Wagner SprayTech announced its newest indoor/outdoor paint sprayer – the FLEXiO 990. The unit features a direct feed system that pulls paint or stain directly from a container to the sprayer, providing non-stop painting. Team FIN tested the paint sprayer on how it performs and rated it on a scale of 1 to 5.

The FLEXiO 990 features iSpray nozzle technology designed to provide a light texture finish when spraying un-thinned interior and exterior paints. The sprayer can be used with latex or oil-based coatings including paints, primers, stains, and urethanes. It has adjustable dials that allow the operator to control air power and material flow to fit the project and working speed.

The nozzle can be adjusted to spray horizontal, vertical, narrow, and wide patterns, and is designed to provide fast coverage with low overspray.

Team FIN said the adjustable features are nice. They allow the operator to dial in the proper spray pattern for different jobs, but they also take some getting used to. If not adjusted properly, it’s easy to overcoat and use way more paint than necessary.

When the settings are adjusted correctly, the sprayer works effectively and the operator is able to cover a lot of surface quickly with an even coat of paint. However, during testing, Team FIN found it difficult to get the iSpray direct-feed nozzle to work properly for very long and had trouble figuring out the reason things weren’t working well. The operator needs to be certain that the FLEXiO is cleaned, assembled, and tightened correctly in order for it to work right. 

The paint sprayer has a 2-stage trigger. When the trigger is first squeezed, the X-boost turbine motor starts up. When the trigger is squeezed the rest of the way, the paint is applied in a powerful, continual spray. The operator must first allow the turbine to fully engage before applying the paint to prevent a splatter mess. When the gun is not assembled and handled properly, the nozzle will accumulate paint and spray in large, blotchy patterns that leave an uneven coat on the painted surface.

Team FIN had better luck using the sprayer’s control finish nozzle and cup accessory that is designed for smaller projects. This direct feed system allows the handheld sprayer to pull paint from an attached container. Team FIN found this option very easy to use and effective for painting a nice, even coat of paint on surfaces. Using this option, Team FIN said, the sprayer never plugged and the paint never splattered. The control finish nozzle makes it easy to paint finishing projects and cover more detailed surfaces like between small boards and spindles.

Wagner claims the FLEXiO 990 will spray up to 9 gallons per hour, and Team FIN agrees with this claim. The sprayer also has a long, flexible hose and a belt clip that makes it easy to maneuver up and down a ladder while painting. Like using any paint sprayer, the FLEXiO 990 applies paint very quickly but takes quite a bit of time to thoroughly clean after use. The system is light weight and compact to store. It features a hose strap and gun holder latch that keeps the sprayer neatly organized when not in use.

Rated: 4.5 out of 5

The Wagner FLEXiO 990 costs $249.99. For more information, visit www.wagnerspraytech.com.