Power painter for buildings? Recommendations wanted.

[ebinmaine 72,400]

My Local Paint Department AKA BBT is on the hunt for a building usable sized power sprayer. 

 

This will be used for both colored stain and paint. 

 

Do you have a favorite brand?

 

What should she be looking for or thinking about? 

 

 

Thoughts comments questions suggestions? 

 

 

Thanks!

[ri702bill 9,346]

Of all places, Harbba Freight has a reasonably priced airless sprayer. You want one that draws directly from a 5 gallon paint pail.

Had my house solid Latex stained back in 2019 by a Father & Son team. It's all in the aerial antics & ability to swing a 3 foot long masking tool up into the crack between the top row of shingles & the finished aluminum soffit trim with one hand and the wand in the other - that leaves a shortage of hands to hang onto the ladder....

 

IF time & space allows, the use of one rolling section of stackable staging frees up the hand you don't have

 

 

HFT will be glad to sell you a no questions asked additional warranty - provided you use the equipment on a homeowner basis, NOT as a Professional Painter.

[Bar Nuthin 1,015]

I'll look at my Graco tomorrow to see what Model # it is.

 

How big a project are we talking about? I've painted a couple of pole barns and stained about everything under the sun.

 

Nozzle selection is important depending on what you're spraying.

 

When staining, you're really only using the sprayer to deliver material to surface. It will still need to be back-brushed in.

 

I do not recommend power roller attachments - I've never had any luck with them.

 

 

Edited December 26, 2024 by Bar Nuthin

[MainelyWheelhorse 1,458]

@ebinmaine My parents have a Wagner that they used to paint some rooms in their house which worked well. Whenever, I've heard of big paint sprayers Wagner seems to be a brand that pops up frequently. I'd go for ergonomics, ease of use/user friendliness, easy to clean/maintain and parts availability. As for brands I'd go with a brand that just makes painting equipment as it is a better product.

[Wayne0 1,163]

I just gave away a Wagner. Daamit!  Two gallon back pack tank. Painted my Dad's camp and my shed. You could have had it for shipping.

[ebinmaine 72,400]

9 minutes ago, Wayne0 said:

I just gave away a Wagner. Daamit!  Two gallon back pack tank. Painted my Dad's camp and my shed. You could have had it for shipping.

 

Hehehe.   My standard luck.  

[ebinmaine 72,400]

31 minutes ago, Bar Nuthin said:

How big a project are we talking about?

 

One barn. 

One house. 

Then whatever she desires.....

 

 

[Bar Nuthin 1,015]

2 minutes ago, ebinmaine said:

 

One barn. 

One house. 

Then whatever she desires.....

 

 

She sounds like a keeper! 

[ri702bill 9,346]

6 minutes ago, ebinmaine said:

Then whatever she desires.....

As they said in Jaws - Gonna need a bigger Boat....

[ebinmaine 72,400]

6 minutes ago, ri702bill said:

As they said in Jaws - Gonna need a bigger Boat....

 

Man you ain't kidding 

[JimSraj 511]

A Graco airless has severed me well on a number of building paintings. Tip selection is critical for good results with whatever you’re spraying. Check with your local source or Graco help line if you go this route. 

[Bar Nuthin 1,015]

In addition to what's already been said...

1. Use disposable 5-gallon bucket liners - so you can strain your paint rather than spraying directly from the pail it comes in. (fewer tip clogs)
2. Thin your paint only if (and as much) as required
3. Practice on a section on the ground to get the right viscosity and spray pressure - that way you can fix any flaws and get prepared for ladder work where you only get one chance
4. The spray gun extensions are useful to cover more area at a time, but can be a bit awkward - especially clearing clogged tips on a ladder
5. Be prepared to get coated with overspray/blowback - including eyeglasses (if you wear them)
6. Have some spare buckets for purging the line and general cleanup - also some cheap brushes and rags
7. It takes more solvent (or water) to flush the lines than you expect.
8. Whenever I'm stopping for more than a few hours or permanent - I flush enough Mineral Spirits to clear the line and leave it in the gun and line.

Most importantly, use PPE and work safe!

 

Here's the Graco sprayer I have. It always performs well and being a brand name, parts and accessories are available

Edited December 26, 2024 by Bar Nuthin
add photo

[Beap52 1,390]

I've got a Graco x19  that has served me well.  I agree with others tip selection in important. As been suggested, I like to use sprayer to get material on siding then brush it in and on walls such as drywall, roll it in. (I also like to run an orbital sander over smooth drywall painted walls.  This gets rid of the nubs that make your new paint job rougher.)  

 

At the end of a work day, I leave suction nozzle in the bucket of paint and submerge the gun in a bucket of water.  I don't clean the sprayer until the job is done.  Saves time and the paint in sealed sprayer and hose won't cause problem with overnight storage. 

 

For long term storage, after flushing water based paint out of sprayer with clean water, Graco has a liquid (I don't remember the name) that I fill sprayer and lines with.  Also, be sure to clean the screens as there may be  more than one.  I also store mine in a building kept above freezing.  

[ebinmaine 72,400]

The Paint Department appreciates all the information folks!

[ebinmaine 72,400]

@HyperPete

[ohiofarmer 3,370]

 I bought a commercial unit at Sherman Williams years ago. i was expecting to use it on an interior of a house for my friend, but I could not get it to run so I bought a Harbor Freight.. We are talking seventeen Hundred vs. a few hundred. I would buy the Harbor freight again as there was really little difference.. It was a big deal of drywall correction and primer plus 2 coats of expensive paint for my friend

   Familiarize yourself with Flowtrol for latex and Penetrol for oil base, They make for a smooth finish.  You can also add a power feed through roller.

   I have painted quite a few projects through the years and I prefer to put on the paint with power spray and brush or roll it out for a smooth finish,. A quality rolled finish is still superior to spray on walls and such. Be aware that if the spray hits an inside corner that the turbulence will shoot it to the ceiling, I love the little hotdog rollers because they will paint into the corner without another tool. Brand new latex paint has little chunks in it so always get a mesh bag to strain it through Jammed tips or tips spraying droplets instead of patterns just suck and there will be more chunks once the hose is contaminated.

    If you think about it, once the big job is done the unit could be sold considering all the money saved on a contractor. . Or do one job at hire and the unit is paid for...  I always use scaffolding even if its benches an planks inside the house.   As was said earlier, you need both hands free and scaffold accomplishes that.

[ohiofarmer 3,370]

On 12/26/2024 at 8:54 PM, Beap52 said:

I've got a Graco x19  that has served me well.  I agree with others tip selection in important. As been suggested, I like to use sprayer to get material on siding then brush it in and on walls such as drywall, roll it in. (I also like to run an orbital sander over smooth drywall painted walls.  This gets rid of the nubs that make your new paint job rougher.)  

 

At the end of a work day, I leave suction nozzle in the bucket of paint and submerge the gun in a bucket of water.  I don't clean the sprayer until the job is done.  Saves time and the paint in sealed sprayer and hose won't cause problem with overnight storage. 

 

For long term storage, after flushing water based paint out of sprayer with clean water, Graco has a liquid (I don't remember the name) that I fill sprayer and lines with.  Also, be sure to clean the screens as there may be  more than one.  I also store mine in a building kept above freezing.  

outstanding advice