You NEED a Siphon Paint Sprayer!!!

Seriously.
I just finished a project for a local record shop and used my siphon paint sprayer instead of my HVLP sprayer and I am never going back! This has been my go-to for ploy finish on doors for a while, but now I am going to use it on all my cabinet and furniture paint/stain/finish projects and save the HVLP rig for auto paint.
As per the usual, I am 100% unsponsored. I bought it retail at Woodcraft like 4 years ago after seeing a demo. I just love how it sprays, the ease of clean up, and the fantastic finish. I would not use it to paint a house or to build layers of candy apple over the fender of a classic car, but for small to medium wood and metal fabrication projects, I am sold.
I have an older Critter 118 model, but the new ones are exactly the same as far as I can tell. There are other manufactures that make a similar sprayer as well. You can get them from Amazon now and the links are below:
Critter 118 Siphon Sprayer:
amzn.to/3JUqUab
Spare nozzle and O-ring:
amzn.to/3x8Pv3n
Paint filters:
amzn.to/3x9HLOx

[@davidshettlesworth1442]

Thank you for this excellent video. I am a DIY'er doing Jeep rebuild projects. Your video saved me from investing money unnecessarily. I had an old siphon gun and am now using it, thanks to your video! Carry On Sir!

[@sharleejohnstonbrosnan2854]

Great video! I have had one of these guns in my Amazon cart for a while now. I will take the plunge today. I always feel bad bringing home a paint project where my husband has to get out our big sprayer. Now I can DIM (do it myself). I appreciate and can relate to cowboying things. Thanks again!

[@glenmcarroll]

I was given two of these six years ago. I’ve been meaning to try them out, all the reviews are very very good. Cheers, thank you for your information.

[@MattofManyTrades]

Sweet. They really worked out for me.

[@how2q]

great tips in video and all the responses (actually read them all). Thanks for taking time to make video!

[@brendaspencer8577]

So easily understood. Thank you so much for sharing your expertise with us.

[@MattofManyTrades]

Glad it was helpful!

[@dotyman]

Hey, what do we do if we lose the spring? !; )) But seriously, thanks for the review. I'm just getting to know my Critter, and your input was helpful. Happy spraying! 😀

[@shastastan1935]

Thanks for the video. I'm using mine for the first time today using urethane. Can clean the tip with a paperclip. I like having a different jar for various types of materials including cleaning. Prior to discovering this, I was using wipe on poly or brush on Deft. Why? Because cleaning a spray gun was such a hassle for me. Critter has saved the day!

[@MattofManyTrades]

No Worries! Glad you like it! I have found that pouring my paint or finish through a filter as I pour it into the mason jar helps to almost eliminate clogs.

[@Hollyhutch0422]

I love how this whole video is do as I say, not as I do 😂❤

[@MattofManyTrades]

I mean, not the whole video 😂🤣

[@Hollyhutch0422]

@@MattofManyTrades touche' 😄

[@futbol1972]

I was wondering if i can use this paint with my critter gun?? I bought some red rust-oleum oil based paint to spray paint 2 large metal cabinets. The guy gave me TSL throat seal liquid to clean it after. Did I get everything I need for this project??

[@stickem247]

I just water down the paint a bit

[@richardgoldrich6176]

Did you drill out the paint nozzle? How much bigger? what size bit? Thanks for the great tips.

[@MattofManyTrades]

So, I think that the nozzle that come with is between 1.6-1.8mm. I drilled it with a 2.0 for the primer and thick latex, BUT the hole ended up being 2.2mm - via my machinist pin gages. I am guessing that there was a little wobble with the hand drill... Use the nozzle that comes with it for poly or clear coats.

[@redwood1957]

could you give a link for the verious size nozzles? thank you Happy Thanksgiving

[@MattofManyTrades]

there is only one stock nozzle size. take a look at the other comments for drill out sizing

[@eddieadams4770]

Wow, do I ever love this gun. Amazing. I don't see me ever taking out my Wagner spray guns again. And weird thing. I bought a pack of extra gaskets--nice rubber ones made for mason jars. Super cheap too. But guess what? The gun doesn't need a gasket at all. I've been using it with no gasket and I see no difference in performance. One less thing to clean!

[@Eger118877]

Great video! Are you thinning that latex paint at all or will it spray the latex paint without it being thinned?

[@MattofManyTrades]

no thinning. regular latex is fine - stay away from Behr paint. SW or Ben Moore will treat you right. Thin for primer or use the increased nozzle size discussed in the video, description, and comments

[@Eger118877]

@@MattofManyTrades awesome, thanks! What size of hole did you drill out in the nozzle for shooting the primer and thicker stuff?

[@MattofManyTrades]

So, I think that the nozzle that come with is between 1.6-1.8mm. I drilled it with a 2.0 for the primer and thick latex, BUT the hole ended up being 2.2mm - via my machinist pin gages. I am guessing that there was a little wobble with the hand drill... Use the nozzle that comes with it for poly or clear coats.

[@Eger118877]

@@MattofManyTrades That is a great idea. I remember doing that with a the tip of a Harbor Freight $10 HVLP. I think I used a 5/64" drill bit and the result was very close to 2mm. It worked good for spraying primer. I'm going to definitely try this with my new Critter. I just have to order a 2nd spray nozzle tip.

[@willhoffman6906]

Thanks guys you answered my questions here, got my second nozzle now to find my 5/64 brill bit. 😆

[@artday610]

Buy the silicone gaskets...they last for ever

[@bryanbenitez3255]

Do you have a link for the compressor that you use?

[@MattofManyTrades]

Sorry, I don't. It is a 2hp 30gal Home Depot Special that I got a few years ago

[@chrisclark239]

Did you have to thin the latex paint?

[@MattofManyTrades]

I don’t, but it depends on your paint. A SW exterior house paint is thick as putty and would have to be thinned. I sprayed with a quality interior trim paint that is fairly thin - Ben Moore Advance.

[@rayphillips815]

How much have you had to thin latex, and which latex are you spraying? Any links for the larger hole nozzles?

[@MattofManyTrades]

I mod the OEM nozzles myself for primer and thicker latex. No need for stain or finish though - the stock nozzle is great for those. I am sold on and have been using Benjamin Moore Advance paint for years! I might thin 1/4 cup to a quart of paint to get it flowing right. Also run the PSI up to about 50.

[@rayphillips815]

@@MattofManyTrades sounds good, my sprayer is due to arrive in a couple of hours. I already have a fuji semi-pro2 2-stage HVLP that I used for painting a new exterior door with decent results, but latex through HVLP isn't super ideal. For $45, hard not to try this fun. Mason jar is pretty cool factor, too. Thanks for your reply!

[@futbol1972]

@@MattofManyTrades i bought a wagner flexio yesterday to spray paing a kitchen door and a drawer and it was horrible. i returned it. I remember i have one MCGRAW 3 Gallon 1/3 HP 110 PSI Oil-Free Hot Dog Air Compressor that I have not used for ever. lol anyways how can I make hole bigger on spray gun and should I defently make it bigger? I also found a bottle of mineral spirits. SHould I use this or just water to thin paint out and should I strain it too? I wonder if I can use it to stain my fence too?

[@futbol1972]

I need to paint a nbf 35" five drawer file cabinet. Right now it's blue but I want to paint it red. I was cleaning my shed and found this spray gun. Should I just use home depot spray cans or should I purchase a compressor and use my jar sprayer? Thank u

[@MattofManyTrades]

So…. Metal cabinet, you need acrylic or oil base paint and a primer. I would say rattle can as you can’t get the oil or acrylic paint over the counter anymore.

[@futbol1972]

@@MattofManyTrades thanknu

[@sarahmiranda7130]

What size air compressor do you use?

[@MattofManyTrades]

I have a 30 gallon mobile compressor from Home Depot that runs this sprayer just fine.

[@sarahmiranda7130]

@@MattofManyTrades do you think a 20 gal would work? I haven't bought a compressor yet and have limited space.

[@MattofManyTrades]

@@sarahmiranda7130 should work fine.