Do not underestimate the value of proper prep work. And after putting all that time and effort into prep, it would be a shame to NOT finish it properly. Harbor fright guns are poor quality. I cringe at the idea of using them for anything other than primer or sealer. If you want to do a legit paint job that will look great today and a decade from now, you need to know how to do proper prep work and have the right tools to lay a lasting finish. Most guns (including horrible freight guns) require 11-18 CFMs. Most people do not have an industrial strength compressor in their garage. Eastwood's concours guns are great low priced ($160) guns that were designed to be used with a home compressor--it only requires 4 CFM. I have sprayed with $700 guns and can say that the Concours yields great results for its relatively low price. And the fact that it requires such a low CFM makes it perfect for the DIYer. It may be a good idea to get a HF cheap g*n for primer and a decent g*n for base/clear. Ideally, most pros have a separate g*n for clear to avoid contamination, but that's optioanal. If you think $160 is too much to spend on a good g*n, think of it this way--if you use it once a year for 10 yrs then it only cost you $16 a pop.