It's true - you get what you pay for, and when you buy an ANEST IWATA spray gun you can be sure you're getting quality and reliability. But it's not the only brand to consider. DeVilbiss and SATA also manufacture guns that may better suit your finishing needs and budget.
But, before we compare the top brands on the market, we'll take a quick look at the different types of spray gun feed system, their typical uses and their pros and cons. If we're teaching you to suck eggs, feel free to skip the section below. But if you don't know your gravity-feed your pressure-feed, take a quick look. It will help you to spend your money wisely.
What are the different methods of feeding paint into a spray gun?
Gravity-feed spray guns
The paint reservoir sits on top of a gravity-feed spray gun, hence the name. The unit is designed to produce a fine finish.
Pros:
- Extremely precise
- No overspray
- Easy cleanup
- Portable
- More affordable than a pressure-feed system
- No paint wasted
Cons:
- The product must be able to flow well under gravity alone - not suitable for heavy-bodied coatings
- Needs an add-on system for effective spraying upside down
- Not well-suited to high-volume work
Suitable for:
- Automotive car repairs
- Touch-ups on bigger projects
- Colour matching for a production layout
- Small joinery projects
Suction-feed spray guns
A suction-feed system houses the paint reservoir underneath the spray gun. The air within the reservoir becomes compressed, creating a vacuum that siphons paint up and into the gun.
Pros:
- Atomisation occurs naturally via the air used to feed product to the gun
- Portable
- Can be used upside down and at awkward angles
Cons:
- Limited control over atomisation air supplied to the gun
- Not well suited to heavy-bodied materials
Suited to:
- Wood finishing
- Specialised coatings, metallic paint and pigments
- Touch-up work in metal finishing projects
Pressure-feed spray guns
A pressure feed gun houses the paint in a separate pressure tank that feeds into the gun via a hose.
Pros:
- When used with a dual-regulated pressure tank, you can control fluid and air pressure separately, giving great spray control
- Suited to products of any viscosity
- Designed for high-volume (tanks can hold 2-40 litres)
- Coatings that do not have a limited pot life can remain in the tank between spray jobs
- The gun is more manoeuvrable and lighter than gravity and suction systems
Cons:
- Greater outlay than gravity suction systems - requires a tank and second hose for fluid pressure
- Additional kit to clean up - tank and second hose
Suited to:
- Latex paints, stains, sealers, topcoats, long-life epoxies, zincs, and lacquers
- High-volume production
- Heavy-bodied coatings
Iwata spray gun vs 2 other brands
ANEST IWATA
ANEST IWATA is a manufacturer that believes in building equipment that is both efficient and powerful - reducing costs and environmental impact while increasing finish quality.
Two IWATA guns of particular note are the Chrome Flash and the W400, which offers unbeatable quality and reliability. Both products have fewer moving parts than equivalent models, giving them three specific advantages:
- Fewer parts to go wrong or need replacing
- Less incidence of downtime due to malfunction
- Easier to take apart, clean and service
The Chrome Flash and W400 fall into the mid-range price bracket, offering superb value for money compared to brands like SATA.
IWATA Spray Gun - Chrome Flash highlights
- Wide range of nozzle sizes to suit the majority of applications
- Stainless steel internal wet parts to prevent corrosion
- HTE (high-transfer efficient) technology for high application speeds and minimal overspray
IWATA Spray Gun - W400 highlights
- Easy to use
- Superior atomisation
- Lightweight and ergonomic design to reduce hand fatigue
- Stainless steel internal wet parts to prevent corrosion
- HTE technology for high application speeds and minimal overspray
- Ideal for medium to large paint jobs in the auto & wood refinish industry
DeVilbiss
Back in 1888, Toledo, Ohio physician, Dr Allen DeVilbiss did an experiment. He combined a bulb, some tubing, and the base of an oil can to create the first atomiser for healthcare. In 1907, DeVilbiss Jr. followed in his father's footsteps and designed a spray gun to meet the challenges of automotive refinishing. It was a revolutionary technology that increased productivity in manufacturing, created new jobs and produced superior quality finishes.
Today, DeVilbiss is a company that continues to manufacture high-quality spray guns. Its parts aren't always as reliable as alternative brands, but the higher-end models are good guns when used for low-volume production.
SATA
SATA is the Tesla of spray equipment. It manufactures high-end auto spray guns at high-end prices that won't disappoint. If you need to achieve superior quality lacquer finishes and topcoats, it's worth investing in SATA products.
Which spray gun is best for you?
Most paint shops will get everything they need from an IWATA W400 spray gun. It's a reliable gun, easy to clean and produces a high-quality finish at a reasonable price. You might want to consider a DeVilbiss for low volume production, or if a superior finish is a must, opt for a Wager or SATA.
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