How Does Airless Paint Sprayer Work – Detailed Guide

Do you know how an airless paint sprayer works? To understand the mechanism of airless spray paints, first, we need to know how air paint sprayers work. The air paint sprayers use an air compressor to push the paint. On the other hand, airless paint sprayers are not required air compressors. These sprayers use gas, electricity, or high-pressure pneumatics.

The airless paint sprayers are more portable and better than the air paint sprayers. These paint sprayers are the best for job sites. As well as they are faster than air-based paint sprayers. These paint sprayers provide a better finish than the other paint sprayers.

The air compressor paint sprayers provide low and inconsistent pressure. Instead, airless paint sprayers provide consistent high pressure. But sometimes high PSI could be a problem. To avoid PSI problems, use airless paint sprayers carefully.

How Does Airless Paint Sprayer Work

There are many types of airless paint sprayers but these three are widely used, such as high-pressure pneumatic, gas, and electric airless paint sprayers. All of these function without an air compressor. Maybe you are imagining that if there is no air pressure how do these paint sprayers work?

To put it simply, these paint sprayers use material pressure. The material pressure without air forces an adequate amount of paint. The material or paint is pumped under high enforcement through the spray tip.

Pneumatic Airless Paint Sprayers

The pneumatic airless paint sprayers are highly recommended because of the versatility of the nozzle. You can use a variety of nozzles with pneumatic airless paint sprayers. However, pneumatic airless paint sprayers are air-assisted airless paint sprayers. These sprayers use a small tip of nozzles to partially atomize or break down the material. But for achieving full atomization of the material, the sprayer uses a small amount of air.

These paint sprayers are inexpensive and easy to use as compared to the other paint sprayers. They provide consistent layers of paint. As well as, there are very less chances of the paint wrinkling, crackling, and chopping if you are using pneumatic airless paint sprayers. But the problem with these paint sprayers is that they are noisy and can freeze in a cold environment.

Gas Airless Paint Sprayers

The pump is considered the heart of the paint sprayers. The gas-operated pumps possess a gas engine. The gas sprayers use the power of the gas engine to power the motor. The motor creates the rotation motion and it is transferred to the source of fluid. In this way, the gas engine can spray large amounts of materials within minutes.

Gas airless paint sprayers are the most portable and possess built-in power sources. The sprayers provide the most PSI as compared to the other paint sprayers. These airless paint sprayers are easy to handle, fast, and can paint all paintable materials. But these paint sprayers are used for high buildings.

Electric Airless Paint Sprayers

The electric and gas airless paint sprayers work almost the same. The electric sprayers require small electric motors which pressurize the material through the nozzle. As a result, the material atomizes into tiny droplets. Some electric airless paint sprayers also use a motor to rotate the material and then transfer it to the source of the fluid section.

The electric airless paint sprayers are portable and easy to assemble. They are fast and provide the maximum amount of color impact. These paint sprayers do not operate on the air, so there is no chance of mixing air with the material. That is the reason a wide range of contractors prefers electric airless paint sprayers. But sometimes these sprayers provide high PSI which is hard to handle. As well as, they are highly expensive.

Air VS Airless Paint Sprayers

The difference between air and air-less spray paints is the source of pressure. A cord connects the paint gun with the air compressor. This air compressor provides the air pressure to atomize the material. On the other hand, the airless paint sprayer is operated on electric, gas, or air-assisted motors. These paint sprayers create material pressure to break down the fluid.

However, the air-based paint sprayers are slow and their biggest disadvantage is the mixture of air and material. These paint sprayers are inconsistent, so you cannot apply a smooth layer of the paint. But the airless paint sprayers are fast and consistent. There is not a single chance of mixing air with paint because these paint sprayers are operated on an electric or gas engine.

Easy Steps To Get Smooth Finish With An Airless Sprayer

Airless paint sprayers are consistent and provide a smooth coating of the paint. The major reason for unsmooth paint coating is not the airless paint sprayers or their performance. But the way you are using sprayers. If you use them incorrectly, you will end up wrinkling, crackling, and chopping. However, there are simple 6 steps for smooth finishing.

Step 1. Clean the target surface

Clean the target surface with a dry cloth. Dust specks are one of the main reasons for unsmooth finishing. If the target spot is already painted, I will recommend you remove that paint. But if you do not want to remove the previous paint, you can clean all the spots adequately.

Step 2. Sand the surface

Once the cleaning is done, sand the surface. Well, you can use 150-grit sandpaper. Sand the target point lightly. The purpose of sanding is to eliminate all the chances of dust and dirt specks and prepare it for paint. You can use sandpaper but if you have an electric machine use 300 grit sandpaper. After sanding, clean the surface with a dry piece of cloth.

Step 3. Apply thin layers of TSP

Successfully you have completed three steps. Now, apply thin layers of TSP. If you do know what TSP is, it is a powder that painters mix with warm water for better paint adhesion. Apply thin layers of the TSP and let it dry for 30 seconds. TSP is helpful to clean peel, flaking, grease, and chemically covered surfaces.

Step 4. Apply thin layers of paint

Once the TSP dries, clean the surface and apply thin layers of the paint. Do not apply thick layers, thick layers seem strong but as a matter of fact, these layers are fragile. To eliminate all the threats, apply multiple thin layers of paint. Do not use paint sprayers at high speed because in this way you will be unable to apply an adequate amount of the paint.

Step 5. Paint the Object

The last step is to paint the object. The airless paint sprayers are fast. So do not keep the gun on a point for more than 2 seconds. Apply thin layers of the paint. The thin layers seem fragile but they are not, honestly. If you apply a single thick layer, it will crackle or wrinkles can appear.

But the multiple thin layers are like iron. They do not crackle and there is no chance of wrinkles. Apply lightly and do not hurry. A spray paint layer takes more than 25 to 30 minutes to dry. Remember, if you dry layer over fresh layer, the paint may wash out in the rain. So, apply a new paint layer when the previous layer dries properly.

Step 6. Peel new paint layers with paint peeler

Sometimes, the paint seems odd or after painting, you feel like the color is not perfect for the object. In such cases, peel the new paint layers with a paint peeler. Clean the surface with a dry cloth, you can use any detergent for cleaning. Sand the surface properly and apply TSP again. And your object is ready for new paint.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a paint sprayer better than a roller?

Yes, the paint sprayer can paint your room within 10 minutes but if you try to paint with a roller then you need 4 to 5 hours.

What kind of paint do you use on an airless sprayer?

Well, the airless sprayers are versatile. You can use different kinds of paint on an airless sprayer but for inexplicable results use oil-based paints on the sprayer. Because using hard paints such as water or latex have more chances of clogging.

Is it hard to use an airless paint sprayer?

No, it is not hard to use an airless paint sprayer. But these paint sprayers are fast. You can paint a normal size room within 10 to 15 minutes. So, sometimes handling high PSI could be difficult but airless paint sprayers are easy to use.

How fast can you paint a room with a sprayer?

Paint sprayers are pretty fast. You can paint your room within 10 to 15 minutes. But the speed also depends on the sprayer, for example air-based sprayers are slow as compared to the airless sprayer.

Conclusion Airless Paint Sprayer Working Mechanism

The airless paint sprayer provides easy mobility because you do not need an air compressor with you always. The sprayer is portable and compatible with different kinds of nozzles. They provide a smooth finish because the pressure is consistent.

As well as they are fast, you can paint your room within minutes. The gas and electric paint sprayers have almost the same mechanism but the pneumatic paint sprayers work a little differently. But sometimes airless paint sprayers are hard to handle because of the high PSI.