That $60 paint sprayer I bought on sale ended up costing me triple in cleanup

I grabbed a cheap HVLP sprayer from the hardware store last month for painting my kitchen cabinets. First coat went on great, but then I didn't clean it right away and the tip clogged solid. Tried soaking it in thinner for two days and still couldn't get it working, so I had to buy a new replacement tip for $25. Then I spent another $40 on extra thinner and brushes to fix the mess I made on the floor trim. Has anyone else had luck with those budget sprayers or is it just me getting a bad one?

2 comments

2 Comments

charlie_stone7222h ago

Man that cleanup thing got me too with a cheap sprayer. I started running mineral spirits through mine right after I'm done, like before I even put the cap back on the paint, and it's saved me a ton of hassle. Your mileage may vary but it's worth a try next time.

jennifer_fisher21h ago

Learned this the hard way too, and now I keep a dedicated sprayer cleaning bucket with mineral spirits ready before I even start painting. After I finish spraying, I just swap the paint cup for the mineral spirits and run it through until it runs clear (usually takes a minute or two). It's saved me from buying new tips and dealing with dried paint disasters ever since.