Paint spray guns and sprayers are extremely versatile tools. They make painting tricky surfaces like acoustic popcorn ceilings a snap. Paint the exterior of your house in a weekend instead of taking tedious weeks to get the job done. Nothing rivals a spray gun in achieving a mirror-like perfect finish on trim, doors and cabinets. On the other hand, nothing can be more maddening than having your spray rig leak, clog up and break down frequently on the job. Most sprayer and spray gun malfunctions can be prevented by understanding how they work and by proper maintenance and cleaning.
Sprayer Types
There are three basic types of sprayers. A conventional sprayer atomizes paint with compressed air and sprays the atomized fan of paint on the surface. Conventional sprayers are no longer that common, since airless sprayers came on the market, affording the user higher efficiency with less paint overspray and waste. Airless sprayers are by far the most common type used for residential and commercial painting. HVLP (high volume low pressure) sprayers use low pressure to precisely direct paint onto even the most intricate surface with very little overspray or paint waste. HVLP sprayers are typically used for auto painting, woodwork, cabinets and industrial applications.
Spray Gun and Tip Types
Each type of sprayer requires a specific spray gun, which allows the paint to be fed from a hose, through the gun and ejected from the spray tip. Hundreds of types and models of spray guns are available for both general and specialty use. Spray guns used for residential and commercial painting are usually capable of spraying both low-viscosity products like stain and lacquer to thicker materials such as block fill masonry paint. A heavy-duty piston pump airless sprayer is necessary for spraying thick paints; most lightweight models are not capable of pushing thick paint through the system.
The type of spray tip is crucial for trouble-free, smooth application. A worn or incorrectly sized tip will cause spitting, runs, clogs and drips. Most spray tips are designated by a three-digit code. The first digit is half the width of the paint fan in inches, and the last two digits are the orifice size in thousandths of an inch. A 211 tip will spray a 4-inch fan of low viscosity material, such as stain, from a .011 size orifice. A 615 tip sprays a 12-inch fan of thicker, coarser latex paint. A tip can last from 30 gallons to over 100 before needing replacement, depending on the coarseness of the material and the pressure used to spray it with.
Keep it Clean
Inside every spray rig and spray gun are dozens of moving parts, designed to work at very precise tolerances. To make them last longer, strain all paint before running it through a sprayer. Even straight out of a sealed paint bucket, there will be an accumulation of fine grit and dried pieces of paint left in the strainer. These can score and wear the moving parts quite quickly. After every use, thoroughly flush the system and store it with mineral spirits to keep the parts lubricated.
Keep It Safe
The force of the paint coming out of an airless spray gun is enough to inject material deep into skin and tissues if triggered at close range. If this happens, it is a medical emergency because paint chemicals can reach inner organs. Most spray guns have thumb-operated trigger locks to prevent them from being accidentally triggered when being cleaned or when not in use. Get in the habit of locking it every time you stop painting, even for a few minutes.
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