An airless sprayer can apply coatings quickly to large areas, but there's a right way and plenty of wrong ways to use them. To help our customers avoid those, we're sharing this practical guide on what to note throughout the airless spraying process.
Tip Size and Spray Pattern
The size of the spray tip orifice has a major impact on the spray fan width and flow rate. Using too large of a tip can lead to excessive overspray, poor atomization, and wasted paint. Too small of a tip and you won't be able to lay down a uniform coat efficiently.
Tip sizes are specified with a three or four digit code. The first one or two digits are the fan width when spraying 12 inches from the surface, so a 517 tip makes a 10 inch fan. The second two digits are the size of the orifice opening in thousandths of an inch. So a 517 tip has a 0.017 inch orifice.
For general purpose spraying of lighter viscosity coatings like stains, enamels, and lacquers, a 10-12 inch fan (515-619 tip) works well. Thicker materials like latex paint are best with a wider 12-14 inch fan (615-719 tip). And for spraying heavier coatings like waterproofing membranes or fire retardants, you'll want a very wide 16-18 inch fan (819-935 tip).
Keeping the spray tip properly aligned and untangled is also critical. The orifice and fan edges need to be precisely aligned. Any misalignment will distort the spray pattern.
Spraying Techniques
As a rule of thumb, hold the gun 10-12 inches away and keep the wrist stationary, using your arm and body to move the gun. Don't pivot at the wrist. On interior corners, split the spray by hitting each adjoining section at a 45 degree angle. For exterior corners and edges, catch them with a level,side pass after the main pass.
Spraying hot solvents and coatings generates fumes, so always use proper respirator and work in a well-ventilated area. Exhaust fans can help move fresh air, but won't completely eliminate exposure.
Proper Use And Care Of The Spray Hoses
These hoses are designed for airless spraying, with a tough exterior and materials rated for the high pressures involved. Never use standard air hoses or vinyl hoses, as they can burst.
Check the hose you're using for any cracks, holes, bulges, or other damage before pressurizing the system. Replace it if there are any signs of wear. When storing the hose, use a hose straightener or drape it loosely in a large circle to prevent kinks. Kinks can cut off flow and cause a pressure spike that damages the pump.
When possible, use shorter hoses to reduce pressure drop over the length. But you'll have to balance that against maneuverability needs for the job. Make sure the hose has enough slack to move around without putting stress on the connections.
Preventing Common Defects
Even expert spray technicians occasionally run into finish defects like runs, sags, orange peel texture, pinholes, etc. Many of these defects can be prevented by properly thinning the coating, using the right technique and tip size, and applying at the recommended wet film thickness.
Runs and sags are caused by applying too thick a coat in a single pass. The solution is to apply in lighter coats and wait for each coat to tack up before applying another. An orange peel texture is often the result of improper atomization, usually due to low fluid pressure or using too large a tip size for the coating.
Pinholes and craters are usually caused by contaminants in the coating or inadequate surface preparation allowing the coating to pull away from the surface. As mentioned earlier, always strain coatings and properly clean/dull glossy surfaces.
We've built our reputation by manufacturing the high quality airless sprayers for the professional paint and coatings industry. When you need to tackle large exterior jobs, the AEROPRO 470 airless paint sprayer delivers reliable production rates.
The AEROPRO 470 features a durable 1.2 HP motor to produce up to 3300 PSI maximum pressure. Supports up to a .021 spray tip. Have electronic pressure control. Heavy duty siphon with metal pickup and return tubes, easy to replace packings. It comes equipped with a durable 15m high pressure hose and heavy duty airless spray gun model 818W/517 and tip extension.
Suitable for industrial construction, steel structure, indoor outdoor painting, chemical painting. Widely used in vehicle, building, shipping, chemical equipment painting.
Voltage frequency:220V (AEROPRO 470) / 110V (AEROPRO 475)
Motor power:1.2HP(900W)
Max.pressure:3300psi(22.7mpa)
Standard Nozzle size:517(0.017")
Flow rate:2.1LPM/0.55GPM
Length of high pressure hose:83mpa/15m(50')
Max pressure for the hose:83mpa
Net weight:20kg/44lb
Max spray tip:621, 0.021"
Spraying width:250-310mm
AEROPRO has quickly risen to become an unrivaled global producer of air-powered devices including air tools, air spray gun, air nailer, airless paint sprayer, and etc.
AEROPRO seeks independent sales agent to represent and market our industry-leading pneumatic tools. We support OEM, ODM, OBM customization, small order quantity is acceptable and samples are available.
Make any cooperation possible. Any services related to the product, inquire with us now! Sales@Aeroprotools.Com