Need a paint gun - what to look for?

[Pressingonward]

Hello everyone,

We're fixing up our house to sell and I need to repaint our steel deck railing and a couple of steel entry doors. Looking to get a paint gun for the task as the railing is probably over 150 linear feet and spray cans aren't going to cut it.

I'll be sandblasting the railing down to white metal. I've never used an actual paint sprayer before so I'm not sure what I should be looking for. I'd like to get one that is decent quality so I can use it in the future for automotive painting (I assume for painting metal I'll need an automotive gun and not a house paint gun?)

I have up to 11 cfm available and a good pressure regulator and water trap on my compressor.

Looking for guidance on what gun to buy (or features to look for) and what kind of paint and primer I should use. I've done plenty of painting before, but always with a spray can (or house paint with a brush and roller ) Any info to reduce my ignorance is much appreciated

 

[Mark in Indiana]

I've used both the high dollar professional paint guns and the Harbor Freight 10$ purple HVLP gravity fed gun. IMO: The best bang for the buck is the HF Purple gun. I've painted a lot of machinery and cabinets. It does great. It's a must to have a pressure regulator directly attached to the gun to control your air pressure and it would be a good idea to get some large pieces of cardboard to set up your spray pattern, flow and pressure. Another point is that you're not painting a show car, the purple gun will do great for your needs.

As far as the paint goes: I would go to a automotive paint store or find a professional type of paint that's not in the typical big box store. You really don't want to do this again in a few years.

Happy trails.

 

[Thumper68]

^^^^ What he said on the gun, The purple gun from HF is perfect for your application but on the paint just use Rustoleum. No need to go for a high end paint.

 

[realunlucky]

You'll need to thin the Rust-Oleum if you the HF gun. I have the purple and painted a bunch of stuff with it but thinning the paint and screening it will save a bunch of head aches

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[driz]

I agree on the purple gun. Rustolium though [emoji1361]. I've used a lot of it over the years and it's not nearly as durable as the cheapest automotive acrylic enamel. You can get pretty decent paint at tractor supply and put the Hardner right to it and get a lot better job and last a lot longer so the poor guy buys the place doesn't have to do it again.


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[Mark in Indiana]

Concerning using Rustloeum:
I painted our old chain link fence with smoke grey. Although it looked great for a couple of years, it's all faded now 5 years later.
I still highly recommend it for items that stay out of the sun & weather.

 

[yjWrangler]

You really don't want to do this again in a few years.

You're right. Probably because he said he's selling the house

 

[Pressingonward]

Thanks for the input everyone!

I'll see what the local auto paint store has for paint. I am selling the house but I don't want the new owners to have to repaint in 5 years either.