Thought I was being smart cheaping out on a paint gun, now I regret it

I had this old Harbor Freight purple gun I used for years (like 6 years maybe) and I thought it was fine. Then I dropped $400 on a used Iwata from a guy retiring in Austin and man, what a difference. The first panel I sprayed with it laid down so smooth I almost cried. No more orange peel, no more fighting with the gun to get a decent pattern. The old gun was just wasting my time and clear coat, honestly. I figure the Iwata paid for itself after like 3 jobs with how much less material I used. Has anyone else made a big jump in gun quality and felt stupid for waiting so long?

2 comments

2 Comments

the_iris1d ago

Bought a cheap spray gun from a pawn shop once and spent more time cleaning it than actually painting. The pattern looked like a cat sneezed on the panel. Swapped to a higher end gun and my first coat came out so smooth I actually laughed out loud. Felt real dumb for thinking the first one was okay just because it worked.

spencerfisher6h ago

That "cat sneezed" pattern is usually a technique problem, not a tool problem. I've laid down perfect paint with a $15 Harbor Freight gun after I spent the time to dial in the air pressure and thin the paint right. A higher end gun just covers for bad habits.