Cheap Paint for HVLP Gun
- Thread starter Ren Hoek
- Start date
No cars. Probably vintage tools, some wood projects, furniture.
American Locomotive
Well-known member
As KenC mentioned, each paint behaves differently in the gun. Shoot, I have a paint with a 72 hour pot life, I can tell you it sprays differently fresh than it does a day later.
Rustoleum or one of the similar products. Cheap enough to practice as much as you want and with the addition of a hardener and proper reducers it will suffice for most home projects. Do use breathing protection however, no matter what you decide to use.
BillK
Well-known member
Home Depot usually has a shelf with returned and wrong color paints for cheap. Might want to look there also.
karoc
Well-known member
I like using rustoleum paint both hammer and smooth. Your big box stores carry it and not as cheap as use to be but nothing is. Biggest trick is to follow directions using Rustoleum, such as if it say 48 hrs before recoat then wait 50 hrs. It’s what I use to paint my woodworking machines, not best paint but not worse.
Watch some Youtubes on spraying techniques and how to adjust and thin paint.
Watch some Youtubes on spraying techniques and how to adjust and thin paint.
If I was just practicing, I would head to one of the big box stores and find their Mis-Tint section. You can get a gallon for around $5-10. Just make sure you have the store open and shake it. I bought a gallon of Mis-Tint at Lowes once that I didn't open until I got home and someone had obviously used almost all the paint and refilled the can with water before returning it. I was painting an old cellar to cover possible lead paint to satisfy a buyers FHA loan requirements, so I used it anyway, but it was horrible. But I didn't care as long as the FHA saw it was done.
Jazz1
Well-known member
Paint has to be of a viscosity the gun can atomize. Buy the cheapest single stage kit on eBay or wherever. Put some sparkle on your wheel barrow. You could also just put some paint thinner in the gun to check out paint/air volume and spray patterns.
Most of the Firemist paint has worn but she really popped 20 years ago
Most of the Firemist paint has worn but she really popped 20 years ago
Attachments
Last edited:
niget2002
Well-known member
I'd grab some implementation paint from tractor supply.
For woodworking, I assume you're spraying clear poly? You'll want to practice with the same poly you plan on using. Different brands tend to spray different for me.
For woodworking, I assume you're spraying clear poly? You'll want to practice with the same poly you plan on using. Different brands tend to spray different for me.
Paint Society on YouTube.
I never painted with automotive paint until a few years ago, now it's fun to do every so often. In fact, my front bumper has rock chips in it again. I went out and bought a bumper that an auto shop ordered incorrectly and painted. I'll paint it so when I want to replace mine, I can easily swap it out, and then paint mine at a later date. No down time! I might even do PPF.
So far, mirror cabs, door handles, platinum applique, and the front bumper.
This is the gun I have and it works fine for smaller stuff. I've shot primer, base, and clear out of it.
Oops, just read that you are talking about furniture, etc.
I never painted with automotive paint until a few years ago, now it's fun to do every so often. In fact, my front bumper has rock chips in it again. I went out and bought a bumper that an auto shop ordered incorrectly and painted. I'll paint it so when I want to replace mine, I can easily swap it out, and then paint mine at a later date. No down time! I might even do PPF.
So far, mirror cabs, door handles, platinum applique, and the front bumper.
This is the gun I have and it works fine for smaller stuff. I've shot primer, base, and clear out of it.
Amazon.com: Astro EUROHVT12 EuroPro Forged HVLP Touch Up Gun with 1.2mm Nozzle and Plastic Cup : Automotive
Buy Astro EUROHVT12 EuroPro Forged HVLP Touch Up Gun with 1.2mm Nozzle and Plastic Cup: Spray Guns & Accessories - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases
www.amazon.com
Oops, just read that you are talking about furniture, etc.
Attachments
daytonworktrucks
Member
- Joined
- Aug 8, 2025
- Messages
- 6
I'd recommend practice shooting on cardboard with anything from water down latex paint to a cheap lacquer thinner. Both will teach you the basic of spray patterns and how the adjustment knobs affect the thickness and spray pattern.
I am also new to using a spray gun and I got the purple HVPL gun from Harbor Freight. I used it a few times spraying different latex paint through it and within about 2 weeks it starting to shoot very inconsistent patterns. I cleaned it extensively and was wondering if my inexperience resulted in my cleaning process being inadequate because the inside of the gun showed rust. I switched to the chrome HVPL gun from Harbor Freight and it has been working like a champ since. I use it to spray latex, automotive paint, clear coats, and urethane.
I am also new to using a spray gun and I got the purple HVPL gun from Harbor Freight. I used it a few times spraying different latex paint through it and within about 2 weeks it starting to shoot very inconsistent patterns. I cleaned it extensively and was wondering if my inexperience resulted in my cleaning process being inadequate because the inside of the gun showed rust. I switched to the chrome HVPL gun from Harbor Freight and it has been working like a champ since. I use it to spray latex, automotive paint, clear coats, and urethane.