Wagner Control Pro 130 Power Tank Paint Sprayer

Wagner 0580678

Editor Rating: 4.0/5

Great Product

Wagner Control Pro 130

Reviewed by: Timothy Henderson

Last modified: Dec 11, 2023 @ 7:51 am

  • Design
  • Functionality
  • Price

Review Summary: Wagner Pro 130

A stationary paint sprayer, the Wagner uses high-efficiency airless technology (HEA) for a professional finish. It creates 55 percent less overspray than conventional airless sprayers.

Fast and easy to set up, the gravity-fed system means there is no need for messy priming. A 1.5-gallon hopper can be used with a wide variety of unthinned materials. These include paints, stains, and even latex paints, for continuous painting when tackling larger projects.

If, like me, you’re forever losing parts of tools or machines, the supplied accessories all fit neatly inside the hopper when not being used. A 25-foot hose is provided with a spray gun and tip attached. This makes reaching taller areas, like a second storey, easier,

Wagner SprayTech is acknowledged as a market leader in advanced paint applicators, having been founded originally by Josef Wagner in Germany in 1953. Production began under the Wagner SprayTech banner, in Minneapolis, USA in 1972.

Don’t take our word for how much we like this product, but the Control Pro 130 Airless Stand Paint Sprayer won the top award at the 2019 Pro Tool Innovation Awards (PTIA), in the Painting & Tiling Tools category. With over 360 entries, the PTIA judges concluded “When you’re looking for professional painting results with a sprayer that’s not as intimidating or costly as professional models, consider the Wagner Control Pro 130.”

Pros:

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Easy to use and ideal for the novice.
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High-efficiency airless technology offers 55 percent less overspray than conventional airless sprayers.
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Quick to clean up and all parts can be stored in the hopper for convenience.
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Reasonably priced.

Cons:

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No adjustable dial pressure.
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Limited to 1.5 gallons of paint in the hopper.
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Refilling the hopper every 10 minutes can be a pain when up a ladder.
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No inline filter provided as standard to prevent blockages.

Things to Consider Before Buying the Wagner Pro Control 130


Perhaps the most significant downside for many when choosing an airless sprayer is the dreaded overspray factor. My previous attempts at painting a room looked more like something by a 19th-century impressionist.

The Pro Control 130’s use of high efficiency airless technology is ideal for the beginner who may not be familiar with spray guns. The reduced overspray means much less mess and a less steep learning curve.

Before choosing this airless sprayer from Wagner, you should consider the following factors:

  • How large is the project you intend to use the sprayer for? A 1.5 gallon hopper is adequate for most interior jobs. However, be prepared for refilling the hopper on bigger tasks, such as exterior house painting.
  • How often or how many projects do you intend to use this budget priced sprayer for? Wagner recommends the Control Pro 130 should be used for 50 gallons of paint a year maximum.
  • Is a 25-foot hose long enough for your needs? 25 feet of hose will easily cope with most 2-storey projects, but you may struggle with 3 floors or above.
  • Do you intend to use this Wagner spray painter with other materials, such as primer or stain? Although the machine can quite easily cope with both, you will have to factor in the cost of extra tips.
  • Cost. It may be more expensive than buying a few rollers, but isn’t saving your valuable weekend time worth a couple of hundred bucks?

Features of the Wagner Control Pro 130 Power Tank Sprayer


Although you may find other spray paint systems at a similar price point, why should you consider choosing the Wagner Pro 130 above the rest? Let’s look at the features that led to this compact airless sprayer winning that coveted Tool Innovation award.

Ease of Use — Pour and Paint


Where the Wagner Control Pro 130 stands out for many users is just how simple it is to set up. As all the parts are contained within the hopper, you could take this sprayer out of the box and be ready to start within minutes.

Many airless sprayers involve balancing a suction cup into a paint bucket. However, with this hopper-based machine, you simply pour the paint right into the tank. The gravity-fed tank means no messing about with messy priming, which often requires additional empty containers.

The following short Youtube clip shows just how easy it can be to set up the Control Pro 130 Power Tank Sprayer.

YouTube video
Best of all, the spill-resistant lid helps keep any debris out of the paint as you work continuously. With the lid securely attached, moving the tank around is effortless.

It’s much easier than conventional trolley-style stands that have an open paint can at the bottom. And there’s no chance of knocking over a tin full of paint, either yourself or a curious cat or dog.

Professional Quality High Efficiency Airless Gun and Tip Technology


The specially patented high efficiency technology (HEA) developed by Wagner SprayTech uses a softer spray fan pattern. It boasts up to 55 percent less overspray than competitor airless sprayers. This means less time spent taping and masking before starting a project and, of course, less wastage means less paint is needed.

A lower overspray makes the Control Pro 130 a great choice when you need to bring a spray painter indoors. With less mess when painting, it would be ideal for quickly painting a remodeled basement, including floors or any home interior.

The advanced design of the professional-grade gun and spray tip means you can spray an eight-foot by 10-foot wall in less than two minutes. The 515 HEA spray tip provided is great for oil-based or latex paints.

Additional tips are sold separately for use with stains (313 HEA) or sealers (211 HEA). All tips can be easily changed position, for a horizontal or vertical fan spray.

The spray gun is attached to a 25-foot hose. This offers easy two-storey reach when working on larger home or exterior projects. No more struggling up a ladder and trying to balance a container of paint to reach those higher levels.

Quick and Easy to Clean After Use


The cleanup process for this compact airless spray painter is just as easy as the setup. Simply flush the hopper out with fresh water and rinse to ensure it is ready for the next job.

The spray gun and tip are easily detached and the flow reversed for releasing any built-up pressure. A simple switch on the hopper also releases pressure from the pump.

With integrated handles and tip storage, the gun and hose can also conveniently fit inside the hopper for storage. This is one paint tool my wife actually allows to live in the house, not the shed.

Again, Wagner painting has produced a short Youtube clip which shows just how easy the Wagner Pro 130 is to clean. Support and aftercare is something you are never short of with this model.

Sprays a Wide Variety of Paints and Stains


Despite only having a 0.375-horsepower motor, this Wagner spray painter can use a variety of materials. Unthinned latex or oil-based paint, primer, or stains right from the can, even 2-in-1 paints, are suitable. Continuously spraying without stopping, the soft spray pattern is forgiving for a smooth finish with consistent coverage, no matter what medium you choose.

With a flow rate of 0.24 gallon/minute, you will only need to stop once every 10 minutes to refill the tank. This is easily enough time to paint an average-sized room in one go.

Two-Year Warranty and a Wide Network of Wagner Service Centers


All Wagner Control Pro High-efficiency airless sprayers offer a 2-year warranty to the original retail purchaser. This covers defects in the material and workmanship from the date of purchase.

All repairs must be performed under warranty by a Wagner authorized service center. However, a quick look at their website shows a multitude of service centers for whatever zip code you input.

What Users Say About The Wagner Control Pro 130


For me, the Wagner Control Pro 130 is easy to use and a value for money airless spray painter. It’s great for quickly completing all my larger indoor and exterior painting projects.

But, what do other users of this painting system think?

After searching extensively for genuine owner feedback about this spray painter, the consensus seems to be generally positive. As a relatively new product, many users had bought the Wagner model as an upgrade from a previous spray painter. Either that or to replace other models that didn’t perform as desired.

Most reviewers were impressed with their new purchase, especially the ability to use latex paint with a budget sprayer. While interior users were happy, for exterior jobs the need to refill the hopper every 10 minutes could be a hindrance. Some other models allow the use of a 5 or even 10-gallon paint container.

To understand more about what I’m talking about, take a look for yourself.

Alternatives to Wagner Control Pro 130


If the idea of a smaller container of paint and maybe running up and down a ladder to refill the hopper doesn’t appeal, there are many alternatives out there. Why not take a moment to check out a few of these other spray options.

Graco Magnum ProX19

Popular with painting professionals and contractors, the Magnum ProX19 features a powerful ⅞-horsepower DC motor. This offers more power to spray thicker interior or exterior paints.

Although significantly more expensive than the Wagner Pro Control 130, the Magnum offers a recommended 500 gallons a year usage, compared to the 50 of the Wagner.

  • Tool-free pump replacement mechanism.
  • Adjustable nozzle pressure when spray painting.
  • Supports an impressive 150 feet maximum hose length.
  • Can use a 1-gallon or 5-gallon bucket of paint.

Homeright Power Flo Pro 2800

At the other end of the budget for airless paint sprayers, you will find this model from HomeRight. Recommended only for home use, the Power Flo Pro 2800 is rated for a maximum spray of 100 gallons a year. One of the main problems reported with this model is it can struggle to spray thicker paints.

  • The ½-horsepower motor provides 2800 psi for spraying unthinned paint.
  • A 25-foot hose can draw paint from a 1 or 5-gallon container.
  • Without the high-efficiency airless technology of Wagner, overspray may be greater, causing more mess and using more paint.
Flexio 890
Not, strictly speaking, an airless sprayer alternative, the Flexio 890 from Wagner uses a high volume of air at lower pressures to spray paint out of the gun. Known as an HVLP sprayer, the Flexio can be easier to operate, but will produce more overspray.

While the air pressure of HVLP sprayers can spray many unthinned paints, some — like the Flexio — can struggle with latex paints.

  • Weight in the integrated storage case on the ground makes for extended spraying comfort.
  • Versatile spray patterns with quiet operation.
  • Includes two nozzles, one for larger projects, and a thinner nozzle for detail work.

Conclusion


Perhaps the biggest fear factor, which deters many from paint spray systems, is the overspray factor, or the mess! Quite often, I have ended up with more paint on myself than the wall. I once even turned our greyhound into a spotted dalmatian, much to my wife’s horror!

Airless spray painters are known to offer less overspray, but can be tricky to master for the novice. The Wagner Control Pro 130 aims to address the overspray issue with the innovative high efficiency airless technology. This claims to reduce rates of overspray by up to 50 percent. The sealed hopper with a spill-proof lid further reduces the risk of mess — with no open container to be kicked over by a stray greyhound/dalmatian.

Wagner Control Pro 130 FAQs

Q: Is Spraying With a Control Pro 130 Airless Sprayer Better Than Rolling?

In the past, paint spraying was known to be faster, but often involved more extensive preparation work. Rolling was always slower but thought to result in a better quality coating of paint. Modern HEA (high efficiency airless) technology, like that employed by the Wagner Control Pro 130 ensures more paint sticks to the surface. This results in better quality and a more consistent coating.

Q: Do You Have to Thin Paint for the Wagner Control Pro 130 Sprayer?

No. The Wagner Control Pro 130’s gravity-fed hopper means you can use almost any material without the need for thinning. You can pour straight from the can oil-based paints, enamel paints, latex paints, primers, and sealers. The only thing you may need to change is the spray tip dependent on which material you use.

Q: Are Graco Spray Tips Compatible with the Wagner Pro 130?

Unfortunately not! Now for the technical bit: Graco FFLP tips fit into a Graco RAC-X holder, while Wagner HEA tips use a Trade Tip 3 holder. Basically, you cannot use an FFLP tip from a Graco on this Wagner spray gun without first swapping over the tip holder and other parts.

Q: Are There Any Types of Coatings Which Can NOT Be Sprayed through the Wagner Pro Control 130 Sprayer?

Although you can use any water or oil-based paints, Wagner does not recommend using any liquids, either to spray or clean that has a flashpoint of less than 38℃ or 100 ℉. The flashpoint of a liquid is the temperature when a liquid produces enough vapor to ignite.