so a new, larger compressor is not an option right now.

Eventually I would like a decent setup to use for my woodworking for spraying toners and clear costs and from what I've read, a compressor with conversion HVLP is the best way to go but that's not an option right now.

So I'm either looking for is a cheap (~$100 or less) option that will work for this project and then throw it away or I might considering going up to ~$300 for something that can be used as a long term solution?

I've looked at some of the turbine units from Fuji, etc. but it seems like you really need to get one of the higher end (3 to 4 stage) units for really good results?

Not sure if any of the lower cost Wagner DIY type unit are worth anything?

What would you recommend and why? I'm tempted to buy the HF $15 gun and trying it just to see but I don't have a lot of time to mess around here. I need to get this done by the end of the year.

 

[Radio Flyer]

Do some poking around the internet for LVLP spray gun

Its a low volume low, pressure gun, that can run off a pancake type compressor.

I picked one up from Amazon to spray some thinned out rustoleum on a trailer.

It was my first spray job and worked pretty good after figuring out adjustments.

Might be worth looking into.

 

[cgv69]

Do some poking around the internet for LVLP spray gun

Its a low volume low, pressure gun, that can run off a pancake type compressor.

I picked one up from Amazon to spray some thinned out rustoleum on a trailer.

It was my first spray job and worked pretty good after figuring out adjustments.

Might be worth looking into.

Thanks, I'll check into that.

No one else have anything to contribute?

 

[gungatim]

there are many threads touting the virtues of the cheap $10 HF HVLP gun...just do a search. it's cheap enough to not bother cleaning and just toss it when you are done. of course true body shop guys wouldn't touch one, but there are lots of websites with user photo's of some pretty nice paint jobs using that gun. I am sure it would do just fine on some cabinets...

honestly unless you are going to do a lot more painting, save the money and buy a better compressor.

link to some good setup info on the HF gun: http://purplesagetradingpost.com/sumner/techinfo/HVLPspraygun.html

 

[bwringer]

Yep, Harbor Freight.

 

[zendriver]

I painted a horse trailer with that HF gun, it turned out very good but then I'm a painting genius

I just used the "speedway" portable compressor with a 16 gallon tank.


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[KenC]

You'll likely be fine with the smaller compressor and the HF gun. Spraying doors and drawers will allow you to wait between items if the tank pressure drops too low.

be sure to get a gun mounted regulator, not a cheater valve.

Some of the HF guns come with a surprisingly good diaphragm type regulator.

 

[cgv69]

You'll likely be fine with the smaller compressor and the HF gun. Spraying doors and drawers will allow you to wait between items if the tank pressure drops too low.

That's really my only question/hesitation with the HF HVLP gun... will it run off my small compressor? if it can, I'm sure it will be good enough for this relatively small job.

HF also has a LVLP gun for $20 that's supposed to be pretty good with interior paint. Not sure which one would be better for this project?

 

[Abeo]

I used a cheap HVLP gun for my first automotive 2k paint job. Turned out great. The key thing for any of these cheap guns is to clean it to death before using it the first time. They come with some sort of gnarly sealant and anti-corrosion oil, and that would immediately mess up any paint job.
I have also used the gun for a water-based varathane clear on wooden furniture. Worked great again.
Choose the right tip size: ~1.5mm for things as thin as milk, and 1.8mm for thicker products (like cream)
Can't say how well the HVLP will work with the compressor, but since you are spraying at 25-40 psi at the gun, you have a bit of room to let the compressor catch up and keep on spraying. May have to take smaller bites of work.

 

[BQuicksilver]

I just did my cabinets with a Graco airless. Great results, but even with the low volume tip you have to move quick.

 

[catron44]

I've sprayed a bunch of bm aura and baer with the older version of this unit:

Earlex 0HV2901PUS Spray Station Precision https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00K26SJ5U/?tag=atomicindus08-20

I got it for 100 bucks when Lowe's put the on clearance.

I've sprayed advance with a Wagner unit but that unit wasn't very good and I didn't have the patience at the time to let the advance dry 24 hrs like the cam said.

I've tried cheap air guns and always found you have to thin house paints too much to work effectively. I have had great success spraying water based poly in that gun.

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