Used paint guns, worth the gamble?

[Wiz02]

Newbie with one auto body class that I took ages ago, but with plans for body work and painting post retirement. I have an 80 gallon, 16 cfm @90 psi compressor.

Someone is selling a few paint guns on Craigslist. Should I look into it or run away. If they are worth checking out, what should I look for? Thanks.

Asking prices range from $50-$220

Sata Jet 3000B 1.3 Car/Auto Paint Spray Gun
Anest Iwata LPH-80 Paint Spray Gun with cup, lid & gauge
Sata Jet 4000B Custom Finish Paint Spray Gun
Sata KLC 1.9 Paint Spray Gun with cup and lid

 

[joel_400]

It'd be hard to chew, unless you really know your paint guns. I've had a few cheapies from harbor frieght, I'm no painter by any means, but they've done the job for me. I actually have a friend who is a painter, he adjusted mine once and showed me how. He liked that little gun so well he went and bought his own. At that time it was less than 15 bucks out the door.
Joel

 

[nadogail]

My Harbor Freight paint gun has painted a lot of fences.

 

[seber]

Repair parts are readily available for any problems. But I have never seen a used paint gun go for more than $50. In any case, it is easy enough to put some paint thinner in the gun and see how it sprays.

 

[Wiz02]

Thanks for the responses, guys. While I do buy tools from HF, I generally try to buy professional level products that provide years of service when it's "important". These paint guns just seem like a good opportunity, but if a HF gun will do the job that's great.

 

[johninct]

I don't know anything but probably those paint guns will need to be totally disassembled and soaked in a paint gun cleaning solution (I forget the name), packings replaced as needed , reassembled and adjusted. That is regular maintenance.

 

[The Cobbler]

tough call. unless you really know paint guns I think it's a long shot .
I'm no means a painter, never painted a car , but I have good luck with the cheap knock offs. I've even watched some you tube videos where guys paint cars & get great results with cheapy guns.

 

[Wiz02]

I don't know anything but probably those paint guns will need to be totally disassembled and soaked in a paint gun cleaning solution (I forget the name), packings replaced as needed , reassembled and adjusted. That is regular maintenance.

I expected that would be the case, and I can handle the r&r, the gun set-up; well I've watched a few videos, but I know that there will be lots of trial and error.

 

[Stelzer]

Been painting for 35 years, mostly architectural coatings, but have also done plenty of automotive finishes, and I'm a spray gun *****. As appealing as it sounds to get those guns at a discounted rate, it isn't really worth it unless you're planning on getting those specific guns anyways. HF has several offerings, from the lowest end Central Pneumatic gravity feeds to their Black Widow series, (which is actually a solid gun at an impressive price point, given the build quality).

I don't see much net gains for you in buying used guns which will likely need some service/repair soon vs. getting a few HF guns to play with, and you'd be backed up by a warranty should things go sideways.

 

[Wiz02]

Been painting for 35 years, mostly architectural coatings, but have also done plenty of automotive finishes, and I'm a spray gun *****. As appealing as it sounds to get those guns at a discounted rate, it isn't really worth it unless you're planning on getting those specific guns anyways. HF has several offerings, from the lowest end Central Pneumatic gravity feeds to their Black Widow series, (which is actually a solid gun at an impressive price point, given the build quality).

I don't see much net gains for you in buying used guns which will likely need some service/repair soon vs. getting a few HF guns to play with, and you'd be backed up by a warranty should things go sideways.

Thanks for the perspective, I think that a HF gun will be in my future.

 

[Stelzer]

Thanks for the perspective, I think that a HF gun will be in my future.

Happy painting. You might also add the 3m PPSsystem or Deckups system, which makes it extremely easy to mix, filter, and change products. Also allows you to spray upside down with gravity feeds without the risk of sucking air & spitting paint.

 

[dnschmidt]

Newbie with one auto body class that I took ages ago, but with plans for body work and painting post retirement. I have an 80 gallon, 16 cfm @90 psi compressor.

Someone is selling a few paint guns on Craigslist. Should I look into it or run away. If they are worth checking out, what should I look for? Thanks.

Asking prices range from $50-$220

Sata Jet 3000B 1.3 Car/Auto Paint Spray Gun
Anest Iwata LPH-80 Paint Spray Gun with cup, lid & gauge
Sata Jet 4000B Custom Finish Paint Spray Gun
Sata KLC 1.9 Paint Spray Gun with cup and lid

Here's my opinion. First off make sure the guns are clean and that they spray well.
SATA 3000B was sort of a dog. If you remember history SATA use to always name their guns after their year of introduction. Thus the Nr2000 was introduced in 2000. In German Nr means Julian calendar year like a $ means currency. The Nr2005 was suppose to be introduced in 2005 with a pre-atomization feature (split nozzle) like used by Iwata. Iwata sued and won so SATA was left high and dry so the 3000 was more or less an afterthought.
Iwata LPH-80 is a really nice mini-gun. Sort of a big air brush.
Sata 4000B superior to 3000B ( you haven't mentioned whether these are RP (Blue Aircap) or HVLP (Green Aircap) for clear you want the RP. Both the 5000 and the X5500 are great guns.
KLC 1.9 is good for high build primers and can work with thinned polyester primers. Very well made guns.

 

[ZRX61]

Don't get hung up on Sata, Devilbis make great guns as do Iwata. Get a catalog from autobodytoolmart.com & also check out TCP Global.

 

[Wiz02]

Thanks for the suggestions guys, whole new places to spend $$$, where would I be without you?

@Stelzer : All kidding aside, any advice that will help me learn how to paint is greatly appreciated. Any kind of paint mixing system that will help a newbie is a great idea. Thanks for the links.

@dnschmidt: When I started this thread, I was hoping to get precisely the information that you provided. I never expected to get advice to buy HF.

@ZRX61 : I have to admit that I was hung up on getting a top name brand paint gun for a reasonable price. I appreciate your advice.

 

[ZRX61]

Thanks for the perspective, I think that a HF gun will be in my future.

Also Astro & Devlbis StartingLine guns.

 

[Wiz02]

Also Astro & Devlbis StartingLine guns.

Any particular model? I figure that I will practice over an over with primer, so that's what I'm looking for in a paint gun first.

My last foray into painting was a 55 gallon drum that looked like a sand paper finish instead of paint, when I was done. I always end up with sags and runs using a rattle can, so I overcompensated and was too far away and didn't lay down anywhere near enough paint in that auto body class.

Sags and runs sounds like a terrible medical condition LOL!

 

[ZRX61]

There a few kits here, either 2 piece paint/clear & primer, or 3 piece including a touch up gun.. There's also some high end single guns that cost more than I paid for my 3 Devilbis guns & the small Horrible Fright touch up gun combined..

Automotive Paint Guns - (Car Paint Spray Guns) | Auto Body Toolmart

We sell automotive paint guns for sale from some of the biggest names in the industry, including SATA, DeVilbiss and Anest Iwata car spray guns and more.

www.autobodytoolmart.com

You can save some money buy having different tips for a primer gun so you can lay down stuff like Featherfil G2 spray mud without buying a 4th(!!) gun as a mud cannon.. altho with that said, I have a Devilbis FLG3 for spray mud.


TCP have a (own brand) 3 piece kit for $140...

TCP Global Brand Complete Professional 9 Piece HVLP Spray Gun Set with 2 Full Size Spray Guns, 1 Detail Spray Gun, Inline Filter & Air Regulator

TCP Global Brand Complete Professional 9 Piece HVLP Spray Gun Set with 2 Full Size Spray Guns, 1 Detail Spray Gun, Inline Filter & Air Regulator

tcpglobal.com

 

[dnschmidt]

The ASTRO Europro models are excellent value. For Primer I would go with the 1.7 Green (HVLP) model. Depending upon how much money you want to spend if you desire a dedicated basecoat gun the 1.3 HVLP is a good choice. The reason most pros use HVLP for basecoat is cost savings. Basecoat is the most expensive paint and blowing it into the air is wasteful. If the budget doesn't go that far then you can use the Blue (RP) 1.3mm model for both. It works great for both but you’ll use more basecoat with the blue than the green. Astro’s mini gun is outstanding for the money as well and if I went that way I would go with the 1.0 mm if I used thin clear and the 1.2 if using higher end high solids clears.

 

[isb cornbinder]

I used to buy and sell paint guns along with other tools and toolboxes. The best advice I can give, from my experiences, is, be prepared to put some time into deep cleaning. I can buy a product called gun-wash. I have had good success with GW and I cannot imagine cleaning a paint gun without it.
Speaking of gun-wash, I have used it to deep clean HUTCHINS sanders. When they fail they are often put aside and the body guy buys another. After a good cleaning, I have been charmed into keeping the best for my self. I suppose this may have turned into a collection. I suppose I may be a tool polisher, in some way. I like to put my tools away after cleaning. I often use my ultrasonic cleaner.

 

[Wiz02]

@ZRX61, @dnschmidt , @isb cornbinder :

One of the reasons that I love this forum is because members like you take the time to respond to questions with detailed recommendations. I am going to spend a good deal of time taking your collective advice to make my painting purchases. From the gun, to a paint system, to clean up, I have a lot of homework to do.

Should I open a new thread on recommendations for compressed air line configurations? I have air lines in my attached garage and I am pretty happy with the way that I ran the drops when using air tools, but painting is a whole different animal.

I have not run air lines in the "new" garage yet, but I did use the Rapidair layout tool and I will be pulling the trigger soon. I think that l am on solid ground with the basic layout and please chime in with any recommendations, but I have lots of questions about drying my air lines. What is common industry practice when painting? Water separator, manual or auto drain, desiccant, filter at the regulator and at the gun? What
size filter? Any recommendations on books or videos?

Finally, I watched a bunch of YT videos where someone reroutes the output of the comprressor pump so that instead of going directly to the tank, it goes to a radiator (transmission cooler) then a water separator and then back to the tank. The output temperature is greatly reduced and you are removing moisture before it gets to the tank, which sounds great, but why don't the air compressor OEM's do this if it's so effective?

Apologies if this was too much to ask in one post.

 

[lilredex]

Get a gun from HF. Have done a lot of painting with those types of guns. 2HP comptessor.

 

[isb cornbinder]

I used to buy and sell paint guns along with other tools and toolboxes. The best advice I can give, from my experiences, is, be prepared to put some time into deep cleaning. I can buy a product called gun-wash. I have had good success with GW and I cannot imagine cleaning a paint gun without it.
Speaking of gun-wash, I have used it to deep clean HUTCHINS sanders. When they fail they are often put aside and the body guy buys another. After a good cleaning, I have been charmed into keeping the best for my self. I suppose this may have turned into a collection. I suppose I may be a tool polisher, in some way. I like to put my tools away after cleaning. I often use my ultrasonic cleaner.

I am familiar with HUTCHINS air tools because I have refurbished a few of them. They are usually packed with dust that can be as hard as concrete. The Hutchins air tools are very well built and seldom need parts. A good cleaning usually gets them back in service. I really like the Art Deco look of the Hutchins tools and the sparkle filled plastic handle it the final touch.

Home - Hutchins Manufacturing Company

We make the best pneumatic sanders in the world. Made in the USA since 1951

hutchinsmfg.com

I did a few repairs on a Road Glide for a guy. I was not charging anything. The next day he showed up at the shop door and handed me this MAC paint gun. My favorite paint guns are SATA.

 

[Wiz02]

Get a gun from HF. Have done a lot of painting with those types of guns. 2HP comptessor.

Too funny, my first auto body "victim", an El Camino,is exactly the same vintage as your Volare.

I am seriously considering by an HF paint gun for learning and painting little projects before tackling the car or is it a truck?

 

[Wiz02]

I am familiar with HUTCHINS air tools because I have refurbished a few of them. They are usually packed with dust that can be as hard as concrete. The Hutchins air tools are very well built and seldom need parts. A good cleaning usually gets them back in service. I really like the Art Deco look of the Hutchins tools and the sparkle filled plastic handle it the final touch.

Thanks for the link, never heard of Hutchins before.

 

[ZRX61]

The *usual* deal with cooling air between the compressor pump & the water separator is 50ft of line & then feed into the tank. It doesn't have to be a straight run, it can be 25ft out & 25ft back. Have a slight incline to the line & a drain at the low point. It can also be a copper coil in a trash can full of water etc
High flow connectors on the air lines & 3/8in line, not 1/4in. Second water separator or desicant doodad etc on the line feeding the hose to the gun

Your location is different to mine as here in the Mojave Desert I've used paint booths that had swamp coolers to get the temperature low enough that the gun slingers weren't getting carted off the the ER with heat stroke. So while the vast majority are trying to keep moisture out of the paint booth, around here it's added to make life more pleasant in the booth. I've seen booth temps of 140deg in the afternoon during Summer. It's not fun.
Not unknown here for guys to paint at 3-5am in the Summer. Water in the tank is a rarity, but we still run the two water separators. Can use the compressor all day & the next morning get maybe a spoonful of water out of the tank drain.

 

[619DioFan]

I have two of the HF hvlp purple guns that seem to always go on sale for 10 bucks. Not a pro painter but have used them to paint furniture , small metal items , metal garage doors , two sheds etc. work just fine for me. never tried to paint a vehicle but there are lots of youtube vids of people using them to spray cars and trucks. my compressor is 3.5 hp with a 20 gallon tank and has no problems with this paint gun.

 

[ZRX61]

Too funny, my first auto body "victim", an El Camino,is exactly the same vintage as your Volare.

I am seriously considering by an HF paint gun for learning and painting little projects before tackling the car or is it a truck?

Cheap gun filled with wood stain to get the method & *muscle memory* while maintaining your fence...or even water if it's block wall etc

 

[Wiz02]

Cheap gun filled with wood stain to get the method & *muscle memory* while maintaining your fence...or even water if it's block wall etc

Great idea, thanks.

 

[ZRX61]

As for books, there's a slew of them. They all pretty much say the same thing. I just looked at my bookshelf & saw I have 14 of them on one shelf & a few others on the next shelf... FFS... but I'm a bookwhore.

 

[dnschmidt]

The god of car painting is Jon Kosmoski, the founder of House of Kolor. Watch his videos on YouTube. I've met Jon at SEMA and without a doubt he's the man.

 

[Walkers]

I run Finex 3000 guns. They are about the best of the hundred dollar guns that now cost two hundred. Rebuild kits are readily available. I have been painting fine finishes, autos, and fence type things with them for the last decade or so. Great guns, get yourself a spankin new gun and learn how to use it and take care of it.

 

[Wiz02]

As for books, there's a slew of them. They all pretty much say the same thing. I just looked at my bookshelf & saw I have 14 of them on one shelf & a few others on the next shelf... FFS... but I'm a bookwhore.

Your second bookshelf pic looks like mine

 

[RAYJAY]

Also Astro & Devlbis StartingLine guns.

will 2nd this the starting line gun are not bad. i would rather start with a new gun than a used older that may have problems, the older gun just adds more to the equation.....

 

[joe_padavano]

After the first use, everyone's paint guns are used. I've bought and successfully used a number of used paint guns. Most required soaking in lacquer thinner and rebuilding. This is worth it for an expensive gun, not so much for a cheap one. Parts availability is a key issue - older guns may not be supported with replacement parts any longer. Depending on what you plan to spray, consider separate guns for primer, base coat, and clear coat. If you want to spend money, do it for the clear coat gun. Primer is obviously the most forgiving. The one thing to check carefully is that the air cap, nozzle, and needle are not damaged and everything is properly concentric. Ham-fisted "mechanics" can be abusive. Check these parts carefully.

 

[WordMan]

If the gun is clean ad sprays well, sure.

Take the air cap off and unscrew the cup, there should be zero paint build up. The action should be smooth. Put some lacquer thinner in the gun and spray a piece of cardboard; the pattern should be smooth and even.

As for price, a $1,000-plus professional gun ain't going to be $50 used. Unless it's totally spent and useless.

 

[joe_padavano]

As for price, a $1,000-plus professional gun ain't going to be $50 used. Unless it's totally spent and useless.

Truth. I've been shopping for a used 5000 or 5500 RP for a while now. Used prices don't seem to be much less than the cost new, and given the proliferation of knock-offs, I haven't been in a hurry to buy one.

 

[dnschmidt]

I always make this point when people talk about using a HF purple gun to spray a car. Automotive paint is insanely expensive. Good basecoat can go for $300/gallon or more and good clearcoat for just as much. Now you're going to apply this expensive paint to your car using a $15 spray gun? SEEMS NUTS TO ME. The ASTRO guns I recommended can do a professional level job and I've used them in that roll. But why should I give a **** what you do.

 

[Wiz02]

I always make this point when people talk about using a HF purple gun to spray a car. Automotive paint is insanely expensive. Good basecoat can go for $300/gallon or more and good clearcoat for just as much. Now you're going to apply this expensive paint to your car using a $15 spray gun? SEEMS NUTS TO ME. The ASTRO guns I recommended can do a professional level job and I've used them in that roll. But why should I give a **** what you do.

I'm listening ! And hopefully learning.