| Review by Toolman61 | posted 448 days ago | 1870 views | 0 times favorited | 15 comments | ![]() |
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- Earlex Spray Station 5000
- Brand: Earlex | Category: Spray Guns

I purchased an Earlex 5000 when Woodcraft had them on sale. I have been frustrated with the newer fast drying brush type varnishes and enamels, so I broke down and bought a spray system. Best money I have spent in a long time. The first spray job was with Ben Moore semi gloss Aura which is a high end latex paint. I had to use bm 518 extender at the rate of 10 to 12 ounces per quart of paint, but the look is like glass. I sprayed 2 textured interior doors and the base and casing in a new room. Very little overspray, not a problem at all. I sprayed 2 coats waiting 3 hours between coats. The masking took 3 hours, but only 40 minutes per coat. Brushing would have been 3 hours per coat and not as good of finished. Today I sprayed Bin oil based primer on cabinets, and the results were the same. I am using the 2.0 MM needle whitch atomizes thined latex paint fine. This is so forgiving, there is no reason not to get a professional job. I would recommend this to anyone who paints trim and furniture.























15 comments so far
Steve2
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48 posts in 471 days
posted 448 days ago
Doen’t appear to be an HVLP system – is that why they were on sale to close them out? What state are you in? Please share the approximate cost. Thanks.
-- Regards, Steve2
PurpLev
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2763 posts in 548 days
posted 447 days ago
Nice!
Marc also had a video review on this particular model, and he seemed to have really liked it and got real good results with it.
which woodcraft had those on sale? if the price is within budget -I’d definitely get one of those, as brushing finishes takes forever, and I personally don’t have the time for that (especially larger pieces)
-- When in doubt - There is no doubt - Go the safer route.
FloridaUFGator
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34 posts in 913 days
posted 447 days ago
I’ve owned one for about 6 months and absolutely love it. I’ve only sprayed paint with it thus far but the results are fantastic. This is the only sprayer I’ve owned so I can only compare the results to my expectations. The clean up isn’t that bad.
-- ...and remember this: there is no more important safety rule than to wear these — safety glasses - Norm Abram
Steve2
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48 posts in 471 days
posted 447 days ago
I saw the Earlex video and it is excellent. The unit is entry level and as said so often, you get what you pay for.
-- Regards, Steve2
SteveV
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77 posts in 999 days
posted 447 days ago
Molly, are you saying the unit performs like a chap $300 unit should? I have used expensive sprayers and this one easily lives up to those other save a few bells and whistles.
Steve
Brad_Nailor
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1231 posts in 857 days
posted 447 days ago
So, is this an HVLP sprayer or not?
-- David, South Windsor, CT "I love the smell of sawdust in the morning"
Toolman61
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3 posts in 448 days
posted 447 days ago
Yes this is an HVLP with its own turbine. Woodcraft had this as an introductory offer at $275, This may be an entry level unit, but it fit my needs better and easier to use than a $900 Graco airless that I previously owned. One of the neatest things about this is you can vary the amount of paint with hardly any overspray. Well worth the price. Go to earlex.com for specifications or woodcraft.com to order.
Scott Bryan
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20805 posts in 722 days
posted 447 days ago
This is a nice review. I have one of these and use it for spraying shellac and polyurethane. It does use more material than brushing but the time savings is wonderful. The finish coat it puts down is even and a vast improvement over my brushing technique. I would highly recommend this one as well.
-- With God's help all things are possible- even woodworking. Woodworking is not just a hobby, it is an (expletive deleted) expensive hobby.
Brad_Nailor
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1231 posts in 857 days
posted 447 days ago
Cool. Thanks for the info and the great review. I have been considering one of these..I think it would be well worth the investment in time saved not brushing and a great improvement on finish quality. And you don’t need a giant compressor to run it either!
-- David, South Windsor, CT "I love the smell of sawdust in the morning"
teenagewoodworker
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2482 posts in 668 days
posted 446 days ago
nice! this spray systems been getting a lot of good reviews! i really like to see a tool be succesful and this one sure has been! thanks for the review.
Jarrod Zion Murphree
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348 posts in 623 days
posted 443 days ago
Ditto. I have also sprayed Benjamin Moore latex paint, as well as shellac, poly, lacquer, primer, and stain, and several different brands of WB conversion varnish. I have never been disappointed with the Earlex.
Regards, JM
-- Jarrod, Taos, NM http://jzmurphree.wordpress.com/
Toolman61
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3 posts in 448 days
posted 443 days ago
JM: I am interested in spraying WB (waterborne) conversion varnish or WB lacquer for some furniture I am building. What brand do you prefer? Can you get it tinted such as with nitrocellulose lacquer? How was the finish? How many coats? Thanks for the info.
Toolman61
DonJ
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51 posts in 427 days
posted 394 days ago
Here’s an update: The current Woodcraft flyer has them at $300. I recently found them on the internet for $262 postage paid and no tax. Can’t remember right now where I got it, but if anyone is interested, let me know and I will look it up.
-- Don, San Antonio, TX
kefob1
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9 posts in 347 days
posted 340 days ago
Got mine for £160 sterling which is about 236 dollars.Did get a small discount on it though.Only got it recently so am no expert with it yet. Sprayed some water based primer/undercoat this morning and it came out fine.Easy clean up.Bit noisy though.
bobmaxja
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1 post in 24 days
posted 24 days ago
I have this machine and I am using Targets Coating WB product . I completed a large cherry able using WB shelleac and USL lacquer WB