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Paint Sprayers Overview

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Paint sprayers, also known as powered paint applicators, are the most powerful paint tools on the market. They atomize liquid paint into a fine mist and spray it onto walls, cabinets, and any other surface, leaving a desirable mirrorlike finish. Although they sound complicated, paint sprayers actually consist of just a few parts: a power supply, a hose, a gun, and a spray tip (nozzle).

The two basic types of power sprayers are compressed air sprayers and airless sprayers. In general, professionals use compressed air models while do-it-yourselfers employ airless sprayers. Some sprayers run on electric power while others run on gas power, and still others are cordless models that utilize battery power. In contrast to the traditional sprayers that simply run a hose into a paint bucket, you can also find handheld models, backpack models, and sprayers on wheels. The most important differences between sprayers, however, are not these cosmetic differences, but rather the differences in the thickness of the material models can handle, the amount of paint they can spray, and the overspray that they produce. Below are five of the most common types of sprayers on the market, as described on http://thisoldhouse.com:

Cup Gun: This is the cheapest paint sprayer on the market, starting at just $100. As you might expect, however, they do not have the power or capacity for large jobs and work best on craft projects and small jobs.
Diaphragm-Pump: Diaphragm-pump models are the traditional paint sprayer for the do-it-yourselfer and start at $250. They work well for large areas, but they produce excessive amounts of overspray (i.e. paint that does not make it onto the wall), so you should not use it on interior projects.
Piston-Pump: This airless pump is expensive ($1,000 and up to buy or $70/day to rent), but is the most powerful sprayer on the market and works well for house painting.
Air-Compressor Gun: This air sprayer works best on furniture and cabinets in a closed space because it produces a high amount of overspray. These guns are not good with thick paint, but they produce a smooth finish and are relatively inexpensive ($125 and up if you already have an air compressor).
High Volume/Low Pressure (HVLP): This is an air sprayer that works well for interior use because it has little overspray and produces a smooth finish. It doesn’t use thick paint, but it works well for cabinets, doors, trim, etc.

Each of these paint sprayers should come with all of the basic parts, including the nozzle, and many sprayers come with interchangeable tips. The thinner the paint, the smaller the nozzle you should use. Lacquers and stains for example, work best with a nozzle width of .009 to .013 inches while exterior latex requires a nozzle width of .015 to .019 inches. In addition to these interchangeable tips, some sprayers also come with additional features such as extension nozzles, longer suction tubes, and viscosity measuring cups.

Next Page: How do I use a paint sprayer?

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