Paint Sprayer
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PapaHatch
New member
I have been doing a whole house remodel. I bought the Graco Project Painter Plus. First time to spray. I was really impressed. You spend a lot of time masking off. But much better finish. Log on YouTube and watch The Idaho Painter. I learned a lot there
paredown
Well-known member
I may be the contrary voice, but unless you are doing new construction, I find the time it takes to set up, test, spray and clean--together with the greater need for masking--it is easier just to roll most jobs.
If you are priming new walls, you need to back roll anyways, so no great saving.
Clean up with my Graco is a PITA (although I made a big mistake and loaned it, and it came back covered in overspray, so I'm not sure why I bothered.)
But if you have the need (or the itch) I like my Graco a lot--my pro tip (from the pro that coached me) is start with a tip that sprays a smaller pattern until you get good a putting an even coat down.
If you are priming new walls, you need to back roll anyways, so no great saving.
Clean up with my Graco is a PITA (although I made a big mistake and loaned it, and it came back covered in overspray, so I'm not sure why I bothered.)
But if you have the need (or the itch) I like my Graco a lot--my pro tip (from the pro that coached me) is start with a tip that sprays a smaller pattern until you get good a putting an even coat down.
rayra
Well-known member
would not spray inside, too much mess. And seconding far too much work. Roller with a long pole so you don't have to bend over, a wheeled edging pad, and an interior room can be done fairly quickly with little prep or mess.
Exterior, I've painted my house twice using an inexpensive HVLP Wagner electric spray gun and it worked quite well. Basically a blow dryer with a pot. And very easy to break down and clean up. Do it every time you stop a session.
Combined with a thorough pre-wash, caulking etc, some edge boards or even cardboard panels, you can do a swift and thorough job.
And it's a good sprayer for smaller projects too.
eta the latest house pain job is 8yrs+ old, and we bought very good paint. Holding up in SoCal blistering sun and heat just fine. 2 coats, two directions.
Exterior, I've painted my house twice using an inexpensive HVLP Wagner electric spray gun and it worked quite well. Basically a blow dryer with a pot. And very easy to break down and clean up. Do it every time you stop a session.
Combined with a thorough pre-wash, caulking etc, some edge boards or even cardboard panels, you can do a swift and thorough job.
And it's a good sprayer for smaller projects too.
eta the latest house pain job is 8yrs+ old, and we bought very good paint. Holding up in SoCal blistering sun and heat just fine. 2 coats, two directions.
I also do the roller/brush thing indoors.
Exterior wise, I purchased a Titan Speedpro Honda gas powered commercial sprayer off Craigslist for $225 from a painter that was getting out of the business. Lucky find!
https://airless.com.au/Airless Sprayer PDF & Parts/Manuals PDF/Titan/PT4500.pdf
Industrial model that after two houses, two garages and a shed... will still outlast me.
Craigslist is my first go-to place for equipment like this.
Exterior wise, I purchased a Titan Speedpro Honda gas powered commercial sprayer off Craigslist for $225 from a painter that was getting out of the business. Lucky find!
https://airless.com.au/Airless Sprayer PDF & Parts/Manuals PDF/Titan/PT4500.pdf
Industrial model that after two houses, two garages and a shed... will still outlast me.
Craigslist is my first go-to place for equipment like this.
gunguy
Well-known member
Proably not much help to you, but I'd go with a power roller for the interior, unless it's a rough textured surface. If you think about it, you spend half your time painting the paint tray.
I will admit though, I have zero experience with a spray gun...It could be the way to go.
Jim
I will admit though, I have zero experience with a spray gun...It could be the way to go.
Jim
Kaizen
Well-known member
I have the graco small model. Works great for fencing or large stand alone projects. If I had the repaint a room no way I’d use it. Pro’s can spray and mask way faster so that’s why they use it. I stick with rollers and brush.
Graco did save me tons of time painting fences.
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Graco did save me tons of time painting fences.
Sent from my iPhone using The Garage Journal mobile app
There’s a massive savings. I back roll anything I spray in a house.
You don’t need to keep loading the roller. I primed my 1870sq ft main floor in about 8 hours. 2 coats.
But I wouldn’t set up the sprayer for different colours in different rooms. I sprayed my primer and ceiling paint. Then rolled the wall colours.
Miss the Pontiacs
Well-known member
reconstyle
Member
Don't spray inside unless it's new construction and you don't have to mask anything. If you're doing textured walls just use a roller, it's quicker, easier cleanup, no chance of overspray etc.
A sprayer will give you the best results on doors and trim as far as finish goes. But there are a few good self leveling paints out there that will brush or roll on just fine.
Even if you spray the exterior of a house you will need to backroll to avoid overlapping streaks.
A sprayer will give you the best results on doors and trim as far as finish goes. But there are a few good self leveling paints out there that will brush or roll on just fine.
Even if you spray the exterior of a house you will need to backroll to avoid overlapping streaks.
paredown
Well-known member
Actually I agree--there is time savings in getting the paint on the wall--I mainly emphasize this because people think the sprayer is once and done.
we used to work in pairs--one person spraying and a second rolling and we could go through a house like gangbusters.
But the average person--setup sprayer, spray a wall, backroll, spray more etc I think the time savings are less. Although these days, when I get a 24" roller loaded up and start doing ceilings, spraying is looking more attractive--I'll feel it the next day for sure...
K'ledgeBldr
Well-known member
Graco or Titan for airless sprayers.
No spraying indoors- if it were new construction there are situations that are fine for spraying; otherwise, just stick to roller and brushes.
No spraying indoors- if it were new construction there are situations that are fine for spraying; otherwise, just stick to roller and brushes.
Dutch01
Well-known member
Lots of over spray fumes when spraying inside. Talk from experience. And also I had 2 different models and mine both tended to leak drops of paint.
bwringer
Well-known member
After wasting an entire day rolling just part of one wall, I bought a sprayer and painted the exterior of my house with this Harbor Freight airless sprayer. Following the advice of the guy who sprayed our office building, I bought a smaller Graco spray tip for much better control with very little reduction in speed (this sprayer is compatible with Graco accessories).
https://www.harborfreight.com/painting/paint-sprayers/airless-paint-sprayer-kit-60600.html
Worked great, and I would do it again in a heartbeat. With coupons, I paid about $170.
In my case, rolling or brushing paint on our heavily patterned siding was going absolutely nowhere fast. No matter how deep and fuzzy the roller was, it took six times the work to get into all the crevices. And of course, the walls were clean but the rollers picked up every stray dust mote, feather, bug, and speck of dirt within two miles.
With scaffolding and this sprayer, we got the whole house done in a day and it still looks great. Other than I hate the color, but that's 100% my fault, not the sprayer.
We started out back-rolling, but found that it didn't make the slightest bit of difference. Looked a little worse, actually. I know it's blasphemy, but we just skipped back-rolling for most of the house and six years later I've seen absolutely no issues or differences other than more debris and less even finishes in the rolled areas.
A few weeks later I painted our garage door with this, and it worked great and is holding up beautifully (just had to put up plastic on the inside to catch "spray-through" around the edges and such).
Cleanup isn't too bad, but it's also not something you want to fart around with unless you're painting a large area. And I wouldn't use it indoors unless it's new construction before the flooring goes in. That said, overspray was not a problem at all -- we didn't find any stray paint drifting with the wind or anything, and had very good control with the smaller spray tip.
https://www.harborfreight.com/painting/paint-sprayers/airless-paint-sprayer-kit-60600.html
Worked great, and I would do it again in a heartbeat. With coupons, I paid about $170.
In my case, rolling or brushing paint on our heavily patterned siding was going absolutely nowhere fast. No matter how deep and fuzzy the roller was, it took six times the work to get into all the crevices. And of course, the walls were clean but the rollers picked up every stray dust mote, feather, bug, and speck of dirt within two miles.
With scaffolding and this sprayer, we got the whole house done in a day and it still looks great. Other than I hate the color, but that's 100% my fault, not the sprayer.
We started out back-rolling, but found that it didn't make the slightest bit of difference. Looked a little worse, actually. I know it's blasphemy, but we just skipped back-rolling for most of the house and six years later I've seen absolutely no issues or differences other than more debris and less even finishes in the rolled areas.
A few weeks later I painted our garage door with this, and it worked great and is holding up beautifully (just had to put up plastic on the inside to catch "spray-through" around the edges and such).
Cleanup isn't too bad, but it's also not something you want to fart around with unless you're painting a large area. And I wouldn't use it indoors unless it's new construction before the flooring goes in. That said, overspray was not a problem at all -- we didn't find any stray paint drifting with the wind or anything, and had very good control with the smaller spray tip.
rburke65
Well-known member
No spraying in th3house. I free hand edge....no tape....and roll.
pcmeiners
Well-known member
What is the issue paint applied by an airless needing back rolling? Never needed to back roll any job, interior or exterior.
"Even if you spray the exterior of a house you will need to backroll to avoid overlapping streaks."
Never had overlapping streaks. My only issue is a sprayed wall is super smooth, no texture.'
"Even if you spray the exterior of a house you will need to backroll to avoid overlapping streaks."
Never had overlapping streaks. My only issue is a sprayed wall is super smooth, no texture.'
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I have a graco x7 pro for big jobs, entire house exteriors or large rooms or whole house interiors... and I got a small TC pro cordless for cabinets, trim, etc...
Used to backroll before I figured out selecting the right tip made all the difference..
I usually use the smallest orifice I can without clogging.. it’s a lot of work to mask and spray, but I’ll take that over a sore back and arms. Cleanup isn’t terrible as long as you plan ahead.. I can knock out 3 coats on a Brick ranch house exterior in 1 day no problem.. depends on what you need it for, but I’d recommend them.. my Graco’s have always worked flawlessly
Sent from my iPhone using The Garage Journal mobile app
Used to backroll before I figured out selecting the right tip made all the difference..
I usually use the smallest orifice I can without clogging.. it’s a lot of work to mask and spray, but I’ll take that over a sore back and arms. Cleanup isn’t terrible as long as you plan ahead.. I can knock out 3 coats on a Brick ranch house exterior in 1 day no problem.. depends on what you need it for, but I’d recommend them.. my Graco’s have always worked flawlessly
Sent from my iPhone using The Garage Journal mobile app
paredown
Well-known member
Here's pretty good coverage of the thinking--partly for adhesion, partly for texture... I haven't done much outside work, but haven't backrolled there.
https://pittsburghsprayequip.com/bl...y/spraying-vs-spraying-and-back-rolling-guide
gahrajmahal
Well-known member
If you decide to roll use microfiber roller covers. Run a sticky lint roller over prior to starting the job. Menards has a new line of roller pans with a snap on lid. Allows you to stop in the middle, store the roller and keeps the paint fresh without skinning over.
Dragfluid
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Graco. Love it.
Made about 2 1/2 miles from here.
Made about 2 1/2 miles from here.
pcmeiners
Well-known member
Alright, I concede back rolling is a good idea only with latex primer, as I avoid it unless absolutely mandated as it's adhesion to drywall surface is relatively poor anyway.
scottydosnntkno
Well-known member
- Joined
- Aug 8, 2010
- Messages
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In new construction, we spray and backroll every day. Spraying just gets the paint on the wall a lot faster, and the roller works it in and adds texture so it can be touched up in the future.
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nadogail
Well-known member
All the better Professional Painters of my acquaintance use professional equipment, Graco or Equivalent. In an empty room it may vary, but with Spray Shields, an airless is very difficult to beat
pcmeiners
Well-known member
The is a considerable difference between a professional grade airless sprayer and units sold for <$1000. Professional units spray at an very even high pressure, atomize paint better producing a finer mist, have a much higher output, and have less over-spray. The low end units remind me of trying to spray a vehicle with a standard Binks # 7 gun with a small output compressor, possible but extremely frustrating/time consuming, verging on the impossible. So those who dislike airless or who need to back roll, do not blame airless sprayer technology, blame it on how much your willing to invest in it.
https://pittsburghsprayequip.com/bl...y/spraying-vs-spraying-and-back-rolling-guide
As to the author of the link above....
"When you spray and back roll you use an airless paint sprayer to apply the coating and immediately behind you will be a second worker who will then use a roller like a ½” Nap Roller to go over the coating that was just sprayed."
Anyone who recommends a 1/2 nap roller, especially on new walls has lost me. 1/2" naps roller apply too much paint and unnecessarily texture walls. Make new wall board look like ****. Of course if your workers do not know how to use an airless gun or use a cheap unit, this is a poor answer for poor workmanship.
The author states the back roller makes the paint adhere better. First, if the primer is oil based this not true, oil based soaks into the surface no matter what you do. Latex on the other hand does not have great adhesion as a primer and all the rolling is not going to help anyway, unless you have dust/dirt on the walls. If you leave compound dust on the walls, I would agree back-rolling will promote better adhesion with latex, which is a fix for poor preparation.
As far as the paper fibers showing, with spraying or rolling you have them after priming, better taping skills with less sanding helps but a quick sand after priming is the answer. Of course if you apply an unnecessarily thick coat of primer with a roller it will smooth out some of the fibers while you mess up new walls.
https://pittsburghsprayequip.com/bl...y/spraying-vs-spraying-and-back-rolling-guide
As to the author of the link above....
"When you spray and back roll you use an airless paint sprayer to apply the coating and immediately behind you will be a second worker who will then use a roller like a ½” Nap Roller to go over the coating that was just sprayed."
Anyone who recommends a 1/2 nap roller, especially on new walls has lost me. 1/2" naps roller apply too much paint and unnecessarily texture walls. Make new wall board look like ****. Of course if your workers do not know how to use an airless gun or use a cheap unit, this is a poor answer for poor workmanship.
The author states the back roller makes the paint adhere better. First, if the primer is oil based this not true, oil based soaks into the surface no matter what you do. Latex on the other hand does not have great adhesion as a primer and all the rolling is not going to help anyway, unless you have dust/dirt on the walls. If you leave compound dust on the walls, I would agree back-rolling will promote better adhesion with latex, which is a fix for poor preparation.
As far as the paper fibers showing, with spraying or rolling you have them after priming, better taping skills with less sanding helps but a quick sand after priming is the answer. Of course if you apply an unnecessarily thick coat of primer with a roller it will smooth out some of the fibers while you mess up new walls.
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