Airless paint sprayer

Doug - Iowa · Jul 30, 2021

I'm considering buying an airless paint sprayer to spray sealer on the deck and cedar siding on my cabin. I want something either has tank capacity of a gallon or more, or can suck product right out of the bucket. I only seal the cabin every other year, but last time I had to work on the rental unit for most of the day to get it to work. And I hate being on someone else's deadline to get it returned. Wagner Power Pro 130 is inexpensive and looks capable, but reviews are mixed. Any suggestions here?

Steve@Advance · Jul 30, 2021

A good airless sprayer is going to be expensive, no way around it unless you can find a good used one.

Is the sealer water based or oil based?

Using water base paints and sealers is best for an airless. Cleaning is essential, and running mass quantities of water through the hose is the only sure way to clean it.

Using it for oil base is really difficult and expensive to clean. People often stop before it's clean, ruining the hose.

An alternative would be the Harbor Freight pressure pot type sprayer. It doesn't hold as much paint, about a half gallon, but instead of a mechanical pump, it uses air pressure to push the paint through a short hose to the gun. Much more economical and easier to clean. Not as fast as airless, but it will push fairly thick paint. It is also good for fine work, more controllable than an airless.

kencombs · Jul 30, 2021

I've owned several over the years, starting with the the little hopper type that Sears sold back in the 70s and ending with a really heavy duty Graco with the exposed, rebuildable cylinder. Didn't think I'd ever need on again so sold it.

The last year I had a project that required one. After shopping around I bought one from Harbor Freight. I've only used it to spray 25 gallons of Rustoleum but so far it has been better than expected.

Cleaning is a chore with oil based but you can keep the cost down by starting with diesel. I used two gallons at first and recirculated it through the sprayer a few times. Then used a gallon of clean diesel, followed by about 2 qts of thinner which can through clear.

Even when using water based paints one should always run some kerosene or diesel through to leave an oily film on all the metal parts. Otherwise it will corrode and valves will stick in storage.

MI-Bill · Jul 30, 2021

my harbor freight inexpensive unit now 4 years old and has sprayed about 25 gallons of paint and still going strong. so far has outlasted a expensive Graco unit. When it fails , I will probably buy another. clean it wet after use!

tomturkey · Jul 30, 2021

I bought a harbor freight airless several years ago. I used it to paint my metal machine shed, seal up some outside furniture and now a complete kilz reseal on a home that had had heavy smokers. approx 50 gallons has been thru that thing. Works great. For 250$?? I don't think you can go wrong. Anything is going to require a very thorough cleaning. You will probably spend about 1/2 as much time cleaning as you do sealing the cabin. just my happy experience.....gobble

mtf · Jul 30, 2021

Will a hand held pump up sprayer not work for your sealer. I use one for applying deck stain.

Mule Meat · Jul 30, 2021

My advice. Spend a little more and get a [b:81cda31ccd]Graco Magnum[/b:81cda31ccd]. And get one on a stand that can handle a up to 5 gallon bucket of paint or stain. They are twice the price of the smaller units. But well worth the investment.

You can choose the tip for the type of paint or stain you want when buying one. Then buy extra tips for different types of painting you wish to do, indoor, out door, stain etc.

Used a Graco to apply hydraulic fluid to one of the cabins on the farm when stain/sealing the cedar siding after I let it sit for two years before treating it.

Stephen Newell · Jul 31, 2021

I have a Titan airless which would be equivalent to the Wagner. You could set it up where you could draw from a five gallon pail. The problem you would have is it puts out so much volume of stain you would have to mask off the roof, windows and doors etc. You couldn't
control the overspray. It sprays a pattern about 16 wide really wet. If you have compressed air I would rather use a production tank with a conventional sprayer. You can adjust the sprayer down to where you are almost airbrushing up to spraying a pattern a foot wide.
By doing that when you are up close to trim you can adjust the sprayer down to where you can just shield the trim instead of having to masking everything. https://www.amazon.com/TCP-Global-Pressure-Paint-Nozzle/dp/B002ABWVRM This one is sold with a 10' set of hoses
but you can buy the tank and sprayer separate and get what ever size hose you like. I have one set up with a 25' long hose.

Dusty MI · Jul 31, 2021

My airless pump quit working but I still have the gun and a long hose.

Airless paint sprayer

Doug - Iowa

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Steve@Advance

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kencombs

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MI-Bill

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tomturkey

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mtf

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Mule Meat

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Stephen Newell

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Dusty MI

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