Monday, May 3, 2010

Airless Paint Sprayers

Airless paint sprayers use a pumping action to force paint through a nozzle at the end of the gun. They produce a misty fog that settles fast when it comes into contact with air. These sprayers come in various designs and are made by different companies, examples would be the Graco paint sprayers, Wagner paint sprayers, Campbell Hausfeld and of course the Fuji sprayers. They are usually made for outdoor applications and a consumer usually has a choice for either using a large or a small pump.

The airless paint sprayers offer a good finish on wood siding, wood fences, sheds and garages, metal, stucco, lawn furniture, lattice among other outdoor surfaces. It would also be important to note here that these sprayers come in three types i.e. the diaphragm pump; which is very hardy for 'do it yourself' home enthusiasts, piston pump; for professional sprayers, and the Double stroke piston pumps for construction work.

These sprayers come with different price ranges and they can cost anywhere between $150 to $3,000 depending on the type of project to be undertaken and the amount of horse power required. All said and done, before settling for a particular spray gun one should check the air and fluid controls to make sure that they work perfectly.

You should also ensure that the gun is easy to clean. I would go for a gun that makes spraying a pleasure all the time. After you are done with the job of painting it is usually advisable to unplug the gun and release the pressure trapped inside. These is done to avoid accidents that might happen if it is unplugged by someone else. As a precaution it would also be advisable to keep it out of the reach of children all the time. The damage it can do to your child cannot be overlooked.
Peter Gitundu Creates Interesting And Thought Provoking Content on Painting. For More Information, Read More Of His Articles Here PAINTING TIPS If You Enjoyed This Article, Make Sure You SUBSCRIBE TO MY RSS FEED!

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Sherwin-Williams premium exterior latex house paint, Duration, offers painters and homeowners an impressive list of benefits. Painters will likely most appreciate its self-priming or its one-coat characteristic. Homeowners will surely rank its generous guarantee at the top of the list.

Sherwin-Williams guarantees its Duration exterior house paint for "as long as you own your home." This is a guarantee that reflects the paint manufacturer's confidence in its finest offering. It's a confidence that has been earned and validated for over ten years. It also gives homeowners, who select Sherwin-Williams' Duration as the exterior coating for their home, an assurance that leads to some priceless peace of mind.

Here are some of the key benefits of Sherwin-Williams Duration house paint:

• Guaranteed for as long as you own your home

• One-coat, self-priming performance

• No blistering, no peeling - virtually no maintenance

• Available in Flat, Satin and Gloss finishes

• Good Housekeeping seal

• Available in 5-gallon pails

• No thinning is required

I painted approximately 3,400 square feet of new wood siding with Duration flat/no gloss. Coverage was as stated on the cans: 250-300 square feet per gallon.

Predominantly, I applied Duration using an airless sprayer, but some areas required the use of a roller, and others called for a brush. The application instructions specify 2,000 psi for the sprayer, and the use of a .015" - .019" spray tip. I used a .015" spray tip and found it to be very effective for applying Duration. The paint went down smoothly and evenly and I only had tip clogging at normal intervals on a 72°F day.

Sherwin-Williams Duration is self-priming and can be effective, under some circumstances, using only one coat. Some money could be saved by using another primer when applying a second coat of Duration. Several primers are listed and approved for use under Duration. I opted for Duration as the primer because it creates a thicker layer of paint than the approved primers, and I wanted the extra protection. Also, in my experience, the final paint job gives a more even appearance when two color coats are used.

Another possible reason to use Duration as the primer is its elasticity. The manufacturer touts this characteristic and I was concerned that if the primer and final coat did not match in this respect, I might not get the longevity I wanted from the final job. I must assume this consideration would be more critical when painting a metal structure.

Remember, if you use Duration as the primer, it can be difficult to see the painted areas and unpainted areas when you apply the second coat. This is particularly of concern when using an airless sprayer.

Sherwin-Williams employs a proprietary technology they call PermaLast to manufacture Duration. While I am not versed in all of the implications of the technology, it is obviously aimed at producing a house paint which will last longer. PermaLast is no doubt at the foundation of the liberal guarantee attached to Duration.

Sherwin-Williams Duration is suitable for use on numerous surfaces, so long as they are properly prepared to accept the paint. I had occasion to use it on about one square foot of metal and two square feet of ABS plastic - all exterior piping. The paint adhered quite well to both surfaces. I did not adequately speed my application during spraying and created a couple of runs on the non-porous metal, which I had to remove prior to putting on the second coat of paint. This required using 120 grit emery cloth to remove the paint runs, followed by 400 grit to feather and smooth the errors. The amount of work it to remove the runs with the 120 grit attests to the paint's tenacity.

Closing Comments

• If you are going to tackle the job of painting the exterior of your home, I highly recommend renting an airless sprayer of adequate size for the task. You'll get the job done in about 25% of the time required using rollers and brushes only.

• If you rent an airless paint sprayer, be sure it has an extension arm for the nozzle. This will allow you to skip using a ladder while painting most one-story houses.

• If you live in an area where mold and mildew are serious concerns, look into purchasing and using a suitable mildewcide paint additive, such as M1 or Super Mildex.

• Have some mineral spirits on hand for final cleaning of the sprayer and your quality brushes. Water or soap and water work well, but if the paint has set you'll want mineral spirits to get the items fully cleaned.

• Pay heed to Sherwin-Williams Duration instructions for application in higher temperatures.

• The paint is available in 5-gallon plastic containers. At my paint dealer's, purchasing these reduced my costs when compared to 1-gallon cans - and dramatically simplified the use of the airless paint sprayer.

• For help on proper surface preparation and painting techniques, visit the Sherwin-Williams website.

• Sherwin-Williams Duration is more costly than most other paints I priced - including other Sherwin-Williams offerings. If I never have to repaint my home, however, it is well worth the modest difference.

Sherwin-Williams, Duration and PermaLast are all registered trademarks of Sherwin-Williams.




Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Tips and Precautions Related to Airless Paint Sprayers

Airless paint sprayers are mainly used for surface preparation. With their help, you can expect to get the paint job done faster and easier. These is the reason why they have been well received by professional paint contractors.

These are some of the features that you should always look for when selecting the paint sprayers in order to have a successful paint job.

1.) How safe are the sprayers that you are using? Since these sprayers function in high temperatures, they can corrode or burn your skin if they come into contact with it.

2.) How is your masking and paint preparation? All items that are not supposed to be painted should always be covered, if you are painting walls you will have to cover light fixtures, doorknobs, light switches and even the floors. This is because the Airless paint sprayers produce such fine sprays that it forms a misty fog that can settle anywhere.

You should never forget to mask yourself also by putting on a safety cover which should include
synthetic overalls, spray hood, safety glasses and a respirator.

3.) The airless paint sprayer can be used to spray many different types of paints but not ones that have textures and grit in them. These sprayers can be used effectively for both spray oil and water based paints. One thing that you should remember is that they apply too much paint too quickly, making them only applicable on exterior surfaces like building walls, fences, billboards etc.

The actual operation of an airless paint sprayer involves pumping spray through a tiny hole at the end of the gun. The spraying should be done while keeping your hand moving horizontally back and forth.
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Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Choosing the Right Airless Paint Sprayer For the Job

When choosing an airless paint sprayer, make sure that you look at all of the options that are available to you before making your final decision. A number of things that need to be looked at can make a large difference in whether you are able to do a professional looking job, even if you are just painting a small item. You have choices to make, such as the type of sprayer that you are going to use. Many people choose a smaller sprayer, such as the Wagner Procoat for jobs around the house, well they may use a larger compressor from Campbell Hausfeld whenever they have a larger job to do. Regardless of which one they choose, however, making the right decision when it comes to the airless paint sprayer that you are going to use can make all the difference in the world.

One of the first decisions that you need to make when choosing a paint sprayer has to do with the size job that you are going to be doing. If you're just going to be doing smaller jobs around the house, you can generally pick up a smaller airless paint sprayer at one of the local hardware stores. The Wagner Procoat is one of the more popular of these, and they can certainly handle small to medium-size jobs around the home. For larger jobs, you may want to have a dedicated unit, such as a compressor that is available from Campbell Hausfeld. You can purchase these new or used, depending on your needs and budget.

Another thing that needs to be taken into consideration is the different tips shapes and sizes that are available. Some are going to be well-suited for spraying smaller items, but you may need to get a larger tip in order to spray a larger area. For example, spraying a wall will require that you get a larger tip than if you were just spraying a chair. There are reviews available for these various sizes tips on the Internet that can act as a guide to help you choose one that is going to work well for you.

If you have an extremely big job that needs to be done, you may want to consider renting one of these paint sprayers instead of purchasing one. For example, we may want to use a sprayer in order to paint our home but we don't want to have to go through the expense of purchasing a large unit. Renting them from a hardware store is often an economical solution to this problem.

Choosing airless paint sprayers does take a little bit of looking into, but generally speaking, they are interchangeable for the most part. For example, a smaller paint sprayer, such as the Wagner Procoat may be able to handle a larger job, provided you don't do it on a regular basis. If you do happen to have a larger compressor from Campbell Hausfeld, you can also use these to do smaller jobs if you simply change the text size. If you're unsure of which sprayer to use, check the reviews on the Internet. They will generally be able to give you an idea.
After a succesful life in trading, importing and exports, Rupert now spends his time writing freelance articles for many well-known publications, as well as various educational institutions. For more of Rupert's articles regarding airless paint sprayers, please visit http://www.paint-sprayer-reviews.com/

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Wagner Power Products 3/8 HP 2,750 PSI Paint Crew Paint Sprayer comes around $190. Is it really worth buying or is it useless like other sprayers in town. Even after using it, I am still confused regarding the efficiency of this product. This product comes with an airless piston and 2 gallon hopper which is more than enough to meet your spraying needs. It is powered by a superior 3/8 horse power piston which delivers nearly 2,750 PSI. Such pressure is more than enough for any thick paints. This machine weighs around 25 pounds and it comes with a 2 year warranty. It is strongly built, no second thoughts about it.

I tried it for the fence initially, as I was hesitant about the quality. The results were surprising and I was astonished about the quality of the work. It had a professional touch it. Gaining confidence, I tried the interior ceiling and I received the same astounding results. I was in total control in very less span of time and I do think any one can paint with this cute little device. The gun is lightweight and it serves the purpose well. It comes with nearly 25 ft of cable, such length is vital for effective painting. But untwisting the cable is so irritating. I wish some design changes could be made in this area. Cleaning this unit is a very tedious process indeed. But whatever be the device, if it involves paint, cleaning is tedious. So, there is nothing much to complain regarding the cleaning of this Wagner product.

All is not well with this device. When the air gets inside this machine especially when working with thick paints, you need to stop immediately and re-prime the pump. This is not an easy task at all and you end up loosing a lot of paint. Some design changes are vital and for ordinary layer paints this is a no problem machine.

Moreover, you need to buy protective gear before using this product. Goggles, respirator and gloves are vital. Without these paraphernalia, don't even think about using this machine. These are vital for your safety. Check the connections before spraying. I enjoyed using this machine and I do hope you too will have the same experience on using it. Still, ask yourself whether you need a professional team to paint or paint the home by yourself before buying this machine.


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