A Done with That® Project by Koper, America’s #1 Connected ContractorTM, Free Augmented Article©
A paint sprayer is often a fast and flexible alternative to brushes and rollers. A small airless sprayer is fine for small jobs; to save money, you can rent a heavy-duty sprayer to paint your entire house. To save hours of tedious brush- work, spray intricate items such as louvers, fences and grillwork.
Airless paint sprayers work by forcing paint through special valves under high pressure without separate compressors. The valves break down the liquid paint into a fine mist. All airless units have the same basic parts: an electric pump, an atomizer valve and a spray tip to direct the mist.
Sprayers are available in sizes for every job, from hand-held units with one-quart reservoirs to heavy- duty floor models with five-gallon paint holders. In addition to oil and latex paints, some sprayers can also handle stains and polyurethane finishes. Check that the sprayer’s atomizer valve and tip are the right size for the product you are using.
Most premixed paints are too thick to flow smoothly through the tiny openings of a sprayer. You can test the paint with an accessory called a viscosity cup, and then thin it to a consistency suitable for spraying.
You should also filter the paint to remove particles of pigment or dried paint that could clog the sprayer.
You can vary the operating pressure with a control knob, usually located on the back of the sprayer. Even at low settings, however, the sprayer ejects paint with tremendous force and speed. Make sure you understand all the manufacturer’s safety instructions before operating a sprayer.
Because paint spray can drift from the work area, take extra care to protect anything you do not plan to paint. Outdoors, move or cover cars and shield shrubs. Indoors, make generous use of dropcloths and masking materials to protect floors, windows and moldings.
To make sure the sprayer works smoothly on your next project, clean it thoroughly after each use. Choose an appropriate solvent: water for latex paints, mineral spirits or turpentine for oil-based paints. To prevent water residues from rusting the pump, lubricate the sprayer according to the manufacturer’s guidelines.
WHAT YOU WILL NEED
Tools
1. Paint strainer
2. Masking tape
3. Electric paint sprayer
4. Viscosity cup
5. Painting mask or respirator
Materials
Paint
Solvent
Light household oil
Dropcloths
Masking paper or plastic sheets
Empty coffee can
Masking tape
PLANNING
Measure areas and objects to be sprayed and calculate the quantity of paint and solvent required.
Make sure that safety goggles, mask and other safety equipment are on hand.
Estimate the number of plastic sheets and amount of masking ma¬terial needed for the job.
Check that you can open doors or windows to ventilate interior work areas; plan outdoor spraying for calm, windless days
STEP-BY-STEP
1. Filter the paint.
2. Test and thin paint as necessary.
3. Install sprayer valve and tip.
4. Load paint and spray.
5. Clean and oil sprayer
A Sprayer for Big Jobs
To paint large areas, such as the exterior of your home, con¬sider a heavy-duty airless sprayer (1). Available at rental centers or paint stores, these units can handle large vol¬umes of paint and work at four times the speed of hand¬held sprayers.
Most heavy-duty sprayers are powered by an electric motor mounted on a por¬table metal ‘stand. Some units come with a large-capacity pail, known as a paint hopper (2), while oth¬ers provide a suction kit that you can place directly into a paint can.
The paint flows to a spray gun through 15 to 25 feet of flexible hose, permitting you to coat large ar¬eas without moving the motor. Remember that the gun ejects paint at extremely high pressure and ve¬locity. Follow all the safety precautions recom¬mended by the manufacturer.
Using the Sprayer
Cover window frames and moldings with masking tape. Protect larger areas from drifting spray with masking paper or plastic sheets.
Select an atomizer valve and spray tip for oil- or water-based paint. Insert the valve into the sprayer and hand tighten the matching tip.
To remove impurities that could clog the sprayer, place a paint strainer over a coffee can and strain the paint through it.
Fill the viscosity cup with paint; compare the time it takes to drain to the recommended time. Thin the paint as needed.
Fill the sprayer with paint. Set the sprayer on low and test-paint a piece of scrap. Increase the pressure until paint coverage is even.
Hold the sprayer 12 inches from the surface as you paint. Release the trigger after each pass and press it again before the next one.
TIPS
When a cornmercial.paint strainer is not available, filter your paint through an old nylon stocking.
Since horizontal surfaces are more difficult to spray, set your work as close to vertical as is practical.
In warm weather, protect outdoor shrubs with fabric dropcloths; leaves may wilt under plastic cover.
Adjusting the spray pattern
To obtain a consistently even pattern, adjust the pressure and make sure you have installed the correct valve and tip.
Move along with the sprayer as you paint, keeping both your body and the sprayer the same distance from the work surface.
If you stand still and swing the sprayer in an arc, the paint will be uneven: too thick in the center and too thin on the sides.
CLEANING THE SPRAYER
After emptying any remaining paint, mix a cleaning and lubricating fluid in the sprayer. Screw on the reservoir. Plug in and operate the sprayer to circulate the fluid.
Unplug the sprayer and unscrew the reservoir. Remove the spray tip and atomizer valve. Unscrew the locknut securing the pump to the sprayer; pull the pump unit forward.
Disassemble the pump by pulling the piston and spring from the housing. Pour an appropriate solvent into a bucket. Thoroughly soak and scrub all removed parts.
After reassembling the sprayer, turn it upside down and add a few drops of household oil to its suction intake. Plug in the sprayer and operate it to oil the piston and cylinder.
Extending the reach of the Sprayer
Airless sprayers create uneven paint patterns if they are tilted by more than 45 degrees. With an accessory called a flexible extension, you can obtain even coverage when you paint or stain horizontal surfaces. The extension bends downward to spray stain or finish on floors, and upwards to paint or stain ceilings, soffits or the undersides of shelves.
Caution
Turn off pilot lights and other sources of ignition in the area being sprayed.
Keep the sprayer nozzle pointed away from yourself and any others in the vicinity.
Always unplug the sprayer’s power cord and pull the trigger to release pressure before reload¬ing or disassembling the sprayer for cleaning.
Seek immediate medical attention if the sprayer’s paint jet punctures your skin.
This article sponsored by Drexel Group, providing best prices for industrial, commercial and engineering services. Interested in Hiring Us or Learning More? Send us a note to learn about our services, and our connected communities campaign. Phone 248-701-9328
Service areas include: Metro Detroit, Oakland, Macomb, Wayne, Washtenaw, Genesee, Troy, Auburn Hills, Madison Heights, Bloomfield, Birmingham, Washington, Clarkston, Orion, Oxford, Flint, Saginaw, Davison, Novi, Wixom, Plymouth, Ann Arbor and Michigan.