Are you looking for the best sprayer for lacquer? You're in the right place!
In this ProPaintCorner Article, you’ll learn:
- What is a Lacquer Sprayer
- How a Lacquer Sprayer works
- How to choose the best lacquer sprayer for your project
And more!
When you're looking for the best spray gun to use for your DIY projects, you'll want something that can handle lacquer and sealer.
Providing a smooth finish to work your work, the best sprayer for lacquer will handle shellac, nitrocellulose lacquer, and every different type of finish. No project is complete without a final pass, and these tools are great to spray lacquer and finish off your project with a clean and smooth touch.
With quality HVLP sprayers and airless sprayers, we've compiled a list of the best spray guns on Amazon for the DIYer interested in spraying lacquer.
| Image | Product | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Our Top Pick
| Our Top Pick | Fuji Semi-PRO Gravity HVLP Spray System
|
| View on Amazon |
| Best Budget
| Best Budget | Graco Magnum Project Painter
|
| View on Amazon |
| Best High End
| Best High End | Ingersoll Rand Edge Series
|
| View on Amazon |
|
| Wagner Spraytech Control Spray Max HVLP
|
| View on Amazon | |
|
| Wagner FLEXiO Stationary HVLP
|
| View on Amazon |
Our Overall #1 Rated Pick
Updated On September 1, 2023
The Fuji Semi-PRO 2 lacquer sprayer is one of the best products on the market for beginners and hobbyists.
This sprayer will provide extremely high quality, nearly professional level finishes for your project. It is a great price for the serious amateur looking to create polished finishes and is extremely versatile.
While it may be a stretch for professional-level projects, it can handle anything you throw at it from a DIY aspect.
It’s easy enough to use for a brand new beginner, but it can provide some of the best quality work you’ll find for the money.
This device is a great choice for an HVLP spray gun and it can provide as smooth a finish as any airless device can as well. If you're interested in spraying lacquer, you can't go wrong with this quality HVLP sprayer.
This product is a combination of some of the best qualities of these lacquer sprayers.
The spray gun and gravity feed cup are stainless steel and durable, meaning they will be able to withstand constant use and will resist corrosion without much maintenance.
It is powerful, with a built-in air compressor that can provide impressive power to handle any of your finishing projects.
With adjustable pressure control, you can switch between thicker paints and heavier materials to thin lacquers and polyurethanes with ease.
Top 5 Best Lacquer Spray Guns
In a hurry? Check out our Top 5 picks below! Keep reading to learn more about these lacquer sprayers!
What Are Lacquer Sprayers?
Most of you will probably be familiar with a paint sprayer to apply quick, even coats of paint.
However, there is often a bit less familiarity with lacquer sprayers. Fortunately for handymen everywhere, there are dedicated lacquer sprayers and combination lacquer sprayers to handle the shiny, sticky lacquer for all of your projects.
A lacquer sprayer is the same type of machine as a paint sprayer, but it’s designed to handle the additional adhesive qualities of lacquer, and it ensures an even smoother spray, since lacquer has a strong tendency to bubble and ripple during application.
Applying lacquer is the final step in the process for all of your paint jobs, and it’s typically one of the most important.
From finishing a deck to sealing furniture, the lacquer provides both the finishing touch in terms of appearance and protection from the elements. That’s why having a good lacquer sprayer is important for your project.
What Are the Different Types of Lacquer Spray Guns
Spray Guns for Lacquer are similar to spray guns for standard paint, and many of them are interchangeable. However, it’s important to know the differences and be able to distinguish between them when making your decisions.
Typically, you can find a spray gun that is specifically designed for use with lacquer.
These guns have wider nozzles and a bit higher pressure. Because lacquer is more adhesive than paint, it takes a bit more force to expel them through the gun.
The wider nozzle also helps to disperse the coating more evenly so that your lacquer is well distributed over your surface, preventing bubbles and thick patches.
In addition to strict lacquer sprayers, there are many spray guns that are compatible with both lacquer and paint.
These spray guns usually have removable nozzles or heads, as well as adjustable pressure gauges. The ability to change out these components comes in handy when dealing with sprayed lacquer.
Many of the products are the market are suitable for different materials.
If you know how to change out the components properly, these are great options because you can switch out the paints, stains, and lacquers without having to change your tool of choice, meaning you have to lug fewer items to your job site.
Additionally, there are different types of sprayers in general, namely HVLP sprayers, LVLP sprayers, and airless spray guns.
An HVLP spray gun uses an air compressor to move a high volume of air and create a high-pressure spray to paint or stain your surface. These are pretty standard throughout the industry and are widely regarded as good quality tools.
LVLP guns are Low Volume, Low-Pressure guns, in contrast to the High Volume, Low-Pressure systems.
These are less common because they are weaker, but they are a bit safer and cheaper, making them good entry-level products. They are commonly used when someone doesn't want to purchase a stronger air compressor.
Finally, airless spray guns use a motor to compress the paint or lacquer within the container as opposed to compressing air.
Since there is no air, these sprayers don't introduce bubbles and typically create a smoother finish. However, they are more expensive and typically aren't used for DIY projects.
Airless spray guns are industry-leading sprayers for the quality of work they produce.
Read More >> What Are The Best LVLP Spray Guns?
How Do Lacquer Spray Guns Work?
Just like with paint sprayers, these spray guns for lacquer are high velocity, low-pressure sprayers.
However, as stated previously, the higher thickness and adhesion of lacquer creates a need for higher pressure in the gun than with paint sprayers.
Lacquer is loaded into either a pressure feed or gravity fed hopper, from which it is funneled into and through the nozzle of the spray gun.
A pressure fed hopper draws lacquer in by creating a vacuum chamber in the tubing, and gravity-fed hopper allows the lacquer to drain from above the gun into the tubing.
After the lacquer is drawn in, it is expelled at a high velocity from the nozzle, in a triangular spread to achieve an even spray across the working surface.
The pressure and velocity of the air in the gun make a big difference when it comes to giving an even distribution and spray.
What To Look For in a Lacquer Spray Gun
When you’re purchasing a sprayer for applying lacquer, you’ll want to take note of a few important things that will make your decision easier.
First, the pressure rating of the machine is extremely important. A lacquer sprayer should be able to withstand and provide higher pressures than a typical paint sprayer, because of the material you’re working with.
Next, you should look at the capacity of the sprayer. You can find different sizes for all sorts of different sprayers.
The smaller the sprayer, the lighter it will be to transport and carry. However, a larger one can hold more lacquer and can help you complete bigger projects without taking a break.
Finally, you should examine how easy these spray guns are to take apart. This is important for the cleaning process.
You should be able to disassemble the gun and put it back together fairly easily so that you can clean all of the internal pieces and connections quickly.
Read More >> How Do You Clean An HVLP Spray Gun?
Our Reviews of Lacquer Spray Guns
The Fuji Semi-Pro is just that - a semi-professional model that hobbyists absolutely love.
This model comes with a relatively low price tag that allows you to create professional-grade finishes for your lacquer.
The motor on this device can pump out 1400 W which delivers more power than most competitors, which means you can work with thicker coats and create smoother, more polished finishes.
The Fuji Semi-Pro machine is a high-quality product with a stainless steel gun and paint cup, meaning it will be very durable and corrosion-resistant.
The high power and durability of this device make it one of the best choices, even if it is a bit more expensive.
Pros
Cons
Pick #2: Graco Magnum Project Painter
The Graco Magnum lacquer and paint sprayer is designed for large scale projects.
This gun can hold up to five gallons at a time, which allows you to run through large projects without having to refill your sprayer.
Since this product uses submersion and pressure to draw the lacquer through, there is no need to clean up and fill a hopper full of thick and sticky lacquer each time you use it.
This really simplifies the cleanup process and makes your life easier every time you do a project.
Pros
Cons
Pick #3: Ingersoll Rand Edge Series
Ingersoll Rand has come out with a low-cost alternative that provides the benefits of a high pressure lacquer sprayer without the extra cost.
This cheap option offers a great quality finish from an easy-to-use, affordable product, giving beginners a great chance to start learning how to do finishing jobs without a high price tag.
Unfortunately, this product certainly has its limitations - breaking easily and having a limited selection of paints and lacquers with which it is compatible.
Pros
Cons
Wagner designed its Spraytech tool to fit a specific need, and that is size.
These products can typically be big and bulky, so a small lacquer sprayer has an advantage in terms of weight and maneuverability.
Being smaller and more lightweight makes this product ideal for painting jobs that require a lot of moving or transportation, and it's also very suitable for small scale DIY projects.
However, because of the smaller scale, this product has a lower capacity and can’t easily clean large areas.
Pros
Cons
Pick #5: Wagner FLEXiO Stationary HVLP
Finally, the Wagner Flexio is a low cost, high volume product that can act as a gateway into the finishing market.
Unfortunately, the Wagner Flexio is not nearly as high quality as the other options on this list.
For the price, it is certainly a great entry-level product, but it is a messy machine that has a tendency to splatter and has difficulty creating a smooth and polished finish, while also being difficult to clean itself.
For those looking for a low price point, this product may be a fit for them, but if you can afford more, there are even better options on the list.
If you are a DIY user, you may be comfortable with a cheaper product even if it means more cleanup, because you will probably be using it less frequently.
The low price makes it great as a training tool. However, it has a lower CFM and can't produce as high pressure because it is lower quality.
If you are willing to keep a garden hose on hand to clean up the spilled lacquer, you may be comfortable with this product.
Pros
Cons
Our Top Pick: Fuji Semi-PRO Gravity HVLP Spray System
It offers an incredibly fine finish, better than many HVLP systems, meaning you can count on quality work for all of your painting projects.
If you want a high-quality product that can handle all the different tasks you need a lacquer sprayer for, Fuji has a great product for you.
Because it is able to produce high pressure, you won't need a lacquer thinner to dilute the product, and you can spray a strong spray to create a smooth clear coat with this HVLP gun.
Add on the adjustable tip sizes and stainless steel gun construction and you have a product with a lot of variability and durability so you can tackle a wide range of products and won't have to worry about the device breaking down or wearing out over time.
With a high powered air compressor built-in and a very fine spray pattern, this product performs as well as some of the best airless paint sprayers, which gives you a professional-grade finish.
Plus it's a great value for your money. Check out the lowest price on Amazon now!
Final Thoughts on Automotive Paint Guns
Lacquer sprayers are not paint sprayers, and they should not be viewed as such. However, their similarity in function and design make them good machines to learn at the same time.
When you’re working with lacquer, you’ll want to find a lacquer sprayer that can give you a polished, finished look that completes your project in style.
You want to find the best spray gun for your needs, and the best lacquer sprayer will differ from the best paint sprayer.
You're working with polyurethane and different lacquers that spray differently through a gravity feed spray gun.
When you're working on your painting projects, you want to find the best sprayer that will give you a high-quality finish and can make your paint job look smooth and sleek.
Take a look through the different products we've compiled here to find your perfect fit.
Everyone has different needs, but we think you'll find something for you, whether you need a high powered, professional-quality sprayer or a quick and cheap DIY solution.
Read More >> What Are The Best Gravity Feed Spray Guns?
