One of the guys who paint more often can probably advise best Barb, but I personally would just level it out real good. As for the gun, I know Pros like to work with high dollar guns like Binks, etc, and I understand why. But for us home hobbyists the gravity feed guns from HF are really not bad at all.

You mention a siphon gun, I got away from those years ago. The gravity feed guns (with the tank on top) are so much easier to use and clean up is a cinch. I used to dread cleaning out a gun after I was done, but these gravity models take like 5 minutes tops and every bit of paint comes out.

Here are a couple of videos that may give you some ideas too. The second video starts out like the first one, but is different.

http://video.aol.com/video-detail/ho...t-2/2781861135

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FZ7zd...eature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=re9KC...eature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p5I-V...eature=related

Don