Need A Spray Gun Rec

[BQuicksilver]

Fellow GJer's I could use some help. I enjoy thinning and spraying finishes on my woodworking projects via those Preval sprayers, but feel that it's possibly time to step up to a real gun. I just need advice on which one...

My Limitations/Needs:
- I only have a pancake compressor, so a rec of one that requires 15scfm at 90 isn't going to work. I don't see a larger compressor in the near future.
- I'd prefer it be under $500 since I'm just a hobbyist.
- I spray mainly varnishes, but want to do household paints as well. I'd really like a gun that does alright with both.
- I'd like something that can do fine detail and wide patterns, but most of my projects are smaller if that matters.

I understand I'm asking for a little bit of everything, but a decent jack of all trades but master of none may be a good fit for me.

 

[pipsters]

I don't know much about painting. But you might want to read up on some turbine powered HVLP systems. HF has a really cheap one, the name brand units using 3 and 4 stage turbines run in the high 100's.

 

[Farmall450]

I have heard no complaints on harbor freight's. On occasion I think a bad one pops up but otherwise they seem decent.

 

[zkling]

Quite a few threads on this, a search will turn up a good bit of reading material.

Just recently

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=199525&highlight=spray+gun

You may have an issue with spraying some household paints. Typically house paint isn't sprayed with a standard auto or wood finish gun.

For $500, I would personally go find a nice used compressor for ~$350 and then spend the remaining on a few guns. If you are spraying varnishes or other clears. You will want a separate gun for colors and one dedicated to clears.

 

[retrobuilder]

fyi, spaying household interior or exterior paint requires use of much higher pressure airless guns due to the thick viscosity.

Here is a few line of pro level spray guns for stains, lacquers, waterborne or solvent HVLP.

Sharpe (finex)
Sata- great finish guns requiring lower CFM
Devilbiss (Finishline or better)
Binks


You need compressor with about 6 scfm or higher
A detail gun maybe to your liking for spray pattern up to 9"
Pressure regulator / Filter (Sharpe, Ingersoll Rand, etc)
run about 25 foot of 1/2-3/4 metal pipe for moisture/water removal + a water drain trap

also look at Woodcraft.com for furniture grade only systems.

 

[bimmerZ5]

I spent $10 for this gun with a coupon:

http://www.harborfreight.com/20-oz-8-cfm-gravity-feed-spray-gun-67181.html

I didn't expect much, but was very pleasantly surprised. the only issue was the air inlet leaked at the threads, but that was fixed in a minute with Teflon tape. after that, I've done numerous projects with this gun and the results have been incredible. friends have come over asking if I got new shutters only to be surprised that I just resprayed them; everyone thought they were new factory paint. I've sprayed several hundred feet of base moulding and it's leaps and bounds better results than brushing, not to mention easier and uses less paint.

 

[theknurl]

BQuicksilver;

retrobuilder's list is good

my favorite is my DeVilbiss type AG finger gun for spraying gun stocks with an F nozzle and #290 cup
it uses a pint mayo jar for the paint cup
its was a gift from my Mentor and made in the '30s

 

[bseant]

Rockler has a very good turbine kit that would negate the pancake compressor and give very good results for spraying lacquers and such. I have seen them go on sale for around 119 and would be better than trying to deal with a typical gravity or cup gun fed by a air compressor.

 

[bseant]

500 to spend on a gun and only have a pancake compressor. your money is going to the wrong part of the equation.

 

[koditten]

I bought the 2 gun kit from HF. I was absolutely amazed at how well it painted my truck. I Have a $200 Devilbliss gun that I will most likely never use again. I think i paid $47 bucks.