Harbor Freight LVLP Spray Gun Review and Modifications Item 61455

Harbor Freight LVLP Spray Gun Review and Modifications Item 61455.

[@beck645]

Holy cow! THIS is how product reviews all need to be. How can I thank you enough? It’s perfectly done. Unlike so many other guys you never cussed. You never tried to be cute and entertaining. If I want that I’ll look for stand up comics. I just bought this sprayer and your video is freaking perfect. Can I give you 20 thumbs ups? Great job. Now go and train everyone else. Thanks!!!!

[@ghostses]

Thanks! I know what you mean about other videos. That's just not the way I roll. Glad you found it informative. Good luck! G.

[@christopherhawkins4521]

Ghostses: This is the best instruction video I can recall. Everything about it is first rate. 1) The angle, light, steadiness and closeness of the video. 2) The audio is of proper volume, no background noise and the smoothness of speech. 3) Each step is described in detail. 4) The model number of the gun is given. 5) The modifications to improve the spray gun. Thank you so much. You have helped me greatly. Regards, Chris

[@ghostses]

Well thanks Chris! I'm glad you found it useful and appreciate the nice comments. I watch tons of videos myself. I think the three things that bug me most are first: being blown out of the chair because an intro is too loud. So it turn it down, then the speech is whisper quiet and I have to crank the volume all the way up. Then I watch another video without turning down the volume and I'm blown out again...lol. The second is practically needing to take a bottle of Dramamine to watch something that's being shot without a tripod and moving all over the place. The third is not staying on topic with the subject matter. So, I try to not put up something that won't fall within these bugs of mine...lol. Thanks again for the post and good luck, G.

[@ccgabe82]

Great video! I'm sick of wasting my time watching videos where some dude talks 15 minutes explaining how to put in a few screws!

[@StevenRodriguez-uo1gv]

I found this video after I bought this spray gun at HF. You are very thorough and informative on the prep, set up and the use of this spray gun that it gave me no issue using it the first time. Thanks a million!!!

[@ghostses]

That's cool Steven. Glad it was useful and your first time turned out well. Good luck, G.

[@yzmoto80]

Very, very, GOOD REVIEW ! Well spoken, fair, and honest ! Two thumbs up ! I’m going to get one of these guns as soon as I put this down. Thank you !

[@ghostses]

Thanks! Glad you like my style. Hope it works out well for you. Good luck, G.

[@beautifulguitarhands]

This was a great video! Excellent instructions and explanations. I’m very impressed with your review and how you never made it a point to discuss how cheap this gun is as negative rather you took the time to modify it and made an effort to maximize it’s performance. Thanks for your presentation!

[@ghostses]

Thanks Armando! Glad you found it useful. And yes, I try to find a way to make a product perform better no matter the initial cost. Good luck, G.

[@gusbub13]

Thank you for taking the time to post this. Found it useful.

[@ghostses]

No problem! Good luck, G.

[@chrishad95]

I just got this gun this weekend at HF and after watching your video I painted 18 shutters and my front door using some pretty thick latex paint. I had to thin the paint with some water but after that I was able to adjust the spray gun to work pretty well. I didn't even read the instructions but I had no problems at all thanks to your video.

[@ghostses]

Good deal! Glad the video was helpful and your project turned out well. Take care, G.

[@marcellemay7721]

This is a very good video on the subject of this gun and specifically for spreading latex. The comments are chock full of great suggestions too. I just bought this gun to spray some cabinets and this video coupled with the comments had all the information I could ever need to make this work.

[@ghostses]

Thanks Marcel. Good luck with your projects. G.

[@gosborne13]

No fluff here. Straight to the point. Really appreciate the video. Very informative. Thanks.

[@ghostses]

Thanks Greg! Take care, G.

[@gordoncarlisle5672]

Awesome review and run through! Helped me a ton.

[@ghostses]

Thanks! Take care, G.

[@ssonne5085]

Great review buddy!! you definitely deserve my comment. You're very articulate and to the point. And the way you handled everything wiping it down checking for any imperfections at the same time cleaning the pieces it shows you take a lot of pride in your tools. Best review anywhere I've ever seen!!

[@ghostses]

Thanks! Yes, I take pride in all my tools from the top shelf on down. Glad you liked the video. Take care, G.

[@wildestcowboy2668]

@@ghostses hey man can I spray laquer primer on my truck with this gun?

[@ghostses]

@@wildestcowboy2668 I would say if it's yes. I wouldn't use it for a finish though. Good luck, G.

[@Vanndam41]

Thank you for the video. Very impressive and easy to follow. I just bought a similar model and I did the modifications you suggested. Now I can’t wait to try it out.

[@ghostses]

Glad it was helpful! Good luck with your projects. G.

[@Beanoman90]

You swayed my decision to buy this little jewel. Just got through spraying my coffered ceiling. Beadboard and mdf panels were all pre primed and I loved the super smooth finish they had. So to recreate that i bought this and hoped for the best. I tried to use rollers and brushes on test peices but they all had this texture I did not like. This shot a super slick smooth finish that I wanted and I am pleased with how it came out. One issue that only happened twice, may have been user error, but it "pissed" twice on me. When I let off the trigger it shot a stream of paint out everytime. Luckily it still being wet I used a foam roller and foam brush to brush the mistakes out, then respray. I fiddled with the adjustments and it worked itself out. I still don't know why that happened. May have been the angle I was painting at almost 45- 60 degrees causing it do this. For a first time sprayer, this baby was easy to use. Used valspar ultra ceiling paint+primer, thinned with 10-15% water at around 40 psi. I may could have fiddled with it to work at a lower psi but i found 40 to be the sweet spot for me. Also note I am using a 100 foot hose, so that may be the reason I needed more pressure to compensate for the psi loss throughout the hose. Difficult to paint a ceiling but it can be done, painting a wall or small projects, I can see this thing doing wonders. And do what the can says!! Clean that sucker out immediately after use!!!

[@ghostses]

Glad it's been working out for you. As you know, it can to a fine job especially for as little as it costs. It sounds like the packing nut on yours might be a little too tight which is causing the spitting. When you let off the trigger the needle isn't closing fast enough. Try loosening it off a bit and test. If it starts leaking at the nut, tighten it up just enough to make it stop. Yeah, with that much hose, you probably have quite a bit of pressure drop. I run my compressor regulator at 100psi and use the regulator on the gun to adjust the pressure. I find it easier to make adjustments at the gun- especially on the fly. Take care, G.

[@rneustel388]

Well, I don't need to watch anymore instruction videos on this topic! Thanks for making the best video on this subject anywhere on KZbin.

[@ghostses]

No problem! Glad you found it informative. Good luck, G.

[@randalljoe3402]

Not sure if anyone gives a shit but if you're stoned like me during the covid times then you can watch all of the new movies and series on instaflixxer. Been binge watching with my gf for the last couple of months xD

[@garrettdavion8393]

@Randall Joe Definitely, have been using instaflixxer for years myself :D

[@Robertrampt]

Great video thank you . Just bought one today . Gives me more confidence in doing my next project.

[@ghostses]

Thanks! Good luck with your project, G.

[@russellbeery1297]

I always appreciate your videos, you really seem to know what you're doing and appear to have a wealth of lifelong experience.l own 5 paintguns from harbor freight and l use a similar procedure to you before I use them. On some of their high high pressure guns they assembled them with some kind of silicone seal that dissolves with use and would wreck your paintjob.I reassemble them using Teflon tape and replacing any suspect O rings. Between that and cleaning them thoroughly I have had excellent results painting.

[@ghostses]

Thanks Russel. I just know a little about a lot of things- never all of anything...lol. This gun just had assembly/packing oil in it- no silicone. I'd seen a video the other day on their one of their HVLP guns. The gentleman was doing the same thing you do- deep cleaning, replacing o rings and using Teflon tape. I was surprised to see a huge chunk of sealant that was in the end of his gun. I myself am not opposed to fixing or finishing their products to save money and have something that works well. I was expecting this gun to have some leaks, but it didn't to my surprise. I would bet most inexpensive guns, no matter the brand, come out of the same factory...lol. They all look the same to me- other than their color. Thanks for the post, G.

[@jdub1922]

Great video, matter of fact and directly to the point! THANKS!!

[@ghostses]

Thanks J! Glad you found it informative. Take care, G.

[@jvmor6275]

Now THAT'S a review! Thank you.

[@ghostses]

Thanks! Glad you liked it. G.

[@jasonwyant7608]

Great video. Getting ready to paint some trim and this was very helpful.

[@ghostses]

Thanks Jason. Good luck with your project, G.

[@patrickdreiding3342]

Picked up this gun today and then watched this video. Thanks to this video I found out a part was missing. The ring behind the spray nozzle was not there. Tomorrow I’ll go back for a replacement. Great video which I’ll watch a few more time before doing any painting. I also need to pickup a regulator.

[@ghostses]

No problem Patrick. Hope it was helpful. Good luck with your projects, G.

[@alonzoakbar6760]

I just bought this to stain my fence. Great review! Will do the upgrades before I use it. 👍🏾

[@ghostses]

Good deal Alonzo. I hope it works out well for you and your project turns out great. Take care, G.

[@apexclaimadjusters5816]

Followed this to the letter and worked as described. Filed the trigger etc... Shooting CabinetCoat a type of acrylic urethane and did excellent.

[@ghostses]

Glad the video was helpful and your project turn out great! Take care, G.

[@slash100588]

Wow this really really and I mean really helped me out. Why can’t others just get to the point. Keep it up !!👍🏼👍🏼

[@ghostses]

Thanks! Not sure, but it's not that hard to say on point. Glad it was helpful. Take care, G.

[@stevekopcial129]

Great video, I learned something today!!!

[@ghostses]

Thanks Steve! Glad you found it informative. Take care, G.

[@UNKPCRIDE]

Thanks ! You video help me assemble mine back from taking it apart. It is a good sprayer, in fact much better than the Home Depot Husky brand at double the price

[@ghostses]

No problem! Glad it was useful. I can't speak for the others, but do agree it works great especially for the cost. Good luck, G.

[@ahikernamedgq]

Great review! Thanks so much!

[@ghostses]

No problem! Take care, G.

[@blackfender100]

Thanks for the video I just bought an Hvlp gravity feed sprayer from HF haven't tried it yet.thanks for the tips

[@ghostses]

Joe Dov No problem Joe! I don't have any of their gravity feed hvlp guns, but another inexpensive brand, so I can't comment on theirs. My gravity feed guns have too small of an orifice to shoot latex so I went with this one for that purpose and it's worked out well for me. I've read some good reviews of their hvlp guns. For the money, it's a hard deal to beat. Clean it up and test it out. Let me know how it works out for your projects. Thanks for the post and good luck! G.

[@BigTony2Guns]

You gave a $1000 instruction on a $20 gun--Thank YOU !

[@ghostses]

Thanks Tony! Glad you liked it. Take care, G.

[@edlopez5k]

Awesome review; thanks!

[@ghostses]

Thanks! Take care, G.

[@RickPalmerNewnanLawyer]

Awesome video!!!

[@ghostses]

Thanks Rick. Take care, G.

[@rockinjohnny1199]

Great video, thanks so much!

[@ghostses]

No problem! Good luck, G.

[@michaelnance5236]

The air adjustment, in my case, makes a huge different on how much material is being applied. I think this is very useful when applying thicker materials or materials that you may want to apply thicker. For the price point, this is a crazy good gun.

[@ghostses]

That's cool Micheal. Glad it's working well for you. I agree, for what it costs it works pretty good. Take care, G.

[@jesseramon]

Good stuff, good info.. put it to practice and got great results...

[@ghostses]

Thanks Jesse! Glad you liked it. G.

[@BackyardWoodworking]

Good review I need to buy a spray gun I get one and follow your suggestions on modifying it. Thanks G

[@ghostses]

Thanks Roland. Good luck if you pick one up. G.

[@jungkuan1373]

very detailed very comprehensive, thanks

[@ghostses]

No problem! Take care, G.

[@jm-ys3un]

i came across this video as i am looking at conventional style guns too small of compressor for hvlp and said that voice sounds familiar, sho enough i watched your awesome 350 vortec rebuild vids a few years ago seems like, i hope you dont take those down i will still need them, i have a junkyard motor in my 98 z71 but i still need to rebuild mine, thanks

[@ghostses]

That's cool. No, I won't ever take them down so they should be around if you ever rebuild yours. Good luck when you do. Take care, G.

[@ixolib64]

Great review and suggestions for the mods. Think I will grab my 20% off coupon and go down and get one. Thanks.

[@ghostses]

Thanks John, it works pretty good. Good luck, G.

[@larry527az3]

Thanks again G, another great video on something I'm interested in. I recently bought one of their HVLP guns with the thoughts of spraying some oil based enamel onto some machines I'm restoring but now I'm wondering if I shouldn't look into this gun now. I recently gave my big compressor to my son for his shop and now have a 30 gal 4.x cfm @ 90 psi unit and this might fill the bill for my needs.

[@ghostses]

Thanks Larry. I don't have their HVLP but have another brand I picked up at WoodCraft. I've played around with latex and even shot a few things with good results, but it was tough to get things working properly. I have an airless, but like I said in the video there's just not much control. I think this gun would be a good gamble for the money and might work just fine for your job. If I had to pick between the gravity fed HVLP and this pressure pot LVLP- the LVLP would be my choice for latex. But, since you're shooting oil based enamel- either one might work just fine. My experience is purely based on latex. Since you now have a smaller compressor, it should keep up with this gun. You might have to wait for it to build back up with the HVLP. This gun has no filter like the HVLP so straining is really important to keep the trash out of the finish. Good luck, G.

[@Jsalas1954]

Thank you, 8yrs later and your review is still relevant. Great video and explained everything I was wondering about this sprayer. What size compressor were you using. thanks again, appreciate the help.

[@ghostses]

Thanks Jesse! At that time, I was using a 20gal compressor. Hope this helps, G.

[@brokenarrowez]

A very professional video.

[@ghostses]

+brokenarrowez Thanks! G.

[@johnnyohness]

Excellent review. You take your time so that us novices can understand each step. I wish everybody did that. Thank you so much for your help.

[@ghostses]

Thanks John! I'm glad you liked it and I know what you mean. I try to show a lot of detail in my videos so they're beneficial to all- regardless of skill level. Good luck, G.

[@johnnyohness]

Yes..thats how the unskilled become the "skilled" you're a great teacher...thanks again.

[@ghostses]

Agreed, and thanks! G.

[@bain5872]

Very handy info there G. I've built a few guitars over the years, not anymore, too much work, and getting a quality finish is not easy and takes mastery of these controls for sure. I know there is some that these vids will save them some hair.

[@ghostses]

Thanks Bain. Building an acoustic has been on my list for years. If I ever get around it it, I will probably buy a kit. Still a lot of work, but not like starting from scratch I would think. I agree with finishes. I don't have too much experience with fine finishes, but hope to someday- and be good at it...lol. Take care, G.

[@bain5872]

***** I've never built acoustics, way to much effort and I'm to lazy for that. I custom built strats and tele clones for clients but those were already rough out blanks. I just had to fret, fit and finish and install the hardware. Although I know the steps to build one I don't have the patients for that anymore. I do highly recommend my supplier to you. www.stewmac.com Their not cheap but they have what you need for building or repair work on guitars including a world of finishing supplies.

[@ghostses]

bain5872 That's cool! I was looking around a few months ago and stumbled on stewmac. You're correct their kits aren't cheap, but they seem to have the best ones available. If I ever get around to it, I may buy a cheaper kit to cut my teeth on, then get one of theirs after I learn from my mistakes. Thanks Bain, G.

[@ronniekotler9265]

Really good video. Thanks

[@ghostses]

Thanks Ronnie! Take care, G.

[@miles11we]

if your needle and fluid tip arent seating right, before returning it try putting some mild lapping compound in there and spinning the needle in the gun with the tip in place. clean it out and put in new compound and a drop of oil every now and again to prevent galling. takes 10 mins if you have a pin vice and a drill, worth a shot

[@ghostses]

Good tips again, G.

[@natespencer2570]

Great video. Thanks for the information. Apparently HF has either transitioned to a new supplier since you made your video or they have two suppliers. I brought a gun home and started to clean it as you illustrated and noticed I did not have the rubber gasket or washer that goes behind the nozzle. I took it back to HF and ended up opening a few boxes to see all the guns were similar to what I had except for the display model. It looks like the nozzle on the gun I had has a gasket ring affixed to the back. Regardless I wanted to use what you said worked so I took the display model. I used it to spray an oil enriched enamel cabinet paint from Valspar. I need to do some tweaking on the gun settings but I am very pleased with the results. It seems like it may have gone on a little thick since I did not get the coverage I was expecting or what was listed on the can. I was painting pegboard for a new garage workspace so I wanted to spray and not worry about filling the holes with brushed paint. I am very pleased with the surface finish. I did have to thin the paint with about 10% Flotrol. I tried a thinned batch first and when I ran out I thought I would try the paint straight since the guy at Lowes told me it was pretty thin and would spray great. I could not get it to spray. I thinned it and got the gun spraying again and finished the job. I am pleased. Next step is to spray the base cabinets but you mentioned in a response you are using a different HF setup now for cabinets but the link does not work. Any information on what you use now or what HF may have changed the item number to? Also I am pleased enough with the surface finish of the pegboard I am considering using the gun to spray some raised panel wainscoting in my house so I have as smooth as finish as possible. Any advise or experience?

[@ghostses]

Thanks Nate! Sounds like it's working well for you. I did change to other setup. Not sure why the link didn't work, but here's the the one I use now. www.harborfreight.com/64-oz-professional-hvlp-air-spray-gun-kit-62895.html I did a review on their non-hvlp model, but took it back. I never reviewed the one I have, but it works great for me. I like the gun being remote from the pot. I can spray in any direction. It's also nice to get into small places- like the insides of a cabinet. I did add a regulator right at the gun though- that was my only upgrade. I run full line pressure to the pot inlet, and regulate the gun pressure to about 20-25psi while on the trigger. The pot pressure only gets about 3-5psi. I used Sherwin Williams Pro Classic thinned with 10oz of distilled water, and 10 cap fulls of Flotrol. Here's a link to some cabinets I shot with it. They turned out awesome. Hope this helps, G. kzbin.info/www/bejne/eaOqn5-qpZani6c

[@lbecque]

I have the newer version of the gun that you saw at first Nate, the one with no gasket over the nozzle. It seems to be improved in several ways. The pull trigger works fine out of the box so don't have to do the modification. The part behind the trigger is no longer aluminum, its stainless steel so no problem with wear. I did drill out my nozzle to about 2.0mm (5/64) so I can spray thicker paints with less thinning needed but still need some.

[@johncole5175]

You just saved me a trip to HF!

[@ghostses]

Good deal John! G.

[@alexandernattress6440]

wwf works the same as laytex extender for some reason. dk why but it works great for the end of the day when the paint has thickened.

[@ghostses]

+Hedge Hog Thanks for the post! What is wwf- windshield wiper fluid? If so, I'd seen a video related to using it but have never tried it. G.

[@johndonahue1935]

That side screw that you say is supposed to be air adjustment actually bleeds air into the paint tank that forces the paint to the tip allowing you to spray much thicker paint. I think these type of guns were called ' external mix / internal mix guns' depending on if you opened that side screw or not.

[@ghostses]

Thanks for the info, John. In the manual, they called it an air adjustment. It does make sense it would/should change the pressure in the pot. When I was testing, it didn't seem to make any difference where I set it. Pushing latex never changed in any setting. Granted, this is an extremely inexpensive gun, so a better one might work a bit differently in regards to this adjustment- or just work for that matter....lol. Thanks for the post and good luck, G.

[@lbecque]

Your right, the manual called it an air adjustment and the manual is wrong! It is a pressure adjustment for the paint tank as John stated. I have the newer gun without the gasket over the nozzle and with mine this side screw adjustment of paint pressure works very well. Most of the time run it wide open unless getting too much paint. At one point on my project I needed to spray less paint to get inside a detail. So I closed in the side screw a few turns, reduce my regulator pressure and backed out the main air adjuster behind the needle. I was able to atomize a smaller amount of paint to get inside corners without creating runs. Also, I was spraying very thick latex so I had to drill out the nozzle to 2.0mm and thin the paint slightly.

[@tylerdavis8625]

SOLID!!!

[@ghostses]

Thanks! Take care, G.

[@allenhudson9741]

Great video! I've never used a spray gun before and recently bought this spray gun then found your video. Is a pattern with dots of heavier concentration of stain normal instead of a uniform layer of stain normal? Or is that part of adjusting the settings? It just doesn't look as good as I expected it would. Thanks for any feedback!

[@ghostses]

+Allen Hudson Thanks Allen. I'm no pro, but a uniform pattern would be what I would shoot for. Getting the pattern correct is part of the adjusting. Since a picture is much easier to grasp, here's a link that might be helpful. Towards the bottom of the page you will see a lineup of patterns, and what the problem is. It might be helpful. Keep in mind though- they are speaking of a different type of gun so the adjustments they make might be different on this one. Play around with it on some scrap, or paper, to see if you can get better results. This gun is a bit of a pain to adjust, but once you get the hang of it- it should work pretty good. Hope this helps! Good luck, G. www.how-to-build-hotrods.com/set-up-hvlp.html

[@jimdusek2814]

Congrats on a very excellent video about this HF LVLP spray gun! I've used this gun for the last Two days painting kitchen cab doors and it performed perfectly. I would like to add some other comments: the trigger fix is right on however, I added and number 4 washer between the trigger and the plunger so that the washer take all the guff and saves the plunger from gualing. Not hard to do, just turn the gun upside down and lay the washer smooth side facing the plunger and insert the needle through the washer for the nozzle. You will have to pay attention to this when you clean the gun or it will go missing. This addition makes the trigger even better. Also, this gun MUST be completely disassembled to properly clean it!! I mean everything including all needles and valves - especially the air valve on the side of the gun. Be careful with this one as there is a very small spring inside the valve which will get lost. The pattern valve needs to be completely removed and cleaned as well. Look at the nozzle end of the gun with the nozzle parts removed and you will a small hole at the 12 o'clock position. This is where air is directed to make the pattern. Paint finds its way into this passage and can block the the operation of the valve. I found that using a blowgun, toothbrush and glue brush with mineral spirits (or water for latex) will make the job easier. BTW, the gasket for the jar can be dislodged by a blowgun so you can clean under it. Clean everything until the mineral spirits/water rinse is clean and you are done. If you do all these mods and keep the gun clean, you will have a really nice spray gun that will perform better than expected for a long time! Thanks again for a well done video! :-)

[@ghostses]

Thanks Jim! Using a washer is a fantastic idea! The rest are great tips. I was surprised how well it shot- especially for what it costs. Glad it worked out for your project. Take care, G.

[@chrisreeves8037]

I am an Wagner airless painter. First time to use air was this gun. I sprayed auto paint. My comments are "dido" this man. I give it 5 stars for a $20 paint gun.

[@ghostses]

Thanks Chris! Glad your project turned out well for you. Yep, for the cost, it works really well. Good luck, G.

[@MRrwmac]

Saw one of those at HF when I was in there yesterday and thought of you. I'm curious about the different uses for a HVLP LVLP? I'm sure you researched it and am curious what applications you would use each for? You mentioned you had a larger paint sprayer and thought I would mention I acquired on old Campbell Hausfeld paint sprayer very recently and have rebuilt it. Waiting on a couple parts. Thanks for sharing the finer points of your new LVLP.

[@ghostses]

Mac, HVLP would require a larger compressor to keep up with the CFM requirements where as a LVLP requires less and could be used with a smaller compressor. As for their function, they're pretty much the same. Both can be had in either gravity feed or pressure pot setups. HF is limited on their selection and don't offer different tip sizes for their guns. For shooting something like latex paint, I find this gun with a pressure pot does a better job. It forces the paint to the tip. A gravity feed gun with a 2.0-2.5MM tip can be used- but the paint has to be well thinned and they tend to spit and sputter. This gun is more forgiving on the viscosity of the paint- I find. Tip size is another consideration. The smaller the tip, the thinner the product that should be used, and the larger the tip, a thicker product should be used. Most of the HF gravity feed guns have too small a tip for latex which is why I chose this gun- plus they're gravity feed. They say this gun will shoot stains and varnishes as well. It will shoot it, but the finish may not be that great. A smaller tip would probably better suited for spraying thinner materials so it atomizes smaller particles resulting in a finer finish. That's about all I know- hope it helps. I do have a Graco airless, like your CH. It's great for shooting large open surfaces fast or even crown, base, and door moldings. But, it's really hard to paint book cases for example. I'm sure a skilled painter would laugh at me, but I'm not much of a painter...lol. Good luck with your CH. I've used one in the past and it worked quite well. G.

[@MRrwmac]

Will have to check out that little sprayer for the same reasons you got it, smaller jobs. Thanks my friend!

[@ghostses]

MRrwmac No problem Mac! Good luck, G.

[@MrThunderbolt3]

I tried the windshield washing fluid thinning white latex.it worked fine no problem with the blue tint.I only sprayed a small area inside as I worried about the explosive properties of the alcohol.thinning with water in the past has caused unused stored paint to mold in the can for me so I'm hoping this stores better.good luck everyone.remember spray safe

[@ghostses]

+Tony Page Good information Tony! Thanks for sharing, G.

[@NewarkTXGuy]

Well done video that is very informative and professional in delivery. I've also used windshield washer fluid ti thin out latex paint. It worked well and my H Depot spray gun didn't mind it. NOTE: I used the WMart generic blue fluid without problems. I used the generic green fluid and ended up with fisheye contamination.

[@ghostses]

Thanks Linn! Glad you liked it. Good info when using green tinted fluid. Thanks for sharing, G.

[@natesalinas6825]

What did you use to clean your gun after you shot it with latex/Floetrol? GREAT VID! will be stopping by to pick one up this afternoon.

[@ghostses]

Nate, it was cleaned up with water. Good luck, G.

[@themusj]

Just purchased this exact spray gun yesterday and found it was missing the rubber gasket in the nozzle area. The gasket as shown in your video with the holes around its edge. My wife went back to Harbor Freight today. She could not find this exact model with any that had the gasket. All were missing the gasket. The store ended up giving her the gasket they found from the floor model, the only one that had it. Tonight, as I cleaned the unit as described in your video, I discovered with the gasket in place, the nozzle would not screw on all the way. Apparently, despite it being in the manual's parts list, it is no longer needed. It looks like they modified the nozzle with its own flange. It fits the same circular groove as does the rubber / plastic gasket. With the plastic gasket in place, the nozzle and the lock ring do not seat all the way. Thought I would pass that on to the next person who opts to purchase one.

[@ghostses]

Good info! On the one I have, the gasket being there in the first place seemed odd to me since all my other guns have caps like you've described. Sounds like they finally made an upgrade. Take care, G.

[@themusj]

Yes, LOL, but I ended up taking it back a second time. This time it leaked at the top of the unit where the small screw goes into the unit with the long needle in the center of the nut. Not sure what it is called. Kept leaking and I gave up on it. I was able to put the gasket we picked up back on the floor unit. Looks like several were returned from the boxes having no manuals or the brushes. Ended up buying a Kobalt unit from Lowe's. Three times the price but it was a gem. It really laid down the BIN primer with no thinning. Much better quality all the way around.

[@ghostses]

@@themusj Good deal! G.

[@chriswalters5244]

Bravo

[@ghostses]

Thanks Chris! Good luck, G.

[@miles11we]

no, when you get a harbour freight gun its packed with oil and earwax. good guns come ready to to shoot.. still worth running some thinner through it, but dont fully disassemble it. maybe take a look at the needle, fluid tip, air cap and diffuser but thats it.

[@ghostses]

Good tips! G.

[@msawyer221]

Would this spray gun work for lacquer? I am new to the woodworking world and I am looking for something to finish larger pieces with other than brushing. Thanks for the video.

[@ghostses]

Michael, if it was a thicker lacquer It might work fine. If the material being sprayed is less viscous, a gun with smaller tip and needle might be a better choice. They claim the gun to be able to shoot latex, stains, and varnishes. I know it would spray it, but not sure how the finish would turn out. It doesn't say what size the tip is, but I believe it to be a 2.0MM. I cannot verify for sure if it would shoot lacquer well since I've only used latex in the gun, and that was the reason for my purchase. 1.5-1.7MM might be more suitable for a thinner product. A general rule of thumb would be the less viscous a product, the smaller the tip, and the more viscous a product the larger the tip. With a smaller tip and less viscous material, it should atomize finer particles to produce a finer finish. But, for the money it might be worth a gamble to play around to see if it will produce a finish to your standards. If you're considering using a solvent based product, please be aware of all of the safety precautions that need to be met. Meaning, an explosion or fire can occur with them being introduced into the air. A fan, furnace, hot water heater, etc could cause a bad situation. Also consider the proper respiratory gear as well. If using water-based- forget everything I just said...lol. I don't usually make any comments regarding safety, but since you're new to woodworking just want you to be aware. Personally, for the $14 or so bucks, pick one up and see how it does for you. I have a video somewhere with a link to a site where you can print off the 25% coupon, as well as other coupons for free items. It should have coupon in the title. Check it out and save a few bucks. Hope this helps, G.

[@melissalibretta7877]

Good morning. Looking for some guidance on the Harbor Freight LVLP sprayer. How thin does the paint need to be in order to effectively spray? purchased an Wagner viscosity cup to measure the viscosity of the latex paint, but there does not seem to be any charts detailing how much to thin the paint.

[@ghostses]

Melissa, I believe I thinned mine down by about 10% for what I was shooting- out of the can. It may vary based on the viscosity of the paint you have. I can't say what the viscosity was since I did not use a cup. I would forgo the viscosity cup and just thin to the point where your paint shoots properly out of the gun. Make some tests and see what what works best for you. Hope this helps, G.

[@davidwatson5049]

Great video. I purchased this gun because I have a small compressor. Unfortunately, when I used it for the first time, paint flowed out of the packing nut. I tightened it, but it still leaked really bad. I think it had no packing at all. Do you know if it can be fixed? Can I just put an o-ring in there? I don’t think I can take it back to HF at this point. Thanks.

[@ghostses]

I can't say David. You could try it. But you might be able to return it even though you've used it. They have a pretty forgiving return policy. Good luck, G.

[@SynergyAVE]

Do you know what size the needle is in this unit? The manual on their website does not indicate like they do for other models.

[@ghostses]

Don't quote me, but I believe it's a 2.0. Hope this helps, G.

[@gfactorg]

Thanks!

[@ghostses]

Gary W. Hall No problem! G.

[@heru-deshet359]

This looks exactly like the 60612 paint spray gun, which I just purchased from HF. Thanks.

[@ghostses]

That's cool. Yeah, they're the same. At HF, many of the same thing have different part numbers. It's because they come out of different factories. Good luck, G.

[@heru-deshet359]

@@ghostses Thanks!

[@ghostses]

@@heru-deshet359 Take care, G.

[@jamesmanley5236]

Great video. I just bought this spray gun and this was very helpful. I saw in another comment you have a different gun you use for spraying floor, door, and crown moldings. This is what I bought this gun for. Do you think it will still do a decent job? Secondly, could this gun handle painting the exterior of my house? Thank you very much!

[@ghostses]

+James Manley Thanks James. I do have several setups I use. Any older comments I've made may be different these days- depending on which setup I was referring to. But now, the size of the job kind of determines which one I would use. I have a new setup that I have used for crown, base, door jambs and trim, etc. Now I primarily use it for kitchen cabinets or other small jobs. Here's the link www.harborfreight.com/professional-hvlp-spray-gun-kit-93305.html It works really well since you can hold the gun in any direction and still get the flow of paint- and get in really tight spaces. It is a tool that needs to be understood to make it work well since it has tons of adjustments. It also does require a compressor that can keep up with it, or you have to wait for the compressor to catch up. For larger trim and door painting jobs, I use my Graco airless with a fine finish tip. It's much faster than either the gun you have, or the other I've linked. I also use it for exterior painting. If speed/time on task is somewhat irrelevant- I do think the one you have will do a decent job especially if you have a compressor that can keep up with it. You might spend more time filling it up, but it will work. It should also paint the exterior just fine, but again you will spend a lot of time filling it. If it gets to be too much, and is too slow for your liking, you can always get something else- like an airless sprayer. I know HF sells one, but I have no experience with it. If a Graco fine finish tip would fit- I could be another option. www.harborfreight.com/airless-paint-sprayer-kit-60600.html Either way, for what the one you have costs- I say give it a go. You can always spend more later...lol. Hope this helps, G.

[@jamesmanley5236]

Thanks. I appreciate the feedback!

[@JBr-xw4xt]

Can I attach a small hose to the syphon and weigh that down onto a gallon can of paint?

[@jwerner3903]

Does anyone know if additional needles and nozzles can be obtained anywhere? I need smaller nozzles.

[@ghostses]

I don't know. I think it should come with a couple of sizes. Good luck, G.

[@camocowboy2254]

Do I need a regulator of my compressor has one where the hose connects??

[@ghostses]

No, you just need to change the pressure on the regulator on the compressor to what works for you. Having one at the gun just makes adjustments easier- but is not required. Hope this helps, G.

[@DukeLaCrosse20]

The HarborFreight site says this is a "siphon feed" but you said it's a "pressure pot." Does the pot actually get pressurized or does the material simply get siphoned up the tube?

[@ghostses]

This model does pressurize the pot. Hope this helps, G.

[@bassthunder819]

can this be used to spray automotive primers?sealers?

[@ghostses]

Personally, I would go for a gravity fed gun with the proper size nozzle for primers and sealers. They do have some, but which would be best I don't know. Good luck, G.

[@W8QH]

I noticed that my gun was packed with some grease, and you said to clean all that out? Don't you need to oil it back in places?

[@ghostses]

Perhaps just the needle Ed. Put a little 3&1 oil on it before inserting- but not all the way to the tip. Hope this helps, G.

[@vincentvalentine9417]

I'm having issues with spraying sherwin pro classic latex. I'm getting some splotching and spattering. Is this a thinning issue?

[@ghostses]

It could be. I would try thinning 10% with water. Good luck, G.

[@1painter4hire]

Nice Job 👍 Thanks for Your Time.

[@gosborne13]

Quick question...you said this lvlp gun is good for smaller compressors. How small? I have a Rigid pancake compressor - I think it's either 6 or 8 lb. I'm looking to paint a bedroom suit so I think trigger time would be fairly low. You think the smaller compressor could hang with a job like that using this gun?

[@ghostses]

Greg, I was referring to something like a 20gal compressor. Your compressor will probably do the job, but you may have to wait for it to refill often. Like you said, trigger time may be fairly low, which would help. It will more than likely run most of the time, and could damage your compressor. It's hard to say for sure as I've never tried my pancake since I have larger compressors. With that said, it might be worth the gamble since the gun is quite affordable. Either way, if you do give it a go, let me know how it worked out for you. It would surely help others. Good luck, G.

[@jmseipp]

I have the same question since I have two Porter Cable 6 gallon pancake compressors. I’d rather not have to go out and spend hundreds of dollars for a new larger one. I haven’t found any deals on used ones on Craigslist. They do get quite hot if they continually run.

[@ghostses]

@@jmseipp John, since you have two you might try connecting them together. That would give you 12gal of compressed air to pull from. Yeah, I look off and on for deals on CL and most is overpriced junk. Good luck, G.

[@jmseipp]

@@ghostses . Really? I’m not sure how to do that, to connect them.

[@ghostses]

@@jmseipp John, I'll do my best to describe the setup as I see it. Take 2 short "whips" with the proper connector(s) added. Something like this (www.amazon.com/Goodyear-Rubber-Whip-Hose-Yellow/dp/B0038M4ZYY/ref=sr_1_4?crid=21AOIIGUDAPFC&keywords=air+hose+whip&qid=1639810296&sprefix=air+hose+whip%2Caps%2C96&sr=8-4) Then use a manifold like this with the proper connector(s) added. (www.amazon.com/Tulead-Mainfold-Pneumatic-Compressor-Distribution/dp/B07WFT239S/ref=sr_1_10?crid=YJYYPW0NM84K&keywords=airline%2Bmanifold%2B1%2F4%2Btwo%2Bway&qid=1639810655&sprefix=airline%2Bmanifold%2B1%2F4%2Btwo%2Bway%2Caps%2C86&sr=8-10&th=1) Both compressors are hosed to the manifold with one output going to the gun. You would need to adjust both regulators on the compressors to the same setting, or run them at full bore and add another regulator after the merge of the lines to have one point to regulate the pressure to the gun. The links are not sized, but just for reference as a way to connect your compressors. So take them with a grain of salt. I hope this clarifies things and sends you in a direction that could work for you. Take care, G.

[@tomh6598]

Do you recommend this paint gun to paint a car?

[@ghostses]

No, I would not. G.

[@8BitLife69]

Could this gun be used to paint kitchen cabinets using regular latex paint?

[@ghostses]

Yes, I bought it specifically to shoot latex. I thinned my paint down, strained it well, and it worked great. You might want to look into Floetrol to give the paint more open time to level out, but I tested and shot without it with good results. I have Floetrol, but didn't use it for my testing and current project. You have to play around with the controls to get it shooting properly, but the gun works quite well. Good luck, G.

[@8BitLife69]

***** Awesome, what did you thin the paint with?

[@ghostses]

8bitlife I just used water. Next time I will start thinning with Floetrol based on their percentage recommendation, and finish with water if I think it needs more thinning. It will give the paint more time to flow out before it dries. I didn't have problems by just using water, but it's not too hot here yet so the paint didn't dry as fast and flowed out nice. I would start with scrap to test everything out before tackling your cabinets. Good luck, G.

[@lar4305]

Does air come through the gun out the tip when the trigger is not pulled?

[@ghostses]

lar4305 No it does not. It has a two stage trigger in it though. Basically that means you can pull the trigger partially and only air comes out. Then when pulling further it will start putting out paint. You can put out a little, or a lot paint by feathering the trigger. It gives you more control. Hope this helps. Good luck, G.

[@lar4305]

***** Thank you, that's what i needed to know. I have a much older one i got that air flow is constant out of the gun without pulling the trigger. It wastes a lot of compressor air. Will be buying a new one this week, Thanks for the info.

[@ghostses]

lar4305 No problem! Take care, G.

[@jerseycowboy1]

Did it come with 2 disc tips which did you use?

[@ghostses]

Just one in my kit. G.

[@idleford]

Do you think I could use this for spraying polyurethane? I have a loft bed I have built for my daughter and I'm not looking forward to brushing all that with polyurethane by hand. Great video as always!

[@ghostses]

idleford I don't see why you couldn't. I don't have any experience shooting poly with it, so I would check deeper for sure. It sure would make your job faster for sure. Hope this helps in some way and good luck with your project, G.

[@disciplebarela5230]

what kind of paint for a paint spray gun

[@ghostses]

I'm using water based latex in the video. You could probably use anything you like, but the cleanup might be different. G.

[@oakgrove19]

You said you thin your paint out about 10%. What do you use to thin it with?

[@ghostses]

I was using water based paint- so I thinned it with water. Take care, G.

[@oakgrove19]

Thank you for the reply! Video helped immensely.

[@ghostses]

No problem! G.

[@hawk362]

Hi, Thanks for the video. Can I use it on a car?

[@ghostses]

You could- but I wouldn't if you want a good finish. I would look into the harbor freight purple gun at the least. Good luck, G.

[@hawk362]

@@ghostses Thank you so much.

[@ghostses]

@@hawk362 No problem! Take care, G.

[@stephenlong2522]

how is it with spraying primer

[@ghostses]

It did a fine job for me Stephen. I did thin it down a bit though. Good luck, G.

[@stephenlong2522]

+ghostses thank I'll be using it soon I just bought one , did you ever re use it ?

[@ghostses]

No problem! Yes, I used it quite a bit for many small jobs. I've since starting using this setup from HF over the one shown in the video. I like it better since I can get in smaller places and paint in any direction. I use it for cabinets, doors, some trim, and other small jobs. It does require more air than the LVLP gun. For bigger jobs, I use a Graco airless sprayer. G. www.harborfreight.com/professional-hvlp-spray-gun-kit-93305.html

[@bobabooey8367]

2:40 so...It has me workin before I even use it??

[@ghostses]

LOL! Yeah, even high end guns need to be cleaned prior use. It the oils or whatever they use to prevent rusting that needs to be cleaned out. Good luck, G.

[@darrellcarter4143]

WHAT TIP SIZE

[@ghostses]

I believe it's a 2.0 Darrel. Good luck, G.

[@CarlosRojas-fv2je]

1.4 needle?

[@ghostses]

Carlos, don't take my word for it, but I believe it's a 2.0. G.

[@lbecque]

I had to drill mine out to 2.0mm. I think it comes 1.4 or 1.5

[@TheEgg185]

I hate this gun because you can't get ALL the paint out. gravity feed is the way to go. it all dumps into the gun so there is no waste.

[@ghostses]

+TheEgg185 Yes, that's true. I have gravity feed guns but they don't like shooting latex paint. Since this is a pressure pot, it works better to move the thicker material- over gravity feed. Take care, G.

[@TheEgg185]

hmm. I had no trouble spraying latex, but I watered it down though, as I always do. imo all paints are too thick. watering paint down minimizes brush strokes.

[@ghostses]

TheEgg185 I have done it, but had to thin it out way too much for my liking. I guess it's a personal preference. Take care, G.

[@HumpX]

not one second of showing the gun actually spraying.......nice goin Tex. Best not make a livin' from KZbin ya knothead.

[@ghostses]

Wasn't going to paint around my camera, but there was no point anyway. It shot the paint on nice, which is what I said and showed on the test piece, so that should be enough. Why don't you start posting your own videos instead of bashing others and their efforts. Probably couldn't take the criticism I would guess. Be helpful or be silent. G.