Spray gun for water-based paint and the rules for choosing it

Painting a room’s walls can completely change its appearance and give it a contemporary feel. For a smoother, more effective application, many people are now switching to spray guns, even though traditional brushes and rollers have long been popular options. To get a professional finish when using water-based paints, the right spray gun must be used.

There are a number of things to take into account when selecting a spray gun for water-based paint. Because not all spray guns are made equal, choosing the correct one can have a big impact on how well you paint. It’s critical to comprehend the unique requirements of water-based paints, including the appropriate nozzle size and spray pattern, in order to guarantee uniform coverage and prevent frequent problems like clogging or uneven application.

Comfort and ease of use are just as important as the technical aspects. Even after prolonged use, a well-made spray gun should feel balanced in your hand and be simple to operate. This simplifies the work and makes it more pleasurable, freeing you up to concentrate on achieving the greatest outcomes.

This post will discuss the essential characteristics to consider when selecting a spray gun for water-based paint, assisting you in making a well-informed choice and achieving an impeccable finish on your upcoming painting project.

Topic Details
Type of Spray Gun Choose between airless and HVLP (High Volume Low Pressure) for best results with water-based paint.
Nozzle Size Select a nozzle size of 1.3mm to 1.8mm for even coverage.
Material Compatibility Ensure the spray gun is compatible with water-based paints to avoid clogging.
Adjustable Settings Look for adjustable spray patterns and pressure control for flexibility.
Ease of Cleaning Pick a spray gun that"s easy to disassemble and clean, as water-based paints dry quickly.

Advantages of using spray guns

Some people would rather paint using only a brush or roller (see Painting rollers: let’s take a closer look). However, the cost of buying a spray gun will be more than justified if the surface is large.

You’ll also reap further advantages:

Time saving Painting surfaces using sprayers takes much less time than the same work with a roller or brush. It is easier to paint ceilings from the floor surface.
Price Paint consumption is reduced by at least two times when using spray guns, and this significantly reduces costs.
Quality The paint lies evenly and thinly. This significantly reduces the time required for its drying.
Surfaces The time required for drying is noticeably reduced. Complex surfaces (e.g. baseboards) are easier to paint. You can apply the coating to any relief without drips.

Spray painting is suitable on any kind of surface:

  • Made of brick (see. How to paint a brick wall: two options for a flawless repair);
  • Concrete walls;
  • Made of plasterboard;
  • Plastered surfaces.

Surfaces such as walls and ceilings are typically painted using water-based paint.

Which spray gun to choose

Any type of repair—big or small—includes painting. It takes a lot of time to paint walls and ceilings, especially high ones, with brushes or rollers. An effective tool to have in this situation is a spray gun. Using it will result in a superior painted surface in addition to time savings.

For water-based paint, selecting the appropriate sprayer and nozzle diameter is crucial. The area of the surface being treated has a major influence on the choice made. As of right now, sprayers come in three varieties: manual, electric, and pneumatic.

Manual spray gun

Using a piston manual spray gun would be the most cost-effective way to do minor repairs in a small apartment or country home. It looks like a big, antiquated car pump.

  • At the bottom of the device there are inlet and outlet valves. A hose is connected to the inlet, which is placed in a tank with paint.
  • Through the outlet, the composition enters the tube, through which spraying is carried out using a nozzle.
  • The nozzle has a working length of up to 4 m. Also above the handle, located at the base, there is a ball valve. With its help, if necessary, the paint supply is shut off.
  • The productivity of such a device is up to 200 m² / hour. They are easy to maintain and inexpensive.

Be aware that these sprayers have the drawback of painting a rough surface. By using superior compounds, the painted surface can be made to look better. The paint’s viscosity is also a significant factor.

Electric spray gun

That appears to be a screwdriver. The only thing missing from the rotating head is the spray gun nozzle, which has a paint container attached underneath.

  • A compressor is installed in the body of such a sprayer, its vibrating membrane builds up pressure sufficient for uniform spraying of paint from the nozzle.
  • For its operation, an electrical network or a fully charged battery is required.
  • With this device, you can process 240-250 m²/hour. Its main disadvantage is its large weight, sometimes reaching 25 kg for some types. Their main disadvantage is that the paint must be diluted with water, and this leads to a decrease in viscosity.
  • The hiding power of the paint solution decreases and painting has to be done in several layers.

Pneumatic spray gun

Compressed air is the foundation for the pneumatic spray gun’s operation. It has an appearance similar to a trigger-equipped gun.

  • Its main part is the spray head. A container with paint is attached to the bottom or top of the gun.
  • A high-pressure hose is attached to the handle, through which air is supplied. The other end of the hose is attached to the compressor.
  • Professional sprayers are heavy, although mobile. Their household counterparts are simple and economical to operate. The productivity of such sprayers is up to 400 m².

For water-based paint, selecting the appropriate spray gun is essential to getting an even, smooth coat on your walls. Making an informed choice will be made easier if you are aware of the fundamentals, such as the kind of spray gun, size of nozzle, and suitability for water-based paints. This article walks you through the important things to think about so you can confidently choose the best tool for your painting project.

Differences between an electric and a pneumatic sprayer

The apparatus and its underlying principle are entirely distinct:

  • A pneumatic sprayer uses a compressor with a receiver for operation. Air is supplied to the sprayer by pumping it with a compressor. The pressure of compressed air separates the paint into small particles and forces it out of the nozzle. A well-chosen pair of "spray gun-compressor" is not cheap. In this regard, pneumatic sprayers are most often used by professionals.
  • An electric spray gun sprays paint under pressure using a pump built into it. Naturally, such grinding of particles as when using compressed air cannot be achieved, hence the quality of the coating will be significantly lower. In exchange, we will receive a cheap, compact, easy-to-use sprayer.
  • For painting work at home, such a tool will be indispensable. Although now there are already samples with mini-compressors.
  • The compressor power is strictly calculated for the performance of the gun and is connected to it with a factory high-pressure hose. It is lighter than its analogue with an electric motor. The quality of painting is not inferior to that produced from pneumatics. But their cost is high, more than 500. e.

What you need to know when choosing a sprayer

Spray guns come in a variety of models, differing in terms of both construction and operation.

Let’s examine a hundred factors that you ought to consider when making your decision:

  • Knowing the properties of plastic and metals, it is easy to understand that a metal case will last longer. Since the sprayers work in a humid environment, their body is made of aluminum. The nozzles should also be made of brass, stainless steel or aluminum.
  • When working with paints, you need to remember that many of them contain solvents. And this in turn leads to the destruction of the sealing gaskets.

Note: Be mindful of the material used to make the gasket when selecting a spray gun for water-based paint. Teflon gaskets are the most dependable among them.

It doesn’t really matter where the paint containers are; what matters is what kind of material they are made of. The paint level is visible in the plastic tank, and the metal tank is simple to clean.

Features of using a spray gun

A spray gun has unique features for use and is not the same as a brush.

  • Regardless of the method of feeding paint into the nozzle, use the spray gun according to the manufacturer"s recommendations. If the jet is fed at an angle, then smudges will form on the surface. To avoid this, tilting is not allowed.
  • The gun must be held perpendicular to the area being treated at a distance of no more than 70 cm, ideally 50 cm. Painting is carried out in circular motions. Try not to go over the same area twice. Maintain a constant painting speed. Slowing down or speeding up will result in the paint being applied in a thin or thick layer.
  • After the first layer has completely dried, after about 2 hours, another layer must be applied.

On a surface that has already been painted, flaws are frequently visible. When you finally got around to painting the wall, you noticed that the initially dried surface was starting to crumble. This demonstrates how thickly the layer was applied.

  • You need to: carefully clean this area, rub it with sandpaper, apply a primer and paint again.
  • If you find that the treated area has swelled and is covered with small lumps, this means that debris has gotten into the solution. This place needs to be treated again: cleaned, primed and painted. Be sure to pass the paint through a filter (gauze folded several times)

Be advised: Look for a section in the spray gun’s passport indicating that it is compatible with water-based paint when purchasing one.

  • For high-altitude work, choose an electric type of spray gun.
  • Devices with an aluminum body are preferable. Plastic ones have a short service life.
  • For small jobs, buy an inexpensive manual spray gun.

A smooth, polished finish can be achieved with water-based paint by selecting the appropriate spray gun. It’s crucial to think about the kind of spray gun you use, whether airless, HVLP, or conventional, and how well it fits the requirements of your project.

The nozzle size is important to consider because it influences the paint’s coverage and flow. Larger nozzles are better suited for covering larger surfaces, while smaller nozzles are better for more detailed work. Additionally, as not all models are compatible with water-based paint, confirm that the spray gun is.

You will save time and achieve a superior outcome if you take the time to choose the appropriate spray gun. With the correct tool, you can accomplish a perfect finish on walls, furniture, and other surfaces.

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Dmitry Stepanov

Professional decorator with 10 years of experience. I know everything about renovating apartments, houses and offices. I will be happy to share my knowledge and experience with you.

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