Best Paint Sprayer for Furniture

Spray painting furniture is very much in style these days, and why not?

Many people have thrown away old items of furniture that with a little paint and attention, could have made a very attractive and useful ‘new’ addition to a room.

What about your garden furniture which has suffered at the hands of the weather for a few years, looking a little worn?

Structurally, it may be perfectly good, and a coat of paint might be the answer you are looking for. But which is the best paint sprayer for furniture? Here we are going to explain the whys and whats for repainting that old or just worn piece of furniture for you, so read on.

Introducing the modern day sprayer, a useful and ingenious device that you really should get to know. If you don’t have time to read the full post, here are our 3 top picks for the best paint sprayer for furniture:

You may have seen some of the best paint sprayers used by professionals, but now there are many available that are designed for domestic use and beginners, and that also come at affordable prices. To answer any query you might have to which is the best spray gun for painting furniture?

Before we tell you more about the best paint sprayers for furniture, let us just say that this list of reviews for furniture is geared more towards DIYers, beginners, and semi-professionals.

If you’re a professional contractor looking for high gloss finishes on kitchen cabinets, doors, and trim work, you’ll likely need a more professional HVLP paint sprayer such as the Earlex 5500 spray system, or if the budget will allow, the bestselling Fuji Semi-Pro 2.

How & Why to Use a Paint Sprayer for Furniture Painting

A paint sprayer is actually a simple concept. Most consist of a base unit in which an electric motor drives one or more turbines, which creates a high-pressure airflow making for a fast and efficient application of various types.

This is then directed down a hose to a handheld spray gun with a reservoir attached. The paint goes in the reservoir, and the pressure sends it through a fine spray nozzle and onto the surface with good coverage of paint.

That is a very simple explanation – and be aware there are different types of paint sprayer that may operate in an alternative way.

Spray guns have several big advantages over the traditional paint brush or roller method, such as:

• An even finish with no drips or runs (assuming your surface has been stripped of old paint with a heat gun)
• Quicker decorating time
• Less cleaning (as no paint brushes used)
• Less waste and no brush marks

So, let’s have a detailed look at five of the best paint sprayer for furniture options, and see if we can get you on the right track for refinishing your furniture project.

Our Top 5 Best Paint Sprayers for Furniture

1. Wagner 0518080 Control Max Paint Sprayer

Wagner is a brand with a range of cheaper sprayers for domestic use (along with a wide range for professional use), and the Control Spray Max has made it to the first spot as an HVLP sprayer on our list for furniture paint sprayers.

We’ve previously covered a Wagner Control Spray Max review which has more in-depth information, be sure to check it out.

It uses a two-stage turbine/HVLP system (High Volume, Low Pressure) and the advantage of this is that it provides excellent air pressure and also gives you the ability for flow control with the adjustment of pressure, this is beneficial for making sure you get as smooth a finish as possible due to the fine paint particles created. In other words good for furniture pieces, the kitchen cabinet painting project you have been putting off and much more.

What makes this model a best paint sprayer for furniture is that it can easily handle thicker paint material without the need for adding thinners and not just paints and stains. The paint spray gun offers optimum control for the perfect professional finish we all dream about.

Features three adjustable spray patterns, vertical, horizontal and round, which you can choose between for the best coating and results. It comes with a 20-foot hose which enables you to move away from the base unit.

Summary

It is light in the hand and easy to use, has the 20-foot hose, handles different paint types like lacquer and latex, has speed control, overall offering not only good performance and precision. Whether you have experience or a total beginner we think you will love this choice.

There are a couple of points to make that might go against it for larger projects such as decks, as it has a small reservoir, although this should not be a problem for painting furniture, and secondly, it tends to be louder than some of the others.

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Pros

• Adjustable spray patterns
• Air pressure control
• 20ft long hose
• Compact design for easy storage

Cons

• Smaller than average paint reservoir
• Louder than others
• Power cord may be short (not hard to fix with an extension)

2. Graco 17M359 Handheld Paint Sprayer

Another of the leading names in the fast-growing and hotly-contested paint sprayer market is Graco.

This handheld airless sprayer is designed with a clever tilt and spray suction tube that allows you to spray surfaces in all directions (including completely upside down) which makes it one of, if not the best spray gun for furniture.

With large coverage abilities, it’s ideal for contractors as well as the keen DIYer if you have painting jobs with awkward angles and surfaces to coat. This adds to the versatility and performance of this machine, compared to others on this list.

The Graco 17M369 is quite similar to the one featured in our Graco Pro II review, with the exception of the 360-degree spraying ability.

The major difference between this one and the Wagner above is that the Graco is an all-in-one unit, where the Wagner model has a separate turbine unit connected by a hose. With the Graco, everything comes built into the gun which makes paint spraying furniture much easier.

That does have its advantages in that you get more powerful spray, but it also means that handset is heavier to handle and may be uncomfortable after a long period.

As it has dual pressure control, low and high pressure with the max 2000 psi, it can handle thick paints and materials without the need for thinning and of course, the usual thinner paints and stains, definitely agile enough for smaller areas, making it a great furniture paint sprayer.

You get reversible spraying tips allowing you to change spray patterns and finish.

Extremely easy to clean and keep in pristine condition and anyone who has cleaned a paint sprayer would love this one as it really is simple.

It comes with an instruction DVD, a very handy carry/storage case and is easy to start and easy to use.

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Pros

• Trusted Graco brand
• Can spray in 360 degrees, including upside down
• All in one design so no hoses or extras to worry about
• Large pain reservoir and no hoses or extra machines
• Will spray most common paints without excessive thinning

Cons

• Can be quite heavy to handle for smaller wrists,
• Has a short cord

3. Critter Spray Products 118SG Siphon Spray Gun

We have included this sprayer as another method of doing things but only if you already have a compressor sat at home, like the one that in fact was the inspiration for the electric sprayer.

This is simply a spray nozzle and nothing more except of course you need a separate air compressor to do any spraying. It simply attaches to a Mason jar, which is the paint container you will be spraying from but this does restrict the paint capacity to the size of the jar.

This is how things were done in workshops before we saw the advent of the modern-day sprayers, and if you read the reviews on Amazon, you’ll find it’s still a very popular method of painting furniture and other DIY projects and has the advantage of being easy to clean and no time spent cleaning brush.

It is hard to see any advantages to this one unless you already have a compressor but if you do, it’s an excellent product at a bargain price and provides a solid finish for your painting projects.

But with modern electric machinery with built-in turbines, compressors are fast becoming redundant in most situations except the automotive or commercial industry.

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Pros

• Cheap (If you have a Compressor)
• Simple design, what you see is what you get
• Customers absolutely LOVE it!

Cons

• Needs a compressor to use (VERY important to know before you buy!!)
• Limited adjustment
• Outdated design if you’re used to higher-end tech

4. Campbell-Hausfeld DH6500 Compressor Spray Gun

This is a more sophisticated handheld sprayer than the Critter Spray above and like the Critter you do need to already have a compressor that is a minimum of 7.0 SCFM at 40 PSI, but this sprayer provides greater adjustments, including the ability to fit different sized spray needles/nozzles for different patterns and coating for all your painting jobs. It can handle various materials such as lacquer, enamels, stain, and primer.

With quality fittings throughout it is a great handheld sprayer to handle and will leave you with a quality finish. We can’t see it being too useful around the home, mainly due to the compressor being in a set position, but users have reported it is excellent for furniture paint spraying as well as cars and other vehicles.

If you already have a compressor with at least 40 psi, this is a cheap spray gun that will provide an excellent finish on furniture without a big investment.

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Pros

• Quality item
• Cheap price point
• Clever design

Cons

• Needs a compressor to use
• Not suitable for around the house

5. HomeRight C800766 DIY Handheld Sprayer

Our final choice on our list of best spray guns is the HVLP spray guns from the HomeRight Brand (who also has a wide range of household goods and other items covering a variety of uses).

This handheld furniture sprayer is similar in design to the Graco handheld above and is extremely popular among DIYers and professional alike looking for a cheap paint sprayer for furniture.

The handset contains the motor and turbines so rather than there being a separate base unit with a hose attached, it’s all contained in one unit. As it uses low pressure rather than high pressure it avoids overspray and getting your material where it is not wanted.

Everything you’ll need is included with this Finish Max spray gun, also including additional accessories to change the nozzle spray pattern and ensure you get the coverage required.

One of the accessories is the viscosity cup that you can use to try a sample of your material and find out if it is suitable i.e you cannot use latex paints with this model, this is a simple process and will be explained in the instructions of use.

The benefit of this handheld electric paint spray gun it is easier to move around with no need for the hose, the drawback is it makes the unit heavy to hold for long periods at little less than 3lbs.

It comes with an adjustable spray pattern – the usual horizontal, vertical and round – and is easy to set up, adjust and use so you can achieve the smooth finish. It also comes with a larger than usual reservoir and can handle reasonably thick coatings without too much thinning. It also has a flow control that ensures you get just the right amount of paint on your surfaces. Whether you are spraying a kitchen cabinet or garden furniture this could be the best paint sprayer for you.

As with most sprayers, it’s reasonably noisy as the 400w motor is close to you at all times but it does provide a very fine finish once you have mastered the art of spraying (it is recommended you practice with your sprayer before you start your painting projects).

Overall, it’s a budget sprayer but for the money, it’s not only one of the best but an excellent cheap paint sprayer for furniture. If you have a few dollars to spare and would rather buy right than buy twice, it might be worth reading our Wagner 570 review & Wagner 590 review.

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Pros

• Compact design (easy to store)
• Adjustable spray tip
• Fine finish specialist (perfect for cabinets, furniture, doors .etc)
• Easy to use

Cons

• Can be quite noisy

That’s our five, so what’s best for you? Before we try and give you our opinion, let’s look back at the benefits of using one of these for painting furniture.

Frequently Asked Questions

Most beginners to paint spraying have questions that need answering before making the investment in a paint sprayer. Here are the ones that we are asked the most.

What is the Best Paint Sprayer for Furniture?

The best paint sprayer for furniture is the small handheld models. The Wagner 0518080 Control Max Paint Sprayer or the HomeRight C800366 DIY Handheld Sprayer would both be ideal and suitable for furniture projects and small jobs.

Is it Better to Brush or Spray Paint Furniture?

It is better to spray paint furniture if you are looking for a professional finish, as this eliminates the brush strokes and gives an even and high-quality finish that also dries faster.

Spray painting is not only a lot faster, especially if doing spindles, but also ensures all those nooks and crannies are covered.

What Kind of Paint Do You Use on Furniture?

For furniture, the best kind of paint would be satin or semigloss finish. Either latex or oil-based paint. Never leave primer unpainted. If you choose latex paint, a latex primer is an excellent choice for most uses.