Had trouble with a cheap spray gun on a tri-coat job yesterday

I bought a $60 gun off Amazon just to try it on a small bumper repair. The clear went down okay but the midcoat came out blotchy and I had to sand it back and respray. Took me an extra 3 hours on a job I quoted for 2. The paint match ended up fine but my profit margin went out the window. Has anyone else had bad luck with budget guns on pearl or tri-coat paints?

2 comments

2 Comments

kevin_murray8819d agoOG Member

Yeah that "clear went down okay" part is a trap. Midcoat is where cheap guns fall apart. They just can't atomize the metallic or pearl evenly. You get that tiger striping and mottling that kills the flop. Took me three resprays on a silver pearl bumper with a Harbor Freight gun before I learned my lesson. Sunk cost in time and material way more than just renting a decent gun.

the_richard19d ago

Nah man, a halfway decent HF gun with a 1.4 tip can lay pearl fine if you thin it right and take your time.