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How to choose a spray gun for all types of work

This WordPress post provides a comprehensive guide to help prospective buyers identify the most suitable spray gun for all types of work. It explains in detail the different types of spray guns, such as airless, high-pressure, HVLP or conventional, and discusses essential factors to consider when selecting the right gun, such as the type of material to be sprayed, nozzle size, spray pressure, pattern size, and air volume. In addition, the post also offers valuable insight into some of the advantages of using spray guns for different types of jobs and how to maintain and take proper care of them.

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There are many uses for the spray gun in the household, but choosing the most versatile tool suitable for different tasks is difficult. In today’s review, he will tell you about the main characteristics of electric spray guns and help you make the right choice.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Electric Paint Spray Guns

To date, pneumatic spray guns are considered the most advanced in terms of the quality of applying paints and varnishes. But they operate on compressed air and require a powerful compressor and a sufficiently large receiver. This reduces mobility and makes it difficult to paint the walls, fence on the site, or apply a protective coating to the facade. In general, we can say that pneumatic spray guns are more stationary equipment for painting rooms than a tool for everyday use in everyday life..

Pneumatic spray gun

An alternative to pneumatic sprayers are devices with a built-in air blower that runs on electricity. The electric tool is more mobile due to its low weight and compactness of the installation. Such spray guns, unlike pneumatic ones, have a certain threshold of limitation in power, because it is quite difficult to create a sufficiently large and constant pressure without a full-fledged cylinder-piston compressor. Another disadvantage is the increased noise level during operation..

Using an electric spray gun when painting the facade

You need to understand that an electric spray gun, with rare exceptions, cannot be a full replacement for a pneumatic one. The main difference is that the electric spray gun is not able to effectively spray thick paint with the formation of particles of a uniform fine fraction, but with minimal formation of fog. Nevertheless, by choosing the right tool, you can achieve almost complete compliance with the tasks set, and if you do not mind the money, then a certain universality of use.

Air or piston spray gun

First, decide which type of spray gun is more suitable for your application. There are two varieties of this tool:

  1. With an air pump that can be worn on a shoulder strap or installed near the workplace. The blower is connected to the sprayer with a corrugated hose. Due to the fact that the power unit is located separately, the hands are not loaded so much, at the same time, the pump creates a high-speed flow with low pressure, which makes it difficult to work with viscous paintwork materials. Some spray guns have a one-piece pump and spray gun. As a rule, such tools have a reduced reservoir volume and power, and a number of metal transmission parts in them have been replaced with plastic ones in order to reduce weight..
  2. The piston-type spray gun is very similar in principle to a hand-held flower sprayer, only the electric motor is responsible for pushing the piston. The piston atomizer is easily recognizable by the distinctively shaped diffuser cup that surrounds the nozzle. The noise level of such a tool is lower, but rather complex mechanics lead to vibrations, overheating and quick failure. This tool can work with high density paintwork, but is not designed for long-term use.

Electric spray gun with external compressor

There is a certain pattern in the difference between piston and air spray guns. Although piston pistols are geared towards thick paint, they put more stress on the hand due to the joint arrangement of the motor and spray gun. This reduces the accuracy and correctness of processing, while thick enamels and varnishes, as a rule, cover products with a claim to aesthetic perfection. The piston-type tool is suitable for those who paint complex parts: fences, stucco, body parts. In turn, the air pump spray gun is focused on painting large flat surfaces at high speed.

Tank location and material

There is a certain difference in whether the tank is located below or above the axis of the nozzle. Spray guns with a bottom location of the tank have a longer operating time between refueling, because the volume of the container in them, as a rule, is 1 liter or more.

Filling the spray bottle with paint

On the other hand, the top position of the bowl is more preferable from the point of view of uniformity of ink distribution over the nozzle. Under the influence of gravity, even viscous paintwork materials evenly wet the nozzle neck, thereby achieving the correct shape of the torch and uniformity of the aerosol. However, it will not work to pour a lot of paint into the upper tank, otherwise the instrument will turn from a balanced one into a frankly inconvenient one. The average volume of the overhead tank is 400-600 ml.

Another non-obvious feature is that in a sprayer with a bottom location of the tank, the nozzle is always dry and when the trigger is pressed, a portion of air is first thrown out, and then a torch is formed. If the tank is on top, there is always a large amount of paint in the nozzle, which is why the sprayer at the beginning of work spits with poorly sprayed drops, therefore, after each break, it is necessary to do a control spraying.

Electric spray gun with stainless steel tank

The tanks can be made of nylon plastic or stainless steel. Both materials are easy to clean, the main difference is in weight and resistance to mechanical damage. So, a spray gun with a stainless tank will be noticeably heavier, but at the same time, the capacity is guaranteed not to rub or burst.

Sprayer parameters

Any spray gun has two parameters: the size of the torch and the diameter of the nozzle through which the paint is supplied. The larger the hole, the more paint is sprayed per unit of time and the thicker the applied layer. The torch width, in turn, is determined by the size of the processed parts and their complexity..

Small-diameter nozzles (up to 1.2 mm) are used when working with water-based paints and enamels, the viscosity of which can be adjusted with a thinner. With a nozzle diameter of up to 1.4 mm, most undiluted alkyd enamels and varnishes are efficiently sprayed, up to 1.7 mm – consistent primers and primers.

Removable spray gun nozzles

It is optimal if the spray gun comes with several replaceable nozzles, and the air pump or compressor has power control. This is an indicator of a truly versatile tool that can perform a wide range of painting work. Be sure to read the instructions: it contains not only the types of paintwork materials and viscosity ranges that are acceptable for use, but also instructions for determining the density using a viscometer that comes with each tool.

Compressor characteristics

The power ranges for pneumatic and air spray guns differ significantly. Pneumatic machines, as a rule, have a motor of the order of 130-180 W, there are also more powerful tools. The air pump requires a more powerful motor – 250 to 400 W for monoblock tools and 400 to 2 kW for a free-standing air pump. Tools with a power below the specified minimum values ​​simply will not justify the investment.

Adjusting the power of the spray gun

There is another criterion – performance. On the one hand, it increases in proportion to the power of the tool and the size of the torch, but at the same time it may differ depending on the viscosity of the paintwork material. For each paint or varnish, the manufacturer indicates an approximate consumption rate, but do not rush to determine the speed of work only by this parameter. For a correct forecast, you must also take into account the loss for fog formation..

Torch shape adjustment

Some blowers are equipped with electronic engine speed control. For the most advanced models, the regulator has pictograms: in each position, the manufacturer sets the air pressure, which, on average, is optimal for various paints and types of work.

What else to pay attention to

The versatility of the spray gun and its compliance with the tasks set is good, but you also need to think about the durability of the tool and the convenience of working with it. First of all, appreciate how comfortable the handle of the sprayer is in your hand, for this it will not be superfluous to simulate the fullness of the tank by pouring ordinary water into it.

Spray gun with external compressor and stainless steel tank

When choosing a spray gun with a remote air pump, evaluate how convenient and reliable the connecting pipes are. Whether the tube is flying out of the coupling, whether the lock is firmly held. Evaluate the quality of workmanship of the main details: the presence of even small defects indicates a carelessness of work, so it is better to choose another model.

Painting furniture with an electric spray gun

Choose a spray gun with a stainless steel nozzle cover, hollow aluminum handle and polished anodized needle. The needle travel adjuster should be knurled and rotate smoothly, without jamming or slipping. If, when the trigger is pulled, it wedges or rubbing is felt, such a spray will not last long and may be annoying by spitting out unsprayed lumps of paint. For a spray gun, it is highly desirable to have an air filter that will not allow dust to get into the spray.

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Comments: 3
  1. Tatum

    Can anyone provide guidance on selecting a spray gun that can be used for various types of projects? I’m looking for suggestions on factors to consider, such as the size of the nozzle, pressure requirements, and any other important considerations that may help me make the right choice. Any recommendations or tips would be greatly appreciated!

    Reply
    1. Jaxon Davis

      When selecting a spray gun for various projects, there are several factors to consider. First, the size of the nozzle determines the spray pattern and the amount of material it can handle. Smaller nozzles are ideal for detailed work, while larger ones are more suitable for covering larger surfaces. Second, pressure requirements vary depending on the type of material being sprayed. High-pressure guns are ideal for thicker materials, while low-pressure guns work well for lighter paints or finishes. Other important considerations include the gun’s capacity, ease of cleaning, and compatibility with various types of coatings. It’s also essential to consider the type of project you’ll be working on and consult with experts or fellow users for specific recommendations. Ultimately, finding the right spray gun involves considering these factors and your unique project requirements.

      Reply
  2. Luna Palmer

    “Finding the right spray gun for diverse tasks can be overwhelming. What factors should one consider while selecting a spray gun that caters to all types of work? Any specific features, nozzle sizes, or brands that you recommend for achieving optimal results across various projects? Your expertise would be greatly appreciated!”

    Reply
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