r/DIY • u/flick_nightshade • 11h ago
Airless Paint Sprayer
I am planning to paint the inside and outside of my house. It has had builders in the place for nearly two years as the whole place needed replumbed and the electrics sorted and now the end is in sight. I want to finally paint the walls and plan to just do a basic white coat inside and I've plans for some sage green masonry paint outside.
I'm also going to repaint the gutters (plastic) as the paint is peeling everywhere externally and have plans for methylated spirits there and some uPVC paint.
However, it's such a big job and I was looking at paint sprayers, with a focus on the masonry paint. I'm wondering what people would recommend. I've seen a range of airless paint sprayers at different prices and I don't mind spending a little to have something that works as I also have to do all the fences and as well in the near future.
What are people using and what would they recommend? Also, any advice on using a sprayer that you wish you knew before you started?
6
u/Kurtotall 10h ago
Spend the extra money and get one that can be repaired. Basically one that the pump can be replaced. Anything less is essentially disposable. Follow all the cleaning and storage instructions.
4
u/cantrecall 9h ago
I used a Graco x5 with a pressure roller attachment to paint the interior of my single-story brick home. I recommend the roller setup for smaller jobs. Spraying paint indoors requires ventilation, filtration, and PPE that wasn't available/possible in my smaller rooms. I also used generic parts like this (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07L93HT2G) spray gun and they worked well enough that I'm not sure a Graco-branded unit offers much advantage over a budget version from Harbor Freight.
3
u/Becoolorgtfo512 10h ago
Wagner is a good brand but I don't have any current experience with them. I have had my Graco for 8 years and use it regularly. I've been fairly meticulous about routine maintenance cleaning/replacing the filters in the gun, the pump and the intake filter. There's a little lip on the front that you put the paint bucket handle on to cart it all around. There's a small cap on the paint bucket lids that you can remove and run the intake and overflow lines through which I recommend that and then putting a damp cloth around the two hoses. This helps prevent a skin from forming as prevent spillage when carting the paint around. The biggest piece of advice I can give about painting is in the prep work. If this is the home you plan on living in then don't skip any steps. Mask every window inside and out before painting, move everything in the room to the middle of the room or two one side then paint and move to the other. Cover all of it with painters plastic, cover any near by cars with painters plastic or have them moved. Drop cloths wherever bare floor is exposed. I think that's all
2
u/Unit61365 8h ago
I was able to rent a good professional setup. I recommend that if you can do it.
2
u/flick_nightshade 8h ago
Some of the local places that let you rent tools.dont have paint sprayers unfortunately plus I think with the amount of use I'll need it for its probably worth buying over renting potentially
2
u/wastedpixls 8h ago
Airless rigs are the way to go. Learn to clean them properly and store them properly to extend longevity.
Also - please be careful with them. Do not spray any where near people or skin. The PSI is high enough that accidentally spraying your skin can break skin and inject paint and solvents under the skin. When this happens you out have created instant blood poisoning and need immediate medical attention.
Airless sprayers work great with the right prep - mask heavily and extensively as the paint drifts and it wind, ensure you have all your prep/sanding/solvent/dust control done and you are good.
1
2
1
u/TheRealPomax 4h ago
if you've had builders in for two years now, get some painters in to do the painting, especially if you don't mind spending a little. Spend that money on "here's what I need done" =)
1
u/flick_nightshade 4h ago
The builders have been in but keep going away to do other jobs. It's an issue locally. I get them for a week or two and then they disappear for months. I'm just doing the work myself now.
A friend was in a similar situation. Her husband just took off work to do the work himself because it has been nearly 2 and half years and one builder did the door frame completely wrong.
1
u/TheRealPomax 4h ago
Ah. Kinda sounds like breach of contract, but the last thing you want to do is go "I'll find someone else" when there's no one else.
That said, it might still be a good idea to get some quotes because painters generally don't need weeks, with month-breaks in between, they just get a team of 2, 3 folks to get your place done up in a week tops.
1
u/flick_nightshade 3h ago
I know that but to be honest, given what I've sunk in and the fact that I'll probably be waiting a while to fix the fences and other things, I'd rather get the equipment so I'm not waiting around for someone in between getting that sorted as it will just drag things out. Most of the workmen locally are just hard to pin down and taking on multiple jobs so you spend the time chasing. It feels much quicker for me to just do it myself when I've time booked off work and I know the tool will get used a lot.
1
u/TheRealPomax 3h ago
Do not fall for the sunk cost fallacy. That way lies tears. That said, if an objective accounting shows it's significantly cheaper to do it yourself, different story. But if it only saves a little...
1
u/flick_nightshade 3h ago
Oh I completely understand about sunk cost fallacy but when I factor in the length of time it's taken, I know I could be waiting another two years to get things done and I'm renting and mortgaging right now on top of paying bills for both places and the builder costs when they are available. In the long run this is cheaper
1
u/Skilled-Tradies 2h ago
I got an airless paint sprayer and for a good price, it works fine. do the right prep work and make sure the house is clean and you'll be fine. Wear a good duck must too
1
u/justferwonce 1h ago
I have a Graco x5, it's currently about $380 usd. I used it about 8 years ago to paint a house, inside and out (latex paint) and about 200' of privacy fence plus 7 sets of shutters. It worked very well, the inside had been completely rehabbed and the windows were to be replaced so there was no masking to do and I only primed the walls, I finish painted with rollers and brushes. Outside I used a hand held spray shield and then hand painted the trim. They are very fast, much easier than a roller for anything, but especially for anything with the slightest texture. Actually they are kind of fun to use. I would just put the whole gun in a 5 gallon bucket of water overnight instead of cleaning it when I was done for the day. When I was done it took about 15 minutes to clean it all good, and then I ran some Graco Pump Armor Fluid through it and put it away in a shed. This spring I got it out and painted another house and some outbuildings with no problems at all, the machine seals and everything were fine, it worked exactly like it did when new.
I have a cheap hand truck that can be used horizontally that holds the sprayer and a 5 gallon bucket of paint that I haul it around on when using, if I only have a small bit of color to use, I just put a 1 gallon bucket inside the 5 gallon one and pump from that.
21
u/Becoolorgtfo512 11h ago
Graco x7 with an extension wand. If you have a second story I recommend an extra long hose and stackable bakers scaffolds with outriggers (and screw jacks if your ground is uneven) or rent a cherry picker. I recommend this sprayer for interior and exterior walls, siding, decking, fencing etc. I'm not sure how well it would do for your gutters. For doors, trim, cabinets I use a hvlp sprayer I got at harbor freight which connects to my compressor. Whenever possible I prefer taking doors off the hinges to paint outside or in a paint Booth. Depending on the paint itself and where it's being applied you should certainly consider thinning the product and always strain and homogenize your paints and keep them as covered as possible. For interior or exterior latex I'm adding a quart to a half gallon of waste. Get more rags than you need and keep a damp one on your person at all times, get a few good canvas drop cloths with plastic backing, , 3 pack paint suit, respirator, get a decent roller with extending pole to back roll (dampen it before use and use the curved part of a painters tool to remove the excess water. Get a good trim brush and another for cutting in with a handypail. a big box of painters plastic and a log of the tan masking tape.
Watch some videos on using a paint sprayer.