Asturo may be an unfamiliar brand name to most Americans, but the company has been producing spray guns for the European market since 1925. Asturo high-volume, low-pressure (HVLP) guns are now available in the United States. They’re designed to be used with standard air compressors, not turbines.

I tried a midpriced model, the siphon-feed Asturo BRI/A, and was impressed with the tool’s fit and finish as well as its performance. The gun will put down a glass-smooth, finely atomized coat of finish. Asturo estimates the transfer efficiency to be about 65%.

The gun’s controls also impressed me. All of the parts you see are made of metal, and the controls are easy to grasp. An unusual feature of the gun is the air-pressure regulator, a knob located at the base of the handle. Adjustments to the air pressure may be made without having to go back to the compressor, which should be set at about 25 to 30 psi. I was able to use the gun with a 20-gal. 3-hp compressor.

A variety of needle/nozzle combinations are available to suit most finishing needs.

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