Compare these spray guns:

[benDASHDASH]

I will be painting my bumpers soon. The other day I picked up an $80 spray gun. The next day I found a similar one at harbor freight for $20. They look very similar to me. Which one looks should I take back - the one to the right or left? I'm asking because I just don't know a lot about them. And no, I'm not going to pay someone to spray for me.

http://btm4k.com/archive/misc/sprayguns.jpg

[pic is 915k]

Also, is there anything really important I should be looking for in a spray gun?

[Jordan]

A HVLP gravity fed gun is always better.

[benDASHDASH]

Ok. Could you explain why?

[BahnE30]

more consistant paint flow, it's gravity every notice how much better things turn out when you work with your surrounding vs. against them.

[nando]

A HVLP gravity fed gun is always better.

any paint gun is still far better than a rattle can..

[trent]

Use the Gravity Fed HVLP gun. Very easy to work with. You can really use the thing at extreme angles (which you will need) and it will still flow perfect. I bought a cheap gun and it works very well. I actually just painted my rear bumper yesterday (First semi large piece) and I am more than happy with how it turned out (I am stickler for bad paint work).

[trent]

Re: Compare these spray guns:

Also, is there anything really important I should be looking for in a spray gun?

I am thinking that the $20 gun is on the right (Central) which is from HF.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=90977

That is the gun I bought which looks very similar to the gun on the left in your pic. It is one of the more $$ guns at HF (I actually got mine on sale for like $40). Pay attention to needle sizes depending on what you are going to do. I think a 1.4-1.5mm needle size is a good overall size, but when i had the spray pattern where I liked it really shot paint everywhere. I am thinking about buying a "detail" gun for smaller things like that as the tip is 1.0mm. http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=90978 Paint isn't cheap so you want to get most of it on your work.

The one other thing I will tell you, BUY A REGULATOR TO FIT ONTO THE END of the gun. It makes it very nice being able to know the true reading (not at compressor) and adjust air really quick.

Also, make sure your compressor can flow good. I have a 3.5scfm@90psi 15gal and it can hardly keep up when I run the gun at around 40psi. I would really like to have at least 8-10scfm @ 90psi.

[EtaSport]

Yes to gravity feed, siphon guns are okay for spraying primer, but I was amazed at the difference I got with base and clear on my hvlp gravity feed.

Like stated, more constant paint flow since gravity sucks it down. Siphons have to pull it up.

[benDASHDASH]

Great, thanks for all the info. I'll take the gun on the right back to HF.

[benDASHDASH]

I just took the gun back and bought an air pressure regulator. Again, thanks for the advice.