Most often, you will find that something is lacking in your painting job. Regardless of their price and quality, paints need a few layers of primer to get the expected result. Such that, there will come a point, where you will find that regular spray guns will not be sufficient for your oil or water-based primer. So how do you choose the best primer spray gun for your needs?
If you want to paint without stress or hiccups, there are a few things that you should be careful of. Firstly, you have to make sure that your primer should be compatible with the paint of your choice. Secondly, you must invest in only a high-quality primer sprayer to get the desired finish.
To help you reach a final decision, we have reviewed five of the best primer spray guns along with a buying guide in the following article. Before you jump right onto the review, do keep in mind that primer guns are far different from paint guns.
Our Favorite Primer Spray Guns:
5 Best Primer Spray Guns 2020 Reviews
1.
DeVilbiss FLG-678 Primer Spray Gun
If you are looking for one of the best primer sprayers, look no further than DeVilbiss FLG-78. It has been built to perform smoothly for a perfect finish. Being made from the highest-grade stainless steel, this durable gun is surely going to last a long time and require minimum maintenance. Moreover, it has a blue-anodized finish for easier clean-up.
With a lightweight design and a comfortable trigger, DeVilbiss aims to minimize fatigue during longer operations. Moreover, it comes with a 1.8mm fluid tip for automotive primers, and a 2.2 mm tip for polyester primers. The HVLP tips have been designed to give maximum precision for optimum results. Along with this, the kit includes a 900cc Aluminum cup and a 13CFM @ 23PSI inlet.
If all this was not enough, the sprayer is compatible with both outdoor and indoor painting jobs. It uses an improved atomization technology combines with compressed air to give you precision while spraying. Furthermore, you can even control the gun’s spraying pattern through its air-adjusting valve and sensitive trigger.
Most users have loved this primer spray gun and found it to be perfect for automotive use. It laid down paint evenly and sprayed smoothly. A few customers, however, have commented on its high price.
- Improved spraying technology
- Spraying pattern can be adjusted
- Suitable for many types of primers
- Includes two precise fluid tips
- Easy to clean
- Sprays uniformly
- Not suitable thick and oil-based primers
If you are looking for a durable primer gun that can work both outdoors and indoors, performs excellently, and is easy to clean, you should go for DeVilbiss spray gun. Albeit a little pricey, its enhanced spraying technology has put it on the top of our list.
2.
DeVilbiss 802343 Priming Spray Gun
Seeing how our runner-up sprayer gun is from the same brand as our top pick, it also contains some of the best features. DeVilbiss 802343 Gravity Spray gun can be used for both light-duty and heavy-duty tasks by allowing you to spray multiple coats.
It has a two-gun system, one paints while the other primes. Such that, the first paint spray gun includes a 1.3mm fluid tip and a 20-ounce air cup. This is perfect for atomizing basecoats, clear-coats, and topcoats. The second gun, on the other hand, has a 1.8mm fluid tip along with another 20-ounce cup. It is designed for spraying sealers, primers, and thin oil coatings.
Both the guns have an inlet for 30 PSI pressure and deliver about 10 PSI @ 13 CFP volume. Moreover, the spray gun kit includes a 1.5mm tip and needle that can be swapped on either gun, depending on your needs. If all this was not enough, the guns come with an air-adjusting valve and gauge, a wrench, and a cleaning brush set.
Some users have complimented the gun for its smooth and consistent finish while a large number of customers have complained about leakage. They have also mentioned its lack of durability and quality consistency.
- For both heavy-duty and light-duty operations
- Comes with an extra 1.5mm tip and needle
- Two-gun system for base-coats and primers
- Smooth and even spraying
- Some air cups leaked
- Takes time to clean
Even though this two-gun sprayer kit includes a lot of beneficial features for all the DIY-ers and craftsman, its leaking and quality issues have placed it second on our list.
3.
Neiko 31216A Primer Spray Gun
Made in China and Taiwan, this gun gives the best value for money. The spray gun has been durably built with high-grade stainless steel body and nozzle, and a brass cap. Moreover, you can choose the nozzle from a variety of 1.3, 1.5, 1.7, and 2.0 mm sizes depending on your needs. These have been color-coded for your ease as well.
Apart from all this, the gun includes a built-in HVLP gravity-fed primer delivery technology and has three modifiable valve knobs for adjusting the precise application of the paint. Like other top-notch spray guns, the sprayer comes with an air-regulator, an Aluminum lidded cup, a wrench, and a cleaning brush.
Besides this, it has an operating pressure of 40 PSI and air consumption of 4.5 CFM. With a tethering trigger, you can control the angle and amount of spray with ease.
While some customers found the gun easy to work with, some have mentioned how difficult it was to clean it. All the nuts and bolts are overly tightened, and it takes a lot of effort and time to open them up.
- Excellent performance as a primer gun
- Even suitable with heavier primers
- Adjustable spraying pattern and angle
- Includes lidded cup
- Rust-resistant construction
- No manufacturer’s website
- Difficult to disassemble for clean-up
As a whole, the gun works very well for its price. If you are looking for a budget-friendly yet effective spray gun for priming, this gun will do the trick perfectly. Not only does it offer precise control over your spray, but it also has a durable built.
4.
Astro 4008 Spray Gun for Priming
Astro Primer Spray Gun has a unique yet simple two-piece construction. It features an air valve with a red-handled gun and a 1.8mm nozzle tip. Moreover, it allows you to adjust the spray’s wide-pattern control. It includes an 11-inch adjustable fan and improved atomization technology to give you professional finish in a shorter time. This requires a 3HP compressor @ 7-12 CFM air volume.
Besides this, the gun comes with an Aluminum dripless cup of one-quart capacity. If this was not enough, it even features an anti-spill feed line, which allows you to use the gun at any angle without spilling the primer. Such that it can maintain suction regardless of the filling level in the canister.
Astro 4008 comes with an in-depth instruction manual for beginners, helping them to adjust the fan shape, fan size, and the spraying pattern. Apart from this, it is quite easy to clean too. On the negative side, this gun is much smaller, with a larger operating pressure than others in the market. It is more suited for smaller projects rather than larger, specialized ones.
Most customers loved this lightweight yet powerful spray gun. Compared to its price, they found it to be more durable and easier to clean than a lot of other sprayers in the market. However, some users were not impressed with its inconsistent spray. Also, the nozzle kept clogging for some users.
- Very affordable to suit DIY-ers needs
- Includes a fan to adjust the spraying pattern
- Sturdy
- Relatively inexpensive
- Lack of customer support
- Hard to adjust the spray pattern
- Moisture builds up fast
Astro 4008 Spray Gun is perfect for handling small-scale projects. Even though it might have a few drawbacks, it is quite affordable for those who want a gun for a few uses and do not want to spend much on expensive sprayers.
5.
TCP G6600-25 Primer Spray Gun
This high-performance sprayer uses a large 2.5mm stainless steel fluid tip, making it perfect for using thicker polyester primers. It comes with a one-liter Aluminum cup and an air regulator for controlling air pressure. Such that, the gun contains control knobs to adjust the spraying pattern, angle, and width. Apart from this, the diaphragm and the fine metering control gives you a range of 0-180 PSI air pressure.
If all this was not enough, the sprayer with its baffle-head assembly and atomization technology gives you precise and consistent spraying control. Moreover, it even has a sensitive trigger that allows you to control the amount of spray, depending on the pressure you apply.
At its affordable price, this gun is very suitable for small-scale projects. However, it has not been built to last for a long time as it contains weak and mismatched parts along with problematic atomization.
Customers have appreciated the use of larger fluid tips for thicker primers. Most sprayers in the market are not compatible with thicker fluids. Thus, this spray was welcomed by dedicated users. On the other hand, many users have also commented on the gun’s lack of durability.
- Precise trigger
- Baffle-head assembly
- Include many control knobs
- Suitable for small-scale jobs
- Clogging issues
- Not suitable for multiple uses
- Normal-pressure not suitable for applying primer
If you are looking for a gun that not only gives you precise control over your painting jobs but is also budget-friendly, look no further than TCP Primer Gun. Although it might be more suitable for small projects, it still packs all the best features to give your project a professional finish.
Buyer’s Guide
1 Adjustability
When it comes to primers, you need a certain control over the spray gun to get prep your surface for the paint. Here, you need to look for features that will help you alter spraying pattern, speed, angle, and thickness. For example, it could be an air-regulator or a sensitive trigger.2 Easy Clean-up
Cleaning up can be a hassle when you have to disassemble the gun. If you find clean-up very frustrating, look for models that do not have to be flushed every time. You can also try looking for guns that can be connected to a garden hose.3 Portability
Normally, paint jobs require a lot of time. Even it is a light-duty operation, you might have to hold the gun for extended periods. Thus, you need to look for models that are lightweight enough to maximize comfort. Moreover, for bigger painting jobs, invest in portable sprayers with wheeling or backpack design.4 Protectants
The biggest problem with metals is rusting. To increase the life of your expensive spray guns, find manufacturer-approved protectants to increase their durability. Hence, you can save your gun from corrosion and sticky nozzle tips.5 Warranty
If you have to purchase a spray gun for one-time use or smaller projects, even one with a regular one-year warranty will be more than enough. Apart from this, if you are planning to use the gun immediately, you can even try looking for a 30-days money-back guarantee one. These generally tend to be cheaper. In the case where you have to use the gun multiple times, consider investing in a slightly more expensive and durable gun with a longer warranty.Conclusion
Among all the five products that we have reviewed, the clear winner is DeVilbiss FLG-678 Spray Gun. This primer sprayer has some of the best features to give you a professional finish, sitting right at home. The key deciding factor that puts this gun on the top is its excellent performance and reliability with multiple types of primers.
Choosing a sprayer is not as easy as it sounds. Before deciding on a final gun, you have to make sure it gives you value for its price and suits all your needs. Hopefully, we have covered all the important information in our article to help you reach a final decision.
