Paint sprayers

[monkeylizard]

I'm rebuilding after the flood and am getting close to painting. I'd like to do it myself to save costs. I have 2 options to DIY in a reasonable amount of time - get some buddies and some rollers, or get a sprayer. Never one to pass up the opportunity to justify a new power tool purchase, I've checked out some $150-$200 offerings from Wagner and Campbell-Hausfeld, and then some $500-$800 HVLP units from Fuji. I figure that it would cost me about $2,000 to have it done by a pro, so even at the high end, I'm saving $1200 and I have a nice pro sprayer for the future. I could also rent an HVLP unit from Homer or Lowes for about $100/day, which may be the best route.

Has anyone ever used a sprayer for interior latex/acrylic paint and if so, would you recommend a particular brand and model, or name some to stear clear of? I'll be spraying primer on drywall, doors and trim, then painting the same with latex or acrylic.

Edited June 30, 2010 by monkeylizard
Edit HD rental rate

[LagerHead]

When I was in high school I used to spray apartments with a Wagner sprayer. That was 20 years ago and it worked fine, though you do need to clean thoroughly afterward. I'm sure the higher end ones are better. Heck, I'll bet the new Wagners are better than the one I used, but for a pretty much one shot deal, I'm sure it will do the trick.

[Guest jackdm3]

I rented a "pro" rig from Depot for the rental period of 4 hours, but held it over on a Sunday night and returned before 8AM Monday for the 4 hour price. Did the whole 3 bedroom house in about 5 hours; all ceilings and walls. I used two 4 foot aluminum paint shields at the tops of walls to make short work of it. Just set your pressure rates at first, outside. I know some guys that have had lots of headaches with anything less than progear. I wouldn't buy anything for this. Needle valves and tiny parts are waiting to clog up on you!

[monkeylizard]

Sounds like a good plan. I should be doing my garage several days, if not weeks ahead of the rest of the house. I can experiment in there and get my technique down and then decide if I want to go for it inside or if I want to revert back to rollers.

[Guest jackdm3]

My bad, doggie! It is preferred by many to two-man-team it. The first sprays and then the second person "backrolls" it with a roller to give it uniformity. This especially helps for those that want that hint of orange peel, but that's all decided by the choice of roller cover.

For us, we had one person hold the shields at the top corners while the sprayer got the top 3 or so feet covered all down the wall. Then the sprayer painted the rest and the shielder got the roller to even it all out. Seems like a lot, but it'll go fast!

[Bassoneer]

I recently purchased a Ryobi paint station from Home Depot for about $200. It actually has a Graco gun with it...25' hose, great pump, and you can set a 5-gallon bucket on it. Good clean up - hooks to a hose. It also has a roller assembly that I have not tried. It sprays WAY better than the old cheap paint sprayers...I have done only exterior work thus far - a huge fence at my house (did it in 1/2 day) and a deck & railing at my dad's house (less than one hour). It took longer to clean everything up than it did to paint my dad's deck. So, I felt great about the new paint sprayers...it is rated 4+ stars on the Home Depot web site, and if you need filters for the gun, they take Graco parts...I honestly think the spray gun makes all the difference, but I'm not a pro. So...for $200 I would definately go this route again, but like I said, I have not tried the roller and I have not tried it inside. It has a very controllable spray and I think it would work fine. No need to thin any paint...I think it would spray on rocks without thinning them (joking of course).

Good luck with your projects whichever way you go...

Later, B

Edited June 30, 2010 by Bassoneer

[VERO1]

I have used a Wagner that fed out of the buckets. Worked great but you will need some shields to protect windows or ceilings etc. A big piece of poster board or cardboard box works fine. Don't waste your money on those stupid sprayers with the tank attatched to them, you will just upset yourself and say bad words!

One person spraying and one person rolling it out will cover a lot of wall quickley.

[Guest nashvegas]

After a lot of research, I bought a Graco last year. I had a fence to paint, and it saved me a lot of time. It's a really great machine. Got it at Lowes. I think I got the Graco Magnum LTS 17. At Home Depot it is the Graco X7. $400 at either place. They are the same machine. I also saw them at a Sherwin Williams store after I bought it, and they told me I made a wise choice. I have not used it for any interior work yet.