Q: Best "budget" clear coat gun in September 2025?

J

jsnppp

Promoted Users
Hi,

I'm a hobbiest about to start painting exterior base coat and clear on my first complete. I have multiple cheaper guns that I've used to some success on fenders and engine bays. This car means something to me and after over 2 years of prep work I want to make sure I'm putting my best foot forward. I'm finishing with SPI Universal Clear. I have a 60 gallon, 220v twin cylinder compressor, 14 SCFM @ 40psi, 9.9 SCFM @ 90psi that seems to match my painting style.

I've read and reread many posts on good and great clear guns. Many are older posts and some of the guns recommended have jumped in price or are not as easily available. Perfect world would be a great gun with tips to support both base coat and clear coat.

Here is what I have found as contenders for great clear guns.
  • Iwata LPH-400 1.4 ($500-$600) - Amazon
    • A workhorse that people have relied on for many years, loved by most. Lots of guidance/feedback.
  • Satajet 5000 RP 1.4 ($650) - Spraygunsdirect
    • Pretty much universal agreement this is a great clear gun
  • FINEX FX3000 1.4MM HVLP SP GUN ($192) - Amazon
    • Multiple references on this is a good gun.
  • Iwata kiwami 4 1.4mm ($300) - Plaza Japan
    • Feels like a general concensus on a solid budget clear gun. Not sure on tarriffs?
  • IWATA AZ3 HTE2 1.4mm ($238) - Amazon
    • Price and availability are good.
  • DeVilbiss FLG-5 1.4 ($200) - ebay
    • Mixed reviews but many say it's a solid performing clear gun. Generally hesitant on knock offs on ebay.
Personally the Kiwami4 feels like a good one to get, not cheap but not extreme. Getting one is the challenge, not sure on shipping/tariffs/etc. But I prob can't go wrong with the LPH400 and if I take care of it I can likely sell it later.

While I don't feel like throwing money at things for no reason, the in big picture and extra few hundred dollars for a quality finish uplift is worth it. That being said I'm not a pro and i don't know that i would fully appreciate all the nuances of some of the really expensive guns.

My question --> Which do you recommend? And can it be both a clear and base coat gun? What tips? And most important will it provide a lift up on what I'm using today (listed below).

Thank you in advance. All thoughts welcome.


~~~~ More detail

Here is my current gear. I do like the Euro guns they were about $100 each, but the fan width is low IMO.
 
I've been using a LPH-400 1.3 for base and clear for over 20 years. I have never needed to replace any seals, although they are readily available. I paint about every other weekend. Just keep it clean and you will have a good gun for the rest of your life.
 
I havent used the flg5, but i feel like it would be a good budget gun. I have some older flg3s that still work well.
I feel the rage coming but for $150 on sale you cant beat the harbor freight black widow. I bodywork and paint 2 nights a week, and i have got a guy thats ive been training for a year now. Getting started he bought a black widow and has been using it for a year now. I trained him on how to spray and I kid you not, he lays down just as good a paint job with it as I do with my DV1s. I think its hard to beat for a hobbyist.
 
I am novice at best but here are my thoughts as I have a few of these guns. I have an FLG5, Devilbiss GPi and an Iwata Kiwami Wider 4L. I bought the FLG5 and the GPi out of England at the same time from a trusted source, so I know they are the real deal. I bought the Iwata from a friend and I know it too is the real deal. The Kiwami is supposed to be the replacement for the LPH400 and supposedly, in some aspects better than the LPH400. I'm not sure about that, I don't own an LPH400 and this is what I've read. Lots of guys use the LPH400 and swear by them so I know they are way up there in the APEX hierarchy of spray guns.

For me, the FLG5 is my go to gun for epoxy, base and clear. I love this gun and it is comfortable to me! Look for YouTube videos by Gunnman on this gun. He sold me on it. I've used the Kiwami and the GPi only once for clear. The GPi and FLG spray very similar, though I can tell the GPi atomizes the clear better. Not sure why I've not gone back to it for my clear. The Kiwami is my least favorite. It too atomizes the paint better than the FLG5 and even than the GPi (I think) but it is a slow gun compared to the other two. I've gotten accustomed to moving the gun at the faster speed and find it difficult to slow down. Had I started with the Kiwami, I might think differently. Moreover, my experience spraying clear is limited to Universal clear only. Again I'm a rookie, but I do not hesitate to recommend the FLG5. Don't get it off ebay though.

Final thought and Don (dhutton01) mentioned this is another thread! The LPH400 is highly desired and should you buy it, the resale would be much better than the FLG5. Also, the rebuild kit for the FLG-5 is around $80, where the LPH is like $25. Things to think about.

IMG_9514.JPEG
 
Thanks folks.

The Black Widow is a new contender! I actually looked into it a bit ago and it has solid reviews (4.8/5 with 400+ reviews). What I liked reading was that it was reported as having high efficiency and a wide fan. Air consumption is 11.8CFM @ 35psi. Cons are lack of rebuild parts and fixed at 1.3mm tip. But at $179 w/o tax it's not bad. And it's easy to buy locally.

One concern is that I want it to be a noticeable improvement over my Astro's. I'm sure it is but it's a thought.

Not going to lie, the LPH400-LV is attractive to me b/c I know the gun will not let me down. Plus I can join the cool kid club. However, $720 is no joke either and really pushes my boundary of a "budget" gun. I know there are a lot more expensive ones, but it still makes me pause. As was stated, if I take care of it (and I will) then it does have solid resale value. (I see one for sale at $472 but that feels too good to be true?).

The FGL5 is also attractive. Good price and good history. Also not "HF" (although I don't mind). Which tip - 1.3 or 1.4mm tip for the Universal Clear? I believe 1.4 is recommended for perfect paint job.

So here is the list, I've struck out the ones that feel like they are dropped:
  • Iwata LPH-400 LV 1.3 ($720)
  • Satajet 5000 RP 1.4 ($650)
  • FINEX FX3000 1.4MM HVLP SP GUN ($192)
  • Iwata kiwami 4 1.4mm ($300)
  • IWATA AZ3 HTE2 1.4mm ($238)
  • DeVilbiss FLG-5 1.4 ($150?). - I'm thinking spraygundirect as the source out of UK. Not sure about shipping/tarriffs.
  • Harbor Frieght Black widow ($180

All thoughts welcome.
 
Yeah you can get an lph400 for much less than $720. And the lph would be my personal choice. I have a handful and they’ve been workhorses for years. They’re an easy gun to spray with. Parts are readily available if needed although I’ve never needed anything (knock on wood). And, as long as you have the money to invest in one up front, you’ll get a lot of it back in resale if you decide you no longer need it.
 
dhutton01 said:
Where are you getting your prices? $720 for an LPH400?
www.ebay.com

Iwata Spray Gun LPH400 LVX 1.4 tip Orange Cap New in Box | eBay

Manufacturer: Iwata. The gravity-feed design provides for easy clean up and reduces material waste. This gun is the best choice for automotive basecoats, but works well for clear as well.
www.ebay.com
Click to expand...
Yes sir. And that there is my personal favorite…1.4 lvx. One gun that if needed could do everything I need. My personal opinion of course.
 
Thanks guys. Always seems to be a different label or model number. $579 is better than $720 for sure..

Leaning to the LPH400, but no decision yet. The FLG-5 is still interesting too.
 
Last edited:
The Black Widow's are SATA clones for what I can tell. I have no idea how close or if the parts will interchange. I have held them and looked at them and never used one. My main gun is a SATA 4000b. For the price I have considered trying one and if it doesn't suit me return it for a refund. I'm a poor gearhead wanna be painter at best so take that for what it's worth.
 
jsnppp said:
Did you buy them as a kit? I see them separate...

Thoughts on using it? Any regrets? Do you use it often?

Thanks
Click to expand...
Buying that out of the UK is going to see you paying a hefty tariff and customs brokerage fees. I don’t think it makes sense any longer….
 
dhutton01 said:
Buying that out of the UK is going to see you paying a hefty tariff and customs brokerage fees. I don’t think it makes sense any longer….
Click to expand...
I'm thinking the same. I shot them an email to see if they have any insights to share but it feels like it's not really an option. My casual google search doesn't show an FLG5 for sale in US, most are finishlines, which as far as I can tell are FLG4s.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top