Recommend a GOOD hand held airless sprayer

[theoldwizard1]

I don't need or want an airless sprayer that can handle 1 - 5 gallon buckets ! It has to spray (thinned) latex. I also want to keep the cost down, preferably under $300.

Most of the videos I have seen, show handheld airless sprayer constantly spitting blobs of paint that have to be smoothed out with a brush. Are their any that don't spit blobs ? I am not looking for a HVLP equivalent finish!

OR

Should just buy an HVLP gun (HF purple?) and deal with the overspray ?

 

[ptt49er]

I gave up trying to find something like that for spraying cabinets, getting a good system was expensive!

I grabbed an HVLP gun (the HF Spectrum Gravity Feed - was on sale for $80 or so) and the HF cup system. Took a bit of learning but was impressed with the finish.

I am spraying SW's Kem Aqua Plus and most of the overspray dried before hitting the floor.

 

[theoldwizard1]

I gave up trying to find something like that for spraying cabinets, getting a good system was expensive!

Not looking for "cabinet grade" finish. Outdoor projects, like painting a shed.

Segue - Out of my stated price range, but has anyone used a Graco Ultra Corded Airless Handheld Paint Sprayer 17M359 - Amazon $630

 

[ptt49er]

For something like that I'd be really tempted to use something like this...

https://www.harborfreight.com/2-stage-portable-hvlp-paint-and-stain-sprayer-64933.html

I've got one of HF's older HVLP systems that I used to spray latex on my garage door and it worked great.

 

[tarbellb]

You're basically asking for

Fast Cheap and Quality

it's always been a pick two game, there is the rare unicorn I suppose

 

[danski0224]

 

[theoldwizard1]

You're basically asking for

Fast Cheap and Quality

it's always been a pick two game, there is the rare unicorn I suppose

Okay, just QUALITY ! Hand held, corded.

 

[ArcReactorKC]

Not looking for "cabinet grade" finish. Outdoor projects, like painting a shed.

Segue - Out of my stated price range, but has anyone used a Graco Ultra Corded Airless Handheld Paint Sprayer 17M359 - Amazon $630

I used one of those to spray plastidip when my earlex was down.

I hated it, but I had become accustom to spraying with my specific dip sprayer which is a rebranded earlex: https://www.dipyourcar.com/products...2f_YIbHFygHDYlhNcFSX-WX2-G9gC2ghoCB6YQAvD_BwE

I would personally suggest something with a turbine and a hose, the handheld was cumbersome for me.

 

[MovingAlong]

Not looking for "cabinet grade" finish. Outdoor projects, like painting a shed.

Segue - Out of my stated price range, but has anyone used a Graco Ultra Corded Airless Handheld Paint Sprayer 17M359 - Amazon $630

Not that model, but I have a Graco 360 Truecoat Variable Speed sprayer from Home Depot. Around $300 I believe..

Works real nice. Used for soffits, garage door, ceiling. Never had to back-brush anything...

Keep an eye on the duty cycle though, they get tired.

 

[Snapped-off]

I'd look at the Graco 360. I'll be using it to paint the doors on my shop.

 

[signcrafter]

Not looking for "cabinet grade" finish. Outdoor projects, like painting a shed.

Segue - Out of my stated price range, but has anyone used a Graco Ultra Corded Airless Handheld Paint Sprayer 17M359 - Amazon $630

Yes I have the cordless one and it's great. I almost didn't post because the last time I posted about a GOOD tool you acted like I was crazy. Then saw the budget so was about to back out of the thread knowing you want good tools for cheap. But then saw the gun you linked to.

It's just as good as a pump sprayer for 1-5 gallon buckets, just have to fill the cup more often. The gun you linked will spray latex without having to thin it. I didn't read the full description of the one you linked to but think it will also spray lacquers, mine will and think the one you linked to is the same just corded. It does take the rac x tips that cost 30-40 bucks each but they last a long time if you keep the pressure adjusted. Keep it cleaned good and it will last a diyer a lifetime. They are rebuildable also.

That being said I also have the graco truecoat 360 variable speed and it's a decent gun. But uses plastic tips that wear out faster and don't spray as nice, but it still does a decent job for about half the cost if I remember right.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Yes I have the cordless one and it's great.
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.
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It's just as good as a pump sprayer for 1-5 gallon buckets, just have to fill the cup more often.

Thanks for the feedback ! That is EXACTLY the kind of feedback I wanted to hear !

That being said I also have the Graco Truecoat 360 variable speed and it's a decent gun. But uses plastic tips that wear out faster and don't spray as nice, but it still does a decent job for about half the cost if I remember right.

For the small amount number of uses it will get, I just can not justify the Graco Ultra. Reviews for the Truecoat 360 list a large number of failures, especially after only a few uses. I guess I will have to buy the extended warranty

 

[dscheidt]

Thanks for the feedback ! That is EXACTLY the kind of feedback I wanted to hear !


For the small amount number of uses it will get, I just can not justify the Graco Ultra. Reviews for the Truecoat 360 list a large number of failures, especially after only a few uses. I guess I will have to buy the extended warranty

Early death in paint sprayers is almost always by poor cleaning. Some are harder to clean, making it more likely to not get done right, but proper cleaning goes a long way.

 

[JSGAuto]

I also bought the Graco 360. Used it to spray a shed. It did great, so much faster.

I was careful and cleaned it many times.....but even if it doesn't work again, the time it saved was worth $300.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BLZKYNBH?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[theoldwizard1]

I also bought the Graco 360. Used it to spray a shed. It did great, so much faster.

I was careful and cleaned it many times.....but even if it doesn't work again, the time it saved was worth $300.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BLZKYNBH?tag=atomicindus08-20

Was the variable speed worth the extra cost ?

 

[JSGAuto]

Was the variable speed worth the extra cost ?

I think so. This shed had open eves/rafter tails. I was able to dial it in to prevent overspray on the roof and drip edge.

 

[signcrafter]

Was the variable speed worth the extra cost ?

Variable speed is only like 50 bucks more I believe. For occasional use not expecting perfect results and a little overspray being OK the dual speed probably would be fine. If you are spraying a bunch of different paints/stains in it then variable speed would be nicer to dial it in. I have no clue if the pumps are the same in them both and they just add a dial for variable speed or if the pumps are different and maybe the variable has a nicer pump or not. For 50 bucks I personally would go with the variable just to have the option if needed.

Keep in mind both these guns use plastic tips and I believe they only make 2 size tips for them. So you're going to be limited in that compared to the ultra you linked to above. So that plays into the equation also because you can't start out by picking a tip for the right volume and width spray pattern like you normally would with a sprayer. You're limited to those two tips and then have to adjust pressure to them based on what you're spraying. Just something to keep in mind. With the ultra you have way more tips to choose from so can pick the right orifice size and spray width for what you are spraying. Think the plastic tips come in basically a narrow and wide and whatever the orifice is it is. So may need a little more or a little less pressure depending on the material you are spraying. Latex on a shed I'm guessing you crank it all the way up and use the wide tip. Also with the plastic tips you want to adjust the pressure down as low as you can and still get a good spray pattern. That's true for all tips but especially true with the plastic tips. I don't use my 360 very often but if I do I usually buy a new tip, I consider them 1 time use because they are cheap and I want to spray the best I can without issues so a new tip each time is worth it to me. With metal tips they won't blow out as quick unless you spray with pressure turned all the way up all the time.

 

[cgrutt]

Just used my Graco handheld sprayer to stain my buddy's outdoor shower worked great but project was borderline needing a larger sprayer. Went through almost 2 gallons of stain including boards around shower and the live edge siding below it and on building. He wanted to keep most of the inside clear except for a small portion inside shower that you can see from outside. The sprayer did a great job with decent coverage and keeping overspray off the interior. We just threw a tarp on the decking other than that no taping etc. Used a brush along top edge and sides of door. Going to spray interior with clear next weekend if weather cooperates.

 

[rd65]

I bought a Wagner Power Painter Plus to paint the plywood in my shop, all told 56 sheets. I wasnt trying to do them all at once but a dozen or so at a time. It seems the tip of the gun would get so hot that the paint would kick off and plug things up. Got it to work ok but what a pain in the ***. I had that 5 gallon bucket adapter vs the small cup. This was in 2018 and I obviously went too cheap.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Well, I am almost finished with the project I wanted the Airless Sprayer for. In the end, I just bought rattle cans. LOT OF RATTLE CANS.

I have probably spent almost as much on rattle cans as I would have spent on a Graco TrueCoat 360 (minus the paint, thinner, strainers, etc). The big bonus is, NO MIXING, MEASURING or CLEAN UP.

At my age, I am not likely to tackle a project of this size again.