What is an Airless Paint Sprayer?
If you’re thinking of doing a big DIY project like repainting a room in your home, you might be daunted by how long the task is going to take. Using a brush or a roller can take hours - so why not try using a paint sprayer instead? A paint sprayer, as the name suggests, sprays your surface with a layer of paint, making the application process faster and easier.
Paint sprayers all work by turning your paint into a fine mist to coat surfaces with, but there are two different types of paint sprayer to choose from. Some paint sprayers blow paint and air out through the nozzle to create a mist, but this can leave air bubbles in your paint, compromising the finish.
Airless paint sprayers, on the other hand, use a pressurised container to force the paint through the nozzle without air. This results in a cleaner, more professional finish.
Can I Use an Airless Paint Sprayer Indoors?
Definitely! As with any indoor painting job, the preparation stage is key to a well-executed project. You’ll need to move anything you don’t want to be painted out of the room - and if you can’t move it out, move it to the centre and cover it with plastic to keep it protected.
Then you’ll need to shield the other things you can’t move, like windows, doors, carpets, and skirting boards. Use plastic sheeting or painter’s cloths to cover these. Masking tape is a great way to protect the edges of your skirting boards and door frames without bulky cloths getting in your way.
Additionally, you’ll need to prepare yourself. Painting indoors requires proper ventilation, as the fumes from the paint can make you dizzy if you don’t get enough fresh air. Make sure to open all the doors and windows to get a good airflow.
Personal protective equipment will also help to keep you safe. Dust masks and goggles can help to keep paint from getting into your eyes, nose, and mouth. And if you don’t want your clothes to get speckled with paint, it’s best to wear overalls to keep them clean.
Can You Use Any Paint in an Airless Paint Sprayer?
If you’ve got half a pot of paint left over from a previous project, don’t worry. You can still use it in an airless paint sprayer. Airless sprayers can use most paints without you having to thin them out with additives - just make sure to mix them well and strain the paint so you don’t end up with any clumps blocking up your nozzle.
Paint sprayers are also useful when it comes to painting mist coats on freshly plastered walls. Just mix your paint of choice with water to create the thinner mist paint and get spraying. And because paint sprayers apply a thinner coat of paint compared to brushes or rollers, you should need less paint overall. Win-win!
How to Operate an Airless Paint Sprayer
The first step to using a paint sprayer is to test it out. This is particularly important if you’ve never used one before, but even if you are already familiar with the mechanisms, it’s best to test it with your paint of choice before starting the job properly. Testing the sprayer on a scrap of cardboard or similar can tell you if the paint is thick or thin, and give you an idea of how the paint will come out onto the wall.
Once you’re happy that your paint is the right viscosity or thickness, you can start painting. Regardless of what you’re painting - a wall, an item of furniture, or a ceiling, perhaps - it’s important to not hold your sprayer too near or too far from the surface. This will ensure you get a clean, even coat that shouldn’t need going over again.
Top tip! If you’re unsure whether you’re at the right distance from the wall, aim for about six to eight inches away. Remember, it’s far easier to go over a section again than it is to touch up areas where paint has run or dripped in excess.
When painting, try to apply your coat in uniform stripes, overlapping by around 30 to 50%. This will help to prevent any gaps or lines appearing in the finish. Once you’ve finished going one way, you may find it useful to add a second coat perpendicular to the first - if you started with vertical stripes, use horizontal stripes for the second coat.
Depending on how quickly your paint dries, you may find your paint sprayer starts clumping at the nozzle. For this reason, keep a damp cloth on hand to remove any paint build-up as you go - and keep that professional finish.
If you’ve draped and taped your corners and edges effectively, painting these areas should be just as easy as doing flat surfaces. One important thing to remember is to wait for the paint to dry before you remove your masking tape and covers. This should help to prevent any smears of paint that might happen during removal.
Once you’ve finished painting, you’ll need to leave your walls to dry completely. If you need more coats, you can do these following the above steps, remembering to hold the nozzle of the sprayer about six to eight inches away from the surface you’re painting. After that, it’s time to clean up.
Whether you’re done with the job or you just want to switch colours, you’ll need to clean your paint sprayer thoroughly. Disconnect it from the plug socket and detach the paint container from the tool. Pour any remaining paint back into the paint pot, then wash the container well to remove any trace of paint. Check the instructions on the paint pot to find out what to remove the paint with.
You’ll also need to wash and remove paint from any other detachable parts of the paint sprayer, including the nozzle. It can be a little tricky to get into the nozzle, but a toothbrush or small bottle brush can help with this. After this, put everything back onto the paint sprayer and fill the paint container with water. Spray it into a bucket or sink until the water runs clean and no more paint comes out.
