Spray guns: air or airless spraying?

 

How an airless spray gun works

The market of paint equipment has been updated with airless devices. Managers of companies recommend purchasing an airless spray gun for different types of paint and varnish materials.

Types of sprayers for water-based paint

Spray guns for water-based paint of various types differ in the complexity of the design and technical characteristics. The paint composition, which has a certain viscosity, is better diluted with water, which will reduce the consumption of material during painting.

Despite the differences between the spray guns, any of these devices allows you to save paint. You can apply water-based paint using 3 types of spray guns:

• Manual ones.
• Electric.
• Pneumatic ones.

Hand-operated spray guns with a special suction hose with a filter are equipped with a pump designed to suck paint into the tank.

Under pressure, the paint reaches the nozzle, and then the device sprays the material on the surface.

A good manual spray gun for painting walls and ceilings has a productivity reaching 200 m2/h.

The cost of manual models can be different, since it is determined by the quality of the housing material, as well as the number of attachments.

Paint sprayers with an electric drive can have different power. They are convenient for applying water-based paint.

The pressure in the working paint sprayer provides the supply of the substance due to the vibration of the diaphragm, driven by a connecting rod mechanism.

 The electric spray gun for water-based paint differs from the manual one by a higher price. The unit is not suitable for working with all types of water-based emulsion.

Before diluting the paint material, its viscosity should be taken into account. Applying paint with a pneumatic spray gun is carried out in the presence of compressed air, which is supplied by the compressor. Then the paint and air are mixed in a special chamber designed for this purpose.

The pneumatic spray gun has a capacity of 400 m2/h. This allows you to quickly apply the paint. Water-based emulsion can have different types of viscosity, so it is necessary to dilute the paint composition. At the same time, select the appropriate nozzle diameter of the spray gun.

How to choose a manual spray gun for water-based paint

If the painting of ceilings and walls in a room with a large area is not planned, then you do not need to buy an expensive pneumatic spray gun with a compressor for work.

For small-sized surfaces, a manual sprayer is suitable. With this device, water-based paints with a suitable viscosity can be applied to the walls.

The advantage of a manual spray gun is that this device is able to work for a long time, and in case of breakage or wear, you can easily replace the old part with a new one. The cost of the simplest model of a spray gun is a maximum of 1 thousand rubles, and more powerful professional models will cost 4 thousand rubles or more.

With a manual spray gun ULIG of Russian production, it is possible to paint surfaces with water-based paint and other paint compositions, the density of which is 1.3 g/cm3.

The tool body is completely metal, which allows you to eliminate the negative consequences of mechanical damage. The free movement of the spray tube is ensured by the presence of a long hose.

Other types of manual sprayer KRDP-4 and KRDP-3 have similar characteristics. They are also designed to work with water-based paints, the viscosity of which is 20 din without the use of compressed air.

 The device can easily paint walls or ceilings with a large area. To paint at a height of 3-3. 5 m, you do not need to install a scaffolding, and in 1 hour of working with the device, you can paint about 150 m2 of the surface.

Before starting work with a manual spray gun, you will need to lubricate the cylinder and the cuff with engine oil, and then test it with water, which will allow you to detect a leak. During the coloring process, you do not need to constantly pull the trigger of the device. The presence of an easy-to-use ball valve allows you to install the required paint consumption.

 The choice of an electric spray gun for a water-based composition

When deciding which electric spray gun to choose for painting the ceiling with water-based paint, you should focus on the following brands, which are offered by the product catalog "Order" and various specialized sites:

• Bosch.
• Elmos.
• Wagner.
• Paint Zoom.
• Black& Decker.

For the use of water-based paints, which are quite thick, it is not the type of sprayer used that is of great importance, but the size of the nozzle, so the important point is the choice of the nozzle. Before using the material, you can dilute the paint for the spray gun according to the instructions.

The main role is played by the pressure under which the dye is supplied. If the holes are small or the pressure is not enough, then the particles of the paint composition will get stuck inside the hose, which will not allow the paint to be applied exactly in a thin layer.

The higher the pressure indicator is, the more expensive the cost of an electrical device. This dependence is considered a disadvantage of the device, but it should be taken into account when choosing it.

Well-known brands cost at least 6 thousand rubles, but not every one of them is able to cope with thick water-based paint. Manufacturers of a sprayer operating from a 220 V network, the nozzle diameter is configured so that the operation of the device is as efficient as possible.

Coloring with the use of paint for a spray gun is carried out on the basis of 2 methods:

1. Airless.
2. Spraying at low pressure.

The most common airless method. For the device of the electric paint sprayer FIOLENT KR1-260, working with different types of paints, this method of spraying is provided.

The unit copes with work at a positive air temperature of 1-40°C.

The paint sprayer FIOLENT KR1-260 is designed to work not only with liquid paint compositions, but also with thick paints whose viscosity does not exceed 80 din.

The maximum performance level of the device is about 260 ml/min. The power of the device, which is 60 W, is enough for painting an average surface area. The presence of an ergonomic handle allows you to ensure a convenient and reliable fixation of the device in your hands.

Another easy-to-use household appliance is the Bosch PFS 2000 spray gun, which has a power of 440 watts. The device is designed for applying coloring compositions, varnish or impregnating surfaces with oil.

The Bosch device is ideal for applying water-based paints, including paint compositions on wood and metal. Stains, splashes and surges during painting are excluded, since the paint jet can be adjusted.

How to choose a pneumatic spray gun

The pneumatic spray gun is considered the most effective option not only for painting with water-based paint, but also for surface treatment with other paint compositions.

A professional pneumatic type sprayer allows you to treat a surface with an area of about 400 m2 within 1 hour. The cost of the device exceeds the prices for devices with manual as well as electric drive.

Pneumatic units for applying paint work due to a compressor that compresses air under high pressure for its further mixing with the paint.

Spraying on walls, ceilings and other surfaces is carried out with different capacities. It depends on the type of pneumatic sprayer that is suitable for use by professional finishers and beginners.

Before painting the ceiling with water-based paint, you should test the device using water, and only then prepare the paint. The water-based emulsion composition usually requires dilution with water and thorough stirring. This allows you to better treat the surface with paint.

The purpose of low-pressure paint sprayers High Volume Low Pressure, or HVLP, which translates as "large volume at low pressure", is associated with the treatment of surfaces with any paint and varnish compositions.

The air head of a pneumatic spray gun is characterized by the presence of a higher pressure than at the entrance to a special gun. The special design of the device allows for economical surface treatment with a "soft torch", which is characterized by a low level of fogging.

Reduced Pressure spray guns, or RP, which means "reduced pressure", are designed to work with any paint and varnish materials.

Surface treatment with the help of such sprayers involves the formation of a wide torch that supplies paint in significant volumes.

Spraying with proper dilution of the paint eliminates the presence of defects and streaks. The device is used at an air flow rate that can reach 200-430 l / min, which significantly reduces the time for surface treatment. A thin layer of sprayed finish coating is equivalent to an extra class.

A brief overview of the tool

Models for airless spraying of paint and varnish materials work effectively and are characterized by ease of operation. The device uses the principle of crushing, which allows the paint to fall on the surface more evenly and dry faster.

The device and the 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 operating principles: the paint enters the hose under high pressure and is sprayed in the form of a torch with clear boundaries through a nozzle with a small diameter. 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:

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:

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, it does not depend on the availability of a network. The disadvantage is the formation of exhaust gases, the exhaust gases must be removed from the room.

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 — on the surface of the object to be painted.

Pros and cons of the tool

The soft torch distributes the material in a uniform thin layer over the surface, this allows you to improve the quality of work. Under the influence of pressure, the dye particles are transferred without turbulence in the air, which increases productivity. The advantages also include saving time and materials. Before processing objects, it is not necessary to carry out special surface preparation.

The disadvantage of using a spray gun is the inability to paint products of complex shape. The product is processed unevenly, and swellings form on the bulges. Particles of paint released under high pressure bounce off the part and form a shagreen surface. If you choose the wrong nozzle and choose the wrong pressure, you may not have time to react to the wrong spray rate of the paint composition.

The equipment needs to be completely cleaned after work, otherwise the quality of further painting will decrease sharply.

Scope of application of airless spray guns

An airless spray gun is used:

• in car service stations;
• at furniture factories;
• in workshops for the production of windows and doors;
• at car factories;
• in car parks;
• on the railway;
• in shipbuilding.

How to work with such a tool

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 configured, the parameters and performance 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 switching off the device, the remaining pressure is drained, for this purpose, press the lever or open a special valve.

At the end of operation, the device is switched off and disconnected from the turbine. The remaining paint is drained from the tank, the container is washed. Special attention is paid to cleaning the nozzle channels.

Do not use metal brushes 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.