The 10 Best Automotive Paint Guns
This wiki has been updated 26 times since it was first published in March of 2018. If you're looking for a quick way to restore a vehicle's exterior appearance or give it a completely new look, one of these automotive paint guns can help get the job done. We've included ergonomic and easy-to-control models that deliver a high-volume output at a low pressure, so many are suitable for base coats, clear coats, primers and urethane truck bed liners as well. When users buy our independently chosen editorial recommendations, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.
1. Tekna ProLite
2. TCP Global Pneumatic
3. Master Pro 44 Series
Editor's Notes
July 21, 2020:
Adding to what I said last year, an automotive paint gun is a fast and convenient way to either restore a car's paint job to its original showroom appeal or give it a new look entirely. While we maintained many of the same models included previously, most of them operate via high-volume and low pressure output, giving them the versatility to atomize materials of varying consistency and viscosity, including base coats, clear coats, and even linings for your truck bed. These typically work best in combination with an air compressor. Our list of gravity-feed models offer improved control over the painting process, thanks to their use of adjustable air pressure, fan speeds, and liquid flow, making it easy to reach every corner of a vehicle.
The newly-added TCP Global Pneumatic can atomize fluids of varying textures, making it a good option for applying rust proofing, rubberized undercoatings, and even liners for truck beds.
While it's not ideal for applying thick coatings, the Ingersoll Rand Edge is still a dependable option for light-duty refinishing and restoration work. This one also comes with a suspension hook for unobtrusive storage on a garage or workshop wall.
July 03, 2019:
Spray painting is delicate work that requires time, precision, skill, and the appropriate equipment to get the job done. For that reason, tool versatility is important in this category.
I maintained the Tekna ProLite for its lightweight aluminum body, 3 air caps, and coaxial valve for producing blends and fades. Added the Master Pro 44 Series because of its nonstick surface, air pressure regulator with gauge functionality, and the optimized fluid tip for delivering a consistent dispersion pattern at all times. This comes in quite handy when applying light-to-medium viscosity materials to a vehicle's surface. The anodized internal passages on the Devilbiss Finishline make it easy to clean and maintain. Although the Iwata Super Nova is one of the more expensive items on the list, its ability to deliver uniform droplet sizes and concentrated atomization of both solvent and water-based paints still makes it a worthy contender. I also thought that the 3M Accuspray was a dependable option, thanks to its trademarked paint preparation system, which supports an all-in-one design for mixing, filtering, and spraying liquid coatings. Additionally, this device uses disposable liners and reusable paint cups to cut down on all the mess. Added the Cartman Gravity Feed for its individually-calibrated control knobs that allow for precise fluid control, making it particularly useful for minimizing the occurrence of overspray when painting edges of work material. Maintained the Astro 4008 for its adjustable fan and 1-quart paint capacity. Finally, the Wagner MotoCoat is dedicated to painting rough and uneven surfaces on trucks beds and large RVs, while its 39-foot hose provides freedom of movement when maneuvering around large vehicles.
Special Honors
Service King With 40 years in the trade, Service King provides professional automotive repair and painting services at 345 locations in 24 states across the U.S. The company uses computerized paint-matching software to restore a vehicle to its factory appearance. Technicians mix a colored base coat to match a vehicle’s original color, after which both top and clear coats are applied, restoring a vehicle’s natural gloss finish. Any remaining blemishes are then lightly sanded and polished. In addition to painting services, the company also performs repairs to aluminum, bumpers, fenders, glass, and windshields. serviceking.com
4. 3M Accuspray
5. Wagner MotoCoat
6. Astro 4008
7. Devilbiss Finishline
8. Ingersoll Rand Edge
9. Iwata Super Nova
10. Cartman Gravity Feed
Tricking Out Your Ride In Full Color
The air passage is blocked by an air valve, while the paint passage is stopped by a fluid needle located in an orifice at the nozzle tip.
The automobile can create an emotional connection between humans and machines. A driver's feeling of control, combined with an ability to customize a vehicle's style, gives the car much of its personal value. For the die-hard car enthusiast, intricate details matter. These include anything from the type of engine installed to the color of the automobile's paint. Painting a car is an involved process that requires skill, delicate work, and the appropriate equipment to get the job done. Whether you're a professional automotive painter or a DIYer looking to spice up your ride, one of the most important tools you can have in your arsenal is a high-quality paint gun.
An automotive paint gun is a pneumatically-powered, trigger-operated tool using compressed air to atomize fluid e.g. primer, paint, or clear coat through a nozzle and onto a car's surface. The device typically consists of a gun system (i.e. an outer shell and nozzle), a pressurized paint cup, a compressed air system, and flexible tubing that connects the components together. Three basic control elements of the gun include an air gauge, allowing for precise pressure adjustments; a fluid level adjustment used to control the amount of paint delivered through the nozzle; a built-in fan, which regulates the gun's spray pattern; and a trigger. These components work together to control the dispersion of a fluid medium onto a target surface.
The gun has two independently-sealed passageways, one for paint and the other for compressed air. The air passage is blocked by an air valve, while the paint passage is stopped by a fluid needle located in an orifice at the nozzle tip. Pulling the trigger causes the air valve to open and the fluid needle to retract, which opens the orifice. During this time, paint stored in the cup attachment is gradually drawn into the nozzle, while air simultaneously rushes through its passageway to the same location. When the air and paint both reach the nozzle tip, atomization occurs. Atomization is the process by which compressed air mixes with a fluid and breaks that fluid up into smaller droplets, forming a spray mist that is ultimately propelled outward from the nozzle and onto a car's surface.
Feeding Paint Wisely
Before investing in an automotive paint gun, you must determine the type that works best for your intended application. The tool falls into two main categories, including high volume low pressure (HVLP) and low volume low pressure (LVLP) devices. HVLP guns are highly consistent, efficient, and easy to control, while evenly distributing paint and clear coats to their target surfaces. Some can be used without a separate air compressor. Like HVLP guns, LVLP spray guns also operate at low pressure (around ten pounds per square inch), but they use a lower volume of air.
Next, consider the optimal feed type for your gun of choice. Feed designs include pressure, siphon, or gravity-feed options. The pressure-feed system depends on an external tank to provide the necessary fluid pressure. This system is practical when dealing with large volumes of paint in a professional garage environment. With a siphon-feed spray system, the paint cup is located below the gun, requiring a greater volume of air pressure to produce vacuum suction at the nozzle tip. This vacuum suction then pulls the fluid paint up through the feed tube and into the nozzle itself. Additionally, an orifice on the cup's lid allows surrounding air to enter, contributing to an upward force of paint fluid within the feed tube. The siphon-feed system reduces overall pressure, making it less efficient when working with high-viscosity fluids. Therefore, the siphon-feed system is ideal if you plan to work with low-viscosity materials like lacquers, stains, or dyes. Unlike the siphon-feed system, the paint cup in a gravity-feed system is located above the gun, allowing the flow of fluid to be assisted by the force of gravity. Furthermore, the gravity-feed system optimizes compressed air pressure for superior atomization and utilization of your paint materials, significantly minimizing material wastage. Gravity-feed guns are great for applying high-viscosity mediums such as thick paints and clear coats to an automobile.
Nozzle size is another important factor to keep in mind. The thicker the paint used, the larger your gun nozzle should be. Large nozzles can easily deliver primers, while small nozzles will support more specialized paints like single-stage, metallics, and clear coats.
A Brief History Of Automotive Paint Guns
Up until the late 19th century, all painting in the United States was performed by hand with a brush. However, this changed in 1887 when Marshall Fields maintenance supervisor Joseph Binks invented the very first spray gun for paint. Binks combined a hand-operated pump, a vessel to hold the liquid under pressure, and a wand with a nozzle on the end. Binks later had the opportunity to use his device to spray paint the buildings containing the exhibits for the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago, a site which became known as the "White City."
Binks combined a hand-operated pump, a vessel to hold the liquid under pressure, and a wand with a nozzle on the end.
Dr. Allen DeVilbiss (a nose and throat doctor from Toledo, Ohio) developed the first atomizer for medical use in 1888. By 1907, DeVilbiss’ son Thomas expanded on this invention and created the first handheld, air-powered spray gun. Thomas DeVilbiss' design was adopted by the furniture industry, as it drastically reduced the time needed to finish a piece.
Spray guns were adopted by the automotive industry in the early 1920s. By the 1960s, they evolved to allow users to swap out paints of different colors with ease and efficiency. World War Two created a unique niche for the industry, as soldiers who painted ships and trucks in the army could use the same equipment on vehicles in Detroit. This gave rise to the development of both gravity and siphon-feed sprayers by the 1950s, followed by the first HVLP guns by the 1980s. Today's paint guns maintain a focus on consistency and efficiency when working with delicate machinery requiring intricate exterior detailing.
Jeff is a dedicated writer and communications professional from San Francisco with a bachelor of arts in anthropology from UC Berkeley. He began his career in computer consulting and later branched out into customer service. Jeff focuses on making complex topics easy to understand. With over 10 years' experience in research, his relentless curiosity fuels a love of writing and learning how things work, and has helped to build expertise in categories such as heavy-duty power tools and computer equipment. Jeff's passion for animals affords him a strong understanding of pet products, including dog houses, beds, and grain-free foods. When he's not writing, he prefers spending time with his family and three dogs, while kicking back and relaxing with a nice glass of red wine.