Best Paint Sprayer for Your Project

Types of Paint Sprayers

There are essentially two types of paint sprayers : Airless and HVLP. LVLP exists but most of the DIY spray painter brands opt for HVLP. HVLP stands for High Volume, Low Pressure and LVLP is Low Volume. HVLP basically mixes in more air to power their painting process.

For the remainder of this article, I generally refer to HVLP sprayers as “air-mixture”.

1. Maximum Portability

If ridiculously easy portability is your #1, this Graco Cordless is the sprayer for you. While pricier than the other options on this list, you won’t find some of the features that this sprayer has anywhere else.

Pros

• Works well for stains and paints (even unthinned- but I still thin)
• NO CORD
• Works with Dewalt’s standard 20 volt-max lithium battery system, and comes with 2 batteries.
• A fully charged battery sprays about a gallon
• Delivers a finish equal to Graco’s corded sprayers.
• Pretty light for a hand-held sprayer
• Trigger is very light, so less hand fatigue.
• Easy to clean – you don’t have to do a lot of breakdown.
• Has a reversible tip, so it’s very easy to unclog. Much easier than the other models.

Cons

• More expensive than the other models.
• If you do large jobs, like decks or fences or even a decent sized room, charging batteries and refilling is a killer.
• You will need to repurchase bags for the container, but they are somewhat reusable if you clean them properly.

2. Best Airless Paint Sprayers – Best Finish

The simple truth is that airless sprayers deliver the best finish when used by someone experienced with them. They are a bit harder to control than their air-powered friends and can leave some drip marks if you aren’t careful. But if you are experienced with a sprayer, this is the one that makes a job fun!

For Airless sprayers, I generally recommend the Control Pro 150, although the Magnum X5 is a good second choice.

For me, the Wagner edges out the Magnum based on two factors: It has a better warranty and I like the soft spray fan better. The Wagner brands purposely use less pressure power in order to create less overspray and create a safer work environment for a homeowner. The X5 has more horsepower, but the Control Pro sprays plenty fast, while giving you less overspray.

Control Pro 150 Pros:

• I like the softer fan spray of this sprayer compared to other brands. It’s easier to make seamless coats.
• 55% less overspray than comparable models. Less paint used and more control.
• Complete projects in much faster time than air-mixture models, reducing hand and arm fatigue.
• Thick exterior paints can require a 0.17 tip, but I have done solid stains without problem with a 0.15 tip. The Control Pro 150 only has the 0.15 tip, so if you feel you need a larger tip, trade up for the Control Pro 170.
• You can control the speed and pressure of the gun with knobs.

Cons:

• The learning curve is greater than with the air-powered sprayers (HVLP).
• Because paint speed is considerably faster than air-mixture models, your body moves faster to compensate.
• The fan width is not adjustable.
• Drips and Runs are more prevalent – I usually have someone go behind me with a brush to check for runs.

Here is a pretty good comparison graphic comparing several models of entry level airless sprayers:

Note: If it is hard to read, you can click it to open it here for a closer look!

3. Best Paint Sprayer for Exterior Home Use

I feel that for the homeowner/weekend warrior, the higher grades of spray painters aren’t really necessary, unless you plan to spray very thick coatings like epoxies or garage floor coatings. If you want a higher flow rate or a increased coating capability, upgrade to the Control Pro 170. The Control Pro 170 also features an all-metal spray gun which provides added durability and longevity.

However, I do love my Control Pro 130. I prefer the 150 because you can control the pressure, where the 130 is a shoot-and-go. The clean-up is also a bit more since you have to clean the tank as well, but it’s a great value for the price. This one also uses the HEA technology, which uses less pressure to decrease over-spray.

4. Best Paint Sprayer for Large Projects

Large projects would be decks, fences, textured ceilings or walls, or whole house painting (interior or exterior). These are projects you want a sprayer that works fast and evenly. I put textured ceilings on this list because hand and arm fatigue is a big problem.

On large projects such as those listed, I would recommend a Wagner Control Pro 150 or Wagner Control Pro 130. The 150 is a better sprayer overall because the cleanup is faster and easier, and it has more features to change the speed of the sprayer. That isn’t to say the 130 isn’t a strong consideration if you are more budget minded or have only a few projects.

I listed why the Control Pro 150 was such a great sprayer above (under best airless sprayers), but the Control Pro 130 shares many great benefits such as:

• The handle produces less operator fatigue because the motor sits on the floor. The trigger is also light and doesn’t require a lot of hand strength.
• A 25 foot long cord means less having to move the tank around.
• Not having the tank on the handle means I can see what I am spraying easier
• Perfect for any project involving a ladder.
• This Wagner airless paint sprayer produces up to 55% less over-spray than traditional airless sprayers which means easier clean up and less paint or stain used.

If I could only purchase one spayer, it would be…

I do a ton of projects, from very long fences to fine detail crafts with a sprayer. If I could personally only pick one sprayer for all my projects, it would be the Flexio 5000. It has the most versatility for me with large and small projects.

However, it would be very difficult for me personally to give up my Control Pro 150 Airless Sprayer. I personally love the finish of airless and I feel that especially for large outdoor projects, the finish not only looks better but it goes on much faster and it lasts a little longer on things like decks and fences because the paint or stain bonds to the wood better.

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