How To Set Up A Compressor For Spray Painting

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Using an air compressor to paint tin can save money and time while bypassing pollution caused past aerosol propellants. To paint with a compressed-air sprayer, follow these instructions.

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Select your pigment and thinner. Oil-based enamels are most easily used with a compressed air sprayer, but acrylics and latex paints can also be sprayed. Adding a suitable thinner will permit more than sticky paint to catamenia freely through the siphon tube, metering valve (fluid) assembly, and nozzle.^[1]
2
Ready the surface area where you will paint. Identify a driblet cloth, sheet plastic, bit lumber or other fabric on the footing, floor, or any furniture. For "fixed" projects, like the one illustrated here, you will demand to protect side by side surfaces and make sure yous have acceptable ventilation.^[2]
- Protect nearby surfaces from "overspray" with masking or painter's tape and painter's paper or newspapers; in windy, outdoor weather, airborne paint particles may drift farther than you lot expect.
- Set your pigment and thinner on a suitable surface so that spills volition not damage anything.
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Put on a mask or respirator, safety spectacles, and gloves. These volition proceed yous clean and protect you from dangerous fumes and particulates.^[3]
4

Prepare the surface to be painted. Grind, brush, or sand off rust and corrosion from metallic, remove all oil, dust, or dirt, and make certain it is dry. Launder the surface: for oil-based paints, use mineral spirits; for latex or acrylic paints, use soap and h2o. Rinse thoroughly.
5

Prime the surface if necessary. You can utilise the sprayer to utilise the primer (post-obit the steps below as if it were paint) or employ information technology with a brush or roller. When yous're done, sand it smooth if needed.

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Plow on the air compressor. You will use some air for priming and testing your sprayer, so let it build up pressure while you get your paint set. The compressor should have a regulator to allow you to set up the pressure for the sprayer correctly; otherwise, fluctuations will occur as the pressure rises and falls while you are spraying.^[4]
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Arrange the regulator on the compressor to betwixt 12 and 25 PSI (pounds per foursquare inch). The verbal corporeality volition vary depending on your sprayer, so look at the transmission (or the equipment itself) for details.^[5]
3

Attach the air hose coupling to the sprayer. Make certain information technology is tight; you may desire to wrap the threads with Teflon record to ensure an airtight seal. This does non apply if your sprayer and hose are equipped with quick-connect couplings.
4

Pour a small-scale amount of pigment thinner into the paint cup. (This is the reservoir attached to the bottom of your spray gun.) Use simply enough to submerge the siphon tube in it.
5

Open the metering valve slightly. This is ordinarily the lower of two screws above the handle (pistol grip) of the sprayer.
6

Prime the sprayer. Aim the nozzle into a waste product saucepan and clasp the trigger. It usually takes a few seconds for the sprayer system to prime with liquid, so at outset, only air will come out of the nozzle. After a moment, you should get a flow of paint thinner. If no thinner comes out of the nozzle, you may have to disassemble the sprayer to bank check for stoppages or loose seals in the siphon tube assembly.
seven

Empty the spray cup of whatsoever remaining thinner. A funnel helps, here, so y'all can return it to the original container. Mineral spirits and turpentine (ii mutual thinners) are flammable solvents, and should only be stored in their original containers.

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i

Mix enough paint to do your project. Subsequently opening your can of paint, mix information technology thoroughly, then cascade enough of it to do the job into a separate, make clean container. If the paint has been stored for any length of time, information technology is a good idea to strain it through a paint filter to remove any lumps of hardened paint which may take formed. These lumps can terminate upwardly the siphon tube or the metering valve, causing the catamenia of paint to end.
2

Thin the paint with a suitable thinner. The verbal ratio of paint to thinner volition depend on your paint, sprayer, and nozzle type, merely the paint should usually be thinned by near fifteen to 20% for a skilful flow. Notice how thin the paint looks when y'all use an droplets spray paint; this volition give you lot an idea of what you are looking for.^[6]
3

Fill the paint cup about 2/three of the way with pigment and lock it onto the sprayer. Whether the spray cup attaches to the bottom of the sprayer with a clamping assembly and hooks or screws on, be sure to attach it securely; you do not want the spray cup to driblet off suddenly while in use.
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Hold the sprayer nearly 5–10 inches (12.seven–25.iv cm) from the surface. Practice moving the spray gun in a side to side, or upward and down sweeping motion, parallel to the surface. If you have never used this type of paint applicator before, practise belongings and swinging it for a moment to get a feel for the balance and weight.
5
Squeeze the trigger to spray the paint. Keep the sprayer moving whenever the trigger is squeezed to avert drips and runs caused by over application.
- It'south all-time to test-paint a piece of fleck wood or cardboard before tackling the main job. This way, yous can adjust the nozzle if necessary to get a finer spray pattern.
6

Overlap each laissez passer slightly. This way, the "feathered" edges of the spray pattern don't get out thin spots in your paint job. Sentry for drips and runs, moving fast enough to proceed the paint from getting thick as you spray.^[7]
seven

Refill the paint loving cup every bit needed until the project is washed. Do not allow the sprayer to sit with pigment in information technology; if you demand a suspension, remove the cup and spray some thinner through the sprayer before leaving information technology unused.
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Let the paint to dry, then recoat if desired. For most paints, a good, even "wet" coat is sufficient, but a second coat may give a more than durable finish. Sanding betwixt coats is recommended for varnishes, polyurethane finishes, and other sleeky paints to amend the bond between the coats.

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one
Pour out the unused paint. If yous accept a significant amount of paint left, you can return it to the original tin can; remember, even so, that the corporeality yous return to the tin can has already been thinned, meaning the next time y'all utilise it, y'all may need to adjust the amount of thinner used.
- Epoxy paints and paints that use a catalyst (two-part paints) cannot exist returned to the original can; they must be used entirely or disposed of properly one time mixed.
two

Rinse the siphon tube and cup with thinner. Wipe off/out any excess paint.^[eight]
3

Fill the spray cup about 1/4 of the way with pigment thinner, slosh it around, and spray it through the sprayer until it comes out articulate. If in that location is likewise much paint left in the cup or the spray associates, you may take to echo this stride a few times.^[9]
four

Remove all masking record and paper from your work area. Practise this as soon as the paint task has stale; leaving the record on the surface for an extended period volition allow the adhesive to gear up, making it difficult to remove.

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Add New Question

Question

What is wrong if the pigment is sleeky when I use it, only when it dries, it becomes apartment?

Paint will always await sleeky when moisture. You lot have to purchase satin or gloss paint for it to dry sleeky.
Question

Can I spray latex paint with my HVLP sprayer and stationary compressor? I apply information technology for spraying poly now. Would I need a different nozzle?

No, it is all skilful. I do that all the time. In fact, I spray a lot of crazy stuff through my HVLP and stationary compressors and I never change nozzles. If you accept any bug, put some mayonnaise in it (not Miracle Whip). The oils will loosen everything up, and the thickness will help get it unclogged. It sounds crazy, but it works for me every fourth dimension.
Question

Must you cover everything in a room earlier spraying? Also, is in that location a mode to eliminate the odor?

Typically you lot would use this type of sprayer outdoors or in a well-ventilated expanse (all windows open). Indoors will build up fumes quickly, use circumspection.
Question

Is a spark unsafe where spraying is done?

Not at all; burn does not similar moist air. For example, burn down does not burn liquid gas, only the gas vapors. All the same, brand sure y'all are in a well-ventilated area.

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Ever clean the paint sprayer thoroughly subsequently use. For dried-on oil-based paints, you may have to use acetone or lacquer thinner.
Paint either horizontally or vertically, just endeavour not to exercise both on one projection, equally there may be a slight texturing of the surface that may have a dissimilar appearance when you lot await from various angles.
Read the instruction or operator's manual for your sprayer. You lot should be familiar with the capacity, viscosity, and type of paint your sprayer volition apply. The controls on the sprayer used in the photos are fairly typical for this type of sprayer. The upper control valve regulates air book; the lower i meters the paint flow. The front of the nozzle is held in place with a threaded band, and the design tin be changed from vertical to horizontal past turning it.
Mix enough paint for the complete job, if possible, since whatsoever future mixes may differ slightly.
Using a compressed air sprayer instead of aerosol cans allows you to paint with custom colors, decreases air pollution, and saves money. Information technology does, all the same, release significant VOCs (volatile organic compounds), which are used every bit solvents in most paint formulations.
Employ a catalytic reducer for automotive finishes. Information technology is specially formulated to speed the drying time and foreclose runs without affecting the finish or colour or the pigment.
It wouldn't hurt to use an air line filter or a dryer to remove wet and clay from the compressed air stream. These accessories can be added for a little over $100.
Use hot h2o to thin h2o-based paints (almost 50 degrees C or 122 F). You lot may only demand to sparse acrylic paints past v% when using hot water.

Cheers for submitting a tip for review!

Never disconnect the air hose while the compressor is charged.
Wear a respirator for whatever extended periods of painting. Pay the $xxx to get a respirator (a painter's mask) to prevent lung infections. A respirator volition completely filter out all pigment vapor and you volition not even smell the paint when yous are working indoors.
Paint only in a well-ventilated area.
Some paint products use highly flammable solvents, especially "dry-fall" or lacquer-based paints. Avoid sparks and open up flames and do not allow fumes to accumulate in confined spaces.

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Things Y'all'll Need

Mask (or respirator)
Safety glasses
Gloves
Masking tape
Paper or drop-cloth
Air compressor with a regulator (and a drier, preferably)
Air hose and couplings
Spray gun
Pigment and thinner
Sandpaper

About This Article

Article Summary X

Painting with a compressed air sprayer is an efficient and relatively easy mode to paint your surfaces. Remember to apply a respirator mask, safety gloves, and goggles to protect yourself from the paint. When yous're ready to beginning, set the regulator on the compressor to between 12 and 25 pounds per square inch and turn it on. To prime your sprayer, put a little paint thinner in the paint cup and spray information technology into an empty bucket. Then, thin your paint most fifteen to 20 percent with pigment thinner, depending on how thick it is and fill the paint loving cup 2/3 of the way with the mixture. Hold the nozzle 5 to 10 inches abroad from your surface and squeeze the trigger to spray. For more tips, including how to make clean your compressed air sprayer, read on!

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