Painting and decorating your home can be fun rather than a chore.

If you are a person who likes to do your own home or property maintenance, here’s some good news.

You can apply most paints, varnish, stain just like a professional, with no fuss, no mess and its quick and easy.

Versatile & Multi Purpose

It works with a very wide variety of paints, stains, lacquers.
(not suitable for paints containing grit)

The Little Storm is manufactured to the highest standards in the EU exclusively for Igoe International / Upkeepers and is guaranteed to be capable of attaining a superb, ‘to die for’ finish.

You can easily achieve a ‘car finish’ which is considered to be the highest quality finish attainable. (after a little practice of course)

All you do is prepare the surface to be painted. Mask if appropriate.
Mix / stir up your paint or whatever, pour some into the spray gun and away you go.

We recommend you play around with it on an old door, a piece of shelving, a cardboard box opened out etc. It does not matter if (& you will) make a bit of a mess while you are getting the ‘feel’of it which will usually take about 20 minutes or so.

Kind to the environment

Overspray (the mist or bounce-off associated with spraying) is minimal with the Little Storm because the paint is applied gently at low pressure rather than blasted on like the old type compressor spray guns. We won’t claim there is no overspray because that would be untrue. There is some overspray, but it is very manageable and you can easily work around that where or when necessary with a simple masking operation. (see Preparation products elsewhere on this website)

You can spray using any of three patterns, horizontal, or vertical (fan) for bigger areas and a very handy, round pattern (focuses paint fan into a tight area ranging from around 6mm up to 150mm diameter depending on distance from object being sprayed). The round pattern is amazing when spraying narrow objects such as stair or chair spindles, louver doors or shutters, architraves, skirtings, railings etc.

At last count we had 537 HVLP sprayers sold to a wide variety of people, many of whom use them for their day to day work which could be spraying signs, kitchen doors, shop displays, even cars! In general terms, we can safely say we would have a 90% plus satisfaction rate which ain’t bad. (The primary reason for dis-satisfaction is usually lack of patience getting used to it in the first place and simply giving up at the first sign of a challenge, that’s why we say, fool around with it FIRST and get the feel for how it works)

The Model 55 is capable of performing for those professional applications so it will certainly take care of anything you might want to spray around your home.
We offer a more powerful version the 140 if you want more ‘under the bonnet’ performance, (useful for thicker paints) and that version has built-in variable speed control which has its advantages in a professional setting. For general home or light professional use, the Model 55 is more than ample but if you don’t mind investing a few more bob, or you always like to have the best…then go for the stronger one.

We know from many years of experience that you too will get years of painting pleasure with a Little Storm HVLP sprayer.

Your Little Storm comes ready to spray with the standard shape cup gun and a selection of tips to cater for different paint types. You can also choose from various useful accessories such as the Back Pack, (holds 6 litres and comes with its own ‘potless’ spray gun), a gravity fed gun which some people love.

Commonly asked questions.

What if it breaks?
The Little Storm is sturdy and is guaranteed for 1 year against factory defects. Most importantly the Turbine. Contact our service centre by email, phone or fax for a quick ‘on the spot’ diagnosis which frequently solves the problem there and then. Parts can be sent to you within 24 hours. More serious repairs can be carried out at our service centre if need be. We have been in business since 1978 (30 years) so the chances are pretty good that we’ll be around for another few years to take good care of you!

What kind of paint will it spray?
You can spray apply all the commonly available finishes like gloss, satin, emulsions, varnish, stains, lacquers, deck oil, even two part paints.

Is it difficult to use?
If you can use a paint brush or a roller, you can certainly spray with a Little Storm spray gun. As stated above, all you need to do is practice and experiment for 20 minutes or so before you go ‘live’ so to speak. A good tip is get your paint right first. If your paint is too sticky or tacky, you will more than likely get what is called an ‘orange peel’ finish. Therefore, depending on the paint used, you may need to adjust the viscosity to get it to a point where it ‘flows nicely’. [For the best paint adjusting mediums known, check out Floetrol for emulsions or masonry paints and Owatrol oil for oil based paints or varnish] When you stir up the paint, lift out the stirring stick and you should see that last few drops break off nice and ‘crisp’. If the paint is still ‘clingy’ you need to adjust it a little more – or insert a larger tip in the gun. Stains usually tend to be light and can be applied with no adjusting.

What kind of finish will I get?
You can get a terrible finish, yes, a finish that you wouldn’t want anybody to see! And you can attain an amazing finish. Finish is down to you the operator and how much effort you put into getting it right. In experienced hands, a Little Storm would be capable of a spray finish on a top notch car bonnet.

More commonly asked questions.

Does it make much overspray?
We would be lying through our teeth if we said no, or if we said it is so little that you shouldn’t be concerned about it. There is some overspray although it is minimal.
The golden rule is simple… if you have some spraying to spray / paint where something important is exposed – cover it. If it is outside, I wouldn’t worry about it so much, but for Heaven’s sake don’t spray outside / upwind on a windy day, a folly that could result in the neighbour’s car or windows being sprayed also; use common sense.
We supply a variety of excellent masking materials ranging from paper or plastic film with masking tape pre-attached, to the more sophisticated types like the Zitra-Fol for more professional use. You should always have a couple of simple ‘drop cloths’ to drape over and protect things you want kept clean. Even the minimal overspray, like an aerosol air freshener, can waft several feet and end up sticking to things, so take simple precautions and you won’t have any overspray problems.

Does it need a water trap / filters?
No. The Turbine pulls in clean, dry air which is instantly delivered to the spray gun.
No such problems as aggravating water droplets getting on to your prize table top finish. The warm, dry air, generated through high speed friction within the turbine actually assists drying time which is a bonus.

How do I clean it out after use?
The main part you need to clean out is the spray gun itself and that is done by cleaning with the relevant thinner. i.e. water based paints – flush out with water, oil based paints, flush out with white spirit and so on. Pour some into the spray gun and spray it out through the nozzle for minute or so and then clean the outside etc. We also recommend that you clean the turbine filters by shaking them and from time to time replace to ensure good air flow is maintained to the turbine. Note: Blocked turbine filters can damage the turbine so do not neglect them.

Even more commonly asked questions.

What is Back Pack mainly used for?
The Back pack accessory is very handy for anybody who has a reasonable bit to spray. For example, walls etc that take longer and would require more frequent top ups in the normal spray gun need not be a problem because the Back pack holds up to 6 litres which will last for a longer time without top up.
Another handy application is you can spray upside down and would make it possible to spray in unusual places such as ceilings or even floors. If you try to do that using the standard spray gun it can block or spit. All in all, if you are seriously into looking after your own home and property the Back Pack accessory is worth looking at.

What is the gravity fed (top fed) spray gun used for?
That type of spray gun is predominantly and historically used for spraying cars and such.
Sprayers like the fact that a small quantity of paint can be mixed up and the gun will utilize the paint almost to the last drop because it falls into the gun mechanism and does not depend on suction or pressure feed as in the case of the more standard type / shape spray guns. It would be my opinion that you can probably achieve the best possible finish using a gravity fed gun. Another benefit is you can use it in areas where the ‘hanging pot’ might get in the way during spraying operations, example skirting boards.

Even more commonly asked questions.

What is HVLP?
HVLP means a high volume of air flowing at low pressure [HVLP] a term used for spraying.
In simple terms, to atomise / spray paint using air, you need either (a) compressor generated, not much air but at high pressure 50 psi or so or (b) lots of air, Turbine generated, but at very low pressure, aprox 5 psi.
The old fashioned compressor (with containing tank) which dishes out relatively small quantities of air but at great pressure is the primary cause of overspray and huge material waste. On the other hand the HVLP system (without containing tank) works in a similar way as a jet engine, meaning, it pulls in a large constant amount of air in one side and delivers it to the spray gun where it is ‘captured’ in such a way that it atomises the paint and delivers it to the surface gently as distinct from being slammed on resulting in up to 80% of the material getting on to and staying on the work piece.
Another way of differenciating a compressor from a Turbine producing HVLP is.. you can pump a car tyre with the powerful pressure coming from a compressor tank but you would never be able to do that with the low pressure coming from a Turbine. The Little Storm is designed specifically for spray painting and that’s it. If you’re stuck, it would double up as a very good hair dryer or blower!

What voltage does it come in?
At present we can only offer the Little Storm in 220/240 volt 50 hz standard current
which is the standard household current available throughout the EU (our primary market). We are working on 110 volt versions but they will not be available for some time. If you must have 110 volt for site work etc we can offer you an alternative in the Turbinaire brand but it will cost you more money.

Pricing and Value for Money

How does HVLP differ from the standard electric spray guns?
The Little Storm is totally different in principle from the small electric spray guns you would see in shops or the web. The electric spray gun works on a piston principle. i.e. a small piston moving at high speed, compresses the paint and atomises it as it emerges from the spray tip. Those guns are okay for light materials like stains but you do tend to struggle to get a decent finish with any of the heavier bodied paints like emulsions, gloss etc and only a lot of ‘thinning’ will allow good paint flow. Electric spray guns are known to ‘freeze or jam’ up due to piston blockage or inadequate cleaning.

On the other hand, the Little Storm system has no piston or high speed moving parts on the spray gun and is a lot more ‘friendly’ for spraying a wide variety of materials. There would be no comparison on performance or finish, the Little Storm wins hands down.

How does the Little Storm 55 compare with other makes of HVLP?
It is possible to get your hands on a cheap and cheerful HVLP sprayer for a lot less than €200 all in. As the old saying goes, you pay for what you get. We designed the Little Storm first and foremost to be capable of ‘doing the job’ and being able to stand up to reasonably rough handling. We then set about pricing it at a level where it was affordable by anybody with a serious interest in spray finishing. Frankly we could offer that sprayer for a lot more money and it would be well worth it, but our goal is to make a small profit on each unit and make our money by selling big volumes. We priced this semi-pro model to be well within the price range of most people, not just the pro’s. It is a lot of machine for the money, believe me.

Cast Iron Guarantee:

This is where we differ from each and every other spray gun seller on the web or anywhere else for that matter, we put OUR money where our mouth is.

Because we know from experience that our equipment is reliable and does the business, we offer you an Unconditional 100% Money Back if not totally satisfied, 12 month guarantee on your Little Storm sprayer.

If it does not give you the satisfaction we say it will, wrap it up and send it back for a full refund. If its something simple and we can sort it out over the phone so be it. All we ask is that you are honest and fair with us. Don’t buy just it to do a particular job and bang it back saying it didn’t work etc. Our only goal is look after you and be here when or if you need service. We have a 30 year old reputation to think of so we can’t afford to mess people around.
You have ZERO risk, if you’re not happy, return it and you get your money back, simple as that.

Get equipped with a Little Storm now

You have absolutely nothing to lose and everything to gain.
As we stated above, you have ZERO RISK, if you don''t like it send it back and get a full refund.

So, begin that whole new painting experience right now by ordering your Little Storm right away.

Thank you for your time.

P.S. A Little Storm sprayer makes a perfect and unusual gift for anybody that likes pottering around taking care of the house etc. Even somebody who is into crafts etc.

Our YouTube demonstration video

Check out our YouTube video showing our other brand Turbinaire HVLP sprayer in action.
Little Storm works in the same way.