I have a compressor that is rated 11.5 cfm at 90 psi with a 60 gallon tank.
I just got off the phone with the tech at autobodystore.com. I was looking at the
Sharpe platinum gun that is rated at 7.5 cfm at 50psi listed at $293.95. He said he feels the DeVilbiss Finish line II Gravity Feed HVLP that is rated at 11.4 cfm at 23 psi listed at $136.50 is a better gun. He said it atomizes the paint better. The only draw back is the tip is made of plastic. He said the DeVilbiss GTI 620 is even better and is rated at 15.5 cfm for a price of $334.50.
He said the higher CFM would drain my tank but since it has a 60 gallon capacity it should not run out or lose any pressure at the gun.

I am a little confused now. Does anyone have any suggestions or experience?

Money is some what of an issue but I am just a hobbyist and do want to get the one that work best for me.

Thanks in Advance

The Finishline is a all plastic gun,I used one for a while and it sprayed well for the price.HVLP guns are nice but usually require a lot of cfm. As I stated before I really like the Sata RP and know of 6 or 7 painters using them. They are not HVLP but spray at 28 lbs.If your considering $334 for the Develbiss go to E-bay and punch in SATA RP the prices are pretty good.In my opinion I could always get a better finish with a regular gun than with a HVLP.Always had a little more orange peel with the HVLP but you would save material and get less dirt in the paint because of spraying with less pressure.
In my opinion a regular gun is easier to spray with than a HVLP for someone who is new.I would try the plastic Finishline,the gun always sprayed great for me,just be carefull with the tip.I really don't think this gun is a true HVLP.

I got a brand new Sata RP off Ebay for $300 a while ago.I have a 6.5 HP 60 gallon compressor and it sprays fine.The way your compressor is piped and the length of the hose is key.I tried spraying with a twenty five foot hose coming right out of the compressor and i could't get enough pressure to spray.Then i ran about 25 feet of 3/4 copper pipe,off the compressor up the wall,across the shop and down the wall to a regulator,and with a 20 foot hose i have plenty of pressure.

70isfine, I don't know how big much spraying you have done at one time, but you "should" run out of air pretty quick with that setup, well piped or not.

stevegray, I would get the Platinum, I have never sprayed the Finish line, but I find it hard to believe it would atomize better than the Platinum. I also have to say that the little 7.5 CFM requirment for the Platinum makes a BIG difference. Running out of air sucks, big time, I can tell you that.

As for HVLP being harder to use, yes sort of. It takes a little more time to learn gun setup,(do a search for my "Basics of Basics" on paint atomization here on the site) but it is not that big of a deal. In fact, the Platinum is THE beginers gun HVLP or no HVLP in my opinion. It is the sweetest spraying gun I have ever used. It atomizes like crazy and gives you a lot of time to watch the paint go on. Many pros don't like it because it is so slow. But I also know of pros that use it for all thier blending because it atomizes so well. I love mine, that is all I can say.


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1965 Buick Gran Sport Convertible
1965 Buick Skylark H/T
"Fan of most anything that moves human beings"

I have the same compressor in my garage at home and in my shop. I can do overalls without a problem. I don't know why i don't run out of air but i don't.It runs all the time when painting or running a Da but it keeps up. I do plan on upgrading to a two stage 80 gallon at the shop when this one breaks.But it can definately supply enough air to do an overall with an HVLP.