My $40 paint sprayer turned my kitchen cabinets into a sticky mess

Last month I finally got around to repainting the oak cabinets in my 1980s rancher near Portland. I watched a few videos and thought a cheap HVLP sprayer would save me time compared to brushing. Big mistake, the thing sputtered and laid down way too thick, so I spent 8 hours sanding off globs and starting over with a foam roller. Has anyone else had luck with a budget sprayer for cabinet doors, or is brushing just the safer route?

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jenniferwells21d ago

Did you thin the paint enough and strain it before pouring it in? Most cheap sprayers choke on thick cabinet paint straight from the can, and if you skipped that step, the sputtering is on you, not the tool. I've used a $50 sprayer for two cabinet jobs in this area and got a smooth finish, but only after I spent 20 minutes getting the mix right and testing on cardboard first.