About Air Compressors for Spray Painting
Look up your spray gun's spec sheet — most HVLP guns need 9–14 CFM at 29 PSI, conventional guns can demand 15+ CFM, while small detail and trim guns may only need 3–5 CFM.
Size the compressor to deliver 150% of the gun's CFM at the gun's working pressure, with a 50L+ tank to even out demand. For sustained car panel work, a 200L belt-drive compressor with a 16+ CFM pump is the sweet spot.
Always add a moisture trap, oil/water separator and a regulator at the gun — moist or oily air ruins paint finishes, especially with single-stage paints.