Should I own a paint sprayer?

[JackOfDiamonds]

I have never had or used a paint sprayer. But I'm a normal homeowner and garage guy...I recently bought an air compressor, so it hit me that maybe I should have a paint sprayer.

First type of painting I do is I use spray paint to paint welding projects and bicycles. How does a paint sprayer compare to using spraypaint for small metal painting jobs like this? It's not a cost issue, just wondering if there is a real advantage to using a paint sprayer instead of spraypaint. Spraypaint mostly works for me, but maybe I don't know what I'm missing. What kind of sprayer do you use for this type of thing (spraypaint replacement)?

For interior house painting, I just use a roller and brushes. It works fine. Is there any reason to spray instead? Does anyone prefer spraying? And do you need a different type of sprayer than above?

For exterior house painting, I usually hire it...but if I had a sprayer, I can definitely see how spraying house exterior and/or fencing would be a LOT faster than trying to brush the whole thing. But what kind of sprayer do you need to spray exterior paint, and is it even the same kind of sprayer you would use for the first two things?

 

[Al Borland]

for house painting, indoor or outdoors, an airless sprayer is the wat to go.

 

[Copymutt]

I use rattle cans 95% of the time. If doing automotive minor touch up I use a Preval sprayer. If doing a fender or hood etc. I use an HVLP gun.
The amount of clean up, water filtration, gun adjustment, paint additives, booth set up, PPE garb etc. makes the compressor HVLP a complex pain and the paint is expensive, but the only way to do vehicle painting.
For exterior home painting I sometimes use an airless sprayer, otherwise brush & roller.

 

[nadogail]

I have a Low Budget Spray Rig that I use for painting fences and latices, I guess you could say it is a High Pressure, Low Volume setup.
I am using my 20 gallon Devilbiss, oil free compressor and Harbor Freight spray guns.

 

[GeoBruin]

If painting in general is 33% preparation, 33% painting, and 33% cleanup, painting with an hvlp gun is 45% prep, 10% painting, and 45% cleanup.

I'm not exaggerating, but that isn't meant to discourage you. As long as you go into it knowing that the vast majority of your time is spent on prep and clean up, it can actually be very rewarding knowing you have the ability to apply professional-looking finishes.

 

[Greeny]

This
For the vast majority of my needs, it's so much quicker on the cleanup end to use a rattle can that I seldom use the gun.

If painting in general is 33% preparation, 33% painting, and 33% cleanup, painting with an hvlp gun is 45% prep, 10% painting, and 45% cleanup.

I'm not exaggerating, but that isn't meant to discourage you. As long as you go into it knowing that the vast majority of your time is spent on prep and clean up, it can actually be very rewarding knowing you have the ability to apply professional-looking finishes.

 

[Alcap]

Can’t help on really vehicle painting but I have one of these little touch up guns for jobs that need a little more the a spray can or two . https://www.toolsource.com/detail-spray-guns-c-34_63_66/touch-up-spray-gun-with-cup-p-109873.html . One thing of interest to some was that I put a rubber hose between the spray head and container . I did that when I needed to paint the top of my frame of my truck while the bed and cab still on . You still have to hold the container up high enough to siphon but wasnt too bad. Those that have professional equipment will have the right stuff already

 

[joshmodelskidoo]

If a raddle can works for you then don’t buy a sprayer. I have the purple hf special and it works ok. You’re probably not going to paint a show quality paint job with it but spraying a row boat, tractor, trailer or something like that. If you wanted to do a quick $100 maco paint job on a car it would work. I think they go for $25 now but I paid $10 for it a few years back. Also depends on how much air your compressor puts out to.

 

[Xcursion88]

I have never had or used a paint sprayer. But I'm a normal homeowner and garage guy...I recently bought an air compressor, so it hit me that maybe I should have a paint sprayer.

First type of painting I do is I use spray paint to paint welding projects and bicycles. How does a paint sprayer compare to using spraypaint for small metal painting jobs like this? It's not a cost issue, just wondering if there is a real advantage to using a paint sprayer instead of spraypaint. Spraypaint mostly works for me, but maybe I don't know what I'm missing. What kind of sprayer do you use for this type of thing (spraypaint replacement)?

For interior house painting, I just use a roller and brushes. It works fine. Is there any reason to spray instead? Does anyone prefer spraying? And do you need a different type of sprayer than above?

For exterior house painting, I usually hire it...but if I had a sprayer, I can definitely see how spraying house exterior and/or fencing would be a LOT faster than trying to brush the whole thing. But what kind of sprayer do you need to spray exterior paint, and is it even the same kind of sprayer you would use for the first two things?

I have never had or used a paint sprayer. But I'm a normal homeowner and garage guy...I recently bought an air compressor, so it hit me that maybe I should have a paint sprayer.

First type of painting I do is I use spray paint to paint welding projects and bicycles. How does a paint sprayer compare to using spraypaint for small metal painting jobs like this? It's not a cost issue, just wondering if there is a real advantage to using a paint sprayer instead of spraypaint. Spraypaint mostly works for me, but maybe I don't know what I'm missing. What kind of sprayer do you use for this type of thing (spraypaint replacement)?

For interior house painting, I just use a roller and brushes. It works fine. Is there any reason to spray instead? Does anyone prefer spraying? And do you need a different type of sprayer than above?

For exterior house painting, I usually hire it...but if I had a sprayer, I can definitely see how spraying house exterior and/or fencing would be a LOT faster than trying to brush the whole thing. But what kind of sprayer do you need to spray exterior paint, and is it even the same kind of sprayer you would use for the first two things?

Graco paint sprayer.
Magnum x7 is excellent. Worth every penny
Made in USA!!!!

 

[Sumboodie]

Automotive paints are much better lasting than rattle can.

 

[Xcursion88]

Automotive paints are much better lasting than rattle can.

Not really. Perhaps if using Dollar store rattle cans yes.

Clear coat is another item that is skipped.
The disparity is people use rattle can to take the easy way out. Hence they rush or try and use a minimal amount of $8 per can, cans in doing said paint job.

The job itself suffers because of that.

If someone took their time with rustoleum, krylon, etc...and use as many cans as needed properly feathering in the paint job...they can get a nice durable finish.

 

[GeoBruin]

Not really. Perhaps if using Dollar store rattle cans yes.

Clear coat is another item that is skipped.
The disparity is people use rattle can to take the easy way out. Hence they rush or try and use a minimal amount of $8 per can, cans in doing said paint job.

The job itself suffers because of that.

If someone took their time with rustoleum, krylon, etc...and use as many cans as needed properly feathering in the paint job...they can get a nice durable finish.

Even the best rattle cans (with the exception of some cool stuff Eastwood has) are single component paints. When the paint is all premixed in a can, there can be no hardener added. One of the advantages to mixing your own paint is the ability to use extenders, hardener, etc to achieve the right paint for the right surface and application type.

If durability is your ultimate goal, you will never be able to achieve the same results with a rattle can.

 

[lilredex]

Yes! Get this one (or similar) .......the best $12 you'll ever spend.

https://www.princessauto.com/en/14-mm-hvlp-gravity-paint-gun/product/PA0008870685

 

[FMB4]

Older DeVilbiss S guns can be picked up at garage/yard sales for little money. Most will need to be resealed tho (not a big deal).

 

[JackOfDiamonds]

So say I buy a HVLP spray gun for painting bike frames, so that I can use better paint with hardener. (is any random HVLP gun ok?)

Where do I buy these "better paints"? Do I need to find an auto-body shop, and will they sell them to me in small amounts?

Also I only have a pretty decent airless 5gal compressor. A compressor upgrade might be in my future but for now it's all I have.

 

[Xcursion88]

Even the best rattle cans (with the exception of some cool stuff Eastwood has) are single component paints. When the paint is all premixed in a can, there can be no hardener added. One of the advantages to mixing your own paint is the ability to use extenders, hardener, etc to achieve the right paint for the right surface and application type.

If durability is your ultimate goal, you will never be able to achieve the same results with a rattle can.

Pending how much OP wants to spend there are auto body supply houses that will mix up identical paint of the factory original.

As far as your quality from a can versus a sprayer....
High quality spray paint applied with patience and no limit on number of cans used finished with a clear coat on top will rival any paint job with a sprayer not properly equipped.
In other words...cheap gun...cheap regulators...no or lousy water seperators/filters, small compressors, and a sheer lack of pre and post paint knowledge.

This all depends on the goal. If OP wants a professional finish that will never happen just from getting a paint gun.

If the goal is to apply as much paint per dollar then yes...hell the OP can get a $10 gun from HF use it once and throw it away and be time and $$ and aggravation ahead.

The OP's expectations here would be the deciding factor.

 

[jonshonda]

Painting walls with an airless sprayer should really be reserved for large projects with wide open spaces. You need to back roll airless anyways, and prep is 10x what simply rolling it on is.

As for painting bike frames, if you are proficient with a rattle can then it no need for anything more. Clear coat can be purchased in a rattle can with hardener included, which is the biggest improvement in durability. I prefer powder coating to wet paint for bike frames though.

 

[slowtwitch73]

You're talking 2 different sprayers.

House sprayer like a Graco, etc and then more of an automotive type sprayer.

Graco's don't need a compressor... I love mine for exterior use.. would never use inside unless it was new construction.. maybe not even then.

For bigger exterior jobs, sheds, etc they kick *** and you can easily recoup their cost. Once you get dialed in, cleanup etc is pretty painless. The first time or two can be a rodeo.

Every once in a while you will see a guy who sprayed their truck or whatever with a house sprayer...... and a six pack.

Painting bike frames well is a skill.

 

[Steve_P]

modern automotive paints, which use a hardener, are many, many times more durable than any brand spray can. It also costs many times more $ per ready to spray ounce. Just do a simple solvent test, or a scratch test if you don't believe catalyzed paint is more durable. I'm actually surprised this came up here.
I've sprayed home latex paint with an automotive primer gun with a large nozzle- I did my garage doors and shutters. It's not ideal, but possible, and required thinning the paint with water.

 

[Davefr]

I'd avoid an airless sprayer for house painting and here's why.

1. You can probably train a Rhesus monkey to spray paint but it take skill and experience to lay down a consistent paint film to the thickness the paint manufacturer recommends. Most homeowner airless paint jobs look great for a year or two and then look like **** because they lack the skill to do it right.

2. The overhead in masking/tarping and equipment cleanup often negates any time savings in applying the paint. Overspray wastes paint and it can drift pretty far.

If you still want to spray then I'd recommend backbrushing or backrolling. You'll get a much better job.

 

[jonshonda]

If you still want to spray then I'd recommend backbrushing or backrolling. You'll get a much better job.

Back rolling is pretty much a requirement, not an option. Especially if touch ups need to happen, the lack of texture if you don't back roll/brush is impossible to make look good with a brush or roller later.

 

[toolenthusiast]

Just do a simple solvent test, or a scratch test if you don't believe catalyzed paint is more durable.

Exactly. Listen to this man; he knows what he’s talking about.

If someone took their time with rustoleum, krylon, etc...and use as many cans as needed properly feathering in the paint job...they can get a nice durable finish.

Tell me that you failed chemistry without telling me that you failed chemistry

 

[slowtwitch73]

There's very little over spray if you do it right. Some tape, some plastic, some scrap cardboard flats.. not big dollar.

Rollers hold a lot of paint that goes down the drain.