I am going to try spray finishing for the first time on oak stair treads for the shop basement stairs that are not yet installed. I plan to stain using Zar oil based gel stain then spray two coats of gloss floor finish. The final coat will be satin finish and brushed after installation. I have a nice Apollo Precision 5 HVLP with PPS system that I have never used. There are way too many adjustable features on this system for a novice to figure out. I will have a random orbit sander handy to undo any major mishaps. So this is a learning experience. The question is which finish, water or oil based, is easier or more forgiving about set up and which finish is more durable? Also a recipe for cap and needle, air pressure (the Precision 5 has adjustable pressure) to start with might get me closer on the first try. I plan to try some different setups of the gun.