Harbor Freight Tools that don't suck

[jyoutz]

Photo - the last time I painted at a scale larger than a spray can. HF's (then) $10 spray gun, HF 10 gallon compressor, HF regulator/water separator. Rustoleum prime and finish coat. 'Good enough for the girls I go with', to quote an old Carpenter buddy.

I bought a cheap HVLP HF gravity sprayer last year to paint the patio furniture with Rustoleum. I was surprised how much easier to use and better results than the old style cup guns.

 

[California]

I bought a cheap HVLP HF gravity sprayer last year to paint the patio furniture with Rustoleum. I was surprised how much easier to use and better results than the old style cup guns.

This one? Now $17. That's what I used. Excellent results!

 

[bmaverick]

This one? Now $17. That's what I used. Excellent results!

BF sale had the $29 like yours with the flow regulator built in for only $14.

The flow regulator helps to prevent goop spots. When a compressor kicks back on and the spray gun with no regulator goes spurt, it puts a goop gob somewhere.

Or, if you have a flow regulator on the output of your compressor, life is good.

 

[paulsharvey]

I've used one like that, purple handle and all from HF. I think it did a good job, although I didn't do that good of a job... You really need your paint thinned right, and definitely strain it, cause it will clog up easily.

 

[jyoutz]

This one? Now $17. That's what I used. Excellent results!

I bought the same one but it had a pressure gauge and air adjustment dial. About $8 more. Yes, very good for spraying Rustoleum.

 

[jyoutz]

I've used one like that, purple handle and all from HF. I think it did a good job, although I didn't do that good of a job... You really need your paint thinned right, and definitely strain it, cause it will clog up easily.

Yeah paint straining is the rule for any type of sprayer.

 

[5030]

I prefer rattle cans for 2 reasons, maybe 3. One I don't have to strain or thin it, 2, It's fairly cheap and 3, when the cans are empty I toss them in the burn pile and they explode like a mortar. I tried empty propane bottles but they won't explode for some reason.

 

[California]

Guess I'm lucky. No clogs. I bought professional conical paint filters from a paint store, and also thinned extensively. Never had a clog applying some 8~10 quarts overall of Rustoleum red primer then their white topcoat.

Cheapskate alert - what started this project was I found numerous half-full quarts of Rustoleum primer, white flat, and white gloss on the shelves of the recycle/reuse room at the county Household Hazardous Waste dropoff site. I had taken in old alkaline batteries etc. Occasionally there is useful stuff there, chainsaw bar oil or pressure washer soap for example. And Roundup - but I don't use that. And pool chemicals but I don't have a pool. Always lots of latex paint, mostly colors nobody would want. Unopened Mercon ATF that I use to top up the backhoe hydraulics.

After extensive stirring, thinning, and filtering, the Rustoleum sprayed fine. I only had to buy 3 fresh retail quarts to complete the project. Yeah I'm cheap.

I think having the gun 20 ft downstream from my regulator/water trap made a regulator at the gun unnecessary. I did at one point T in a pressure gauge at the gun to calibrate that wall-mounted regulator.

Too much detail?

 

[Mike1955]

Well it’s cold and messy out and I’m just in the shop killing time so I’ll join in. My favorite little tool at harbor freight is the battery powered liquid transfer pumps. They are short lived but cheap enough to not fuss when they quit. And just as good as one that costs a lot. I ne ver try and return one just toss it and get a new one. That one tool that don’t suck from harbor freight

 

[Too many Kubotas]

Bought a small (3,500W) generator from Harbor Freight recently. Does it suck?

I have no idea. It's only been about a week since I ordered it. Now they say Monday.