The market for painting equipment has been updated with the help of airless instruments. Company executives recommend buying airless spray guns for a variety of paint and varnish materials. But the question is how an airless paint sprayer work? Read the article to know.
How an airless spray gun works
Professional painters believe that this is the best way to quickly paint a large area with an excellent result of the surface being painted. Learn how to use paint equipment for airless spraying of paint, as well as how to do it faster with a perfectly smooth surface and the desired result? We will tell you how the equipment works and how to perform correctly to avoid mistakes.
What is in the article
- A brief overview of the tool
- What is an airless spray gun?
- Varieties of devices
- Device and principle of operation of an airless sprayer
- Advantages of using airless paint sprayer
- Where airless spray guns can be applied
- How to Use an Airless Paint Sprayer
- Equipment selection criteria
- Famous Manufacturers
- How to choose the best airless spray gun
- How else can there be problems with airless spraying?
- Troubleshooting
- Safety during airless spraying.
A brief overview of the tool
Models for airless spraying of paints and varnishes work efficiently and are easy to operate. The device uses the principle of crushing, which allows the paint to lie on the surface more evenly and dry faster.
What is an airless spray gun?
An airless paint sprayer is a device that operates on the principle of spraying liquid mixtures. Due to its characteristics, the coloring composition is evenly distributed and dries in the shortest possible time.
The main advantage of this unit is a high-quality result and the absence of difficulties during operation. This contributes to the extensive use of the device in enterprises and for household needs.
Varieties of devices
A manual unit powered by electricity: Manual painting equipment is small, but very effective, besides, it does not require a lot of paint when refueling. All these advantages make it in demand for a variety of jobs, but such a device is not designed for painting a large area;
A stationary device: This unit is mainly used by qualified specialists for painting large-scale objects and complex parts. Since this equipment requires a large amount of paint, it is most often used in production.
Device and principle of operation of an airless sprayer
Spray guns powered by electricity or pneumatics had an upper or lower tank, sometimes the paint was forced from the pump. The airless sprayer operates using other principles of operation: the paint enters the hose under high pressure and is sprayed through a nozzle with a small diameter in the form of a torch with clear boundaries. The device copes well with painting plastic and aluminum products. At all stages of work, a special safety system is used to ensure the safety of the operator.
A thin cleaning filter eliminates the risk of damage to the mechanism when working in dusty or dirty rooms. An important part of the design of the spray gun is an electric motor that feeds the paint into the nozzle.
The following types of paintwork can be poured into the tank of the device:
- alkyd;
- flame retardant;
- latex;
- textured;
- epoxy,
The device is powered by a household or industrial electrical network. The work of the spray gun is improved by a rotary mechanism that helps the paint to get into hard-to-reach places. An unplanned start is prevented by a safety bracket. The metal-ceramic nozzle is the main part of the device. It is made in the form of a cylinder.
The drive system of the mechanism can be of different types:
- electric;
- petrol;
- pneumatic;
The electrical system is more suitable for domestic conditions, such a drive is less common in production. The device is compact, easy to transport. It is not recommended to use the installation in fire-hazardous places.
The gasoline drive consists of a motor running on liquid fuel. It is more efficient than electric, does not depend on the availability of a network. The disadvantage is the formation of exhaust gases, exhaust gases must be removed from the room.
The pneumatic installation refers to industrial equipment that is used for processing large areas. The work is done quickly, especially with good ventilation. You can perform actions without ventilation.
Any type of drive provides a high pressure at which the paint enters the nozzle, and from it to the surface of the object being painted.
Advantages of using airless paint sprayer
Airless spraying has the following advantages:
Thanks to the automatic operation of the equipment, it is possible to perform a large amount of painting work in a short time;
Due to the fact that the composition is crushed to the smallest particles, it becomes possible to paint surfaces in places where a hand tool cannot reach;
When working with a spray gun, there is no need for contact with the surface, thereby eliminating the appearance of streaks;
The necessary type of nozzle can be installed on this equipment based on the task.
It must be remembered that if the nozzle is chosen incorrectly, drips and surges may form. Also an important factor in the successful execution of painting work is the correct choice of the spray speed. Over time, even a layman can easily learn how to regulate it.
| Choosing airless spray guns, it is necessary to give preference to a proven, reliable manufacturer. Only in this way can we expect that the equipment will last the stated period and will not break after several applications. Also, when buying the device, it is worth checking that all seals and channels of the device are completely sealed. |
Where airless spray guns can be applied
Where an airless spray gun is used:
- car service stations;
- furniture factories;
- in workshops for the production of windows and doors;
- at car factories;
- in car parks;
- on the railway;
- in shipbuilding.
How to Use an Airless Paint Sprayer
To get a high-quality result, you need to use the tool correctly. The old layer of paint or varnish must be removed from the surface of the walls and ceiling if you plan to repair the house.
A portion of paint is poured into the tank of the device, the device is adjusted, the parameters and operability of the device are checked.
When the “Start” button is pressed, the formation of a torch is evaluated, which is directed to a sheet of cardboard or paper in an upright position. If streaks appear, it is necessary to change the consistency of the paint and reduce the power of the sprayer.
The viscosity of the varnish or other materials is changed by adding a solvent. When a high-quality torch appears, they start painting the details.
It is better to keep the device straight, do not tilt it in different directions and do not rock it. When painting wooden surfaces, the torch is directed along the fibers.
It is necessary not to allow the mixture to get on the skin, because due to high pressure, this can lead to injuries. After turning off the device, the remaining pressure is drained, for this, press the lever or open a special valve.
At the end of operation, the device is disconnected and disconnected from the turbine. The remains of the paint are drained from the tank, the container is washed. Special attention is paid to cleaning the nozzle channels.
Metal brushes should not be used to care for the device, because they leave deep scratches on metal and plastic. Before storing, the parts are lubricated with means that do not contain silicone.
Equipment selection criteria
When choosing a model, you need to pay attention to the diameter of the nozzle. It should be of such a size that a torch with a diameter of up to 80 cm is formed.
A larger diameter is found in professional models, but they consume a lot of paint – 200-500 ml/min. Non-professionals are recommended to make a choice in favor of a device with a lower consumption, the power of such devices is 400-1000 watts.
Important parameters of spray guns include the ability to spray paint and varnish material of acceptable viscosity. For water-based mixtures, this indicator is 50-80 Din.
Equally important for ease of use are the following criteria:
- comfortable grip;
- low noise level;
- the presence of a flexible nozzle for the nozzle;
- the ability to adjust the spray power.
Devices that meet the listed requirements show themselves well in carrying out repair and construction work.
Famous Manufacturers
The products of the following companies are in great demand:
- Wagner
- HomeRight
- Graco
- Titan
For applying water-based paint on a small area, equipment manufactured by Wagner companies is well suited.
How to choose the best airless spray gun
Many people are worried about which device is better, maybe it’s worth buying a cheaper option or it’s better to give preference to an expensive model. To begin with, it is worth exploring the assortment, considering the highest quality and most popular options.
If the equipment is supposed to be used to carry out a large-scale amount of work, then it is worth choosing products from well-known manufacturers that have proven themselves, for example, spray guns from Wagner.
Professional equipment always has a large diameter. Bosch brand devices are designed for spraying 200-500 ml/min.
It is also worth considering such characteristics of the aggregates as the maximum possible viscosity of the paint, so a tool that can apply a 50-80 Din paint and varnish agent is suitable for a water emulsion.
When an airless painting machine is used with your own hands on small surfaces, then it will be enough to use a tool equipped with a nozzle with a diameter of less than 0.8 m, from well-known foreign manufacturers Bosch or Wagner, or models of domestic production.
How else can there be problems with airless spraying?
For example: a common problem with spraying occurs as a result of clogged filters, clogged nozzles (photo 8), or a ball stuck on the piston (check valve) for the supply of paint. Thorough cleaning (washing and preservation of painting equipment) and proper maintenance will help to get rid of these problems.
Other problems, such as uneven paint supply, are caused by the use of incorrect nozzle sizes or lack of experience in airless spraying. As with most construction tasks, practice is the key to success and an ideal result.
Troubleshooting
If the nozzle on the paint sprayers is clogged, it is easy to clean it by turning the nozzle 180 degrees and blowing the material. If the spray gun has stopped spraying paint, first of all it is necessary to check the nozzle for its clogging.
To do this, rotate the nozzle tip as shown in photo 8 by 180 degrees. Point the spray gun at a piece of paper and pull the trigger to clean the clogged nozzle. Next, return the nozzle to its original (working) position and continue painting.
Safety during airless spraying.
Read and follow the precautions described in the instructions attached to your equipment.
Here are the most important ones:
Keep the spray gun on the fuses. Follow the pressure relief procedure step by step when airless spraying stops, before cleaning, as well as before changing nozzles, etc.
Never point the spray gun towards a person when the painting equipment is turned on and under high pressure. Wear safety glasses and a respirator when you spray paint. Carry out work in a well-ventilated area.
| Attention: When you spray oil-based combustible materials, the painting equipment and the metal container must be grounded and you must take precautions to prevent warping. |