Harbor Freight Black Widow

67ChevysOnly

Promoted Users
Anyone have any recommendations on the HF Black Widow gun. They offer a 1.3(1.4) and a 1.7. I’m a mechanic and want to try to do some firewall painting and small parts. May jump to epoxying panels later after gaining more experience. I’ve seen a few YouTube videos on it but would like to hear from folks who are knee deep in the painting game.

DM’d both Chris and Barry and they recommended I reach out to the community as they’ve never used those guns before.
 
I don't know anything about the HF Black Widow gun but @shine has recommended the Viper 2.3 gun for epoxy. I think it sells under at least one other different name too. I don't know what you're going to paint your firewall with but the SPI black epoxy leaves a really nice finish for under the hood.

Edit: I looked it up and one other brand the Viper sells under is Titan.

You probably already know this but Black Widow is on sale until June 1, 2023 for $199.99.
 
Last edited:
I don't know anything about the Blackwidow other than, I haven't seen any replacements parts for it.

If your looking for a $200 dollar gun, I would recommend a Devilbiss FLG-5. First and for most, you can get replacement parts for it. I have this gun in a 1.4. I've used it to spray SPI epoxy, base coat and clear coat. Look for my build thread here to see how it sprays epoxy, and check out my English Wheel thread to see how it sprays base coat & clear.

You can also see how the gun performs on YouTube. Just do a search for Devilbiss FLG-5. lots of guys use that gun. I have an Iwata LPH 400 for my car to use but, if I didn't, I'd use my FLG-5.

The FLG-5 can be found on Ebay, or directly thru SprayGunsDirect in the UK. They carry the 1.3, 1.4 and 1.8 for primer.

I paid $165 including shipping from the UK.
 
I don't know anything about the HF Black Widow gun but @shine has recommended the Viper 2.3 gun for epoxy. I think it sells under at least one other different name too. I don't know what you're going to paint your firewall with but the SPI black epoxy leaves a really nice finish for under the hood.

Edit: I looked it up and one other brand the Viper sells under is Titan.

You probably already know this but Black Widow is on sale until June 1, 2023 for $199.99.
25% off for Memorial Day sale today. Part of the reason I inquired.
 
Thanks everyone. C. Hamilton recommended I reach out to the community to get advice and that everyone here is super helpful and respectful. I don’t post much but read a lot and from what I typically see on the net is smart-azz comments and disrespectful/unwarranted advice/criticism as if everyone was born a pro‍♂️. I’ll let the Black Widow go and look into FLG-5 as extra (correct sized) tips and their availability seems to best. Especially since I’d need to get both versions ($200 each) to have access at 1.3 & 1.7 that they offer.
 
For a low price gun I would look at Anest Iwata Kiwami.
It's a "real" paint gun with outstanding reviews. Price is similar to the HF Black Widow.
Second on this. For your price range you can’t beat the Kiwami. The harbor freight gun is OK, but I wouldn’t say it stacks up to the iwata. Also in this price range, look at the iwata w400 bellaria. All of these in a 1.4 would suit your needs
 
Last edited:
The R500 gets rave reviews from some YouTube guys. It comes with 3 needle sets and uses around 5 CFM. Costs less than $100.
 
There are much better guns for $200. Name brand guns you can actually get parts for easily. If you can bump your budget up a hair, even better. Or you may be able to find a deal on a lightly used gun.
 
Yes, the money portion is not a problem (in no way shape or form am I bragging) I can get a Sata, Awata, etc. but don’t know if my limited use justifies the price. I looked into the FLG-5 and may be the way that I’m leaning.
 
@67ChevysOnly When we talked in PM's I had no idea that gun cost that much. There are much better alternatives for that kind of money.

Have a look at this site. They have high quality guns, all the name brands, at the best prices. UK based but quick, affordable shipping to the USA. Ignore the VAT cost as it doesn't apply to out of country purchases.

 
Just purchased an 05’ Bentley reverse light (for a client) from the UK and it’s being shipped out ironically enough. It was my first international purchase and it was worry free. I’ll take a look at in the morning. Yeah, both versions of their (HF) guns are on sale for $199 ea. I like the idea of a single gun with various tip options. Since cleaning and drying times are required, prepping a gun for the “next stage” and being able to learn the ins and outs of one gun plus techniques would seem to benefit a newbie rather than trying to figure the feel for multiple guns.
 
I had an amazon gift card that I had no idea what to buy with, so I picked up this gun that has been making its rounds on the ole youtubes as a very good budget gun...we shall see. I haven't had a chance to use it yet. I will try it out eventually with base and clear, but I primarily got it to try out its use with primer.

Yes, its a sata knockoff.

 
Last edited:
i use my vaper 2.3 for shooting epoxy or poly. trick to epoxy is to let it set overnight then shoot first coat lite. once you get a good coat on you can wet it down and build. but if your using the epoxy for the top coat drop down to a 1.4 .
 
I had an amazon gift card that I had no idea what to buy with, so I picked up this gun that has been making its rounds on the ole youtubes as a very good budget gun...we shall see. I haven't had a chance to use it yet. I will try it out eventually with base and clear, but I primarily got it to try out its use with primer.

Yes, its a sata knockoff.

I'm surprised it uses so much air. The other Utuber favorite is the R500 I mentioned above. I bought one and it was damaged and the company wouldn't take it back since it was past the 30 day mark.
 
Ya I don't know much about the vevor gun other than it definitely feels Chinese in the hand! lol
 
The R500 gets rave reviews from some YouTube guys. It comes with 3 needle sets and uses around 5 CFM. Costs less than $100.
I have the R500..It is rebranded and sold by a few companies. I bought mine from Summit racing with a 1.4 tip many years ago....I have since sourced a 1.7 cap and needle i use for Spi 2k reg primer. It is the only gun i have and know. I have only sprayed a set of bumpers for a Saab, with rocker covers, and the entire nose of my BMW. For me, the gun works fine.If you open the fluid up with a 1.4, it definately throws out fluid...I usually run between 2 and 3 1/2 turns open from closed- Full open is in the 5 turns range..The newer version of the same gun is the A610.I believe it is identical outside of the housing material..My clear always gets cuts and polished..For me right now, its all about gun setup and learning to spray properly/better
 

Here you go...The R500 rebranded....Great deal, 3 needle sets..Not sure why they claim such a high cfm usage..My gun looks identical to that outside of some color anodizing- One drawback i just thought of, the fan size is on the smaller side
 
Back
Top