How to Use a Paint Sprayer

Maybe you have a big painting project about to start, like painting a room or the outside of your house. Or maybe you have a few small things that are manageable, but a lot of inaccessible places, like furniture. Maybe you just want to get your projects done at lightning speed. If you're looking for a high-quality finish but don't want to waste a lot of time rolling or painting, you can learn how to use a paint sprayer. For this article, we're assuming an airless paint sprayer, but most of the tips work on smaller handhelds as well.

Step 1: Preparations

In the spirit of full disclosure, when you use a paint sprayer, you typically spend half your time getting it ready. Preparing the room or area you plan to paint can be as important as the painting process itself. The truth is, painting walls can be quite a mess, even if you have a steady hand and solid technique.

If your job requires you to be indoors, you'll want to remove all valuables from the room. Remove any furniture, rugs, or items you don't want to get stained with paint. You also get another benefit from this technology. If there is no furniture in the room, the hose will not get stuck when spraying. If you can't completely remove all the furniture, at least move it all to the center of the room and cover it with plastic.

As far as the actual work surface goes, mask off everything you don't want to paint. Use a mop to keep floors safe. Painters' tape and paper or plastic sheeting should keep your trim job from overspray. We really like using the PlazMask premade masking film.

Temperature may be a more important variable than many of us realize. Avoid painting in two extremes of weather – hot and cold. Heat can cause the paint to dry too quickly, making it impossible to bond. Excessive cooling can cause the spray gun to clog. Ideally, you'll want to paint in a temperature between 45 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit. You should also avoid spraying in direct sunlight if you can. This can cause the paint to dry too quickly.

A quick note on painting PPE: Once you've settled for everything else, you still need to keep yourself safe. Make sure your work area is well ventilated. Make sure you've got some protection from paint fumes. It is wise to carry a respirator or face mask with you.

Plus, expect confusion. Goggles probably won't hurt, especially if you plan to paint overhead. You also need to wear clothes that you don't mind getting smeared with paint, invest in overalls, or just paint naked. We're kidding about that last part…unless you live alone. Very, very lonely.

Step 2: Mix the Paint and Test the Paint Sprayer

Once everything is ready, you can mix the paint. After stirring (or shaking) well, run it through a paint strainer to remove any debris that could clog and splatter the gun.

Next, practice spraying on a piece of cardboard or some other makeshift material you don't mind throwing away. If you're just getting started with a paint sprayer, now is a good time to find out what you're using.

Every sprayer works slightly differently. You want to adapt yourself to the amount of paint coming out of the sprayer and the width of the pattern you get from the tip. This is also a great opportunity to practice your spraying techniques.

Professionals know spray techniques and quickly become familiar with their tools through long-term use. For this article, we have to assume that you probably don't have the same level of experience – so take your time.

Step 3: Using a Paint Sprayer Is the Technique

Maintain a consistent distance when spraying

When it comes to spraying techniques, when you use a paint sprayer, try to keep the distance between the gun and the material as consistent as possible. This is important to remember because if you're anything like me, your natural inclination is to get lazy with this trick and move your arms in an arching motion. This is all wrong and you will notice that the fruits of your labor will result in a blotchy, uneven end product.

keep perpendicular to the surface

Instead, keep your nozzle perpendicular to the surface as you move the gun back and forth. Use your wrist. Try to keep a consistent distance of 10-12 inches from the surface. This is important because your distance will affect how much paint you put on the surface. A nozzle spraying at half this recommended distance will get four times as much paint!

start moving the gun before pulling the trigger

To avoid spotting of paint, start moving the gun before pulling the trigger and spraying. Painters, if it's not already obvious, do a quick paint job. You need to move as fast as possible to avoid overloading the work surface and causing a run. Generally, we recommend that you try to move 2 or 3 feet per second.

check your spray pattern

Assuming you're working on a larger surface, you'll need to adjust the paint sprayer to produce a workable pattern. For most larger projects, a pattern in the 8-12 inch range works very well. Narrower patterns may pick up too much paint, while wider patterns will require multiple passes to get proper coverage.

Overlay each pass with the paint sprayer

Finally, you'll want to overlap each channel by about half the width to avoid leaving streaks or light areas. Avoid tilting the nozzle up or down as this will cause the gun to spit out.

Final Pro Tips on How to Use a Paint Sprayer

less is more

Like many things in life, sometimes less is more. You may find that this old adage applies when you use a paint sprayer. You can always go back and repaint the surface if needed, while overapplication can cause the paint to run and sag, dry unevenly, and eventually flake.

check your work

After completing a section, take a few steps back and check to see if you missed anything. If you find any bright spots, you can pass again. Be sure to move the gun quickly, before pulling the trigger.

Tips for Spraying Corners

For the walls, start with the corners first. And, just like on a flat surface, maintain distance and speed for consistency. However, instead of moving side to side, move vertically and aim straight for the corners. For corners, you'll also need to move a little faster so you don't get a too thick coat.

Roll back or brush – use a paint sprayer as an applicator

With some surfaces, such as wood siding or hardboard, you may decide to roll back or brush back it. This gives you a thicker, textured paint application. Even then, you can use a paint sprayer to your advantage. With this technique, you basically just use a paint sprayer to give the paint a quick squirt onto the surface, then return with a brush or roller to roll or brush it off.

In this way, your paint sprayer becomes your applicator. This is a much more efficient way to get paint onto a surface than constantly dipping a roller or brush into a bucket! You can reduce your working hours with this technique.

thanks for reading! If you have any tips or suggestions on how to use your paint sprayer, feel free to leave your comments in the section below.