Just realized that cheap paint sprayer was a total waste of $120

I bought a budget HVLP sprayer off Amazon for $120 back in September, thinking I'd save money painting my living room. First try it clogged within 10 minutes, then the pattern was so uneven I had to sand half the wall down. After three hours of fighting it I just grabbed a brush and roller from the basement and finished in 45 minutes. Has anyone else found a sprayer under $200 that actually works for furniture?

2 comments

2 Comments

sammurray1mo ago

That $120 price point is a trap for sure. I went through two of those cheap sprayers doing a fence once and ended up tossing both after the first coat. The real problem is the nozzle quality and the lack of adjustment you get for under $200. For furniture you are probably better off looking at a used high-end sprayer on Facebook Marketplace or an airless model that can handle thicker paint. Even a decent handheld Wagner from a big box store can work okay if you thin your paint right and clean it immediately after use. But honestly for small furniture projects a good roller and a quality brush still beats messing with a finicky sprayer any day.

perez.barbara1mo ago

Old roller and brush combo is hard to beat for sure. Last summer I tried to paint an old rocking chair with one of those cheap sprayers and it clogged halfway through. Spent more time taking it apart and cleaning than actually painting. The finish was all blotchy anyway, so I had to sand it down and start over with a brush. My neighbor saw me struggling and came over with his old Graco that he bought at a garage sale for thirty bucks. That thing worked like a dream even with thick latex paint. Makes me think the real secret is just finding good used equipment that someone gave up on.