| Review by Matt (Upper Cut) | posted 1618 days ago | 6077 views | 1 time favorited | 11 comments | ![]() |
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- . K-Grip Siphon Spray Gun
- Brand: . | Category: Gluing and Finishing Supplies

This is a review of the following http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=17858&filter=critter%20spray
I have had this for a while, and it was $40 when I bought it, it’s $50 now.
I primarily use this for spraying interior latex paint on furniture.
This gun has a bad rep, but I like it. Yes, it makes a cloud—wear lung protection.
I mix the paint with water, pop it on the compressor, set it to 40psi (I have a little pancake compressor) and spray small projects.
I just finished a mantle (80 inches long 8 inches deep 6 inches high) for wifey and the paint is like glass.
This gun will do just fine until I get that Earlex or Fuji.
-- Matt Gradwohl, Upper Cut Woodworks, http://uppercutwoodworks.com/




















11 comments so far
Peter Oxley
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1423 posts in 2046 days
#1 posted 1617 days ago
I’ve had mine for almost a year, and just started using it. I really like it! It won’t replace my HVLP, but for small jobs, it’s hard to beat the fast setup and cleanup, and I can get a decent finish with it.
-- http://www.peteroxley.com -- http://north40studios.etsy.com --
Brad_Nailor
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2450 posts in 2129 days
#2 posted 1617 days ago
I have owned a Critter for a few years and I love it. It’s easy to clean, and sprays great. I have had nothing but good results with it. It does have allot of over spray, but I usually use it outside or in my garage with a mask so it really isn’t a problem.
-- http://www.facebook.com/pages/DSO-Designs/297237806954248
Dusty56
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10541 posts in 1860 days
#3 posted 1617 days ago
? Is the overspray not controllable by adjusting the pressure ?” I’ve been thinking about getting one of these , but if it isn’t adjustable , what good is it ? Thanks for any info you can supply : )
-- When did quiet and quite become the same word ? I'm guessing about the same time as your and you're did.
Matt (Upper Cut)
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264 posts in 1985 days
#4 posted 1617 days ago
You can adjust the pressure down, which will give you less ‘bounce’ but then the material needs to be thinner as well.
I’ve had no problem just ‘guessing’ with latex and mixing in water until it looks right to me.
-- Matt Gradwohl, Upper Cut Woodworks, http://uppercutwoodworks.com/
Peter Oxley
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1423 posts in 2046 days
#5 posted 1617 days ago
Because it’s a siphon gun instead of pressure feed or gravity feed, a certain amount of pressure is required to create the siphon. You can adjust the pressure down to a certain point to reduce blow-back (bounce, overspray), but it only goes so far. This is not the gun for large jobs or poorly ventilated areas, but it certainly has its uses.
-- http://www.peteroxley.com -- http://north40studios.etsy.com --
Chris Cunanan
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342 posts in 1652 days
#6 posted 1617 days ago
do you have the porter cable 150psi pancake? they say air req is 3.0cfm@90 (whatever that is at 40) but my PC pancake is rated something like 2.5, is that ok you think? that sucker is louddd
Brad_Nailor
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2450 posts in 2129 days
#7 posted 1615 days ago
Chris I use it with my Porter Cable 150PSI pancake compressor and it works just fine. I use an in line desiccant moisture remover and I usually set the pressure at the compressor at around 38-40 PSI so by the time it gets to the gun its a little lower. I have sprayed water based paint with it, which I thin down slightly and I also add a little Flowatrol as well. The pattern it sprays is round, and kinda small so I wouldn’t use it on a large spraying job, but for shelves, small furniture and cabinetry it works great. I have also sprayed water based poly with it and it worked really great for that. I am going to purchase another one for just spraying laquer..I have yet to try this and I am wondering if I will get the same results as the paint???
-- http://www.facebook.com/pages/DSO-Designs/297237806954248
Dusty56
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10541 posts in 1860 days
#8 posted 1614 days ago
Thank you Gentlemen for the feedback : ) Happy Holidays to all !
-- When did quiet and quite become the same word ? I'm guessing about the same time as your and you're did.
azor
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56 posts in 1615 days
#9 posted 1612 days ago
How do you go about determining viscosity [big word] of finishes you would wish to spray with the critter? I’ve also tried using air brushes for small projects. Does anyone have experience with that approach, i.e, how to thin out the finish/paint for spraying?
-- It isn't as easy as the demos make it seem.
bamboo
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2 posts in 1351 days
#10 posted 1348 days ago
After reading all the positive reviews of the critter spray gun, I finally bought one recently from Amazon. I tried to test it with water and for some reasons, nothing comes out. I have a Bostitch 1.5 HP 6 gal 2.7 cfm @90 psi and 3.4 cfm @40 psi. I tried it at various pressures ranging from 30 psi to 60 psi, and nothing comes out. Does anybody has any idea if I have done anything wrong? Thanks
poopiekat
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2845 posts in 1906 days
#11 posted 664 days ago
Thumbs up on the ‘Critter’! I finally got to use mine, a Christmas gift from Lee Valley which the LOML gave me. I was using a heavy-bodied alkyd paint, and it performed flawlessly right out of the box, with a great-looking finish. Nice part was, I was using my decrepit, 25-year-old 3/4 Campbell-Hausfield compressor with a max of probably 2 cfm (because it was already outside) and it cycled only occaisionally while the gun was in use. Ya gotta get one of those Critters! perfect for those small jobs.
-- Einstein: "The intuitive mind is a sacred gift, and the rational mind is a faithful servant. We have created a society that honors the servant and has forgotten the gift." I'm Poopiekat!!
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