Spray gun recommendations Options

[bbrock]

I've been using the cheap Harbor Freight spray gun just to spray epoxy primer inside internal cavities that won't be seen, but now I need to get a better gun for the rest of the project. I'm leaning toward the Devilbiss StartingLine kit because it comes with a variety of tips but reviews are all over the matt. I'm pretty impressed with the results @aggiezig got with it. Eastwood's Concours 2 gun also caught my eye. Wondering what others might recommend. I want to keep the cost under $200ish. I'll be spraying PPG Deltron line paints (DCC single stage and DBC basecoat with DC clear) in silver metallic if that makes a difference.

Thanks!

[yeahmag]

I've been very tempted by the new 3M system.

https://www.amazon.com/3M-16580-Accuspray-S...d/dp/B01497MZB6

I've used a lot of mid range guns and this seems to answer a lot of the problems associated with them.

-Aaron

[Jeff Hail]

I've been very tempted by the new 3M system.

https://www.amazon.com/3M-16580-Accuspray-S...d/dp/B01497MZB6

I've used a lot of mid range guns and this seems to answer a lot of the problems associated with them.

-Aaron

The 3M PPS is ok, its not great and very limited. In all honesty its a turd. With the selection of heads and cups it looks attractive but do your homework and look again. 3M is great at marketing "attractive". The consumables will eat you alive and that's how 3M is profiting on the PPS. #1 complaint from shops is the cost of cups/ liners. #2 complaint is consistency in spray patterns. The 3M PPS guns are made by Graco which is good if you are painting a house.

The PPS life of service is dependent on 3M's sales. In few years if its not profitable 3M will retire it as they have done with every line of abrasives in the past. They screwed the entire automotive industry with the Hook It system. (just put the velcro on the other side and everyone has to buy new pads, backers etc.) 3M doesn't actually make anything, they just market and sell everyone else's stuff.

You can pick up a decent DeVilbiss Starting Line/ Finish Line gun kits and they are very good performing guns at the entry level. Sharpe Finex is also good and reasonably priced. They will do a very nice job and last a long time with proper cleaning.

If you are spraying base and clear get two guns, one for each.

Autobody Toolmart has periodic specials on high end guns; Sata, Anest Iwata, DeVilbiss Tekna, Sharpe Razor lines. They are more expensive but they lay down coatings like no other. Atomization is a science. Different size nozzle orifice availability from all of these manufacturers adds to flexibility limiting how many guns are needed for base and clear, solvent or waterborne. These all offer both disposable cups or reusable hard reservoirs so you can decide what you like best. The initial investment is more but in the long run you will save a lot. The Satas and Iwatas hold value and they last a long long time. I have never seen one wear out in 20 years of daily production use. Needles, heads, packing and o-rings are pretty much all that wears and cheap to replace. Its all about fluid control. The better guns don't require much fiddling with, they lay down consistent film thickness when set up correctly, use less material. You could always buy a higher end spray gun, do your work and then sell it.

If you screw up a refinish with a cheap gun just on the coating application the cost of materials on the rework alone could have bought a Sata or Iwata.

With a high end gun even the worlds crappiest Nason paint can come out decent.