The Commercial Paint Sprayer — Buyers Guide, Review, and Comparison

Professional HVLP paint sprayers

Handheld professional sprayers

Professional airless paint sprayers

Budget Commercial paint sprayers

Professional compressor guns

Commercial paint sprayers buying guide

What is a professional paint sprayer

Professional paint sprayer FAQs

What Is a Professional Paint Sprayer?

Sadly, I can’t provide you with a single, one-sentence definition — there isn’t a state-run paint-spraying committee that outlines the requirements of a professional machine.

The problem is manifold.

Firstly, as the category includes every format of sprayer — it’s impossible to create exact specifications that a pro-machine must meet. For example, you can’t define a minimum PSI output — as while trade-grade airless units will knock out around 3000 PSI, a contractor-style HVLP turbine may only deliver 9.5 PSI. The same issue applies to nozzle size, weight, and horsepower.

Secondly, the lines between what are traditionally considered ‘professional’ sprayers and home-style DIY units are becoming increasingly blurred. Many of the top brands retail machines that target the prosumer market — that is, bridging the gap between DIY and trade models. These impressive power tools, such as the Graco Magnum X5, provide the rapid coverage and fine coats worthy of a pro unit, but with a price tag appealing to the amateur user.

Thirdly, there are many unscrupulous manufacturers that call their paint sprayers professional — yet are far from it. As a somewhat cheeky marketing tool, many sub-par brands retail budget machines with ‘pro’ in the model name — whereas they’re nothing more than a basic, home machine that would probably fall apart if it faced up to the extremes of trade use.

However, all is not lost.

Professional machines usually share the following five characteristics that separate them from DIY or casual-use models.

Durability

Hence, these trade units typically feature rugged construction and durable components that make them ideal for extreme operation. While not an exhaustive list, these can include:

• Automotive-grade filters to shield the pump or turbine.
• Metal spray gun.
• Stainless steel or anodized aluminum parts to protect against corrosion.
• A stand or cart that elevates the unit away from moisture, dust, and dirt.
• An extensive cooling system to prevent overheating of the motor or pump.
• Easy access for component lubrication.
• Access to original manufacturer spare parts.
• Metal hose connectors.

High Usage Capability

Due to the high durability of these machines, pro-grade sprayers allow for a large volume of weekly paint throughput — with little degradation to the unit itself or loss in performance.

Admittedly, the intensity of use depends upon the type of trade user. For example, furniture restorers may use a sprayer for the final finish of their project, but this is only a small part of the complete process — after sanding, repair, and filling. Thus meaning, that while the machine is used every day — it may only be utilized for an hour or so.

Conversely, specialist commercial or residential decorators may use a power-painter continuously all day, every day. Meaning that the unit is constantly running, and therefore requiring the capacity to cope with seriously high volume flow.

As such, manufacturers rate their pro machines in terms of weekly or annual throughput. Hardcore tradespersons will need a machine capable of 100 gallons-plus per week use, whereas lower usage contractors could suffice with a 500-gallon-per year unit.

These are in contrast to DIY sprayers, which typically don’t feature a throughput rating — as they’re designed for casual use.

Multi-Medium Capability

The majority of professional users will utilize more than one paint-type in their projects. At the very least, even seriously specialized tradespersons will require their machine to deliver a base or primer and a topcoat.

Hence, virtually all commercial machines have the capability to propel both thin and dense liquids without pre-thinning — not usually the case with DIY units that will need some dilution.

Admittedly, a few units, such as the Titan 740, are designed for the most viscous mediums like epoxies and block-wall fillers — types of paint that some pro machines could struggle with. However, the majority of trade units will happily propel the most common thick paints such as latex, chalk, milk, and acrylics.

User Tailorability

Power-painting tradespersons are the Formula 1 mechanics of the paint spraying world.

Stick with me.

Before every race, the engineers and boffins in motorsport teams adjust the car’s downforce, torque, oversteer, and suspension to suit the track requirements — resulting in the ultimate performance.

And the pro-painter demands the same facility with his sprayer.

Unlike many DIY units, which are basically point-and-shoot one-size-fits-all machines — commercial power-painters are highly user-tailorable, allowing the trade user to adjust the sprayer’s settings to suit both the coverage medium and base material.

Hence, depending on the machine type — high-end electric painters offer user-selectable airflow, material flow, pressure settings, spray width, and fan style.

I know what you’re thinking — some DIY machines can do that too.

While it’s true some home-style sprayers offer operator tailorability — the difference is the degree. Take, for example, Wagner’s flagship HVLP unit, the FLEXiO 5000. Perhaps the best power-painter in the DIY category, it offers 10 variable fan speed settings. Compare this to the commercial-grade HVLP Apollo Precision 5, which boasts a massive 100 turbine speeds, selectable via a digital display.

Additionally, unlike casual-use machines, trade-level sprayers are pleasingly customizable.

Typically hailing from industry-behemoths such as Fuji, Graco, and Titan — they have a wide availability of user-changeable parts. This permits you to tailor your machine to suit your projects — this can include specialized guns, nozzles, hoses, and needle tips.

Price

Yeah, the downside to commercial spray systems — they can be tough on the wallet.

Durability, high-grade components, and extensive technology come at a price — with some examples costing the same as a small car.

However, when you take into account the quality to price ratio — they are some of the best value machines in the market. These are sprayers that will last for years and deliver hour upon hour of continual use — crucial for the trade user or aspirational DIYer.

That said, some manufacturers have taken the challenge of delivering pro-grade sprayers that are only slightly more expensive than high-end DIY examples — a niche that I’ve covered in my Professional Budget section below.

Types of Professional Spray Painters

HVLP Spray Machines

These units utilize a high volume of air delivered at a relatively low pressure to propel the coating medium — hence HVLP. Internally, a fan, or series of fans, increases the pressure load to around 10 PSI, forcing the paint into the nozzle where it’s then atomized and delivered onto the base material.

Typically used for small to medium projects, their low-pressure results means less overspray, dripping, pooling, and bounce-back — providing a smoother finish than their airless counterparts.

As such, they’re typically used in situations where a blemish-free coat is crucial. Furthermore, being smaller and more compact than both airless and compressor-driven sprayers — they’re more transportable and easier to move from site to site.

Their main downside is that their paint delivery is, well, steady. Hence, while you may achieve the perfect topcoat — by the time you finish your project, the kids may have grown up and left home, and your wife disappeared with Brad next-door.

Ok, maybe an exaggeration, but they aren’t the swiftest machines — making them unsuited to seriously large-scale work.

Who Should Use a Professional HVLP Spray Machine?

• Need a portable unit for working on numerous job locations.
• Use stains, sealers, urethanes, latex, and chalk-based paints.
• Require a fine finish.
• Work in areas where overspray may cause issues — such as living rooms.
• Are looking for the most affordable commercial-rated unit.
• Need a sprayer for small to medium-scale work — addressing doors, shelves, furniture, banisters, and baseboards.
• Prefer a straightforward machine that’s easier to use than an airless or compressor unit.

Airless Professional Spray Painters

Knocking out in excess of 3000 PSI, these machines utilize an internal hydraulic pump to propel the coating medium into the atomizing tip. Their immense power output means they provide the most rapid coverage of all trade-grade painters — making them ideal for large-scale work.

Furthermore, many of these sprayers can deliver seriously viscous mediums like block-wall fillers, elastomerics, and epoxies without thinning — coverings that even the impressive HVLP units may struggle with.

While heavier and bulkier than turbine sprayers, they’re often mounted on carts to allow for effortless transportation. Furthermore, they draw directly from an original paint can — meaning no refilling requirements and relieving the weight on the hand as there’s no gun-mounted paint cup. Their downsides are they’re a little more complicated to set-up than HVLP’s, and require more thorough cleaning post-project.

Who Should Use a Professional Airless Spray Machine?

• Need a machine rated for over 100 gallons per week use.
• Demand speedy coverage.
• Are addressing large-scale work.
• Utilize high-viscosity mediums.
• Don’t want to be continually refilling their unit.
• Require the lightest gun in the pro-painting category.
• Need stamina for time-heavy jobs.

Handheld Professional Spray Machines

Although small, these pro-level units can knock out a surprising amount of power. For example, the Graco 17M359 delivers a remarkable 2000 PSI — more brawn than many full-size airless DIY machines.

These trade sprayers are ideally suited to smaller-scale projects and for working in confined areas where space may be an issue. Furthermore, with units such as the Graco 17M367 being cordless, you can utilize these mains-free machines in locations that have no access to a power source.

Their main disadvantage is the weight. Incorporating the paint cup, motor, and battery (for cordless units) into the gun housing makes them challenging to wield for more than a few minutes at a time.

Who Should Use a Professional Handheld Spray Machine?

Handheld spray painters are ideal machines for contractors who:

• Operate away from a power source (for cordless models).
• Complete mainly small-scale projects.
• Need a sprayer that can fit in a tool-box.
• Often find themselves painting in restricted movement areas.
• Are comfortable wielding around eight pounds in one hand.

Professional Compressor Spray Guns

Tradespersons who require the ultimate finish opt for pneumatic spray guns.

These units utilize compressed air to propel the coating medium into the nozzle — which provides super-fine atomization, resulting in the pinnacle of precision painting. Hence, these guns are typically used by specialized pros working in areas, such as marine, woodworking, and automotive categories — where a flaw-free top coat is crucial.

Available as both LVLP (low-volume low-pressure) and HVLP (high-volume low-pressure) models — they offer the most accurate fine-tuning of pressure and volume flow in the entire trade category.

Their main downside is they require an external compressor.

Not only does this mean you need to make an additional purchase (unless you already own a pneumatic power unit) — but it also severely restricts their portability. Hence, this is why most of these guns are used in garages and workshops — with the project coming to them instead of moving the sprayer to the projects.

Therefore, they are far from ideal for interior home decoration or outdoor garden or yard work.

Who Should Use a Professional Compressor Spray Gun?

Trade-grade pneumatic guns are ideal for the professional who:

• Can accept nothing less than a perfect finish.
• Resprays automobiles.
• Owns, or is willing to buy, a compressor.
• Doesn’t require portability.
• Needs the ability to switch between LVLP and HVLP systems.
• Understands priming and set-up of pneumatic machines.