Smooth as glass: high-volume, low-pressure paint sprayers take spray finishes to a new level - High-Volume, Low-Pressure Paint Sprayers

Tools of the Trade, Sept-Oct, 2003 by Fred Tellier

High-volume, low-pressure (HVLP) paint sprayers are light, mobile, and provide a finish far superior to even your nicest paintbrush. They also make the job go faster and are less tiring than painting by hand. As a cabinetmaker and on-site finisher, I've used HVLP sprayers for more than 15 years, applying every finish you can think of from watery lacquers to goopy latex paints.

While I frequently use HVLP sprayers in my shop finishing the kitchens, home offices, and built-ins we make, the emphasis for this test was on-site finishing where these tools can really earn their keep laying down smooth finishes on complex casing profiles, built-up crowns, and raised-panel doors. They also make quick work of dentil moldings, all without a mountain of over-spray and wasted paint.

Apollo Sprayers
800

Gun Weight (empty)   2.3 lbs.

Turbine Weight       35 lbs.

Hose Length          24 feet

Turbine Fan          5.7 inches
Diameter

Street Price         $799

Comments             This is a nice tool. The gun
                     settles nicely in my hand,
                     the hose is light and flexible,
                     the spray quality is
                     high, and it has all-metal
                     gun parts. The gun is hard
                     to clean, however, because
                     it has too much surface
                     area inside the cup cover.
                     Circle #212.

                     Apollo Sprayers
                     888-900-4857
                     www.hvlp.com

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Campbell Hausfeld
HV 3500

Gun Weight (empty)   1.7 lbs.

Turbine Weight       21 lbs.

Hose Length          26 1/2 feet

Turbine Fan          5 inches
Diameter

Street Price         $529

Comments             This gun is light, easy to
                     use, and the easiest to set
                     up. It's super easy to clean,
                     and the turbine is light,
                     small, and easy to move.
                     The adjustments are great,
                     and it leaves a perfect finish.
                     Its plastic wear parts
                     aren't as tough as metal
                     and the unit needs better
                     instructions. This tool
                     offers terrific function and
                     great value. Circle #213.

                     Campbell Hausfeld
                     800-626-4401
                     www.chpower.com

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Fuji
Q3

Gun Weight (empty)   2.4 lbs.

Turbine Weight       24.5 lbs.

Hose Length          25 feet

Turbine Fan          6.7 inches
Diameter

Street Price         $599

Comments             I like this tool. It worked
                     great and has tough gun
                     parts and nice adjustments.
                     It sprays well and is easy to
                     clean up. I also like the
                     way it sits in my hand and
                     the fact that it has two
                     ports. However, it got
                     uncomfortably hot during
                     use, making it harder to
                     hold. Circle #214.

                     Fuji Industrial Spray
                     Equipment
                     800-650-0930
                     www.fujispray.com

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Graco
233422

Gun Weight (empty)   2.26 lbs.

Turbine Weight       23 lbs.

Hose Length          30 feet

Turbine Fan          5 inches
Diameter

Street Price         $750

Comments             This sprayer is my favorite.
                     It is comfortable to hold, is
                     the easiest to clean, has the
                     best turbine layout, and the
                     air-flow-control/pattern-adjustment
                     knob is topflight.
                     It also has the easiest
                     trigger action in the group.
                     The only drawbacks I can
                     find is that the hose is on
                     the heavy side and the unit
                     needs a better manual.
                     Circle #215.

                     Graco Inc.
                     800-690-2894
                     www.graco.com

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Lemmer
T-75

Gun Weight (empty)   2.5 lbs.

Turbine Weight       22.5 lbs.

Hose Length          30 feet

Turbine Fan          5.7 inches
Diameter

Street Price         $695

Comments             This unit will leave you
                     with a dependable finish. It
                     has mostly metal gun parts,
                     a flexible hose, and a small,
                     light turbine. The gun was
                     uncomfortable in my hand
                     and the polished handle
                     was slippery. The two-piece
                     spring/spring plate was difficult
                     to assemble, the cup
                     cover seal was loose, and
                     the fluid set was complicated
                     to set up. Circle #216.

                     Lemmer Spray Systems
                     800-561-6908
                     www.lemmer.com

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

SprayTech
0277030

Gun Weight (empty)   2.3 lbs.

Turbine Weight       22.8 lbs.

Hose Length          30 feet

Turbine Fan          5.7 inches
Diameter

Street Price         $850

Comments             This unit left a great finish
                     and has a solid, all-metal
                     gun that felt very good in
                     my hand. It also has good
                     adjustments. However, it is
                     the most difficult to clean,
                     and has the heaviest hose,
                     bulkiest turbine, and a stiff
                     trigger action. I like the cup
                     holder on the turbine.
                     Circle #217.

                     SprayTech
                     800-292-4637
                     www.spraytechinc.com

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Turbinaire
1235

Gun Weight (empty)   4 lbs.

Turbine Weight       18 lbs.

Hose Length          25 feet

Turbine Fan          5.7 inches
Diameter

Street Price         $689

Comments             This gun is solid, easy to
                     clean, and has a good fluid
                     set. The turbine is the
                     smallest and easiest to
                     store. Also, the hose is the
                     lightest and most flexible
                     of the group. The gun is the
                     largest in the test, however,
                     and felt front heavy. The
                     air-pressure knob was
                     located on the turbine,
                     which made it hard to
                     adjust. Circle #218.

                     Turbinaire
                     800-866-4857
                     www.turbinaire.com

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]