Airless Paint Sprayer Tips: Overview, Techniques & Safety

When spraying paint in an area with poor ventilation or any ignition source, the flammable paint vapors or solvents can ignite, causing an explosion or fire and leading to serious injuries. One of the most common causes of this type of incident is the presence of an open flame or sparks.

To prevent an explosion or fire, ensure:

• You are working in a well-ventilated area with no ignition sources such as cigarettes, water heaters, furnaces, stoves, electrical appliances, etc.
• The work area is free of debris that could be a fire hazard, such as empty paint cans, solvent thinners, rags or paper.
• You are using grounded hoses to prevent any generation of static electricity.
• Use grounded metal buckets when spraying, flushing or cleaning. Ensure the bucket is connected to true earth ground.
• The plug to the paint sprayer is properly grounded in the 3-wire power outlet.

An airless paint sprayer uses high pressure to create atomized fluid, which can pierce your skin and inject paint into the cut. This incident mainly happens when you place your skin too close to the tip or grab a leaking hose, even if you are wearing gloves.

It might seem like a regular cut, but it needs immediate medical attention. In case of such events, make sure you receive immediate medical assistance and inform the doctors about the injection of paint.

To prevent an injection of paint, ensure:

• The tip guard is present on the gun when spraying.
• The spray gun safety is on when not in use.
• You relieve the fluid pressure during cleaning or servicing. You can do this by shutting off the sprayer, triggering the gun and opening the pressure drain valve.
• The gun is pointing away from you or anyone else present.

You are following the instruction manual when it comes to flushing out the paint.

Before you start spraying, it is important to maintain the recommended distance of 12 inches from and perpendicular to the surface. While spraying, keep this distance by moving your hand instead of the gun to achieve a uniform coat of paint.

If the nozzle is too far from the surface, the spray jet will widen and lead to pattern fading and overspray. If the distance between the nozzle and the surface is small, it would lead to high concentration and dripping of paint.

One of the best airless paint sprayer tips is to overlap the sprayed paint. Spraying over an already spray painted area by approximately 50% allows you to get the best possible coverage without any streaks or inconsistencies.

Apply the paint at a constant speed when using an airless paint sprayer to avoid any patches and get a uniform coat. This can be achieved by maintaining pressure on the trigger.

One important airless paint sprayer tip to remember is to start moving before you press the sprayer’s trigger. In an airless sprayer, paint is applied at a high pressure which can lead to excessive material gathering on the surface if the trigger is pulled before moving. Always remember to start moving the gun before you pull the trigger and continue moving the gun after you release the trigger.

When painting over places such as ceilings, first spray into the corners and edges and then proceed to the flat surfaces. This allows you to get an even application of paint across the surface. You can even spray it in a cross-coat pattern to get better coverage.

1) What is the difference between a paint roller or brush & airless paint sprayer?

A- One of the major differences between a paint roller/brush and an airless paint sprayer is rollers are more effective for smaller paint jobs, while sprayers are best for larger surfaces easily. Another difference is that sprayers use 33% more paint than a brush or roller, which can increase your spending on paint, but you save money on labor when compared to rollers or brushes.

2) Do I need to thin paint for an airless sprayer?

A- You do not need to thin paint for an airless paint sprayer as they are designed to handle different paint consistencies. It is important always to check the paint manufacturer's instructions and consider the specific paint type and your desired finish.

3) Can you spray oil-based paint with an airless sprayer?

A- Yes, you can spray oil-based paint using an airless paint sprayer. A few other materials that can be sprayed using paint sprayers include water and solvent-based paints, varnishes, lacquer, resin-based paints and more.

4) Does HVLP use more paint than an airless sprayer?

A- Yes, HVLP uses more paint compared to an airless sprayer. An airless paint sprayer uses around 50%, while HVLP uses 90%.

5) How long can I leave paint in an airless sprayer?

A- You can leave paint in an airless paint sprayer overnight or for a shorter amount of time if you are planning to use it the next day. It is still recommended to clean the sprayer thoroughly after each use to prevent any damage from dried paint.