Need a new Automotive spray...What's good?

[Torque King Jay]

I'm in the market for a new HVLP automotive finish spray gun. I know you can spend big $$$ on soem of the models out there. I want to spend no more than about $200-250. My last gun I bought was Snap On, but it was made by DeVilbiss. What can I get in this price range. ANyone looking to sell a "gently used " HVLP spray gun. Thanks Jay

 

[JB @ C and L Machine]

What are you sparying? urethanes? JB

 

[aphat426]

The snap on gun you had was prob made by sharpe. all of the newer snap on guns are made by them. (I use to be a dealer). sharpe makes some good entry level guns including the cobalt and the platnium. devilbiss has some better guns in the gfg and the gti series. I spray with sata guns only ( the best gun in my opnion) both are nr200's I think they list around 500 each. I got them at cost It depends what you are spraying as to what gun you need. I would recomend the devilbiss lines gti or gfg both great guns at a good price(mid-high $200's). the sharpe's are decent but i don't care for them (low to mid $200's). If you spray alot of single stage or primer go with a tip size of 1. 5 or larger. if you do alot with base-clear 1. 4 or smaller. The devilbiss gfg comes with additional needle-air cap sizes when you buy it so you could use it for everything. check www.spraygundepot.com or e-bay for the best prices. if you need any other info let me know

 

[krs]

On one of my workbenches right now I've got a Sata Jet NR92 and an unknown brand bought at Harbor Frieght. Both are HVLP gravity fed guns, and both are dissaessembled for cleaning.



I'll be darned if I can find a significant difference between the two internally. The Chinese looks like a direct copy of the German (Sata) or the German is a direct copy of the Chinese Parts will swap back and forth.



I just used the Chinese for a primer gun and the Sata for a base/clear gun and except that the Chinese has a 1. 5 nozzle while the German has a 1. 4 I couldn't tell the difference in how they adjusted or sprayed.



I do know the difference in how much I paid for them though: $29. 95 for the Chinese, and $439. 95 for the German.

 

[Torque King Jay]

aphat426:

The Snap On gun that I have was bought in 1992. This might give you more some more info on what model it was. At the time it was the best gun they made.



JB @ C and L Machine:

I'll probably be spraying enamels and urethanes and maybe some latex... just kidding



KRS:

I've had good luckin in the past with DeVilbiss guns, but having a SATA would be really nice. I don't paint as often as I use to years ago so I'd have to justify spending 400+ clams on a gun I use once or twice a year. I hate sacrificing quality of a tool I'm going to be using especially when it will have a lasting effect like the paint on a vehicle.



Funny story, a guy I knew asked me to come over to help him paint a truck cap. When I got there I found out I was the guy spraying it ... . with a $30. 00 spray gun from a wholesale warehouse. I fiddled with the gun for awhile to get it set and I was amazed at how good the paint job came out after I was finished.



What gun do you think gives you the best bang for the buck? Thanks Jay Oo. Oo.

 

[krs]

For the money - the Chinese.



BUT!! ... ... ... . paint materials cost so much and it's so much work to get to the point of putting on the color and clears that I couldn't recommend one to someone as their only gun.

It's mostly the color that's got to go on smooth and when you're under the clock having to get each stage of the job on right within the previous stage's recoat window you can't afford any confusion (at least no more confusion than is already built in to the game) or surprises. By the time you're doing the color coats there's too much at stake.



So. Pros need Sata guns, or the equivalent. For them time is money and they don't make amateur mistakes. An amateur doesn't need a Sata becauseowning it won't prevent the mistakes.



I'd say get a good gun of medium price for color coats and use it for clear coats too. Try out a cheapy for coating primers, especially guide coats that you mean to sand off, or mostly off, anyway. If after some time with it you feel like the cheap gun will do as well as the better one (which is kinda' where I'm at) then maybe get another one and call it your clearcoat gun.



Painting is a major PITA. I've got a lot of respect for people who make a living doing it but I sure don't envy them.

 

[aphat426]

just rember you get what you pay for. not that an imitation sata is a bad gun . i have sprayed with "cheap guns" before and i can get better results with a quality gun every time. i did a side by side comparison with my friend. he has one of the imitation sata guns(nr95) he swore it would lay down as good of finish as my real nr95. needless to say after he and i both sprayed each gun he went out and droped the coin on the real deal. i am just saying that when you use them all day every day you want the best. now as far as best bang for the buck i would go with the devilbiss gfg or gti series. next in line would be the sharpe platnium.

 

[JB @ C and L Machine]

I use the gti for my base coats and you cant beat the finish and the price. (I think I got mine for 250, that included a Regulator and 3 different size fluid tips) I use my Sata Nr 2000 Digital for clearing and love it just as much. JB