Painting any type of room or building with only paint rollers can be a difficult task. Rollers are not very effective at covering a lot of area, and they have the potential to damage walls. However, using an air compressor and a paint sprayer allows you to cover more area at once while also ensuring an even application of paint on your surface.
We understand that spraying paint using an air compressor may seem intimidating, but for your ease, we have broken down the process into a few simple steps. All you need to do is adhere to the instructions and you’re good to go!
Table of Contents
3 Steps To Use A Paint Sprayer With An Air Compressor
1. Getting Ready To Paint
- You need to be ready before you hook up your air compressor to a paint sprayer and go spray your roof the new, baby blue you picked out. It’s important to start with high-quality paint and thinner. Oil-based paints are recommended for use with sprayers, while acrylic and latex paints may be used successfully as well.
- Choose a paint thinner that has received positive feedback from previous customers. You may save money and get more paint out of your sprayer if you mix your paint with the appropriate thinner. Picking the correct paint thinner is crucial for achieving the best potential results from your painting project.
- The next step is to protect nearby surfaces and areas from paint by taping them off. It’s a good idea to protect anything that you don’t want painted from getting paint on it. You can accomplish this effectively and cheaply using drop cloths.
- After protecting the surfaces that won’t be painted, sanding the surface to smooth out any bumps is the next step. In addition to sanding, you’ll need to clean the area to be painted using a tack cloth to eliminate dust and dirt.
2. Choosing Appropriate Paint Apparatus
- Once you have prepared the area to be painted, you may begin painting using the paint sprayer and air compressor. You may find hundreds of different paint sprayers on the market; choose the one that suits your needs and the task at hand.
- The siphon cannon is your primary weapon of choice. The container for these sprayers is attached to the underside of the gun. While siphon guns are what most people image when they think of spray paint guns, their effectiveness is really rather low. The air pressure needed to operate them is considerable, and the region they cover is limited. Painting using a siphon gun will need more time. However, a siphon gun may be the best option if the space to be painted is on the tiny side.
- A gravity gun is the other choice. The paint is stored in a container, like siphon guns, except with a gravity gun the container is connected to the top of the gun rather than the bottom. Since paint is drawn into the body of the gun by gravity rather than air pressure, gravity guns need far less pressure to function.
- After some practice, these instruments become considerably more manageable and effective in confined areas. There is just one drawback, and that is that you will need a unique stand in order to reload the paint container.
- A pressure feed cannon is yet another popular option for spray painting. The pistol is connected to a pressure pot via two hoses. A tube of air is used to atomize the paint, and another tube is used to load the gun with paint. When it comes to spray painting, pressure feed guns with flexible hoses are the most time- and energy-efficient option.
3. You Can Finally Go To Work On That Painting
- The next step is to begin painting after you have decided on a sprayer. To use the spray gun, just attach the air hose and press the trigger-lock button. Check that every hose is attached to its corresponding port and that every power cable is plugged into an active electrical socket.
- When everything is ready, you may fire the gun. Prior to painting the walls, make sure the PSI is set correctly and the paint flows properly on a scrap of paper. You may fine-tune the paint sprayer’s settings to get the desired volume and pressure. Hold the gun at a safe distance of 18-30cm from the surface you are painting. To prevent drips and runs, be sure to operate the gun in a smooth, sweeping manner.
- Utilizing an air compressor and spray painter makes painting a snap. If you follow the aforementioned rules, you’ll have a professional-looking work in no time!
The Easiest Way To Paint Your Walls With A Compressor
1. Connect the spray gun to the air hose by screwing the spray gun’s quick-connect valve into the adapter on the air hose’s big end. Push the gun’s trigger-lock button forward to activate it.
2. To use an air compressor’s regulator assembly, connect the tiny end of the air hose to the regulator’s quick-connect connection.
3. Connect the air compressor’s power line to the outlet. The pressure may be increased by activating the compressor. Turn the regulator knob clockwise to raise pressure or counterclockwise to reduce pressure until the required PSI is reached. Different applications call for different minimum pressure settings, so always check the manufacturer’s guidelines.
4. Cover the wall with masking paper and fix it using painter’s tape. Paint’s consistency and pattern may be evaluated using the paper. Put some paint in the container. If your pistol uses a gravity feed cup, remove the cover by unscrewing it (canister on top of the gun). Put paint in the container and replace the cap. If your gun uses a siphon feed, remove the canister by unscrewing it (canister on bottom of the gun). Once the paint is in, you may reattach the canister to the pistol.
5. If the trigger is locked, you must first release it by drawing back the button. In order to adjust the air pressure of the spray cannon, turn the knob on the air inlet gauge’s rear either clockwise or counterclockwise. If you want to know how much pressure your spray gun can handle, look at the manual.
6. Adjust the gun’s fluid pressure to zero by turning the gun’s lowest knob. To do this, start by drawing the trigger back until it meets the handle and twisting the knob counterclockwise (out). Turn the knob clockwise (in) until the trigger moves away from the handle a little, then stop. This will provide enough pressure to start the paint flowing.
Spray pressures of 25 PSI to 40 PSI are possible, according to SGS Engineering; a compressor capable of 12 ft3/min is recommended (CFM). CFM measures the volume of air generated by the compressor per minute and the amount of air the compressor can produce at a certain PSI.
7. Turn the top knob of the pistol clockwise to set the pattern control (in). Simply pushing the knob all the way in will activate the spray pattern’s minimum setting. Shoot the masking paper at point blank range. In order to modify the spray pattern, you must simultaneously spray the paint and turn the knob counterclockwise.
8. In order to get the paint to spray as you want it to, you must continue to adjust the fluid and pattern control knobs at the same time.
9. The room must be cleared of any furnishings. Put down drop cloths to protect the floor and other surfaces from paint drips. Take down any wall hangings or outlet covers, and use painter’s tape to protect the trim.
10. Maintaining an 8-10 inch distance from the wall, spray in a back-and-forth motion. To begin spraying, just pull the trigger. Constant motion is key; spray in even, straight lines to prevent drips and runs. Each stroke should overlap the one before it by at least 50% to prevent variations in thickness. Keep going until all of the walls are coated with paint.
Setting Up A Paint Sprayer With An Air Compressor [5 Easy Steps]
It’s easy to hook up a paint sprayer to an air compressor. Don’t let all the jargon scare you away. You only need some hoses and the knowledge to hook everything up properly.
1. Finding the port that connects the air compressor to the spray gun is the first order of business. The bottom of the sprayer is often the most convenient location for this purpose. If you still can’t discover it, consult the handbook to learn its typical location.
2. The air compressor needs a regulator, which should be attached next. The regulators of a compressor allow you adjust how much air is released by displaying the pressure within the device.
3. Join the hose to the control unit using a female plug. Check for and seal any air leaks.
4. Start the compressor, but not before you’ve adjusted the pressure on the regulator. The PSI level needed for your paint sprayer will be specified there or in the user handbook.
5. To check the PSI of your spraying, just pull the trigger on your pistol and make the necessary adjustments to the regulator.
5 Tips For Safe Air Compressor Use
There are several things you need to keep in mind before you begin painting using a sprayer that is connected to an air compressor.
1. Get your protection gear in order first. Putting on a mask or respirator first is necessary due to the presence of toxic gases released by the firearm. Wear protective eyewear, gloves, and an apron to prevent injury and staining to your clothing and skin.
2. Avoid using your bare hands to patch paint leaks because the highly pressured paint particles may easily rip through even the thickest layers of clothes and flesh.
3. Please use a tip guard.
4. Remember to always use the paint sprayer with the safety latch engaged and the gun pointed away from you and anybody else, particularly while the air compressor and the sprayer are running.
5. Keep the painting area free of personal items and snacks.
Two Varieties Of airless Sprayers That Are Not Dependent On A Compressor
1. Airless
- Spray paint is applied uniformly to a surface by an airless paint sprayer, which uses high pressure (up to 3000 PSI) to force paint through a nozzle. This kind of sprayer does not need the use of an external air compressor and may be outfitted with a variety of spraying nozzles to suit a wide range of painting tasks.
- One disadvantage of airless sprayers is that they tend to produce more overspray than other models. Any area you don’t want stray paint flecks to fall on must be shielded from the area surrounding your painting surface.
- Primer and latex paint are two examples of thick materials that may be sprayed successfully with an airless sprayer without any thinning. Compared to HVLP sprayers and other models, they can cover a larger area in less time.
- If you have a lot of big jobs to do, like the outside of your home, their speed at covering vast areas will be a huge help.
2. Turbine
- Spray paint may be applied to a surface using a turbine or paint system, which generates air to mix with the paint. Turbine paint sprayers may be used without an air compressor because of their design and engine.
- Owning a turbine or paint system eliminates the need to learn how to operate an air compressor. Purchasing a turbine system is often more costly than purchasing a paint sprayer alone but less expensive than purchasing both a sprayer and a compressor.
Conclusion
This is the proper technique for using an air compressor when spray painting. You can see for yourself that it’s not a hard procedure at all. It’s essential that you observe all safety measures, and if you need information about your particular air compressor and paint sprayer, you should consult the handbook.
Travis is a painter by profession. His valuable painting tips help customers know how to do painting hassle-free. He is an expert in handling painting tools and loves sharing his experiences with customers. Travis has been in the painting business for the past 20 years. He is now on the verge of early retirement, passing on the secrets.