Painting things has been around for hundreds of years and it looks like that will continue. But there have been changes in the methods that we use to apply the paint. Traditionally it was all about paint brushes which were dipped into cans of paint. Then someone got the bright idea to use a roller and a pan into which the paint was poured.
The most recent advancement in painting equipment involves using a paint sprayer. Sprayers have been used in the industrial arena for some time for things like painting automobiles, commercial buildings, ships, and other large objects. But now paint sprayers have appeared in the tool box of the average DIY homeowner.
Why Have Paint Sprayers Become Popular?
The reason is that people have discovered that using a paint sprayer for all those time consuming paint jobs not only saves time but because spraying paint on irregular surfaces such as bricks or concrete is way easier than using a brush or a roller. Most sprayers have adjustable nozzles that allow the user to vary the output so that the spray is vertical or horizontal. It can even be set to produce a smaller spray for those hard to reach spots.
What Kind of Paint Can I use?
Just about every paint sprayer will accommodate any type of paint. But most paints including oil based and latex paints will require dilution before use in the sprayer. If the paint is not thinned properly it will result in globs forming on the surface. Most manufactures provide instructions and even a viscosity cup to help you to thin the paint correctly. Oil stain, clear sealer, and polyurethane do not require thinning.
Where Paint Sprayers Really Excel.
If you have ever tried to paint bricks, fencing, or furniture particularly wicker furniture you know how tedious and time consuming this can be. Using a paint sprayer for these and other similar jobs is amazingly easy and produces a better result than if you did it the old way.
Before You Start.
Before you begin spraying there are a few steps you need to take. First, check the nozzle to make sure it’s clean and free of dried paint and other material. Next you may need to prepare the surface you’re going to paint. If it is unpainted it may require a primer coat before applying the finish coat. Using a primer first will help the finish coat to adhere to the surface and gives a uniform texture when done. Some primers are fast drying so the finish coat can be sprayed on soon after it is applied. The primer coat can, of course, be applied with the sprayer.
Protect Yourself and Your Surroundings.
Because of the nature of paint sprayers you want to wear protective clothing as well as mask to prevent inhaling the mist. Painting supplies stores have inexpensive, disposable coveralls and masks that you can purchase. Remember that if there are adjacent areas that you don’t want painted you’ll need to take precautions so that they are not accidentally sprayed.
Lastly, read the owners manual before you start and use common sense when operating your paint sprayer. If you’re outside make sure the wind doesn’t carry the mist to unintended areas such as plants, cars or anything else you don’t want covered. You’ll find that using a paint sprayer is so much easier than the old method of brushes and rollers that you’ll wonder why you didn’t use one before.