Things to Consider When Purchasing a Paint Sprayer
Painting can be a daunting, time-consuming task. Even an experienced painter might spend the majority of a day coating a single large room. Luckily, technology is here once again to save the day–literally. Paint sprayers are not only much faster than rollers or brushes, but they also deliver a finer finish. When purchasing a paint sprayer there are different things you need to consider–such as the nature of your project and the type of paint you're using. Here are some things to consider when purchasing a paint sprayer.
Comparing Paint Sprayers
There's not just one type of paint sprayer on the market. If you're looking to purchase a paint sprayer, you'll have three different types to choose from: high volume low pressure (HVLP), compressed, and airless.
HVLP
- Low paint waste
- Paint is released slower
- Great for interior jobs like cabinets
- Not ideal for thicker paint jobs such as lacquers
- Typically more expensive
Compressed
- Utilizes compressed air for paint application
- Perfect for furniture
- Can be messy and have overspray
- Higher paint waste than HVLP and airless
Airless
- Shoots paint at a high pressure
- Leaves a very even coat application
- Perfect for outdoor projects like decks and fences
- Ability to handle thicker paints and larger areas
- Noisier than HVLP sprayers
- The spray pattern can be harder to control
Picking the Right Sprayer
Ready to purchase your very own paint sprayer? You'll need the perfect combo of sprayer specifications for your project to be successful.
Horsepower
Looking to get your job done quickly? Then the right fit for you is an airless sprayer with large horsepower. Greater horsepower means the paint will spray out faster–allowing you to cover more of your project in less time. Just be sure you don't purchase a sprayer with too much horsepower for you to physically handle.
Project Size
The size of your project impacts how powerful of a sprayer you'll need. The bigger the job, the more pressure and horsepower you'll want. While a smaller job might only need a handheld unit.
Coating
Before you make your purchase, consider what types of coatings you're thinking of using. For thicker coatings, you'll need a sprayer with a larger tip. A small tip can cause your paint gun to clog up with thicker coatings.
Hose Length
Working on a larger job such as painting a fence? If so, you'll want a longer hose or at least an extension cord so you can cover the distance of your project.
Safety Considerations
Anyone using a paint sprayer should be careful. Let's cover a few painting safety tips:
- Be sure to wear a mask and eye protection while using your sprayer. Never spray at anyone or at windows. Paint fumes are dangerous–only use paint sprayers in well-ventilated areas.
- If your sprayer tip comes in contact with your skin, paint toxins may enter your body. If this happens, seek medical attention immediately. Inform your doctor that you have an injection wound–do not think this is a minor injury. Paint toxins are extremely dangerous for your bloodstream.
- Read your sprayer's instructions thoroughly.
- Cover everything in the area of your project you're not trying to paint–including plants and windows. Do not paint on windy days!
Get the Perfect Paint Sprayer from Al's Taping Tools
The power of paint sprayers makes at-home jobs a lot easier to complete in an efficient manner. Whatever the painting project, sprayers ensure that it gets done right.
At Al's, we've provided high-quality painting tools and expertise to our customers for more than 30 years. Shop our collection of paint sprayers today to save time and energy on your next painting job.