264 - Choosing the Right HVLP Turbine Sprayer

[@fergusward237]

It's not a Fuji but it'll do! I know you probably can't ship to AUS but Mark, thanks for all your casts. I am a DIYer who thinks he can build anything and have learn t a lot from your casts. Your casts (which I think I have watched most of) help and inspire me just to build whatever. Currently a side table for my first kid. Thanks again for everything and I hope you are feeling better. Cheers

[@BillMall]

I've watched a number of videos on Fuji sprayers and this one by far helped explain the differences between the various models and what to consider for each price point. THANK YOU!

[@rayleder3705]

you do a great job of explaining things in an easy to understand way. Thanks!

[@wayneestes8233]

It's not a fugi but it will do! I have been a steel man all my live & at 54 decided to try my hand at wood working to my wife's delight. She has many projects lined up & your site has been a wonderful & entertaining wealth of information. Thanks & keep up the great work of helping the experienced & novice alike!

[@wayneestes8233]

Sorry Fuji, spelling & I are water & oil.

[@fredharlow646]

THANK YOU!!!!!! I have been a painter for 25 years. I have used them off and on for years.I was looking to buy a system for clear coating wood. You have the best review I have watched. You educated me. Thank you

[@geooldskool6720]

fred harlow It's not a Fugi but it will do.

[@macoak3869]

"I don't know - It's not a Fuji, but it'll do!" Thanks for the great "exposure" to the various levels of HVLP units. That "Traffic Yellow" is BRIGHT! Keep up the wonderful, educational videos.

[@WoodByWright]

info! It's not a Fuji but it,ll do! Love the purple bucket. I so need one for my shop. LOL great talk! thanks for so much

[@januszfilipowicz5841]

You are wrong . It is pronounced exactly the way he does .

[@danielgeng2306]

I’m waiting for a Q7, I want to use it to seal my driveway! ;)

[@bigjoe2458]

@@danielgeng2306 hahahahaha

[@callancarnahan2952]

It's not a Fuji, but it'll do! Been using that Rockler gun to spray guitar finishes for about 2 years now - I've sprayed everything from clear nitrocellulose to colored nitro to urethane, acrylic lacquers, polyacrylics, pre-mixed metal flake, pearls, candies, 2K urethanes, etc, etc....for the price you simply can't beat the thing! Great little unit. Someday I'll get the real deal, but for now it works! Just gotta give it some love. Great video covering all of the unit stages, and glad to see that you are recovering well!

[@christobar]

We're all glad you're doing alright! Yes, I speak for all of the internet.

[@jhirn2957]

Very glad to hear your surgery went well and you’re still making great content to this day!

[@williambutler3695]

Is there any major difference between a 5 stage and an air compressor? Particularly in the ease of use one finish quality. Obviously the compressor needs to be big enough to keep up with the spraying.

[@TC-dw6wg]

William Butler I agree 100% in using an air compressor. The new terminology seems to be "stages" which I believe we just called CFM. I could be wrong, but somehow I think these are just a very costly gimmick. People have been spraying for a Long time without these and getting great results. Thanks

[@chengliu872]

Portability is a major difference. Spray painting requires a huge compressor and is almost certainly going to be stationary and require tons of space.

[@kellyvcraig]

Portability is a big deal with a stage HVLP, but it goes FAR beyond that. Certainly, turbine HVLPs are anything but gimmicks. Even auto manufacturers use them to paint cars. Stages is not "the new terminology." Kirby was the first single stage system, if memory serves. Too, the two systems (turbine and conversion) are vastly different. Turbines actually use one or more turbine fans to move air, while the other systems, as Cheng pointed out, requires a large compressor with a lot of CFM. In the end, both use lower air pressure than do conventional systems. For example, my four stage Capsprayer pumps out about 8 PSI at the nozzel, but with enough CFM to actually run my little texture gun. My Accurprayer is a self contained conversion system with a bit higher PSI at the nozzle. The over spray from my HVLP is far less than a conventional gun, which would run at about 45 PSI. In the end, I can tweak my HVLP down to the level of a high output airbrush, which allows me to spray, for example, rail balusters in a fraction of the time it would take me to do it by brush and roller. On the other hand, I can crank the gun up to the point I can actually paint a solid fence or even a room, the latter which is easier with the Accuspray, since it has a 2-1/2 gallon pot, versus the Capspray's quart container. One of the first thing you'll note about a true HVLP, versus a conversion gun, is the size of the hose. The HVLP hose is huge, because it moves far more air per minute than does the smaller, higher pressure hose of a conventional system.

[@thenotsoguitarguy9429]

Another thing about turbine sprayers is because the pressure is so low, water condensation is not nearly the concern that it is in a high pressure system. In fact, the air coming from an HVLP system tends to be much warmer and dryer than air from a conversion system, lessening the need for things like water separators and the like in line.

[@isaacpaige301]

It's not a Fuji but it'll do! Your videos are great for beginners like me (2 months into woodworking) and I introduced them to my father (30 year wood worker) and he is loving them too. He is going through your videos 1 by 1 and just finished building his torsion box modeled after yours. Thanks for all the great content!

[@krtwood]

As a fellow lazy person, one of the things that scares me off spraying is not the upfront cost but the potential maintenance and cleaning. My current process is to drop the brush in a jar of mineral spirits and walk away.

[@shroboy07]

I agree. I got a cheap ($70) sprayer and used it on some rustic projects. I love using it. I think the key item is to be able to use it for a while. If its somethings small I will use a brush.

[@christobar]

yeah cleanup sucks, especially oil based finishes. If you're not able to do the finishing all in one go, you have a huge overhead cost of setup and cleanup every time.

[@pinkymorningstar4054]

It’s not a Fuji but it’ll do

[@kellyvcraig]

On the other hand, a railing paint job that would take me all day and even take me into the next can be done in hours with an HVLP. As such, spending a few minutes flushing the gun and cleaning the pot are, in terms of time, trivial.

[@ILruffian]

Never drop the brush in the jar. It destroys the shape of the tip. Strip down a piece of 14-2 romex and hang the brush from the hole in the handle so that the tip doesn't touch the bottom of the jar. Try it, you'll thank me.

[@CogentConsult]

You always are fair in your assessment and delivery of information. I really like how you are truly interested in showing us what works, what our options are so that we can make our own decisions.

[@777arc2]

Hope your thyroidectomy went OK! I had my whole thyroid removed because it tried to kill me =(

[@shaynesabala]

I use a two stage for latex all the time and have absolutely no issues. It handles everything I put through it. Some people say that thinning the paint will change the color but I have not seen that problem on any of my projects. I have tested that theory and again, seen no changes.

[@TheBlairFranchise]

It's not a Fuji, but it will do!! Thanks for the tips!

[@flyrc88]

Love Turbine systems! I have 4 Rocklers units I got cheap. I use one turbine (the others are back-ups in box) but use two guns. One with primer and the other with top coat and they work very well for most applications. I also have 2 Fuji units that spray great ! Of course they have better control and better power. I use the Fuji for spraying kitchens and assorted touchup work. The Rockler is a fantastic machine for most people that aren’t trades people.

[@bobbysmith2847]

I've been wanting to purchase a turbine sprayer for a while but I just haven't pulled the trigger yet.

[@bobbg9041]

Sounds like no presure!

[@gochivideos]

After spraying cabinets and doors with the Rockler/Harbor Freight HVLP for a few years and going through three machines, I finally went with a Fuji. Glad I did, and this review helped out a lot. Thanks

[@ShannonFargo]

"It's not a Fuji but it'll do" is what my wife said on our honeymoon.

[@markvankoersveld5881]

It's not a Fuji but it'll do. Thanks for the tips. These machines are so quiet compared to using a compressor,looks like the added benefit is you don't seem to have to worry about the condensation factor which is generally a problem when using a standard compressor for spraying.

[@MrScrogg]

It's not a Rockler, but It'll do. (This means you are gonna give me the Fuji right?!?)

[@woodwhisperer]

haha i like the way you think! :)

[@jacobelder5817]

funny stuff right there

[@Slatu]

It's not a Fuji, but it'll do! Welcome back Mark. Hope Nicole & kids are well. I like her segment on TMS.

[@The_Silversurfer]

Dude always enjoy your video. Hope you heal up soon

[@brd3082]

It's not a Fuji, but it will do!! Glad to have you back Marc. Here's to a speedy recovery!

[@anthonydtobias]

it's not a Fugi but it'll do! ha ha great tip....how do these compare to say just a hvlp gun with a air compressor?

[@driverjamescopeland]

Turbine compressors have several advantages for HVLP. 1- NATIVE FLOW CHARACTERISTICS: instead of using a piston compressors designed for lower volume at higher pressures... turbines inherently provide the high volume and low pressure at the compressor. 2- BETTER OVERALL EFFICIENCY: While turbines themselves are less efficient than piston compressors, they remove the need for reservoirs, and allow you to make use of the heat byproduct of compression that is lost in a piston compressor setup. Also, HVLP can operate in a near on-demand state. Reducing the wasted energy of an always-on compressor setup. 3- RAMP TIMES: Typical ramp-up times of HVLP turbines are usually less than 5 seconds... saving downtime for mobile applications 4- REDUCED COMPONENTS: drastically reduced component count lends to easy serviceability, reduced maintenance cost, reduced downtime, and generally a better bottom line for the user 5- HIGHER OUTPUT TEMPERATURE: This cuts flash/cure/layup times, may reduce activator requirements, and broadens the ambient temperature window... and in all but the most humid conditions, virtually eliminates the need for air dryers. In commercial/industrial service applications, the faster curing times are a great selling point with regard to "return to service" 6- COMPACT: turbine systems take up less room, and are considerably more maneuverable. In a booth/shop applications, it's a benefit. In mobile applications, they're the no-brainer choice where HVLP can be used. In short, if you're painting HVLP and don't have a turbine, you're missing out on a lot. When compared to a typical piston compressor setup, turbine systems have EXTENSIVE ROI advantages. Less downtime. Higher margins. Lower total operating cost. Reduced material consumption. More consistent results. Faster finish times. Broader working temps. Faster startup. Less cleanup. Even from a consumer standpoint, they offer a lot of benefits... but you have to go for the more expensive units (5 stage) to acheive automotive-grade finish.

[@darrellcarter4143]

Holy f,,,k , finally YOU ARE THE ONLY GUY THAT MATCHES THE RITE COMPRESSOR WITH THE RITE GUN

[@ChristianBHough]

It's not a Fuji, but then again, this is also the end if 2019. Damn, I'm both late and also in the wrong country 🤣

[@howardbain6516]

I only spray occasionally. I have a harbor freight gun but my compressor can't keep up. I love spraying clear finish(can't stand a brush). It's not a Fuji but it will do for an old man

[@The__Painter]

harbor freight all the way!!!

[@miguelromero1]

Which harbor freight system would u get

[@tonyz5336]

Not sure if this was mentioned already, but the Rockler unit is also sold at Harbor Freight. It's identical and at a much lower price. I discovered this after I already bought one from Rockler a couple years ago. Also, Rockler made the bogus claim that this thing was "exclusive" to Rockler. Works as Mark stated.

[@gbjones54]

Thanks Mark I've been looking into purchasing and HVLP.. "It's not a FUJI but it'll do". Love the channel - glad the surgery went well!

[@hhanger1]

I have the Fuji 4 setup. as an accessory, a 6' whip hose is an absolutely necessity. It's also critical to have the right right Cap set. For latex, a 1.8mm cap set is recommended.

[@andrewwegner6361]

It's not a Fuji, but it will do! Thank for all the free content and guild content you have been putting out over the years!

[@claywiscombe6845]

Its not a Fugitive but it will do. Glad your surgery went well, thanks and good luck.

[@luisc1748]

Marc, been a fan of yours for a LONG, LONG time, as a matter of fact, it has been watching you and listening to your advice and training, that has helped me completely, remodel, our kitchen and other parts and things in our home. I built a set of cabinets in the hallway, even made the doors, bases completely, on YOUR teachings and it turned out, very, very well. Marc, I have a question for you, what do you think of the LVLP guns for paint wood, latex paint would be applied. Let me know, please. Thank you!!

[@woodwhisperer]

Thanks Luis. Glad you're finding the content useful. Unfortunately, I have actually never used an LVLP system. I have no real experience to offer on that.

[@luisc1748]

@@woodwhisperer, Marc, I have been watching you BEFORE you had the tatts.

[@MadWilly66]

It's not a Fuji, but it'll do. I've been really wanting to get into spraying, and have been watching more and more YT vids about the subject. I'm the 'weekend warrior' you mentioned early in the video. Maybe a few hours a night through the week, then several hours on the weekend. I waste a lot of money on brushes and clean-up supplies so I'd like to reduce that cost. I have the HF cheap-o gun but not a compressor big enough to drive it...so, essentially, I don't have a spray system. Thanks for taking the time to show a couple examples. I'm glad you are healing well. Wishing you continued health!!

[@joeymoga3438]

My American Turbine AT953 has out lasted all of the system you covered and has no issues spraying latex based or flecking paints - while spraying lighter materials without any problems.

[@GMONEYNINETEEN87]

Joey Moga I just bought an at950 👍

[@FatTony071984]

It's not a Fuji but it'll do! I don't know if you'll go through the trouble of shipping the unit to germany, but it's definately worth a try. Get well and take care of yourself!

[@chrislahti9228]

It's not a Fuji but it will do. Being in the market to purchase a HVLP sprayer I found this video very helpful. The information covered (no pun) the difference between the low and high end offerings. Thanks Marc.

[@freedhardwoods6389]

Lots of good info in your videos. I've been installing other shops' cabinets for a while and getting ready to start building cabinets. Thanks for taking the time to pass on what you have learned.

[@mattborener835]

It's not a Fuji but it'll do! Glad to hear everything went ok with the thyroid surgery and we'll continue to have more videos to keep us inspired!!

[@cqbninja3045]

It's not a fuji but it'll do! Haha am I too late? Currently going through all your videos sir, I love your narration ability and skill! I am over here steadily getting better by just listening!

[@evanshaw6530]

It's not a Fuji but it will do! especially for my birthday on the 10th! Also glad to see your surgery went well and you're back in the swing of things.

[@CaseAgainstFaith1]

I recently got an Earlex 6003. I had no idea about stages. I just checked and it is a 3 stage. If I had seen this video first, I think I would have spent the extra and got a 4 stage. But, what I got will suffice.

[@bnjmurry]

Its not a Fuji, but it will do. I have a bathroom Vanity I could very much use this for. Thanks for staying with the free content. I have learned alot from your channel.

[@fernandorosales2418]

it's not a Fiji, but it will do. I currently spray lacquer with an air compressor and a cheap automotive gun and it does well. however it won't spray latex. Wish you a speedy recovery Marc.

[@j.abella6892]

"It's not a Fuji but I'll do"Thanks Marc, good review and timing. I would have like to have seen what the 3 stage would do compared to the 5 however.

[@berrymi]

It's not a Fuji but it'll do! Probably better than the Wagner I have been using. Thanks for doing these types of videos it really help to know what you need to spend extra money on and what you can get the cheaper stuff and be fine with.

[@AlexRamirezDrummer]

You definitely have a talent to teach. Super clear to understand and follow. Thank you very much

[@mattkeefe3850]

Well done. Simple and straight forward. Very helpful especially the latex side by side demo.

[@TylerBoespflug]

It's not a Fuji but it'll do! I have an airless sprayer that I use for latex (pain to clean), but I'm looking for something for thinner finishes.

[@joshuaturner9116]

Glad to see ya back Marc!!! It's not a Fuji but it'll do! Just like other woodworking channels aren't the wood whisperer but they'll do! Great stuff as always!

[@MountainSolitude]

It's not a Fuji but it'll do! Glad to see you're doing good. Since I'm starting with finishes, this unit would be more than enough.

[@rm8168]

Marc, glad you are feeling better. Thanks for the education on HVLP I have been looking at them and doing some research. It's not a Fuji but it'll do!

[@ericklodnicki]

Mark feel better man and best of luck with the thyroid recovery. I'm sure it was a stress for the whole family, something no one ever needs. Congrats to the HVLP winner!

[@briannichols5421]

Glad to see you are well after surgery and keep up the great work.

[@ivanrodriguez346]

Glad your doing better with your health. Thank you for your content.

[@DanielWorthy]

It's not a Fuji but it'll do! Glad to see you're doing ok. I've tried HVLP spraying with my pancake compressor. I had decent results, but I now know what I should actually invest in. Thanks!

[@fishwhisperer101]

Love your videos, right to the point. I don't really understand the the relationship between the air cap size and and power. I have the 2 stage Fuji and was wondering if you can kind of use air cap size to make up for the lack of power.

[@woodwhisperer]

So, air cap and needle size is essentially the size of the hole the liquid goes through. A smaller hole means a finer mist. A larger hole means larger droplets. Power comes into play because that’s what determines how well the system pushes the liquid through the hole. Thicker liquids need a lot of power to push them through a smaller diameter cap and needle. So to answer your question, you might be able to use a larger cap and needle set to compensate for a lack of power, but the result might not be great. even if the hole is bigger, the lack of power could result in large droplets instead of an atomized finish. So that’s why it’s usually best to use dilution to help a lower-powered unit. Essentially, thinner liquids are just easier to push out. So I’d thin before messing with the cap size.

[@SuperCheese88]

It's not a Fuji but it'll do! My mobile work table is a very similar orange. Not paint though, I got some of that powder wood stain dye off amazon and mixed the red and yellow together with some polycrylic. It's blinding the in Florida sun so the table stays inside.

[@Everyday_Foreman]

It's not a Fuji but it'll do! I bough a lot of items from Harbor wreak some years ago and I have to say that I have placed most them into various yard sales

[@Vivi2372]

It's not a fuji but it'll do. Could really use a Sprayer for spraying some clear. Even a one stage would probably suit my needs for the foreseeable future.

[@coolmanomar]

It's not a Fuji but it'll do! Glad your surgery went well. Thanks for all of the great videos on so many topics...

[@MrJohnnyboyrebel]

It's not a Fuji, but it'll do. I bought a factory refurb'ed Graco single stage HVLP a few years ago, and I've used it with water-based poly, oil-based poly, oil-based stain, and even some latex thinned with Flotrol. So far so good, but your demonstration has me thinking now, should I make a jump to a multistaged unit so that I can skip all the thinning preparation? I'm leaning your direction now. Thanks for show!

[@ogcool13ify]

Which 1 do you recommend to paint cars as a beginner none professional only a DIY'ER 1st time painting a car or car panels?

[@dougbeach7299]

it's not a Fugi but it'll do. love your channel man. just watched your king size bed frame build and got a kick out of the blooper at the end. thanks for teaching me so much.

[@jeremiahgriffin9428]

It's not a fuji but it'll do! Btw, congrats on the good surgery news. Glad it turned out benign. Can't wait to see what a new, revitalized wood whisperer is gonna is gonna bring this community!

[@Ketaset999]

It's not a Fuji but it'll do! I've had a HVLP sitting in my amazon cart forever. My wife doesn't mind brush strokes, but I can't stand them! I hope I can make her see the light with this thing!

[@joegottli]

It's not a Fuji, but it'll do. Love your videos, and I'm glad you're doing well after your surgery!

[@SilverFox2190]

5 years late... it isn't a fuji, but it will do. Thanks Mark! Great information.

[@PhlipPhlop13]

It's not a Fuji but it'll do. Also, I went one further with the HomeRight (I think? got it at Rockler...) handheld model to just spray some latex on some shutters I built and I have to say, it didn't do too bad. Had to dilute the heck out of the paint (~40%) but it went on well - especially with the massive overspray onto my garage floor.

[@zanaga1901]

How about a Turbine system for painting a whole car or truck I saw the one for Eastwood but it was a thousand dollars that was 5 stage. But would you really need a 5 stage turbine paint system to paint a whole car or truck.

[@CMDR_Elizium51RA]

It's not a Fuji but it'll do! Been eyeballing one for a while, but wanted to learn more first. Thanks for the timely post and hope you get well soon!

[@markgardiner1767]

That was a terrific education on these HVLP turbines.regards Mark

[@ender52]

It's not a Fuji, but it'll do! Thanks for the very informative intro to spray finishing. I've been wondering if I should take the plunge and get a sprayer, and this helped me a lot.

[@keystastanciel-tx3jl]

Thinking about buying the Fuji Semi Pro 2 to paint with when I paint vehicles in the future. I only paint my own vehicle now though.

[@user-fl4wn9dn2c]

I have an Axis turbine and an accuspray 10G gun, works good on race car parts, thinking about getting a fuji for house trim and doors. will they do ok with latex? kinda want cup on bottom also.

[@robertbankhead8661]

Well done on this. Totally agree with your assessment. And I’m a Fuji guy as well.

[@olliedog75]

It's not a Fuji, but it will do!! Have learned much from your videos. Really appreciate your efforts sharing what you've learned.

[@bertmyers5860]

It's not a Fuji but it'll do! Thanks for the info Marc. I think for just getting into spraying the lost entry point of the Rockler/HF is pretty painless if you didn't like it. But for not much more getting a 2/3 stage might ease some of the beginners' frustrations.

[@ealdydar]

Ive been eyeing the turbine units for a while to replace a big compressor and it would be portable if needed. Ive never found and answer to if i can use my existing guns on those units. I have quite of few guns im happy with how they spray. Big question can you use a gravity fed gun with those with hose mods of course. I like my gravity fed setup with my easy to clean cup liners.

[@danielgeng2306]

Thanks Marc, very useful information. Been thinking about an HVLP and this was a huge help. Hope all is well regarding you recent surgery ~ just realized this is an older video, sooo I guess things turned out ok :)

[@BillMall]

Given the "needed" extra power of a 4 stage or above for latex paint at what point does it just make more sense to use an airless setup instead of hvlp?

[@MikeKapotsy]

Thanks Marc. I like the Rockler one, It's not a Fuji, but it'll do! Hey nice to see my sticker on your tool cabinet! Glad your surgery went well!

[@pluggy1807]

It's not a Fuji but it'll do! Hope you're recovery is swift. I just started out wood working and really like your vids and explanations.

[@georgespangler1517]

I have a fugi 4 stage with the T70 gun first job was a 47 foot Yaht in 12 mph winds and it turned out like I did it in a paint booth beautiful paint job, I'm painting cars now with it,,

[@robertbotta6536]

Great job. Thanks. Hey will you explain why top gravity gun vs bottom feed gun?

[@tedfry236]

It's not a Fuji but it'll do! I've been watching your channel for a long time, and I always enjoy your style! Congrats to who ever wins it!

[@brucepattinson254]

It's not a Fuji but it'll do! Mark SO glad your Thyroid issue was benign!

[@thesergeant3524]

It's not a Fuji but it'll do . Seriously though, this video couldn't have come at a better time. Birthday is coming up in a few weeks and the wife has been talking about a sprayer. I'll have to forward her this for an education. Thanks Marc!

[@TYB439]

What's the difference between a gravity fed vs bottom fed cup? (T70 vs T75) Thanks.

[@ericschwoerer920]

It's not a Fuji but it'll do! Thanks for taking the time to show what the entry level sprayer can do.

[@sigung01]

Did a complete restoration on an FJ40. Finish was spectacular, single stage acrylic enamel. You could see your face in it. I used a compressor and an HVLP gun from Home Depot. Compressor cost me $600 and the gun was about 30 bucks. I still use them today, and I might add the compressor is much more useful than this Fuji unit.

[@drewschumann1]

Your so-called "HVLP gun" really isn't. And it is nowhere near as efficient as an HVLP turbine. Nor is it as portable.

[@sigung01]

I see, you're nitpicking on terms and ignoring my success, congratulations on your myopic point of view. I'm quite sure you voted for Trump. By the way, I'm quite sure you will reply, I will not read it.

[@sigung01]

So what is your point? You don't like what the manufacturer is calling their product? In that case your gripe is with them. I'm simply reporting something I did with something I bought, and what the manufacturer called it. As far as efficiency goes, it worked for me. So now I have a question for you, are you a troll, or are you an HVLP troll, in which case, you would be far more efficient at trolling people for no fucking reason whatsoever except to stroke your all knowing ego. Come at me again donald. I can do this forever.

[@stoneyswolf]

I never knew these existed kinda cool. The homeRite electric sprayer is the same thing all built in to one unit the turbine in part of the gun.

[@JamNJ1985]

Great video. Helping out us new professionals the knowledge we need to be effective, efficient, and productive. Thank you

[@sachae321]

It's not a Fuji but it'll do...except it would probably cost as much again to export to the UK - but trying is half the fun. Hope the healing is going fine - glad it was all benign.

[@roymojica1849]

It's not a Fuji but it will do! And thanks for your honesty and comparison!

[@DukeLaCrosse20]

I happened to own a small Bostic compressor for a nail gun. Its underrated for the job but I bought a harbor freight gravity feed hvlp gun for $16 and it works amazingly well. I have a really small amount of work to do so $16 is hard to go wrong. Its a good way to learn about these things and I have learned a ton since dropping the $16 on a lark. Eventually, I may upgrade. Its not a fuji, but it'll do. Haha! Only a year too late for that, I guess.