A little research can help you to pick a paint sprayer that has the right features and is easy to use. This article provides practical tips on how to choose the right house paint sprayer.
A paint sprayer can help you to apply a coat of paint four times faster than rolling and ten times faster than brushing. Paint sprayers are easy to use even in tight areas, and some of them even come with pressure roller attachments.
Professional paint sprayer vs. consumer paint sprayer
A heavy-duty professional sprayer is often used to paint the entire interior of a house. It uses high-pressure air from a compressor to atomize the paint or stain. In comparison, an airless sprayer is a consumer product that uses a mechanical pump to push fluid through the tip, making it atomize and turn into spray.
The spray tip is chosen on the basis of the power of the spray gun, the surface that is to be sprayed and the type of fluid being used.
Practice to develop an effective painting motion
Practice will help you to develop an effective and easy painting motion over a period of time. You need to spray from side to side, with each pass overlapping. There’s no need to try to cover everything on the first stroke. You can practice by spraying water on a board to see how the sprayer works and how well you cover the surface.
Pick the right combination of equipment
If you choose an airless sprayer, decide on the combination of gun, pump, hose, and tip that’s suitable for you and your projects:
- Horsepower
If you think that speed is important, look for a sprayer with a higher horsepower, which can get the job done faster. However, avoid getting a gun with more power than you can handle.
Sprayers that offer a more horsepower, gallons per minute and pounds per square inch are capable of spraying thicker coatings. A sprayer that doesn’t offer enough force to handle a bigger tip could have issues with clogging.
- Size of the project
Smaller projects will only require a self-contained handheld sprayer. A sprayer that provides higher pressure and a broader spray pattern will be needed for larger projects.
- Size of the tip
Consider the maximum recommended tip size of your sprayer and the coating while choosing a tip and model. Smaller tip sizes and less pressure will be needed for thinner coatings like stains. More pressure and bigger tip sizes will be required for thicker coatings like paint.
- Spray pattern width
Once you’ve decided on the tip size required for the paint, pick the pattern width needed for the paint job. A smaller pattern width will be needed for smaller surfaces like fence rails, and a bigger pattern width will be needed for bigger surfaces like walls and ceilings.
- Tips wear out
As the tip wears out, the rate of flow rises but the fan width drops. This means that more paint will be sprayed over a smaller area.
- Reversible tips
You can get a standard tip or a reversible tip. It’s easy to unclog a reversible tip by turning it around and blowing the blockage out.
- Rent vs. buy
If you only need a sprayer for a one-day project, you can consider renting it. It will cost a lot less than buying it, and you will not have to store it when the project is over.
- Follow the operating instructions
Read the manufacturer’s operating instructions before using a sprayer, and always use proper eye protection and a respirator mask while spraying.
- Cover everything before you start
Mask or cover all the things near your project, which includes trim and windows, because paint spray can get into everything. Cover plants and avoid painting outdoors on windy days.
How to choose the right house paint sprayer
- Look for a sprayer with a long extension cord or flexible hose if your project involves covering a distance. This will also make cleaning up easier.
- Pick a unit with a backpack or wheels if you need to carry paint supplies over a distance.
- Think about paint capacity and how frequently you will need to refill.
- Consider getting a sprayer that draws directly from the can or one with a bigger hopper.
- A sprayer that can be taken apart will be easier to clean.
- Sprayers that draw from the can and have smooth internal surfaces also make cleaning up easier.
- An adjustable pressure control will help to extend the life of your spray tips.
- Check to see how much noise the sprayer makes when it’s working.
- Make sure that replacement parts are available for the model you are considering.
- A unit that accepts tip extensions is suitable for painting hard-to-reach areas like foyers and high ceilings.
- Find out about the availability of support lines, online resources and digital operating manuals for the sprayer.
A little research can help you to buy a sprayer that’s perfect for you and your projects at an attractive price. Painting provides the fastest, easiest and most affordable way of transforming the looks of your home.