Central Pneumatic Spray Guns: A Comprehensive Round-Up
Central Pneumatic spray guns are trademarked by Harbour Freight, a well-known supplier of quality tools for both professional and general DIY use. With solutions for painting projects around the home, industrial sites, automotive workshops, and more, there’s sure to be a gun for your needs. Features include HVLP spraying, lightweight units, interchangeable spray tips, plus gravity or siphon feed units — add a compressor and paint, and away you go.
- Gravity feed from a 20-ounce metal paint cup.
- Stainless steel nozzle and 1.5 mm spray tip.
- 6 cfm at 50 to 70 psi.
- Regulator included.
Top Central Pneumatic Paint Sprayer 2023
| IMAGE | PRODUCT | DETAILS | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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Best General Purpose
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Best General Purpose
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Features
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Check Price at Amazon Central Pneumatic 47016 Review Central Pneumatic 47016 Review | |
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Best Touch Up Spray Gun
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Best Touch Up Spray Gun
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Features
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Check Price at Amazon Central Pneumatic Touch Up Review Central Pneumatic Touch Up Review | |
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Best for Automotive Use
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Best for Automotive Use
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Features
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Check Price at Amazon Central Pneumatic Professional Review Central Pneumatic Professional Review | |
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Best Professional HVLP Spray Gun
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Best Professional HVLP Spray Gun
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Features
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Check Price at Amazon Central Pneumatic 20 oz. Review Central Pneumatic 20 oz. Review | |
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Best Heavy-Duty HVLP Spray Gun
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Best Heavy-Duty HVLP Spray Gun
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Features
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Check Price at Amazon Central Pneumatic IndustrialReview Central Pneumatic Industrial Review |
Central Pneumatic Paint Spray Guns: Buyer’s Guide
Central Pneumatic – A Harbor Freight Brand
The firm’s humble beginnings began in 1977 with a vision to offer quality tools at prices people could actually afford. The family-owned and run business has since gone from strength to strength over the last 40-plus years, increasing its catalog and reach.
Harbour Freight can offer its products at budget prices because they outsource manufacturing to the same factories that make high-end brands. The savings it makes by branding the tools itself are then passed to consumers.
Among the merchandise the company offers are power tools, hand tools, compressors, generators, automotive tools, and shop equipment, to name just a few. Central Pneumatic is just one brand in Harbor Freight’s stable.
Harbour Freight brand products are all rigorously tested in the company’s own labs, so you can be assured of quality. Testing is essential and ensures your purchase is hard-wearing and performs to the expected standard. A 100 percent satisfaction guarantee and a no-hassle returns policy show Harbor Freight’s confidence in its products.
An American company headquartered in Calabasas, California, Harbor Freight employs over 20,000 people and has more than 1000 stores in 48 states.
How to Choose the Best Central Pneumatic Paint Sprayer
With that in mind, here are a few factors to consider when choosing the best paint sprayer for you.
Your Painting Project
For smaller tasks such as detailed automotive work or intricate woodwork, a touch-up paint spray gun fits the bill perfectly. Get into all the nooks and crannies and apply paint just where you need it thanks to excellent control.
If you have an automotive workshop, you can’t go wrong with the complete kit containing both the Central Pneumatic mini detail spray gun and the Central Pneumatic 20 ounce spray gun. Designed for professional use, all bases are covered whether you’re painting cars, trucks, and other vehicles. This combination also works well in an industrial setting and for professionals wanting a low-cost but quality paint gun kit.
Central Pneumatic also make general-use gravity-fed and siphon spray guns that won’t break the bank. Use either of these for large or small projects around the home or in the garden.
Consider Your Medium
All Central Pneumatic air spray guns are capable of spraying a broad range of mediums including:
- Enamels
- Lacquers
- Urethanes
- Metallics
- Stains
- Dyes
- Gel coats
- Latex paints
Providing you use the right spray tip, of course, which leads me to my next point.
Choosing a Spray Tip
Is an HVLP Paint Sprayer Right for You?
An HVLP paint sprayer delivers fluid at a pressure that is controlled and adjustable. The finish you can achieve is smooth, fine, and consistent, as long as you take the time to learn how to use the gun properly.
These guns take paint from a paint cup and mix it with air from a compressor to produce an atomized spray consisting of thousands of tiny droplets. One of the newest painting technologies on the market, HVLP paint guns are quick and efficient.
Two types of paint feed (gravity and siphon), both work at low pressures, generally between 10 to 20 psi and produce little overspray. There’s less wastage, which saves you money on materials and time taping-up beforehand.
HVLP Paint Gun Adjustments
Adjusting the fan pattern widens or narrows the area that your paint will land on. If you select a broader fan pattern, the amount of paint that lands on the target surface may be less than with a smaller pattern. This could mean more applications over the same area to get the desired effect.
With respect to paint flow, if you always use the same paint, once you find the optimum setting you can leave it there. This saves you time making adjustments later unless you change the spray tip and needle.
Adding a Compressor
Look for a compressor with a minimum of 1 horsepower and the ability to produce 6 cfm at 50 psi and you’re set. This affordable unit from Central Pneumatic is suitable for professional, and heavy-duty DIY use.
Kit and Spare Parts
Central Pneumatic’s complete cleaning kit is a handy addition that will help keep your paint gun parts in good working order. Outside of this kit though, I couldn’t find any spare or replacement parts.
The lack of Central Pneumatic paint gun parts is slightly worrying but today’s spray guns are generally workhorses that last for many years, even when used every day. Given the price point on these paint guns, you might be better off buying more than one model for the jobs you need them to cover. They’re so affordable that buying two may be cheaper than repairs or trying to find parts that aren’t readily available or expensive.
Central Pneumatic HVLP spray gun tips are supplied with the company’s sprayers, just check the gun you order has the size tip you want. If not, choose another model that does.
On the subject of spare parts, it’s worth noting that as well as a compressor, you will need an air hose and threaded adapter — all you get in the box is the spray gun and paint container.
Why Choose a Central Pneumatic HVLP Spray Gun?
When you check out Central Pneumatic HVLP spray gun reviews you’ll find they are comparable with many well-known brands (such as Sprayit, Accuspray 3M, Graco, Wagner, and DeVilBisson) in terms of both features and performance. The cost, however, is generally lower making them an ideal choice for quality with a flawless finish every time.
Harbour Freight ensures all their products are rigorously tested and back their products with a satisfaction guarantee. Choosing a Central Pneumatic professional spray gun has a few benefits:
- Quality products that last at an affordable price point.
- A variety of different spray guns for different projects and paint mediums.
- Versatility at your fingertips with fully adjustable functions.
Central Pneumatic Spray Guns — Our Top Picks
You do need to add a compressor, but a model that works at 6 cfm at 40 psi with just 1 to 3 horsepower will suffice.
It’s highly versatile when painting all sorts of projects, from cars to walls, boats, furniture, cabinetry, and much more. Adjust the fan pattern between circular, horizontal, or vertical depending on what you’re painting. This adjustability gives you control over the way the paint is delivered for the best possible coverage.
Two other features, fluid and air pressure adjustments, give you even more flexibility in the way you spray. These help regulate the amount of paint delivered and the pressure at which it is expelled. If you’re experienced and want to work quickly, you can ramp them up, or turn them down for a more leisurely, controlled tempo.
When it comes to the materials compatible with this spray gun, you’re spoilt for choice. You can select enamels, urethanes, lacquers, base coats, stain, primers, and metallic paints. The gun is fitted with a 1.5 mm spray tip, so you might need to thin thicker mediums like latex and gel coats. Or choose a Central Pneumatic paint sprayer with a wider tip.
Weighing just 1.5 pounds, this Central Pneumatic sprayer won’t leave your arms feeling like lead weights at the end of your project. All the controls are at your fingertips, and the trigger and handle are ergonomically designed for comfort during prolonged use.
- HVLP for reduced overspray.
- Affordable, high-quality unit.
- Suitable for many different projects.
- Versatile and adjustable.
- Liable to some overspray.
- No pressure cup option.
- Design
- Functionality
- Price
It still has all the great features an HVLP paint spray gun has, but scaled down. With the minimal overspray created by this type of device, painting a smaller area is a breeze.
The 5.3-ounce paint cup is gravity fed and a small compressor will easily power the gun. An air regulator and adjustable fluid, fan pattern, and air pressure incorporations are also featured.
Make this your go-to spray gun for things like window frames, fine detail work on automobiles, car parts, intricate work on furniture, covering scuffs and scrapes on skirting, and more.
- Lightweight and durable.
- Perfectly suited for small projects, detail work, and touch-ups.
- Low overspray from the gravity-fed HVLP design.
- Lightweight and easy to handle.
- Can’t handle wide coverage.
- Need to change the nozzle for thicker paint mediums.
- Design
- Functionality
- Price
A firm favorite with those in the automotive trade, this Central Pneumatic spray gun kit is equally well-suited to the home enthusiast who likes tinkering with cars.
A choice of 1.10, 1.4, and 1.8 mm Central Pneumatic spray gun tips mean it’s compatible with most mediums. You can even jazz things up with metallic finishes if that’s what floats your boat. A compressor capable of between 25 psi to 35 psi is all that’s needed for both guns.
When it’s clean up time, everything you need is inside the handy carry case these guns come in. You have cleaning brushes (two bristle and one wool), and the tool needed to dismantle the guns. Ensuring your paint spray guns are cleaned after every use is imperative to their longevity.
- Suitable for industrial and automotive use.
- Gravity-fed paint cups.
- Lightweight aluminum construction.
- Stainless steel needles and spray tips.
- Cleaning kit, carry case, and wrench included.
- Need to add a compressor and air pressure gauge.
- Design
- Functionality
- Price
The lightweight gun is nickel-plated for both durability and easy cleaning.
All the adjustment knobs are located at your fingertips, so you can easily tweak the air pressure, paint flow, and fan pattern. Choose a small circular pattern of up to 60 mm for detailed work, or a larger horizontal or vertical spray measuring 300 by 60 mm for fast coverage in larger areas.
The sturdy 20-ounce plastic paint cup attaches securely at the top of the gun so the sprayer is gravity-fed. The atomized spray offers great coverage, with more paint landing on your chosen target than floating off into the ether.
Completing the package, this Pneumatic sprayer comes with a wrench, filter, and cleaning brush. Filter your paint to remove any imperfections and when you’re finished for the day, take the gun apart and clean it with the included accessories.
- A superb mix of pressure and paint delivery from a low psi.
- Money-saving, low-overspray HVLP design.
- Nickel-plated finish on an easy to clean ergonomic handle.
- Cleaning brush and wrench included in the package.
- Paint cup might need refilling regularly during prolonged usage.
- Design
- Functionality
- Price
A siphon-fed gun uses air pressure to create a vacuum, drawing paint from the cup into the airflow and delivering atomized paint to create a glossy, high-quality finish.
Designed for those working in body shops or industrial settings, the large 32-ounce paint cup means less downtime on refills. A sturdy gun, the Central Pneumatic Industrial is constructed from hard-wearing metal with a powder-coated finish.
Just like a gravity-fed spray gun, you have all the adjustments you need within easy reach. Set your fan patterns for up to 76 mm for a circular spray, or between 254 and 76 mm for a vertical or horizontal delivery. Air pressure and paint delivery can also be fine-tuned at the turn of a knob while a cam lock prevents leaks.
Weighing just over two pounds, you won’t need Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson-style muscles to keep working all day.
On the downside, all you get for your money is the spray gun and paint cup. An air regulator, cleaning tools, wrench, and a compressor need to be acquired separately.
- Traditional style siphon-feed preferred by some industrial users.
- Large, sturdy 32-ounce paint cup.
- Easily adjustable controls mounted on the handle.
- Secure cam lock closure helps prevent paint leaks.
- No cleaning tools, wrench, or air pressure gauge included.
- Design
- Functionality
- Price
Conclusion
Ardent DIYers will find plenty to like here too, no matter if it’s a big task or a small touch up, Central Pneumatic’s guns can handle it.
All the company’s spray guns are noteworthy, but it’s the general-purpose Central Pneumatic 47016 Gravity Feed Spray Gun that stands out from the crowd. This is closely followed by the Central Pneumatic Touch Up Spray Gun. For the best of both worlds, invest in the Central Pneumatic Professional Automotive HVLP Spray Gun Kit and get the guns mentioned above.
On the downside, you will need a compressor, but it doesn’t need to be powerful (or expensive). Also, while finding spare parts might be a chore, the price point of these spray guns makes them a viable option regardless.
If you want to follow in the footsteps of painters in the know, you can’t go wrong with Harbour Freight’s Central Pneumatic spray guns.
Central Pneumatic FAQs
Q: How Do You Use a Central Pneumatic Sprayer?
All Central Pneumatic spray guns are supplied with a comprehensive user’s manual that details how to set up and use your new gun. If you dislike reading manuals, many YouTube videos have the low-down on getting started with Central Pneumatic paint guns.
Q: Do You Need a Regulator on a Spray Gun?
Although it’s not absolutely necessary, it certainly helps when it comes to making adjustments — and saving you time running back and forth to your compressor to adjust air pressure. Most Central Pneumatic Spray guns come with an air regulator gauge, if not you can buy one like this: Tool Guy Republic.
Q: Can You Use Any Paint With a Spray Gun?
Yes, you can. You just need to make sure you have the right tip fitted for the painting medium in question. Narrow tips are best for thinner material while wider tips suit thicker fluids. A useful chart in your gun’s user’s manual details what size tip to use with different liquids.
Q: How Big a Compressor Do I Need for a Central Pneumatic Paint Gun?
Most of this brand’s paint guns work with compressors capable of 6 to 12 cfm at 40 psi. You don’t need an all-singing, all-dancing compressor, one with as little as one to three horsepower will work.