Earlex 6003 Review

Editor Rating: 4.3/5

Great Product

Earlex Spray Port 6003

Reviewed by: Timothy Henderson

Last modified: Dec 7, 2023 @ 3:14 pm

  • Design
  • Functionality
  • Price

Earlex 6003 Review Summary:

The Earlex 6003 is suitable for the home painting enthusiast, hobbyist, or professional painter — especially if you are painting woodwork. It can be used to dispense a number of different painting mediums, including varnishes, polyurethanes, shellac, lacquer, stains, and milk, latex, and chalk paints. You can spray furniture, woodwork projects, doors, window frames, and even cars.

This unit uses HVLP (high volume, low pressure) technology and delivers 5.5 psi and 90 CFM (cubic feet per minute). The powerful 3-stage turbine, 1200-watt motor packs plenty of punch, for an even, professional finish.

It comes complete with an all-metal Pro 8 spray gun fitted with a 1.3 mm needle. You can adjust the paint flow, spray pattern, and airflow to get the perfect atomization for the coverage you want. The 1-quart paint cup is coated with polytetrafluoroethylene for extra durability.

A flexible 25-foot hose with quick connections allows you to effortlessly move around your painting project — and the 360-degree pattern rotation makes it easy to get to hard to reach places.

The Earlex brand is part of Wagner SprayTech Corporation, a market leader in developing and delivering high tech painting and decorating solutions. The company is renowned for its innovation, quality manufacturing, and service.

Pros:

N
5.5 psi from a 3-stage turbine with 1200-watt motor.
N
0.12 GPM flow rate.
N
1.3 mm paint spray tip.
N
Air cap rotates through 360 degrees for multi angle painting.
N
Adjustments for spray width, paint flow, and air flow.
N
Sprays a wide range of thick and thin liquids.
N
Easy to clean.
N
Ergonomic, non-bleed die-cast aluminum spray gun with low overspray.
N
Durable 1-quart paint container.
N
25-foot Hyperflex hose.

Cons:

N
Not suitable for larger projects.

Features and Benefits of the Earlex Spray Port 6003


Whether you’re a seasoned pro or new to the art of paint spraying, you’ll want to know what this system can deliver. Let’s delve into the main features of the Earlex 6003 and see what it has to offer.

Three-Stage HVLP Turbine


The Earlex 6003 paint sprayer features a powerful three-stage turbine. The mighty 1200-watt motor drives three small compression fans at high speed. This results in higher airflow under low pressure, to atomize the paint leaving the spray gun. It can dispense most stains, water based finishes, varnishes, and latex — although the latter might need thinning.

The high volume, low pressure (HVLP) mechanism sends a high volume of air through the system, which can then be adjusted at the air cap on the spray gun. This gives you control over the spray pattern and a professional looking finish.

All Metal Gun


The spray gun supplied with this system is the Earlex Pro 8 — it is manufactured from die-cast aluminum and coated with PTFE for durability. Its non-bleed design offers a low noise level in operation and less paint build-up on the air cap. This means fewer chances of drips and splatters ruining your paint job, and minimal overspray.

A two-stage trigger mechanism leaves you in complete control, letting you create a feathering effect or giving a continuous spray. The handle is designed for comfort, helping alleviate fatigue and preventing you pinching your fingers. Fitted with a 360-degree rotating air cap, a fluid volume knob and pattern control knob, this gun is versatile for any small painting project.

As an added bonus, it’s also easy to dismantle after use, enabling you to clean it thoroughly. This means you can store it after cleaning and be confident that it will perform just as well when you’re ready to tackle your next painting job.

The Earlex 6000 range also features a gravity fed spray gun, if that’s your preference.

Adjustable Spray Patterns


No matter what project you’re working on, there will be a paint spray pattern to suit. Earlex has placed the control for adjusting the patterns — and volume of paint — conveniently at the rear of the spray gun. You’re able to choose between a circular or elliptical fan pattern, and then adjust the width accordingly.

Smaller widths in the circular settings are ideal for detail work, while the wider elliptical setting offers coverage for larger areas.

Interchangeable Spray Tips & Accessories


A 1.3 mm spray tip and needle set is included with the Spray Port 6003. However, if this is not the size you want, other sizes are available on the market to purchase. These include a finer 0.8 mm or 1 mm needle and spray nozzle, or a larger 1.8 mm, or 2.5 mm needle.

Unfortunately, the 6003 does not come with a cleaning kit included, but again these can be bought separately. The kit includes the necessary brushes, nozzle cleaners, and grease for relubricating.

Flexibility


The ability to move easily around a project without having to stop is a definite advantage when you’re spray painting. That’s just what you get with the 25-foot Hyperflex hose of the Earlex 6003. It has a quick connect feature, making it easy to attach to both the turbine unit and the spray gun.

On the downside, it appears that the quick connect feature can lead to the hose detaching if you try to twist and turn it too much.

Portable


The complete system weighs just 26 pounds, making it lightweight enough to move around, either during your project, or from place to place. The turbine has a carry handle built in, which can also be used to hang it when in use. Additionally, there is an onboard docking station for the paint gun.

What Users Say About The Earlex 6003


Before investing in a new product, it’s good to know how it performs in real life scenarios. Let’s take a look at what users think of the Earlex 6003, and find out if it measures up to expectations.

Overall, there are many happy paint sprayers, both new and experienced, who love the features and results they get with the Earlex 6003. They like the adjustability of the spray patterns, the ease of use straight out of the box — even for newbies — and how easy it is to clean. Many also praise the superior finish they achieve, especially with thinner materials, like stains and varnish.

Some consumers wish it came with different nozzle sizes as standard, rather than having to make extra purchases. A further investment in high quality paint mediums seems to be a common trend, helping to achieve a more professional finish than you would using budget brands.

Alternatives to Earlex Spray Port 6003


The Earlex Spray Port 6003 might not suit everyone’s needs or budget, so here are some other options to consider.

Wagner Spraytech Control Spray Max


In a lower price bracket is the Wagner Spraytech Control Max. It’s also an HVLP paint sprayer, capable of spraying a wide range of mediums, from thin to thick. Like the Earlex, it can be adjusted for paint flow, spray pattern, and pressure. However, the hose is somewhat shorter at 20 feet, and the paint gun is plastic.

As with the 6003, there is only one nozzle tip supplied. Accessories are available to purchase, including the fine finish kit.

  • Like the Earlex 6003, it sprays a range of paint mediums.
  • Shorter hose, which is not as flexible.
  • Lower price point than the Earlex.

Fuji 2202 Semi-PRO 2 HVLP Spray System


For a similar price, we find the Fuji Semi-Pro 2 HVLP paint sprayer. Some of the key benefits of this sprayer include multiple air cap sizes for different paint mediums, quick clean-up and maintenance, and accurate, adjustable spray patterns, from 2 to 12 inches. The same as the Earlex, it has a non-bleed spray gun, offering low overspray, and a 25-foot flexi-hose.

The motor is more powerful, at 1400 watts. However it is a two-stage turbine, as opposed to the three-stage turbine of the 6003. The adjustable spray gun matches features found on high-end paint sprayers, and can be used for a wider range of projects, large and small.

  • Greater variety of spray adjustment than the Earlex, with circular, horizontal, and vertical spray patterns, from 2 to 12 inches.
  • More powerful motor, but two-stage rather than three-stage turbine.
  • Similar price bracket to the Earlex Spray Port 6000 series.

Wagner Spraytech 0529091 FLEXiO 5000 Stationary HVLP


Wagner brings us another paint spraying option in the Flexio 5000. It’s an HVLP sprayer with a turbine unit, delivering airpower through its 11.5 feet hose to a choice of two spray heads.

An X-Boost power dial controls the air pressure, and a material flow adjusts the amount of paint delivered.

This is a more expensive option, although many of the features are the same. The hose and nozzles can be stored in the base, so you always know where they are when you need them.

  • Shorter, 11.5-foot hose.
  • Adjustable power and flow settings.
  • Handy storage for hose and nozzles in the base.

Conclusion


For the hobbyist, part time DIYer, or professional woodworker, the Earlex Spray Port 6003 delivers on both performance and quality. It’s easy to use straight out of the box and has a powerful three-stage turbine, to deliver flawless results. It’s best suited to smaller projects, like woodwork, cabinets, furniture, doors, trims, and crafts.

There is generally a downside with any paint sprayer, and the Earlex 6003 is no exception. Accessories, like spare spray tips and needles, as well as a cleaning kit, mean spending more money as they’re not included. However, overall, it’s a system that performs well to give a professional finish.

Earlex 6003 FAQ

Q: Will the Earlex 6003 Spray Different Types of Paint?

Yes. You can spray many different paints and finishes with this system. These include oil based paint, latex paint, lacquer, shellac, polyurethane, milk paint, protectants, stains, and more. For thicker liquids, you might need to use a thinner, or invest in a different spray tip.

Q: What Maintenance Can I Do to Keep My Earlex 6003 Working Properly?

To keep your Earlex paint sprayer working well, be sure to clean it as soon as you have finished painting for the day. Make sure you allow the paint gun to dry out fully before attaching the empty paint cup and storing it. You should also lubricate the needle after cleaning, either by using Earlex lubricant, petroleum jelly, or mineral oil.

For additional tips, check out my HVLP Troubleshooting guide.

Q: How Does an HVLP Sprayer Work?

These types of paint sprayers use high volume and low pressure to deliver an atomized spray through the cap on the spray gun. They are renowned for creating less overspray than other types of paint sprayer. This means less waste and clean up.

Most Read Reviews

Disclaimer

The owner of ToolNerds.com, is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn commission by advertising and linking ToolNerds.com reviews to Amazon products, but not limited to Amazon.com.

Follow Us