Forest Road 594 #1 Posted July 26, 2011 I'm in the market for a gun. Stopped by Harbor Freight. And for $10 - 50 they had quite a bit. I realize they're a low quality gun. So what better way to get started? Than with a disposable gun. Does anyone have an opinion for or aginst any of the HF guns? I'm looking at the HVLP top canister guns. Also is there an idiots guide to spraying and cleanup of equipment? Thanks Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
312Hydro 474 #2 Posted July 26, 2011 I used the HF HVLP kit with the 4oz and 20 oz guns. I liked them. Yes, they are "throwaways" compared to the automotive pro guns but they will get the job done. I painted the 312H with just the touch up gun. Use another gun for the primer,your color gun will last longer. It's on sale til the end of the month with the coupon from the flyer,$39.99. I practiced on a 55 gallon drum until I felt comfortable with the gun. I always clean as soon as I've sprayed as you don't want catalyzed paint hardening in the gun. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kelly 1,033 #3 Posted July 26, 2011 I last week bought 2 of the purple 20 oz HF guns with coupon $10 each and just sprayed my daughters tractor with one, I was impressed, for a $10 gun, now I had to work at it to get the metal flake and pearl to lay right, but I bet for a solid color they would work great, I've been painting for near 30 years, and I will buy more of them, heck they sold me the warrenty and told me I could bring it back even if I just didn't clean it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
zieg72 209 #4 Posted July 26, 2011 I have several customers that use these in production, 8 hours a day... IMO they are very good if kept clean. They get 1-1.5 years of use before they toss them. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mavfreak 11 #5 Posted July 26, 2011 I have several customers that use these in production, 8 hours a day... IMO they are very good if kept clean. They get 1-1.5 years of use before they toss them. Thats the key to just about any tools you buy. If you take care of them the will last longer. I used one for years but maybe only used it once a year at that. I am in the market for a new one and harbor freight is were i'll go again Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stevebo-(Moderator) 8,527 #6 Posted July 26, 2011 My .02 cents is no matter what you buy if you do not properly clean it after you use it they are all throw aways !! I have the farmboss small one from tsc and I am not impressed. I may try the $10 specials at tsc.. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
305 380 #7 Posted July 26, 2011 i have 5 spray guns... a cheap Northern Tool that i use for primer , another cheap gun with a bigger tip i use for high build primer , i cheap jam gun i sometimes use on small parts , an Accuspray HVLP gun and my all time favorite a 30+ year old Binks # 7 that i use for top coats. i've managed to paint a few cars and even an airplane with it with good results Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
312Hydro 474 #8 Posted July 26, 2011 i have 5 spray guns... a cheap Northern Tool that i use for primer , another cheap gun with a bigger tip i use for high build primer , i cheap jam gun i sometimes use on small parts , an Accuspray HVLP gun and my all time favorite a 30+ year old Binks # 7 that i use for top coats. i've managed to paint a few cars and even an airplane with it with good results Tough to beat the Binks #7,I've got one too. I also have a Lex Aire Pro 2000 pneumatic HVLP. I had to get a new needle for it and needed to spray asap so I tried the HF's and the touch up gun did a good job . Beautiful job on your Ford. :woohoo: Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
chesbaycruiser 83 #9 Posted July 27, 2011 I purchased the 2-Gun Automotive Kit at HF just yesterday, on sale for $49. I'm a complete novice with a sprayer, but I managed to successfully stumble through spraying some parts this morning with good results (considering my skill level ) Only negative I can find so far, and I'm nit-picking here, is that this set comes in a nice fitted case, but it's designed so that once you attach the 1/4" air inlet to the guns, they don't fit in the case anymore! So either you don't use the case, or you remove the air inlet after each use!? Other than that, completely happy with it so far. It's amazing how much more efficient the HVLP gun is than the old Craftsman gun I inherited from my grandfather! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CasualObserver 3,411 #10 Posted July 28, 2011 Ha, who wants to have to take the air connection off everytime?!? I bought mine a few years back and the two pack kit came in a regular plastic blister pack... no hard case. I just keep them in a drawer. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rmaynard 16,290 #11 Posted July 28, 2011 I saw a video on YouTube several years ago of a test between a genuine Binks Mach 1 HVLP gun ($250.00), and cheap Chinese Binks knock-off HVLP gun ($39.00). The test involved a professional auto painter using both guns to paint two prepared fenders. The guns were disguised so that he did not know which one he was using. He first painted one fender, then the other. Afterwards, he said that he knew which gun was which just by the way they felt and operated. When the black tape was removed to reveal which gun was which, he was wrong. After the paint was dry, three other pros inspected the fender to try to guess which was painted with which. Two out of three were wrong. So I guess the conclusion is, if you are lucky to get a cheap gun that doesn't have too many defects in it, you can paint just a good as with an expensive gun. I think the key is in how the metal is prepared, and how much experience you have in painting. Look at Kelly's hood in this post. http://www.wheelhorseforum.com/index.php?...=0entry247301 There's the results of a pro using a cheap gun with excellent results. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
