I bought this for three reasons, positives reviews about the quality of finish, the low CFM requirements, and price. Overall, I am pleased with the Neiko 31215A's performance on all three.
My primary application is for woodworking. In the past I had problems applying conversion varnish, a notoriously difficult finish to work with. I usually got orange peels finishes that need to be buffed out. The Neiko's finish was quite good. Maybe not perfect, but very close with no need for buffing. I also used it with spar varnish without dilution. I think the 1.7mm nozzle was too small for the thicker spar varnish and that finish was not quite as good. Looks like I will need to thin or buy a Neiko with a larger nozzle for the urethane finishes. Too bad Neiko doesn't have interchangeable nozzles. Rating on finish quality 4.5 stars.
The seller's claim that you only need 4.5 cfm is only a slight exaggeration. I used this on two compressors. One was rated at 4.5 cfm at 100psi. The other was rated at 6 cfm at 90 psi. The compressors ran continuously when spraying. But they seemed to keep up well enough. They would continue to run for some time when spraying stopped. I used a 5 gal portable tank in conjunction with the units' 5 gal tank for a total of 10 gals storage. I think with only 5 cfm @ 90 psi and 5 gal capacity the compressor might not be enough. But it performed MUCH better than other HVLP sprayers I have used. Rating on CFM requirements 5 stars.
Like others, I was unable to remove the nozzle for cleaning. I tried soaking in xylene and again after use and cleaning. But the nozzle wouldn't budge. I was really worried I would damage the tool if I added more torque. It would be nice to be able to remove the nozzle. But I was able to adequately clean the sprayer with nozzle in place. I removed all other parts and shot a little cleaner through the gun from the inlet and needle holes. At next use everything worked fine.
Overall fit and finish is clearly not as nice as a much pricier sprayer I have. But it is still fairly good. The air cap machining was OK, not great. The nozzle, needle and gun itself were fine, but not impressive. Some reviews complained about the aluminum cup being flimsy. I found the cup to be fine, but not robust. It didn't flex when putting on the top, but it probably wouldn't stand up to really heavy pressure. If you accidentally drop the sprayer, the cup would probably bend on the mount and would certainly dent. Under normal use it held up perfectly well. At under $40 the Neiko is an excellent value. That value is lowered by having to buy multiple sprayers to get flexibility in nozzle size. But still, a great purchase. Price rating 5 stars for value and gun quality.
| Brand | NEIKO |
|---|---|
| Tank Volume | 600 Milliliters |
| Color | Yellow |
| Material | Aluminum,Stainless Steel,Metal |
| Product Dimensions | 5"W x 9"H |
| Style | Paint Gun |
| Power Source | Air Powered |
| Included Components | Air Spray Gun, Aluminum Cup |
| Model Name | 31215A |
| Manufacturer | Ridgerock Tools Inc. |
| Part Number | 31215A |
| Item Weight | 2.77 pounds |
| Country of Origin | China |
| Item model number | 31215A |
| Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
| Size | 1.7mm nozzle |
| Item Package Quantity | 1 |
| Special Features | Low Pressure, High Volume, Gravity Feed |
| Batteries Included? | No |
| Batteries Required? | No |
