Which spray gun to choose for painting a car?

Hello dear reader of the kuzov.info blog!

This article will help you understand which spray gun to choose for painting your car. Here we will look at the basic characteristics by which you can choose a spray gun, and I will also talk about some manufacturers of inexpensive paint sprayers and manufacturers of premium paint spray guns.

Your requirements

How often will you use the spray bottle? If you plan to use the spray gun rarely, for small volumes of work, then there is no point in spending a lot of money and buying an expensive professional tool. On the other hand, you need a paint gun that will do the job well. For these purposes, you can choose an inexpensive HVLP spray gun with the necessary characteristics.

To choose a spray gun, you need to decide what tasks the spray gun will perform. There are paint sprayers that use different spray systems that have different characteristics. It is necessary to familiarize yourself with the theory and understand the variety of types and characteristics of spray guns offered. Then you can make smart choices. You can paint with any spray gun, but the better the tool, the better the paint coating and the more stable the result.

For novice painters, we can recommend purchasing a spray gun at a budget price, and later, as they gain experience, purchasing a high-quality professional spray gun.

What requirements must the spray gun meet?

When looking for a spray paint console to use at home, you need to find out how often this will happen. If you need to treat the surface of 1 or more vehicles, it is not advisable to buy premium professional equipment. But even for simple tasks you will need a high-quality gun, for example a budget HVLP-type device.

To choose the best automotive spray gun, it is worth considering the tasks that it will solve.

The models available on the market differ in different technologies for spraying the composition.

Any device is suitable for painting the body, but the higher quality it is, the better the final result will be. Beginners should choose budget devices with simple controls.

How many spray guns should you have?

You can purchase several paint guns for different purposes and materials. There are spray guns recommended specifically for varnish, for primer and for base.

If you can afford to have three spray guns, then this will be ideal. In this case, there will be no problems with particles from the paint that was sprayed before getting into the varnish. Of course, it is not necessary to purchase three different spray guns. There are painters who have one spray gun with a 1.6 nozzle, with which they apply all materials from primer to varnish. This requires more time and effort to thoroughly wash the spray gun after spraying different materials for further use.

The optimal number of spray guns for painting a car

The number of spray guns is determined by the areas of their operation and the type of coatings. On sale you can find models that are designed for applying paint, varnish or primer exclusively. In the absence of financial restrictions, choose a device for each type of coating.

In other cases, it is better to buy 1 gun, the nozzle of which is 1.6. With its help, it will be possible to distribute any materials, but the process of cleaning the sprayer will be accompanied by some difficulties.

Compressor

You need to choose a spray gun that matches the parameters of your compressor. Or, after purchasing a spray gun, choose a compressor for the gun.

The compressor must produce a certain volume at the required pressure constantly while using the spray gun. The rule is that the compressor should produce 1.5 times the cubic centimeters per minute required to operate the spray gun at a given pressure.

If the compressor performance is insufficient, good atomization will not be obtained.

The compressor may produce higher than the required pressure, but provide insufficient air.

The hose and fittings are also important. If you use a ¼ inch hose, the hose will block the normal flow of air. Use a 3/8" ID hose with couplings and fittings that allow rapid air flow. This will significantly improve air flow.

How to choose an electric spray gun

Manufacturers offer equipment in different price categories. How to choose an electric spray gun that will serve you well for several years? The answer to this question is relevant for everyone who is planning to purchase an instrument. In order not to make a mistake with your choice, you need to pay attention to the basic characteristics - power, tank volume, pressure. The scope and type of equipment used matters.

Type of spray gun

They produce airless and air models. The tool is distinguished by its performance and quality of painting. In air models, paints and varnishes are sprayed by vacuuming with air. The paint is applied in an even thin layer. This allows you to use equipment for painting a car, applying decorative coatings to wooden frames of windows and doors. The disadvantage of the design is the low paint utilization rate. In airless models, the compounds are supplied under very high pressure. This ensures complete transfer of the compounds used, but the layer may be uneven.

Application area

Not all devices are universal: technical parameters limit the scope of application. To paint a car, work with water-based paints, and polyurethane-based compositions, it is necessary to select specialized models. An alternative is professional equipment with a powerful compressor and several attachments included.

Power

For painting small surfaces: furniture, wooden toys, decorative items, you can choose a model with a power of up to 200 W. For finishing work in an apartment, house or small commercial property, choose a 450-600 W tool. For professional use, body and facade work, you need equipment of 600-1200 W, capable of providing stable high output power.

Tank volume

The household model is capable of using 300-400 g of paint and varnish material within a minute. The smaller the tank, the more often you will have to refuel. The downside of a container with a larger volume is that the weight of the tool increases. It is difficult to hold a heavy sprayer suspended; this negatively affects the quality of painting and leads to excess consumption of emulsion. The recommended volume for household use is 700-800 ml.

Pressure

Productivity and consumption of paints and varnishes depend on this characteristic. They produce models with low, medium and high pressure. At low pressure (up to 3 atmospheres), the speed of paint movement is average, its consumption is 60-70%. As a result, a thin, uniform decorative layer is formed. Medium pressure devices (up to 10 atmospheres) provide increased productivity with high quality painting. High-pressure models (up to 55 atmospheres) allow you to quickly work on large objects, but the increased speed of paint movement increases fogging and energy consumption.

Nozzle size selection

The nozzle (paint nozzle) has a certain size. The paint material flows through the nozzle, and the tip of the needle is inserted into it, regulating the flow of paint. The needle is moved back and forth by a trigger. When the trigger is fully released, the needle is pressed by a spring and hermetically closes the nozzle. For materials with different viscosities, nozzles of different diameters are used.

1.2 – Local painting.
1.3 – 1.6 – application of base and varnish. Also suitable for applying water-soluble paints.
1.4 – 1.7 – application of varnish and acrylic.
1.6–2.2 – priming
2.5–3.0 – application of liquid putty.

These are general rules that do not have to be followed strictly. Some painters choose one nozzle size and apply any materials perfectly.

Applying primer requires a larger nozzle, otherwise you will have to dilute it very thinly, which is not advisable. For acrylic primer, its filling capacity is important, and with a large amount of thinner it decreases.

Rating of the best automotive spray guns

To make choosing a painting tool easier, you should consider the rating of the best models available for sale. It includes both inexpensive devices and premium models.

Wester FPG-20 pro

The device is designed for applying water-based paint. Its nozzle has an optimal diameter (1.5 mm) for the formation of a spray torch. The product is made of stainless steel, and the body is protected with a special anti-corrosion impregnation.

The device belongs to the LVPL category, is equipped with a 0.6 liter tank and consumes about 100 liters of air per minute.

The main advantages include:

Low cost.
Minimum compressor power requirements.
Ease of operation.
Functionality.
High quality spray system.

Some users speak negatively about the rapid wear of the rubber gasket.

Walcom Genesi Top Line SP HVLP 1.3 mm

This HVLP model is considered the best industrial pneumatic type device, which is suitable for both body painting and woodworking.

With its help you can achieve high quality paint application and work with different types of paintwork materials.

The nozzle size is 1.3 mm, and the air flow per minute reaches 350 liters. Owners note the ease of maintenance, the presence of self-sealing Teflon linings and the versatility of the system. The only drawback is the high cost.

RedVerg RD-PS18V

The gun is cheap and equipped with a “wheel” to adjust the power. The shape of the 1.8 mm nozzle can be adjusted using the spray cap. The built-in tank holds 0.6 liters of ink base.

The model itself is compatible with a variety of materials, including primer, varnish, fire and biological retardants, and paint.

The inexpensive RedVerg RD-PS18V pistol is not particularly popular due to its limited feature set and low performance.

Jonnesway JA-LVLP-25G

Jonnesway's atomizer is a premium type, so it is made of forged aluminum alloy for increased strength and durability. Spraying is carried out according to the LVLP standard, and the nozzle diameter is 1.8 mm. The tank holds 0.6 liters of paintwork materials, and the air flow is 283 l/min.

Its disadvantage is its high cost.

Voylet H-827 1.7 mm

Using an HVLP-type device, you can spray thick paints, including acrylic paints. The model features a replaceable nozzle, so the user can independently choose the diameter of the product to perform delicate work or distribute liquid products.

The standard diameter is 1.7 mm, and the tank volume is 0.6 l. The device consumes 218 liters of air per minute of operation.

Owners of the model appreciate the quality of its assembly and maximum tightness, but note that it is quite heavy.

DeVilbiss FLG-5

According to the developers, this device is universal, since it allows you to apply both base paints and primers. The kit does not include a tank, and the model cannot be used for distributing water-based compositions.

The device operates on the basis of RP technology - a special medium-pressure spray system (analogous to LVLP). The nozzle diameter is 1.4 mm and the air flow is 277 l/min.

The positive aspects of the model include:

High-quality assembly of the metal case.
Low cost.

However, the device is not suitable for applying water-soluble products.

Stels AG 970 LVLP 57369

This air gun can be purchased for use in the garage, because... it copes with its task and belongs to the budget class. The presence of a compressor facilitates efficient processing. Operating the Stels AG 970 spray gun is much easier than other models with an LVLP system.

Disadvantages: non-standard plug thread and tank volume is only 0.12 liters.

Jonnesway JA-6111

In terms of its functions, the device belongs to the professional segment. It can be used to accurately apply primer and liquid rubber. Metal spraying is carried out under low pressure, which allows you to obtain a thin layer of 70-80 microns. The design includes a large nozzle with a diameter of 3 mm, which reduces the likelihood of clogging.

The standard tank holds 0.6 liters of paintwork, and the air consumption per minute of operation reaches 396 liters.

The device is suitable for beginner car painters, but may frustrate them due to the fragility of the body and high material consumption.

Patriot LV 162B

The model has a bottom supply of material, is characterized by low cost and high-quality assembly. A large tank for storing paints and varnishes will allow you to paint large surfaces without frequent replacement of the composition. The nozzle diameter is 1.5 mm and the air flow is 400 l/minute.

The disadvantage is poor quality of raising the mixture from the bottom of the tank.

Huberth LVLP R500

This LVLP gun has earned positive reviews due to its effective paint distribution and the ability to operate from a car compressor.

The standard nozzle diameter is 1.4 mm, and the paint tank volume is 0.6 liters. A minute of work is accompanied by the consumption of 85-110 liters of air.

Some owners speak negatively about the gradual slippage of paintwork applied to the body.

Paint spray systems

To understand the differences between the types of paint guns, let’s consider, in a simplified way, the principle of spraying. Compressed air from the compressor under pressure enters the spray gun, paint from the barrel flows through another channel, passing through the air cap, it splits the paint coming out of the nozzle and forming a torch. The pressure with which the spray gun sprays the paint material determines the type of spray gun. Below are the main spray systems by which spray guns differ.

HP (High Pressure) – high pressure.
HVLP (High Volume Low Pressure) - high volume, low pressure.
LVLP (Low Volume Low Pressure) - low volume, low pressure.
HTE (High Transfer Efficiency) – High transfer efficiency.

HP system spray guns

This is an outdated spray system. Paint guns of this type have been used for a long time to paint cars in body repair shops.

For their operation, an input pressure of 3–4 atmospheres is required. Actually, at the moment of spraying the pressure is approximately the same. These spray guns require a small volume of compressed air. They do not require a very powerful compressor to operate. HP system spray guns are capable of creating a wide spray pattern and uniformly applying the paint material. The main disadvantage of such spray guns is the low coefficient of transfer of sprayed materials to the surface. When sprayed, such spray guns produce a paint mist that does not fall on the surface to be painted. Thus, 30–45% of the sprayed paint forms a paint coating, and the remaining 55–70% settles outside the painted surface.

So, to summarize, we will describe the advantages and disadvantages of spray guns with the HP spray system.

Advantages:

No high performance compressor required.
A wide torch is formed, which facilitates uniform application of the paint and varnish material.
High speed of application of paint and varnish material.

Flaws:

Low coefficient of transfer of sprayed materials to the surface to be painted.
The high pressure of spraying raises dust in the workshop, which then settles on the painted surface.

HVLP spray guns

HVLP (High Volume Low Preassure - high volume, low pressure). Spray guns of this type have become widespread and are now successfully used by painters when painting cars. These paint guns use a large volume of air to operate and spray at low pressure. HVLP spray guns with a sufficiently high input pressure (2.5 - 3 atmospheres) spray paint materials at low pressure (less than 1 atmosphere). Due to the low spray pressure, a large percentage of the sprayed paint material is transferred to the surface to be painted (about 75%).

Spray guns of this type have proven themselves well when applying paints with metallic and pearlescent effects.

Let's look at the advantages and disadvantages of HVLP paint guns.

Advantages:

High percentage of transfer of paint and varnish material to the surface to be painted when sprayed.
Low fogging when spraying.
Low spray pressure does not raise much dust in the painting area.
High performance.

Flaws:

A powerful compressor is required to constantly supply a large volume of air to operate the spray gun.
It is required to use a hose to connect the compressor to the spray gun with an increased diameter.
It is required to apply paints and varnishes at a short distance from the surface. This requires a certain level of professionalism from the painter in order to paint without smudges.

Low pressure spray guns LVLP system

LVLP (Low Volume Low Pressure - low volume, low pressure). Spray guns of this spray system were invented to eliminate the disadvantages of HP and HVLP sprayers. Different manufacturers may have different abbreviations for paint guns with a similar spray system. For example, SATA has a similar technology called RP (Reduced Pressure), DeVILBISS has GTI PRO, Walcom has GEO and HTE (High Transfer Efficiency). The purpose of these spray guns is to combine low air consumption with a high transfer coefficient of paint and varnish material.

These sprayers operate at an input pressure of 1.6–2 atmospheres, and atomization is carried out at a pressure of 0.7–1.2 atmospheres. LVLP spray guns have reduced air consumption compared to HVLP spray guns. This allows the compressor performance requirements to be reduced. In this case, the percentage of transfer of paints and varnishes to the surface to be painted during spraying is about 70%.

LVLP paint guns have proven themselves well when applying all types of paints and varnishes.

So, let's list the advantages and disadvantages of sprayers with an LVLP spray system.

Advantages:

It does not require too much air volume when operating the spray gun (about 200 l/m is required).
High percentage of transfer of paint and varnish material to the surface to be painted.
Due to the low spray pressure, it does not raise much dust in the painting area.
Low fogging when spraying.
High performance.
No dependence on pressure drop.

Flaws:

Low Spray Speed
Creates a smaller spray pattern than HVLP spray guns

Types of spray guns for painting a car

Depending on the principle of operation, pistols come in several types:

Manual (mechanical). To operate the device, press the handle, after which air will be mechanically pumped. Productivity indicators reach 200 sq.m/h.
Electric. Such devices use household electricity or a removable battery as an energy source. The former are in demand during frequent and intensive use, when many surfaces have to be painted in a short period of time. Battery outlets are self-contained, economical in paint consumption, and have a compact body. Productivity ranges from 200 to 260 sq.m/h.
Pneumatic. This type of sprayer involves supplying compressed air from a compressor. This category includes professional devices with a capacity of up to 400 sq. m/h.

Manufacturers of spray guns

Spray guns from Italy

GAV

Inexpensive spray guns. Can be recommended at the initial stages of mastering the painting business. Mainly to practice applying base and acrylic. Models with large diameter nozzles can be used as separate guns for applying primer and liquid putty. For example, the Record 2200 model.

WALCOM

The Walcom trademark belongs to the manufacturing company Walmec, which has been on the market of professional painting equipment since 1945. It has various models of spray guns recommended for various paints and varnishes. You can choose a high-quality model for use in a body repair shop.

Pros and cons of wireless models

Even with a quick study of the assortment, you will notice that battery-powered paint sprayers do not have the widest selection.
Low popularity is due to the exotic nature of this type of instrument and limited scope of application. Not everyone will need to carry out high-quality painting in a place where there is not even an electrical network. However, one should not deny the possibility of circumstances arising when a battery-powered spray gun becomes the only optimal option. Next we will list all the positive and negative aspects of using a device of this type. pros

The most important and obvious advantage is the absolute mobility and autonomy of the device (even if temporary). Painting can be done anywhere.
The absence of wires makes movements more relaxed, focusing the user’s attention only on the object being processed. Deeper immersion into the creative process.

Minuses

Limited operating time due to low battery charge. The approximate operating time depends on the battery capacity and current consumption of the motor. On average, uninterrupted painting can last from 10 to 30 minutes.
When the charge drops, the performance of the spray gun also decreases. The amount of paint sprayed and the size of the spray pattern are reduced. These symptoms begin to appear when the battery is more than 90% depleted.
The weight of a battery-powered spray gun is noticeably greater than that of a mains-powered one. In addition to the paint tank and spray mechanism, this design includes a battery. Perhaps an increase of 200 - 700 grams of weight does not seem so significant, but by the time the charge runs out, the hand gets pretty tired.

Spray guns from China

Many Chinese manufacturers make uncertified copies of spray guns from well-known manufacturers. Most often they turn out to be similar in appearance, but not in quality and characteristics. Some Chinese paint guns can be used to paint more or less normally, but they are characterized by instability in operation. As you can imagine, many Chinese manufacturers are reducing the cost of production technology for paint sprayers.

Among the budget spray guns made in China, we can note the products of the company VOYLET .

They produce paint sprayers of various models, intended for both industrial enterprises and car repair shops. They have acceptable product quality. VOYLET spray guns meet the requirements of modern standards for applying various paints and varnishes.

Classification

Painting devices can be divided into two large groups:

Airborne . Their principle of operation is the same as that of their older brothers, into which air is supplied from a volumetric receiver. Portable devices also have a compressor, but it is much smaller and usually hangs on the shoulder or belt. It is connected with a flexible hose to the container and sprinkler. Among the advantages, we can note a more uniform and powerful torch, better characteristics of the coloring suspension. The downside is that such devices are more expensive and consume more energy.
Piston . There is no air here, and the paint is pushed out through the nozzle by compressing the paint in the tank with a special piston. This application technology requires a lot of effort, so it is more common in large painting machines. Because of this, cordless spray guns produce a very mediocre stream of paint. However, this is compensated by the simplicity of the device, light weight and low cost of such devices.

What cordless spray gun do you use?

AirPiston

Expensive segment spray guns

Manufacturers of professional spray guns, which are leaders and occupy the market segment of expensive premium paint sprayers, are described below. These are not the only brands of expensive professional spray guns, but they are the most famous.

DeVilbiss

DeVilbiss is a British company that has been manufacturing spray guns for over 100 years. In many countries, professional painters use paint sprayers from this company. DeVilbiss spray guns are lightweight and ergonomically designed.

DeVilbiss has recently had its own representative office in Russia and you can easily purchase any model of spray gun and accessories.

SATA

The spray guns of this company are developed by German engineers. They are of high quality and have their own developments. The paint sprayers of this company are characterized by high wear resistance, which is important for continuous use in workshops.

IWATA

Anest Iwata is a Japanese company that has been around for over 80 years. Produces very high quality spray guns. Has its own innovative developments. The model range includes paint sprayers with a side-mounted tank that can be rotated. By changing the angle of the barrel, it is very convenient to paint hard-to-reach places, as well as horizontal surfaces, and you are not afraid that the paint material will spill out or stop spraying due to the unstable supply of paint from the barrel.

Having personal experience of using a spray gun from this company, I can say that the gun is easy to set up, applies any paint and varnish materials perfectly and copes well with painting with a “transition”.

Which is better: electric or pneumatic

Spray guns that run on compressed air are called pneumatic. They only function if there is a compressor. A correctly selected set of a gun and a pumping device is quite expensive, so this type is in demand for professionals.

Electric models do not require compressed air, since the paint is distributed through a built-in pump that generates operating pressure.

But due to the lack of air flow, the quality of paint application is reduced.

Which cordless paint sprayer to choose

First of all, you need to focus on your financial capabilities. There are quite a lot of offers on the market, and there are both budget and truly elite options. Set a “bar” beyond which you are not willing to pay and go to a normal store (not a market). If you don’t know where to buy a spray gun, look at the addresses and phone numbers of sellers in a special section of our website. You can also use the services of online stores, but only if you know exactly which model you will buy.

In addition to the price, you also need to understand for what purpose you are purchasing the tool. If you paint a wall or a piece of board every few months, you don’t need to overpay for a huge tank, or even buy an extremely expensive “trinket.” Well, if you often paint something or even make a living from it, don’t skimp and buy Bosch or Wagner.

Among the budget options, we would recommend the ryobi p620, bort bfp 18a or the legendary mega mk 1835 spray gun. All these tools have been repeatedly tested “in battle” by our experts and deserve your attention.