Choosing a Paint Sprayer

It's estimated that a paint sprayer can apply a coating ten times faster than brushing and four times faster than rolling. Paint sprayers give a uniform finish and are easy use in tight areas. Some even offer a pressure roller attachment.

Consumer Sprayers
Heavy-duty professional paint sprayers are often used for whole-house interiors. These spray guns use high-pressure air from a compressor to atomize the paint or stain and provide a fine finish.

Consumer products, or "airless" sprayers, are electric- or gas-powered products that mechanically pump paint or stain into a spray gun. Fluid is pushed through the spray tip, causing it to atomize and become a spray. Spray tips vary and are chosen based on the type of fluid used, the surface to be sprayed, and the power of the spray gun.

It takes practice to develop an easy, effective painting motion because you must spray side to side, overlapping on each pass. Sprayers are not intended to cover on the first stroke. A good way to practice is to spray water on a board to check how the machine performs and how effectively you cover the surface.

Selecting the Right Paint Sprayer
Choosing an airless paint sprayer means deciding which combinations of pump, gun, tip, and hose are right for you and your projects. 

If speed is your priority, consider horsepower. "The larger the horsepower, the more gallons per minute and the faster the project gets done," says Steve Mahacek, e-marketing/PR manager for Wagner Spray Tech Corp. But don't get more power than you can reasonably handle.

The type of coatings you intend to use also plays a role in selecting a sprayer. Thicker coatings require a bigger sprayer tip. Sprayers are rated for the pressure they produce and the tip size they can support. Units with more pounds per square inch, gallons per minute, and horsepower can spray thicker coatings. A machine that does not have enough force to handle a larger tip may have problems with clogging. 

Project size also determines how much power you need. A large project requires a broader spray pattern and more pressure behind it. A smaller project may only need a self-contained handheld unit.