Input on the Harbor Freight Turbine HVLP?

[Tim Solley]

Does anyone have any input on this turbine HVLP system from Harbor Freight (Chicago Electric)? I'm just a hobby woodworker, so I'm not looking to spend hundreds of dollars on a sprayer. I also have a dinky compressor that can't handle a sprayer. I would however like to get into spraying stains and finishes. If anyone has used this system or knows someone, I'd love to hear about your experiences. Here's the link:

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=91772

Thanks,
Tim

[Lee DeRaud]

"Ask This Old House" reviewed a very similar unit a couple years back, looked a lot like the $100 unit that Rockler sells. Seemed to work pretty well.

[Alex Berkovsky]

"Ask This Old House" reviewed a very similar unit a couple years back, looked a lot like the $100 unit that Rockler sells. Seemed to work pretty well.Lee,
You must be refering to this HF unit (http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=44677) which is identical to the Rockler unit (http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=10469). I am waiting for mine to arrive next week.

[Tim Solley]

Lee,
You must be refering to this HF unit (http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=44677) which is identical to the Rockler unit (http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=10469). I am waiting for mine to arrive next week.

Alex, I didn't even see that one on HF's web site. That system is the same as Rockler huh? Do you know what the difference is? I could swing another 40 or 50 bucks for a better system.

Tim

[Lee DeRaud]

Alex, I didn't even see that one on HF's web site. That system is the same as Rockler huh? Do you know what the difference is? I could swing another 40 or 50 bucks for a better system.

TimLonger hose and a little more grunt in the turbine, near as I can tell from the specs. Depending on the size pieces you're spraying, the short hose on the cheaper unit could be an issue...not a deal-breaker, just annoying.

[Alex Berkovsky]

From what I hear, it's exactly the same unit - you can even download the manual from Rockler. If you decide to go with this unit, you can get it for $80 (http://72.14.203.104/search?q=cache:J85yZXYWFlsJ:ww2.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf%3Fitemnumber%3D44677+harborfreight +44677-2vga&hl=en&gl=us&ct=clnk&cd=1) and get another $5 off (http://www.billt.com/harborfreight.htm).

[Tim Solley]

By the way, what does it mean when they specify the "transfer efficiency"? Is this a measure of how much product you put in makes it on to the project? In other words, if I pour a quart of stain into a gun with 85 percent transfer efficiency, does that mean 85 percent of a quart will make it on to the project (provided I'm pointing the gun at the project the whole time)? Or maybe I'm way off.

Thanks,

Tim

[Dave Falkenstein]

There is a review of HVLP systems in the current issue of Wood - April/May 2006. The review includes the Rockler unit as well as two other lower cost options by Wagner and Campbell Hausfeld. The CH unit at $200 got the nod as the best low cost system.

[Jeremy Gibson]

Tim,

I can't speak to the performance yet, but I picked one of these up from my local HF after Christmas. The store had it on sale for $39!! For that price, like most things I buy at HF, if it's a piece of c*!$ then I'm not out much. If anything it might get me familiar with spraying - somthing I have not done yet.

[Matt Meiser]

If it's a piece of c*!$ then I'm not out much. If anything it might get me familiar with spraying - somthing I have not done yet.

If it is, I just take it back and tell them so. Never had a problem getting them to take things back that I wasn't happy with. And it actually hasn't happened often since I'm pretty careful about what I buy there.

[Richard Blaine]

If it is, I just take it back and tell them so. Never had a problem getting them to take things back that I wasn't happy with. And it actually hasn't happened often since I'm pretty careful about what I buy there.

That seems to be store dependent. In my neck of the woods, you better bring it back within the timeframe allotted, and with a receipt. No exceptions, no grace period. Very cut and dry. Even when you meet the conditions, they argue with you.

In a weaker moment, I bought a socket set from them. Of course, it broke shortly after the return period. I had a hard time getting them to honor the lifetime warranty, and returning the item was out of the question.