Plug and spray HVLP
HOMERIGHT Finish Max HVLP Sprayer
When it comes to finishing, woodworkers split into two camps: those who regularly reach for their spray gun, and those who haven’t yet pulled the trigger. HOMERIGHT’S Finish Max offers something for both sides. For beginners, this $70 HVLP sprayer is easy to operate (fill the cup, plug it in, and spray) and a cinch to clean, making it the perfect gateway into the world of spray finishing. For experienced finishers, this compact and affordable sprayer can serve as a handy back up for smaller finishing jobs.
At first glance, the Finish Max resembles an airless sprayer, but looks are indeed deceiving. Although it lacks hoses, pumps, or air compressors, this self-contained HVLP system successfully handled a gauntlet of finishes, including chalk paint (slightly thinned and gauged, using the included drip cup). After spraying waterborne poly on several projects that had been waiting for finish, I may not go back to using a brush.
The air cap rotates to positive stops for horizontal, vertical and conical patterns, a feature common on more expensive sprayers. Overspray is easy to reduce by adjusting the fluid control knob. For best results, just make sure to keep the tip clean. I needed to wipe dried paint from the sprayer’s tip every 5-10 minutes to maintain the spray pattern. Near the end of the test, the cup reservoir began to pop loose from the gun’s plastic threads, making it difficult to obtain a leak-free seal. You could take advantage of the manufacturer’s 2-year warranty, but I was able to fi x the problem simply by wrapping the cup’s threads with plumber’s teflon tape.
To be fair, this gun is not as powerful or as versatile as pricier sprayers. The small fan pattern and coverage rate are about what you’d expect from a great aerosol spray can. While this makes it difficult to lay on too much paint (a mistake that causes drips), the HOMERIGHT isn’t well suited for large projects, like a kitchen cabinets or a shed. Also, the needle can’t be changed out to suit thicker paints or replaced when it wears out. But by the time this gun is ready to retire, it will have earned its keep.
Tester: Joe Hurst-Wajszczuk
