I have read all the old posts I could find but still wondering. I am about to step up from my 29.99 gun that I have used with lacquer thinner. I am looking to get a gun to spray epoxy primers and a little bit of painting. The painting will mostly be cut-in
type and inside of panels. I think I want to go with a HVLP gun but I am not sure which one. Also if I go HVLP until I get a new compressor will my current 5hp 30 gallon craftsman compressor keep up. If I use a DA I have to stop often to let it catch up. Thanks in advance for any input.

That compresser is on the small side for an HVLP. If you do a Sharpe Platinum needs only 8.5 CFM and would work just fine, but they are pricey at $450.00 As for primer Sharpes Cobolt line is american made and run about $150.00 get a 1.5 or 1.7 for primers.

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1965 Buick Gran Sport Convertible
1965 Buick Skylark H/T

MartinSR do you have any experience with the
Devilbiss finishline II gun that so many people have recomended in the past. I really like idea of disposable liners for clean up.
Also if I do go with a HVLP with my current compressor(I will be upgrading soon) can I get away with spot priming and maybe painting one panel every once in a while. The Sharpe you recommended sounds nice but I wuld like to stay under 200.00 if I can.

I recently purchased a sharpe cobalt HVLP gun. The body shop supply house I bought it from recommended it for the novice type painter. They suggested a 1.5 tip for overall general spraying of primers and top coats. They strongly suggested to stay away from the finishline guns because of manufacturing problems and overall quailty issues. The cobalt has worked fine for me with a 4.5 hp compressor. Maybe you would have a problem trying to spray the side of a van, but panel by panel painting seems to be no problem at all. I've had suprisingly professional results with this gun. Clean up is very easy also!!

m22 is right, there was some manufatureing problems with the Finish line. They have redesigned it and this appears to be fixed. I didn't recommend it because I have no first hand experiance. The Cobolt I have sprayed and it is nice. I do recommend a 1.3 or 1.4 tip with top coats though, the high solids paints of today need to be broken up to lay out flat. As m22 said a panel or two or even three shouldn't be a problem at all. And if you are doing only a few panels at a time the 1.3 tip is perfect anyway.


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1965 Buick Gran Sport Convertible
1965 Buick Skylark H/T

I have a Devilbliss OMX hvlp which uses the disposable liners or the cup which ever you choose, it has an adjustible nozzle so you can spray thicker primers or base clear etc.
It has two different air caps one operates on very low pressure and the other needs 30 to 50 lbs and the later will lay down a very good paint job. Many paint shops in my area use this gun . Like any thing of quality it does cost. Eastwood sells this gun but you could better price if you could get some one in the bussinessto get one at dealer price. this gun will do simple jobs up to pro jobs I painted my 57 chevy with mine and it is as good as any and better than most i have seen
good luck

I forgot, DevilBiss sells the bags with a pack of adapers to use them in any cup!

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1965 Buick Gran Sport Convertible
1965 Buick Skylark H/T

I use the Devilbiss finish line II and have had no problems either. Liked it much better than my old Binkls HVLP. I spray urethane primers through it with ease. And I also have a old 5hp 30- gallon compressor. I haven't used the sharp guns, but because I'm not a fan of plastic little parts either. As soon as I can figure out how to load pictures of my 70ss I'll through em on here to see. As for the spray gun. Anyone knowing what a pain it is to get a silver looking good will I hope appreciate the paint job. I sprayed mine with 98 cadillac moonstone metallic. There you have it the secret is out. Good Luck in your decision.

Thanks for the input. I found the cobalt on sale today for 129.99 so I went ahead and picked it up. It says it is for top coats and has a 1.6 tip. The guy at the paint store said it would work fine for primer witch is what I will use it for most of the time. If I start wanting to do any topcoat stuff other than cut in I will probably buy another gun with a smaller tip.