Tagged and tested: spray paint guns

Nov 16, 2023

WIRED

This article was taken from the June 2014 issue of Wired magazine. Be the first to read Wired's articles in print before they're posted online, and get your hands on loads of additional content by <span class="s1">subscribing online.

How we tested:

We enlisted the help of decorator Adrian Lambert to cover a ten-metre-squared internal area with emulsion to his own exacting standard and timed the results. Artist Jacob Pitt then took the spray guns to the streets of Herne Hill to produce the mural above, before giving his verdict.

By Angela Watercutter

By Marah Eakin

By Megan Carnegie

By WIRED

Black & Decker BDPS600K

The Black & Decker's plastic paint tank is rather small, but it can be refilled quickly without being detached thanks to a cap at the side. Alternatively, you can run a suction tube directly into the paint bucket and just keep going. A rapid flow rate and reasonably accurate aim meant it covered our wall in the fastest time. "It does the job in no time," said Pitt, "but not as evenly as the Earlex or Wagner." It's not the most controlled jet, however: we ended up with a fair amount of overspray spotting the floor and ceiling. £135

WIRED: Neat and compact design

TIRED: Overspray and a lot of noise

Earlex HVLP HV5500 With its steel components and a Teflon-coated paint canister for easy cleaning, this gun is built to last. It's a high-velocity, low-pressure (HVLP) sprayer, so the paint is propelled by a constant flow of warm air from a 650W turbine in the base. "The turbine sounds like a jet engine, but it does give a nice fine mist of paint," says Pitt. There are few controls and no accessories in this rather expensive package, but it's simple to operate and quick to clean up afterwards. £220

By Angela Watercutter

By Marah Eakin

By Megan Carnegie

By WIRED

WIRED: Superb build quality and a fine finish

TIRED: Noisy turbine and a high price

Ryobi P620 One Plus

Being cordless gives this model a distinct advantage when it comes to painting outdoors. You won't find a Li-ion battery in the box, however - you'll have to spend another £99 on a battery pack and charger. It's quite compact, if a little heavy, and the handle on top means you can hang it on a ladder. There are two settings and two nozzle attachments for wide or focused spraying, but we still ended up with paint everywhere. "It's fast but messy, and not really smooth enough for an interior wall," says Lambert. £85

WIRED: Wireless; very fast paint flow

TIRED: Lots of spatter; splashback and lumps

Wagner WallPerfect W687E

Thanks to a quiet and controllable turbine and a lightweight plastic gun, this HVLP model is the cleanest and most user-friendly sprayer on test. It includes a second canister and nozzle, with one suited to interior walls and the other for more detailed jobs such as varnishing. The larger canister contained enough paint to cover our wall without a refill, and the steady jet worked well for street artist Pitt: "It gives you a very even spray, although it's a bit too cumbersome for street work." £160

WIRED: Quiet and smooth application

TIRED: Imprecise fittings came apart