Harbor Freight Tools that don't suck

[California]

Listen to sixdogs (previous post). He's talking quality work, as good as any body shop.

One comment - Note the guns described there want more than 10 cfm of air.

If you only have a smaller compressor rated around 5 cfm @ 90 psi - then the HF gun shown at $15.99, often sold at $9.99 and occasionally $8.99 does excellent work. #47016 etc. It is rated 'average air consumption 6 cfm @ 40 psi'. I see that one has 652 comments in HF's description, nearly all favorable. Some posters here have said the quality of finish it will lay down is plenty sufficient for farm implements. That was my experience on a project applying Rustoleum primer then Rustoleum low-sheen white on cast iron lawn furniture, I couldn't have asked for anything better.

I had a HF $40 pressure regulator / water separator (a model no longer sold) halfway to the gun, and set it to show 40 psi on a gauge at the gun while spraying.

Also, I used HF's paper cone filters after stirring in solvent, and again at filling each cup, because I began the job with years-old leftover materials. With the old paint thoroughly stirred and filtered it went on same as the new materials purchased to complete the job.

 

[lostcreekranch]

I bought this stand, when it was on sale, a couple of years ago. I just clamp it to edge of workbench to use it.

Gravity Feed Spray Gun Stand

 

[sixdogs]

I bought this stand, when it was on sale, a couple of years ago. I just clamp it to edge of workbench to use it.

Gravity Feed Spray Gun Stand

That is a great stand and I should get one. The other wire stand in the photo a couple of posts ago allows you to send the gun outside if you have problem of some sort like getting the hose caught or whatever.

 

[Code54]

GREAT info guys - thanks Sixdogs for the excellent information.
California had me sort of laugh when I saw the patio furniture - I have a set just like that apart in the shop right now that we been cleaning up in the blast cabinet and will be repainting soon. Was thinking the H/F gun would be good for it and something to try it out on! Wife got it for 40 bucks and just had some very minor surface rust on the legs. Figured a good blasting and repaint will bring it back to like new for minimal expense.

 

[fried1765]

Also get a 5 pack of throwaway paint cups and a wire paint gun stand. Both make life easier. For the plastic paint cups, just screw the thing onto your gun and don't use their plastic adaptor. That adaptor sometimes can leak and it's not really needed. Clean the gun thoroughly when done and blow some solvent through it. Follow adjustment instructions in owner's manual and I usually need to thin the paint more than suggested. I spray a light coat and the come back 5 minutes later with a little heavier coat. Acetone is certainly flammable dangerous but it dries super quick.

Use good paint such as factory OEM. I've done lots of threads and comments on the high quality and what a bargain it is compared with farm store cr@-p

Description states: "for water based finishes"
You use OEM enamel, and clean with acetone?

 

[California]

Originally Posted by sixdogs
Also get a 5 pack of throwaway paint cups and a wire paint gun stand. Both make life easier. For the plastic paint cups, just screw the thing onto your gun and don't use their plastic adaptor.

Description states: "for water based finishes"
You use OEM enamel, and clean with acetone?

For that iron lawn furniture project we used oil base Rustoleum red primer and their white topcoat, thinned with ordinary paint thinner. And a couple of the 'throwaway' plastic paint cups that cleaned up fine with paint thinner. Acetone was only for the final rinse of the gun after cleaning it with thinner. I don't see why the plastic cups specify 'water based finishes' - but acetone might be a bit much for them.

Ditto on the metal gun/filter stand, you will find it is essential. Clamp it down to something.

Don't overlook a good water separator. We dumped a surprising amount of water out of it after the project.

Re compressor - I have the HF model claimed 2.5 hp/10 gallon tank from several years ago. Its output was sufficient for the $9.99 HF gun to paint continuously. I had a 20 gallon 'pig tank' ready to add to the rig for more storage but didn't need to add it.

Good luck with your project!

 

[sixdogs]

Description states: "for water based finishes"
You use OEM enamel, and clean with acetone?

Yes, I do and have been doing it for maybe 20 years. Zero issues and those cups are bulletproof. My guess is they are afraid someone will spill the contents on themselves since the lids can be a little shaky if not on correctly and they are trying to head off any issues with snowflakes. Who would paint something subject to the elements with a water based finish? And since most paint cups today are the same material or simply lined with a plastic bag, what would you use for a solvent? They look the same as all cups.

Acetone is a common paint thinner, sold at WalMart in the paint Dept and I started using it after I learned Deere thinner was actually modified acetone. That's why it dries so fast.

What are you painting with now and what solvent and cups are you using?

 

[sixdogs]

On small compressors and the need for short bursts of more air, here is what I saw once and it worked for me. Not sure to what degree but I connected some old hoses together and rolled onto a hose reel. The 200' I scrounged held extra air and I only painted in short bursts so it worked. I have a better compressor now but still leave 200' on a reel by the door for air issues maybe too far away from the barn. I don't use more than 50' almost all the time but when I need the length it sure save a lot of time on my part.

 

[4570Man]

I've got a junk truck that desperately needs paint. A proper paint job is out of the budget. The truck could be significantly improved with rattle cans but I would like to do a little better than that. Another project is painting my dump truck bed. Any suggestions on technique and paint? I've got a spray gun that looks like the one that six dogs linked but I've never used it.

 

[fried1765]

Yes, I do and have been doing it for maybe 20 years. Zero issues and those cups are bulletproof. My guess is they are afraid someone will spill the contents on themselves since the lids can be a little shaky if not on correctly and they are trying to head off any issues with snowflakes. Who would paint something subject to the elements with a water based finish? And since most paint cups today are the same material or simply lined with a plastic bag, what would you use for a solvent? They look the same as all cups.

Acetone is a common paint thinner, sold at WalMart in the paint Dept and I started using it after I learned Deere thinner was actually modified acetone. That's why it dries so fast.

What are you painting with now and what solvent and cups are you using?

I have never owned or used an HVLP unit.
I have a cheap old gun from Northern Tool (years ago), and a really nice Binks gun.
I use the old cheapie for ordinary stuff, and the Binks for quality work.
I use laquer thinner to clean everything with a mineral base.
I paint very little anymore.
I have a large, really nice (I should sell it), airless unit for use on house walls etc., with latex/acrylic/polyurethane.
I think I may pick up the cheapie HF HVLP unit, just to try it on a few small items.