Best Primer Spray Gun – Top 5 Picks Tested & Reviewed

To get a superior finish with a paint sprayer, you first need to add primer before applying paint. There are many spray guns that are specially made only for primers. Since there are many models, choosing one can take much work. That’s why we have made a list that contains the best primer spray guns.

Why did we include these spray guns in our list? Because we use these spray guns in our home renovation projects and shoot primer easily. So, these guns are tested to be suitable for primers.

Except for that, we also have written a buying guide with all the information you need to help you choose a primer spray gun.

Best Primer Spray Gun – Quick Feature Comparison

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5 Best Primer Spray Guns – In-Depth Review

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More detailed review ↴

The Finishline HVLP spray gun works on high volume with less pressure. The impressive feature that we love about this spray gun is that it comes with a regulator.

The spray guns came with two nozzles: 1.8mm and 2.2mm. We use a 1.8mm nozzle for small and thinner paints. The 2.2mm is best when dealing with thick paints and primer. So for primer, 2.2mm is perfect for you. If the primer or paint is thicker, we usually use thinner to make it perfect for a 2.2mm nozzle. You can also use this paint gun for oil-based paints (but you will have to thin them).

This is a well-built spray gun, but it feels slightly off compared to other impressive guns. But for primer work, it is the best spray gun you can choose. It can also be an excellent gun for DIY purposes.

Another thing we love about this gun is that we can change the fluid tips and convert them into a clear gun, coat gun, or primer gun. 

You can start with 10 PSI pressure, but you will need a high CFM compressor to work with this compressor; otherwise, you will struggle to work consistently. 

We don’t like the control knob; it is made of plastic and has no markings (you cannot tell how many turns you have given). 

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More detailed review ↴

The DeVilbiss 802343 is made for DIYers and homeowners. Although it is labeled as an automotive primer spray gun, we use it for many other purposes (priming is one of them). However, we don’t recommend this for commercial applications or professional usage. 

It is a full-size HVLP Spray gun for a primer that is the same as the previous one: High volume but requires less pressure. 

Now, this spray gun is a real piece of work. It’s built with high-quality materials like a forged aluminum body and stainless steel fluid passages, so you know it’s meant to last.

Like the previous spray gun, it is also a 2-gun system: The first one contains a 1.3mm fluid tip and a 600cc (20 oz) metal cup that can be used for the finish coat. You can also use this spray gun for top coating with the 30 PSI inlet pressure delivering and a 10 PSI air cap pressure with 13-15 CFM air volume. You need a heavy CFM working compressor to work with this; otherwise, it won’t work efficiently.

The other has a 1.8mm fluid tip and a 600cc metal cup. It can also be used in Latex/oil-base. 

The 1.8mm nozzle gun also works on 30 PSI inlet pressure delivery, while the pressure cap needs 10 PSI and exactly 13-15 CFM. Our work on this nozzle tip was great: it just needs thin paint or primer, and it is good to go. 

Except for these two spray guns, it also has one more fluid tip (1.5mm) that can be attached to both of these spray guns. 

The gun also came with an air regulator and a cleaning brush for the gauge gun. 

Overall, this spray gun offers the same features (one additional nozzle of 1.5mm) as the first one on our list.

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More detailed review ↴

Another HVLP spray gun that is more affordable but does almost the same job is this Neiko primer gum. It is a less costly gun but has good finishing. 

This specific spray gun we tested has a 2.00mm nozzle size that can work for clear coating, automotive painting, and household painting purposes other than priming.

It is a heavy-duty working piece all-steel gun that is rust-resistant, and the stainless steel nozzle and solid brass cap are best because they provide durability and longevity.

 It has a classic HVLP fluid delivery with adjustable knobs; you have three options.

The primer gun came with an aluminum cup that can hold a maximum of 600cc (20.3 fl. ounces) of paint. The cup is effortless to clean and doesn’t spill any paint while working.

We connected our 10-CFM compressor with this spray gun that many users recommended, as they claimed it takes a lot of CFM. However, the usage of CFM for this 2.00mm gun was 4-5CFM or maximum; you can say it is tool 6-CFM. 

You can efficiently work with this spray gun if you have a 4-5 or 5-6 CFM compressor with a maximum PSI of 100-120. However, the spray gun only needs 40 PSI operating pressure while the working pressure is 10PSI. 

The spray gun also came with a metal-air gauge/regulator. It also came with a cleaning brush and a helpful wrench while assembling or disassembling the gun to clean it. 

On the downside, you will have to clean the spray gun after each use; otherwise, although it is rust-resistant, it will be challenging.

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More detailed review ↴

Astro Pneumatic 4008 is extremely comfortable because of its design. It is a two-piece constructed spray gun that makes the spray gun durable. 

This adjustable spray gun allows you to adjust the fan from an 11″ size to an 8-inch distance, making it versatile. 

The 1.8mm nozzle is big enough for most primers and paints, except for thick paints like latex. We do not recommend getting this one if you want to use latex or very thick paint. 

It is a 2.5 pounds weighted spray gun, and we love the additional feature of this spray gun, which is an anti-fill feature. Because of this feature, we never cared about paint spilling (paint in any direction we want). So, we recommend this paint gun to beginners.

The spray gun is easy to clean (easy to assemble) with 0.25 Gallon tank capacity, which is great for priming. 

The spray gun has an air valve design and a 1-quart dripless cup. The compressor you need with your spray gun must be a high CFM compressor. 

The operating pressure of the spray gun is 50-60 PSI, and the average consumption is around 8-10 CFM, but we recommend at least having a 12 CFM air compressor to operate this fan. The horsepower of the air compressor should be atleast 3HP.

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5. Graco-Sharpe 288882 HVLP FX3000 Paint Spray Gun

Best Features  

We had to buy this paint gun for testing (on the recommendation of one of our colleagues), as we had never used this one in our painting projects. Also, we approached people using this spray gun, and almost everyone said, “Yes, you can use it for spraying primer.”

One thing was clear to use while testing If you are using this for professional use, it’s not worth it. But it is a good spray gun for DIY and small-scale priming projects. 

This gun weighs 1 pound, making it very easy to carry, and only a little effort is required while moving it around. 

A gun is an aluminum-made tool with an aluminum cup with a capacity of 600cc that can hold a good amount of paint/primer. Also, the 1.8mm nozzle is perfect for priming jobs.

We also found a cleaning brush and a wrench in the packing while unboxing this spray gun (like the 3rd gun on our list). So it’s easy to clean, assemble and disassemble. 

Air compressor requirements: This spray gun needs at least 10 CFM compressors and 40 PSI to work smoothly. 

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Best Automotive Primer Gun – Buyers Guide

Looking at our top 5 picks, you can see that most of these paint guns come with different features. Depending on your project, some features might help you; others might not. If you have never had a primer spray gun, choosing one now can be challenging, especially with all the new information you just read.

To help you make a better decision, we have made a list of features you must consider after testing it. 

It will help you to make a better decision and get a high-quality spray gun to add the primer application.

Cleaning Options

We recommend choosing spray guns that do not need cleaning after easy use. Cleaning the gun is essential, but disassembling them to clean it can be challenging. It is specifically hard for beginners and new users. 

Choose a gun that at least comes with a cleaning brush; through that, you can keep it clean after every use and, after some time, get it cleaned by professionals.

Read Also: Sprayers For Cabinets Review

Warranty

You never know what can happen to your product while shipping. Plus, these sprayers cost a lot of money, so having a contract will save you a lot in the long run.

Generally, a 1-year warranty is more than enough, but if you are buying a very expensive paint sprayer, you may want to search for one with an extended warranty. Having a sprayer with many replacement parts is also good; it will save you a lot of time.

Adjustments

Controls and adjustments are a must in the gun regarding primer sprayers. There are a lot of primer sprayers available, and all of them come with different thicknesses depending on their nozzle sizes. 

If you plan to use the sprayer for more than one project, then you need a paint gun that offers adjustments, primarily if you use it for automobile work. Every project needs a different paint flow and speed flow. And the only way to archive that is to have a fully adjustable paint gun.

Read: Best Paint Sprayers For Furniture

Weight

You should always look at the weight when shopping for a primer gun. You will have to hold that sprayer for a long time while working. Generally, you want a primer sprayer that comes with a lightweight body and a comfortable body. That will help you work longer and complete the project faster.

But a lightweight sprayer isn’t always possible. If you are planning a large project, you need a powerful sprayer. Because of the motor size, the more power a sprayer has, the more it weighs.

Learn: What Paint can you use for your paint sprayers?

Special Protectants

Getting the best deal is always a good idea if you invest a lot of money in a primer gun. Most of these primer paint sprayers come with extra additives that will help you while working and keeping the paint sprayer safe. 

Some of them will cost you some extra money, and some of them come for free. Nozzles, Tips, Cleaning Kits, etc., are some things you need to have for your sprayer.

Nozzle Size

The nozzle of the spray guns matters for better and smooth flow primers. You need big nozzles for the primers because they work efficiently, even with a thick coating or paints. 

The smaller nozzles are great for clear coating or base coating. Less than 1.8mm nozzles mostly struggle with thick paint or primers. 

Can you use an Airless paint sprayer for primer?

Yes, you can use an airless paint sprayer/gun for primer. In fact, it’s a great choice, as it does not require an air compressor to operate and uses a pump to pressurize the paint and let it flow from the small opening, increasing the output pressure.  

For using an airless paint sprayer for priming, you must ensure you’re using the right tip (the tip is used in airless paint sprayers instead of the nozzle). Go for 515 paint spray tip is the best size for spraying primer. 

Learn: Airless Paint Sprayer Tip Sizing

Our recommendation: We recommend using an HVLP spray gun for primer, as they can produce a finer, more controlled spray pattern with less overspray. This makes them a better choice for smaller, more detailed painting projects.

Frequently Asked Questions About Primer Spray Guns?

1.What PSI Should You Use for Primer Spray Guns?

It is recommended to use 25-29 PSI. But, if you want an exact answer, we recommend using 26 PSI for the best finish quality. Eventually, you can add 2-3 PSI if you want a higher paint flow. 

2. Can You Use a Spray Gun for Primer?

Yes, primers can be applied with a spray gun, an airless paint sprayer, or an HVLP paint sprayer. It just depends on the model. The sprayer can deal with primers and different paints if it has enough power. 

3. Do You Have to Thin Primer for Spray Gun?

Just like paints, there are types of primers that are too thick, and you need to thin them before using them. But most of the primers don’t need to be thinned at all. It depends on the type.

Final Words

And here it is – here is all the information you need to buy the best primer spray guns. The best advice we can give you before buying one is to know what type of project you will be working on.

If you plan on a small project, you need a small primer spray gun. A more powerful primer paint sprayer is always a good idea if the project is big.  Having a large budget is important too. The high-quality primer spray guns cost more money, but they come with many features that others don’t have.

If you looked at our list and still don’t know which one to choose, read our buying guide, explaining how to choose a primer spray gun and what features you need. Like always, if you have any questions, make sure to comment down below or send us an email.