Spray guns are labor-saving, energy-saving, and time-saving painting devices that have made painting a lot easier as compared to the traditional methods of painting, where the painter had to spend all his day painting the wall with the paintbrush or the roller. Painting has not only become easier but more efficient, and when you see the finishing of the paint sprayer gun, you will definitely fall in love with it.

Paint sprayer guns are divided into three types, compressed air spray guns, airless spray guns, and HVLP spray guns. And if we talk about the large painting projects, airless paint sprayers, Graco paint spray guns actually are one of a kind, as these energy-saving machines are capable of doing their job with great efficiency. 

Paint spray guns are easy to use, but that does not mean you don’t require any special training or expertise to work with them. They are easy to use only when you know the proper handling of the machine. Novice painters should definitely get the proper training to work with these highly functional sprayer guns. 

Here is a complete guide on how to use the spray guns; let’s get to know the tips and tricks that are necessary in order to efficiently use the spray guns;

Prepare the Paint for Spraying

The consistency or viscosity of the paint plays a significant role in deciding what paint can be used in which spray gun. And if we talk generally, the paint should be of the right consistency, not too thick and not too thin. The consistency of the paint decides the proper functioning of the spray gun as well as the finish you will get on the aimed surface. 

In airless paint sprayers, you can use the paint directly from the gallon, which means that no thinning is required; however, the paint requires thinning for the HVLP paints and compressed air sprayer guns. 

Prepare the Aimed Surface

Once you have checked the consistency of your paint, the next step is to prepare the aimed surface, the surface you are going to paint. The preparation of the desired surface depends on the kind of material of the surface and the paint being used. 

Surface preparation includes one major step, and that is surface cleaning. Your desired surface should be free of dirt and dust; make sure to wipe it with a solution or thinning solvent (it depends on the surface).

Select the Tip of the Spray Gun

There are fifteen different types of nozzles used in different guns, and they depend a lot on the gun you are using, the paint you are using, or the surface being painted. Usually, different nozzles come along with the spray guns, so it is best to choose the nozzle or tip of the gun before you start painting with your sprayer gun. 

Select the Proper Air Cap

Just like the nozzles and tips of the guns, the air caps are not designed for all types of paints. Some paints are heavy in viscosity or thick in consistency, while the others are thinned with the addition of the solvents and decrease the viscosity of the liquid. 

So, you have to make sure that you are using the correct air cap in your paint sprayer gun, the one which is capable of atomizing the fluid you are using in your gun. However, if your paint sprayer gun comes with only one standard air cap, then instead of changing the air caps, you will have to change the fluid used for spraying in order to make your gun compatible for spraying.

Start Adjusting the Air Pressure of the Spray Gun

Once you have made all the primary preparations, the last and final step is to adjust the air pressure of your spray gun. Increase the air pressure until you have reached the right point, where your gun will propel the paint efficiently. However, the instructions are specific for different types of spray guns. For HVLP paint sprayer guns, you need to make sure that you don’t increase the pressure more than labeled on the gun. 

Nevertheless, the best way to know the correct pressure of your paint sprayer gun is to propel the paint at different pressures and then compare the finishes. Then you can set your spray gun at the pressure that you find the best or suitable for your painting project.

Over to You!

Paint sprayer guns are well-organized machines, and if you are unable to adjust things properly, you won’t be able to get the desired results. In order to work with different paint sprayer guns, you need to understand the differences as well as the techniques you need to use while working with them. A technique used for airless paint sprayers might not be the best one to try out with the compressed air paint sprayers, and vice versa!