Paint sprayers are a game-changer in any shop. Ask any person who finishes furniture on a regular basis and they will tell you that adding a paint sprayer to their arsenal drastically changed their workflow in the shop. With such a wide range of prices associated with paint sprayers, it can be fairly daunting to pick one that will suit your needs but not overspend. Let’s say you are a serious hobbyist or need a sprayer for more occasional use? Earlex has developed an incredible solution in their Spray Station for these users. Let’s get a closer look at this HVLP sprayer and what makes it an excellent option for a wide range of users in the Earlex Spray Station Review.
A Little About the Brand-
Earlex Spray Station Review
Earlex Sprayers have been around a long time, and have provided high-quality paint sprayers for both professionals and hobbyists woodworkers. Today, Earlex is owned by the powerhouse in painting products, Wagner. With their budget-friendly options, Earlex offers HVLP sprayers that are within reach for a lot of users but are still able to provide beautiful finish quality.
Standout Features-
Earlex Spray Station Review
The Earlex Spray Station 5500 is a two-stage HVLP sprayer, offering a compact design that is ideal for small shops. The 650 Watt turbine motor produces 2.2 PSI and 42 CFM.
The Hose and Cord enclose into the Spray Station, and has an upper area for Cup Storage.
The Spray station can spray between 1 and 12-inch patterns, both horizontal and vertical, as well as a smaller round detail setting.
The “Push N Click” sprayer design allows you to easily switch between three spray patterns. The Earlex is equiped with a 2.0 mm tip and needle, this is a great starter tip for versatility.
1 QT PTFE Coated interior cup for easy cleaning.
You can easily adjust the volume sprayed by rotating the adjustment knob on the back of the gun.
Included with the Earlex Spray Station 5500, is the Turbine Unit, the storage Pod, 13-foot air hose, a 1-QT container, metal spray gun, stainless steel needle, viscosity cup, cleaning kit and a specialized wrench for the removing and installing the needle and tip.
Value-
Earlex Spray Station Review
The Earlex Spray Station truly shines in its value. Coming in at $299 from Acme Tools, you can be sure to get an excellent quality gun that will suit a wide range of users.
Final Thoughts
Earlex Spray Station Review
The Earlex Spray Station is an excellent addition to the workshop. There is a lot to love about the design and overall quality of the system, as well as the finish quality that can be achieved in use. The Earlex is a user-friendly and simple system that can give you truly wonderful results.
I have been lucky to use a wide range of spray guns over the years. I have used paint sprayers from all ends of the cost spectrum, from true budget buys like a critter, to very high-end sprayers. A lot of the end result comes down to patience, practice, and skill. No matter how you finish a piece, you can get good end results with experience, but tools that work well can certainly help you along the way. The Spray Station from Earlex really mixes a lot of the benefits of sprayers from both ends of the sprayer spectrum and has a lot of potentials.
When it came down to assembly, this system is about as simple to operate as you can get. The Gun and Cup are solid and well made, feeling reminiscent of sprayers that are much more expensive. The actual compressor housing is designed well and is perfect for shops that want a compact and portable spraying solution. Both the power cord and air hose are easily stored within the system. As well, the gun itself and the cup have onboard storage built-in. I love the design of this, allowing you to truly keep the sprayer intact even when not in use.
Let’s talk about cleaning. Now, there is not a single spray gun on earth I enjoy cleaning. Some are easier than others, and some are so tedious you’re ready to toss it after the first use. Thankfully the Earlex fell in the first category, having a well thought out design to allow easy cleaning. For quick cleaning, you can simply empty the paint and run water or an appropriate thinner through the gun. I would recommend after projects thought to do a deep clean to extend the life of your gun. The Gun is like most, having a handful of parts you can disassemble to clean deeply, the metal design allows easy removal of paint. I will say the cups interior coating was a huge pro in the process of cleaning the gun, it makes paint removal a breeze with a quick scrub. A few things I use to help clean paint sprayers- a good bottle brush and a smaller brush for the paint tubes and nozzles.
Spray Quality is the most important facet in a sprayer. After all, that is what we are using this for. The Earlex Spray Station has a great overall spray quality, especially when you factor in that quality and the price point. There isn’t a lot of settings on the Earlex, rather offering only one adjustment for volume. While advanced users may prefer more customization, the simplicity of the Earlex is a huge plus, as long as you have thinned your material properly and done your tests for correct volume, you’re in a good position to get an incredible finish. Additionally, the overspray was very minimal with this gun, and I love that there were multiple spray pattern options to ensure the best finish.
There is only one true negative with the sprayer, and that comes down to the hose. While I like the design of this sprayer overall, the hose has a tendency to disconnect from the gun. This can cause some spattering of the paint which isn’t ideal. Is it a deal-breaker? No. If you’re aware of it, you can make sure to account for it.
I have used this for a few small projects, and then recently for a bookcase, requiring spraying primer, as well as several coats, paint too. I have also sprayed several types of topcoats, both oil-based and water-based and I had a great experience overall. I did purchase the 1.5mm nozzle for some materials to give the finest finish, and it worked beautifully.
So, when you get right down to it, the Earlex Spray Station is a really great HVLP sprayer for users on a budget but require higher end results. I would absolutely say you would be hard-pressed to find a better balance of quality and performance for the price. I think this system is best suited for a hobbyist and small professional shops. It has incredible versatility with multiple spray patterns and is user-friendly. I have been incredibly impressed with this sprayer overall and think it holds a lot of great benefits for a wide range of users. This is certainly a tool that I am thrilled to have in my shop!