Introduction:
Sears sent me a Craftsman C3 19.2 volt C3 Cordless Paint Sprayer Model 17597 to review about a month ago and this is the first good weather I have had to try it out. I pulled it out of the box, read the manual and was ready to paint.
Craftsman C3 19.2 volt Cordless Sprayer
Specs from Sears.com:
- No dilution necessary
- 3 spray patterns
- Ergo handle/battery level
The Test:
Material: C3 Model 17597 Cordless Paint Sprayer, large C3 lithium battery, Sherwin & Williams Woodscapes Exterior Stain.
I’m building a rabbit coop and I wanted to paint the floor before I built the rest of the coop. I didn’t know how much over spray this paint sprayer would produce so I went out in the grove to make this test.
Before the Test
I had most of a gallon of S&W Woodscapes Exterior Stain left from my last project so I decided to use that. The stain is thicker than normal stains but not quite as thick as latex house paint. I like to use stain because I don’t need to prime and it penetrates new wood well.
The sprayer comes with a round tip and a 12 inch flat tip. You can adjust the flat tip for vertical and horizontal patterns. For this test I used the round tip.
What I like:
The stain proved to be a good choice for this test. It was easy to apply and I did have a few runs on verticals. (I could wipe them off and not ruin my work.) This is my first time using the sprayer so the runs are my fault, not the sprayer’s. I’m used to a Wagner airless and you have to stand two feet closer with it the to get the same coverage as the C3. The C3 is very powerful and puts a lot of paint on quickly.
I like the weight and balance. The cordless sprayer weighs no more than my 18 volt DeWalt drill. It is well balanced full of paint and doesn’t lose that balance as it empties.
C3 Loaded and Ready To Go
I like the cordless. Today I was 300 feet from the nearest outlet and it was invigorating to spray wherever I wanted. No need to ever worry about spraying the house, the car, or tip the paint can over with the power cord again.
It uses the same batteries as all the other Craftsman 19.2 v cordless tools. No need for separate batteries and chargers. I used the large lithium battery for this test but it will work on the NiCads and the small lithium.
The paint reservoir has a large opening and is easy to fill. The rubber O-ring that seals the reservoir is quality and will last.
Large and Easy To Fill
The sprayer sets on the battery when resting. The cordless sprayer won’t tip with a full or empty container of paint.
It sprays very evenly and will put down a lot of paint fast. The floor I painted took only 1 minute and 56 seconds to paint.
It cleans up very easily. It comes apart quickly. I soaked the parts in warm soapy water for 30 minutes and the paint fell off. No scrubbing or wiping was needed.
Watch the video to see the C3 in action. Yes, I had on my painting clothes 
(I can show you the color of every room in our house on my shirt) I ran out of paint. That is why the sprayer makes a different noise at the end of the video.
What I Don’t Like:
I don’t like the pickup in the reservoir. The filter screen is too tall and sucks air when there is still an inch of paint in the container. I don’t like that the pickup is centered in the bottom of the reservoir. It makes spraying flat surfaces difficult. My Wagner is tilted and shorter so you can spray flat surfaces without sucking air.
Pickup on Wagner is better!
I wish there was a speed control. My Wagner is slower overall but I can also slow it down more for detail work.
Replacement parts can be ordered by calling 800-932-3188. This # is referenced in the owner’s manual for damaged or missing parts. I looked at Sears.com / Parts Direct and it is not in there yet. I will need to investigate how we get it on the Sears parts ordering list.
It carries a one year warranty and you can purchase a three year money back guarantee (SPP) from Sears for 15% of the cost.
Improvements:
I usually paint 50 to 100 pieces at a time when I am building chairs so I’d like to see a hose extension so I can stick the pickup screen in a gallon of paint and blast out a bunch of pieces all at one time. The quart reservoir on the C3 is standard for this size of sprayer.
Summary:
I like this sprayer. With a little practice I will be just as good with it as my Wagner airless. It is easy to clean and rugged enough to last you a long time. I really like the price. At $69 retail it is a great value! (Batteries and charger are sold separately)
I will buy this for myself.
You can purchase one through this link: C3 Cordless Paint Sprayer. (I will make a small commission)
After The Test!
What’s next: I’m not one for doing a quick, cursory review and then moving on. I like to test and review a product thoroughly. Airless sprayers have a reputation of working well when new but wearing out quickly and I want to give this sprayer a little more run time. I am going to keep this sprayer for a few months and get used to using it. All sprayers are a little different and I want to make sure the faults I found with it are actual faults not operator error. I’ll keep you updated. My next projects are six Adirondack chairs and an outhouse.
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