Earlex HVLP Spray Station Pro

[GaryA]

OK, I've got a disease (same one a lot of you have for buying tools). I went in to Woodcraft today to buy the $99 HVLP kit (same as Rockler and HF according to you guys). The guy there talked me into the Earlex Pro Spray Station http://www.woodcraft.com/family.aspx...&BestSell=True He gave me the 10% off that they're offering next weekend and I had a $25 GC, so I got out the door around $260. Quite a bit more than the $100 I planned to spend. Anyone have any experience or know anyuthing about the Earlex unit. Did I buy more than I need? I know this is probably for someone who does a whole lot more spraying than I do, but he convinced me the quality was better (??) Any feedback? I'm feeling like I may have overspent (especially after I bought the PC HVLP gun and found I dont have enough compressor to push it)???

(but, it is pretty!)

[ragswl4]

I read some reviews on the internet a while back that were all positive about the Earlex sprayers. I believe the company is in England. It was one of the HVLP units I was looking at but went with the HF/Rockler unit for $70 on sale. Haven't tried it yet.

[dkhoward]

I have been considering purchasing their lower end unit to replace my harbor freight spray rig. I would be interested in hearing any pros and cons anyone else might have.

[Andrew Benedetto]

2 stage is OK for thin materials but not Latex gloss. That unit is much better than the almost all plastic type you were going to buy. The price seems fair. I have a older Eagle Wagner 2 stage turbine system but use the gun mostly w. my 80 gal 2 stage A/C in conversion form. Some thin the latex paint up to 50% but that reduces the quality of the finish. I can spray antything with that gun. I have a larger projector set for Latex. The 2 stage turbine will not spray w. latex unless I add a pressure pot and use the gun in non-bleeder mode and thin, or if I add a second air source(sears shopvac blower tee inline w. turbine acts like a 3 or 4 stage then). The turbines are nothing more than vac motors in a case. They are soo overpriced across the board if you look at the cost of the components. My stepbrother has a carpet cleaning business and I have looked at his suppliers prices on those vac motors, about 4-5 times the cost for the turbine! I may some time replace the motor in my case to an Amtec or Lamb 3 or 4 stage. Actually he said 2 separate 2 stage motors are better than 1, 4 stage for CFM output. The stage is just another fan w. the motor.
The wagner CAP gun at gleempaint.com is priced good but you need an A/C to run it. Good info at that site.