The Different Types of Paint Sprayers and How to Use Them Effectively
Using a paint sprayer to paint certain areas in your home can make the paint job appear to be more smooth and uniform. They go beyond the ordinary paintbrush and open up more options that you can blaze through with ease.
Types of Paint Sprayers
However, not all paint sprayers are fit for every type of paint job. Because they can vary in terms of pressure and volume capacity, the key is to understand how they work and which one is best for which.
There are three basic types of paint sprayers:
- Airless – This type of sprayer works not by using compressed air, but by pumping the paint out at a high pressure. The paint fans out in droplets over a wide area, which results in an even coat of paint.
Airless paint sprayers are best used with interior paint and residential outdoor projects, and work best with thick paint.
- Compressed air – Compressed air paint sprayers use compressed air, which forces the paint out onto the surface for a smoother and more even finish. Because they are so simple and foolproof, they are the perfect tools to use for beginners.
Compressed air paint sprayers are mostly used for cabinets and furniture, and is rarely used for other surfaces because they use up a lot of paint.
- HVLP (High Volume, Low Pressure) – This type of paint sprayer works by using a steady volume of air to make the paint droplets stick to the surface, which gives you a more precise, less messy result that saves you on paint for your interior jobs.
Most HVLP paint sprayers work best with thinner paints, though there are industrial or commercial models that allow you to opt for lacquer and varnish.
How to Use a Paint Sprayer Effectively
Paint sprayers can be intimidating for those who aren’t used to them, which is why the safest way to start practicing is by spraying on some cardboard to improve your technique. Once you have the feel of how it works, you can then proceed to start painting other things such as furniture.
As much as possible, keep the paint between 7 and 23 degrees Celsius. Any higher or lower will affect the quality of the paint, which could either cause it to clog the nozzle or make the paint runny and less cohesive. Painting in direct sunlight could also affect how the paint looks.
Always remember to use paint sprayers with care as they can operate with extremely high pressure. Never use your fingers when cleaning out the nozzle as it could possibly inject paint into the skin if the sprayer tip makes contact, which could introduce deadly toxins into the body.