You can save time spent manually painting surfaces by learning to use an airless sprayer.
Airless sprayers work by atomizing whatever finish you are applying, forcing it through a tiny tip opening using very high pressure, according to Online Tips website. If used well, airless sprayers can help you complete a paint job within a fraction of the time it would take to complete manually with a brush. Tips to use airless sprayers safely and effectively by learning to handle the different parts of the sprayer correctly.
Spray Gun Tips
Airless sprayer tips come in different sizes designated by three numbers, with the first number being half the width of the spray (actual size of the fan) and subsequent numbers being the actual size of the tip orifice in thousandths. A 417 spray tip, for example, produces a fan of eight inches that comes out of an opening that is 0.017 of an inch wide. Select spray tips depending on the type of finish you use, the thickness of the finish and the sprayer rigs' pump capability. Refer to your specific airless sprayer/ rig manufacturers' tip recommendations included in your airless sprayer/rig package manuals for desired finishes.
Sprayer Hoses
Airless sprayer hoses are usually tough, kink-resistant and durable. Typical high-pressure airless sprayer hoses can handle 3,000 pounds per square inch of compressed air created by the pump. Airless sprayer hoses, however, wear out or get damaged over time. Check the airless sprayer hose for damages before using the sprayer. If the hose is damaged, do not attempt to fix it because doing so is dangerous. Airless sprayers work with air at high pressure and the risk of the hose popping and sending a deadly projectile is high when you choose to fix the hose. Replace damaged airless sprayer hoses with new ones for safety precaution.
Spray Pressure
Airless sprayers operate with pressure, and ensuring you adjust the sprayer pressure correctly. This can make the difference between the desired finish and an undesired finish. Turn the knob that controls the re-circulation of paint on your sprayer rig and allow it to run for two minutes to prepare the airless sprayer for spraying. Adjust the spray pressure by turning the pressure control knob one-quarter turn at a time until the spraying pattern on your test surface (may be a test cardboard) is an even fan of paint with no thicker lines of paint at the edges. Desired spray pressures produce an even, smooth finish.
Trigger Technique
Spraying with an airless sprayer requires a bit of technique because the sprayer emits paint as soon as you pull the spray gun trigger and it continues to emit paint shortly after you release the trigger. Start rhythmical sweeping movements over the spraying surface before you pull the trigger. This ensures that paint does not splatter on a single point on the paint surface. Continue the rhythmical sweeping movement over the spraying surface until the paint completely stops coming out of the spray gun after you release the trigger. This ensures a smooth, even finish.
