Harbor Freight spray gun filter teardown review: Merlin vs. Central Pneumatic

Harbor Freight Tools sells two different paint spray gun filters. I bought them both and cut them open to review the insides.
Here links to some larger filter regulators and air dryers on Amazon:
(These are Amazon affiliate links, so the channel will earn from qualifying purchases. It’s a great way to support the channel.)
Filter Regulators: amzn.to/2Aty9Vb
Air dryers: amzn.to/2NTgVnh

[@denjhill]

You got a good one. I cut open a Central Pneumatic filter couple of years ago. It had a grand total of ONE of those flimsy filter disks in it. Never again.

[@achecase]

Excellent and illuminating teardown. Thank you.

[@johnmcdougald1238]

being a Harbor freight item, I would probably install the desiccant, and then install one of those Merlin filters on both ends of the air hose, just to be safe.

[@AntonioClaudioMichael]

Wow at how much more filter material is in the merlin

[@LegendofLaw]

Subscribed.... this is exactly what I needed to see.

[@45AMT]

Interesting. I didn't know HF had those Merlin filters. Last time i went to HF all they had were the Central Pneumatic. I've painted plenty of cars with the Central Pneumatic with no issues. I'll definitely be trying those Merlin filters. I've tried that Merlin in line filter you showed. Ended up trashing it because it restricted air flow really bad. Thanks for the great video!

[@Bullfighter6262]

How many spray sessions do you get out of one filter? Trying to figure out how often to change them. Thanks

[@Simple_Machine]

Awesome video with no bs! Thank you

[@waynesspeedshop8167]

I run both a merlin filter dryer on the wall and also the merlin inline they work great. No contamination yet!

[@zylent8251]

Can you review some forged vise , or forged vs casted one?

[@drwatson1234]

I tried upgrading from a red HF filter to the Merlin Desiccant Dryer/Filter screwed in right at the gun. I never even got to spray with it as it caused a drastic reduction in air pressure. Even with the pressure turned up on the compressor, it would drop very fast with the filter. I wonder how people use it?

[@asherdie]

The children at the merlin plant work cheaper.

[@deankay4434]

As Joe Biden would say “Come On Man” you don’t want to make a 7 year old cry or loose their job. You get tired of eating tree bark & grasshoppers after a very short time.

[@chipb1193]

Glad to see the Merlin is much better than the CP. That was one area HF was sorely lacking.

[@levipankey]

The reason the central pnuematic isn't at tightly packed is because it will have a harder time resisting airflow as for the melon it will block up quicker with use restricting airflow more

[@festerreloaded2690]

I was thinking the same thing.

[@fastbusiness]

Thanks for the filters review. I haven't used the Merlin Desiccant Dryer/Filter but have used the Central Pneumatic and found that it restricted the air flow drastically. I had to drill out the openings at both ends to get it to work properly. Also, in the humid conditions that we have here, the desiccant gets saturated very quickly. Unfortunately, HF doesn't sell refills for it, so you have to look elsewhere for that. In order to avoid paying so much for refills, I tried using silica kitty litter which will work, but I'm not sure if it can absorb the humidity fast enough to be useful. For high quality painting a better dryer/filter setup may be needed.

[@jevinhauke974]

You can dry the beads out

[@philguetterman8745]

Thanks! I'm going to buy a few of the Merlin brand now.

[@AntonioClaudioMichael]

Good video and demonstration

[@mccoma11]

The Merlin is now $3.99, while the red one is still $2.99.

[@cup_and_cone]

That's crazy there is such a huge quality difference between the two. I've used the CP ones before without issue. Makes me wonder how the quality is of similar filters I've bought from Eastwood before. Seems like a lottery.

[@not2fast4u2c]

I use the Merlin steel air fittings and they are way better than the cheap brass ones

[@mustangrebuilder]

One you tuber to another great job brother

[@qdood]

Pretty interesting teardown as usual thanks

[@foxwood67]

Great review. Looks like the Merlin is better on all fronts. I agree with the use of desiccant drier but also utilize an inline FR Most importantly is use a dedicated hose for painting only. Great to see you post. Hows the beetle progressing? Keep em coming.

[@ToolTeardowns]

I've been working on the beetle with my limited free time, which is why I haven't had a video in a while. I had to pull the engine and it's about ready to reinstall.

[@kenallison2466]

Good information, thanks for the video!😎

[@johnp556]

another awesome teardown.

[@deankay4434]

That was a great experiment as our HF is out of both & XXL gloves (I am 6’3”). One thing I was things was a test of dunking the filter media into 1oz. of water, time each for a minute, remove with wire or needle nose and measure what’s left. I would bet on blue...and I don’t gamble. But this was truly eye opening as I am sure other brands are twice the price. Thanks. Very interesting! Like and subscribe. ASE Master Tech since 1978 re-cert 7 times.

[@theopiner402]

The Merlin certainly looks like the better product...and with the better price to boot!

[@81Ironmike]

How do you know which direction it's supposed to go? I don't see an arrow on it anywhere.

[@gtbarnes11]

EXACTLY??

[@paintbydenn]

Great review!!! Thumbs up 👍🏼

[@joshoconnor9666]

The Merlin is a dollar more at the harbor freight in my area

[@eksine]

fyi these are not air filters exactly, these are air dryers, these are required each time you start a new spray painting session, once they soak up the water long enough they expire. a drier is different from a filter, it dries the air

[@SteveStoltz]

Great info.

[@ACoustaDC]

Happy Fourth!

[@mk3ferret]

I have the 2 stage merlin desiccant filter, it filters air before it enters the desiccant then cycling the air pulverizes the beads so you need ANOTHER filter....design air filters that contaminate the air who's running the show the goverment?

[@eksine]

those merlin filter went up in price, they cost $5 now

[@LegendofLaw]

I just bought one today in Louisiana and it was 3.99 without any discounts. Maybe price differs in different locations?

[@timdiehn6276]

I always wondered about the difference, now I know! It doesn't seem like there is a flow direction to either filter, is that true? Love your channel, BTW!

[@ToolTeardowns]

There is an input and output. The Merlin doesn't appear to be marked, but it’s easy to tell one side is the input because it has a deflector that directs the air through the filter media.

[@LegendofLaw]

@@ToolTeardowns so the plastic threads are the output? I've never used a spray gun before so I'm trying my luck and guessing how some of it's done.

[@Yeanah_Nahyea]

First