Airless spray guns are currently gradually replacing their less technologically advanced counterparts. This type of hand tool has a lot of advantages, which is why many professionals choose these types of devices.
Due to the specific operating features of airless sprayers, paint is ejected through the nozzle opening under high pressure, which ensures even application to the surface.
Such units are even suitable for water-based paint, which greatly facilitates the application of this material over large areas. Using devices of this type, alkyd, latex and epoxy mixtures with a high degree of viscosity can be easily applied.
However, such devices also have certain operating features that must be taken into account in order to obtain the highest quality result and avoid injury.
Types of painting
Surfaces are painted in different ways - with a brush, roller, sponges, as well as with special painting devices.
Large ones are difficult to paint with a brush or sometimes even a roller.
- All that is required is an automated process, which uses time ten times more economically and significantly reduces paint consumption.
- Spray painting was first used by the American artist, writer and sculptor Francis Davis Millett in 1892.
Spray painting is possible using air and airless methods using special, rather expensive equipment.
Features of air painting
For air painting, pneumatic or electric spray guns are used. The tank in them can be top or bottom located. Also, forced supply of paint and varnish material can be carried out using a pump. The consistency of the paint should be uniform, without lumps or foreign bodies.
- Otherwise, the nozzle with a small cross-section will become clogged.
- There are sprayers for thicker and thinner paints with different holes.
- The movement of the substance occurs under the influence of high pressure, which is created in the tank or in a container with a pump.
- Flowing out of the nozzle cross-section, the jet becomes rarefied and atomizes at lower air pressure.
Spraying occurs in two directions - in the center and to the sides along a small diameter. Air is supplied to the spray gun in two directions. The coating is smooth, thin, and beautiful.
But due to the not very high pressure created by the compressor or pump, the paint particles, not reaching the required surface, swirl in the air, creating a foggy haze, and fall to the floor. Therefore, paint consumption is greater than with airless painting, although the quality is higher.
Brief overview of the tool
Models for airless spraying of paints and varnishes work efficiently and are easy to use. The device uses the principle of crushing, which allows the paint to lie on the surface more evenly and dry faster.
Design 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 force-fed from a pump. An airless sprayer operates using different operating principles: 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 operator safety.
The thin cleaning filter eliminates the risk of mechanism breakdown when working in dusty or dirty rooms. An important part of the spray gun design is the electric motor that supplies paint to the nozzle.
The following types of paints and varnishes can be poured into the tank of the device:
- alkyd;
- fire retardant;
- latex;
- textured;
- epoxy.
The device is powered from a household or industrial electrical network. The operation of the spray gun is improved by a rotating mechanism that helps the paint get into hard-to-reach places. Unplanned start is prevented by a safety guard. The metal-ceramic nozzle is the main part of the device. It is made in the shape of a cylinder.
The drive system of the mechanism comes in different types:
- electric;
- gasoline;
- pneumatic
The electrical system is more suitable for domestic conditions; in production, such a drive is less common. The device is compact and easy to transport. It is not recommended to use the unit in fire hazardous areas.
The gasoline drive consists of a motor running on liquid fuel. It is more efficient than electric and does not depend on the presence of a network. The disadvantage is the formation of exhaust gases; exhaust gases must be removed from the room.
A pneumatic installation is an industrial equipment that is used to process large areas. The work is done quickly, especially with good ventilation. You can perform actions without ventilation.
Any type of drive provides high pressure at which paint enters the nozzle, and from it onto the surface of the object being painted.
Pros and cons of the tool
The soft torch distributes the material in an even thin layer over the surface, which improves the quality of work. Under the influence of pressure, dye particles are transferred without turbulence in the air, which increases productivity. The benefits also include saving time and materials. Before processing objects, it is not necessary to carry out special preparation of surfaces.
The disadvantage of using a spray gun is the inability to paint products of complex shapes. The product is processed unevenly, and sagging forms on the bulges. Particles of paint released under high pressure bounce off the part and form a shagreen surface. If you select the wrong nozzle and select the wrong pressure, you may not have time to react to the incorrect speed of spraying the paint and varnish composition.
The equipment after work needs to be completely cleaned, otherwise the quality of further painting will sharply decrease.
Scope of application of airless spray guns
Airless spray gun is used:
- in car services;
- in 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 this tool
To obtain 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 renovate the house. A portion of paint is poured into the tank of the device, the device is configured, and the parameters and performance of the device are checked.
When the “Start” button is pressed, the formation of a torch is assessed, which is directed to a sheet of cardboard or paper in a vertical position. If streaks appear, it is necessary to change the consistency of the paint and reduce the power of the sprayer. The viscosity of varnish or other materials is changed by adding a solvent. When a high-quality torch appears, they begin painting the parts. It is better to keep the device level, do not tilt it in different directions and do not swing it. When painting wooden surfaces, the torch is directed along the fibers.
Avoid contact of the mixture with the skin, as this can cause injury due to the high pressure. After turning off the device, the remaining pressure is released by pressing the lever or opening a special valve.
At the end of the work, the device is turned off and disconnected from the turbine. The remaining paint is drained from the tank and the container is washed. Particular attention is paid to cleaning the nozzle channels. Do not use metal brushes to care for the device, as... they leave deep scratches on metal and plastic. Before storing the parts, they are lubricated with products that do not contain silicone.
Application areas of air painting
The air painting method is used where it is necessary to create a thin, in most cases glossy, beautiful surface:
- In the manufacture of furniture,
- Wooden windows,
- Doors;
- For painting cars,
- Buses,
- Passenger carriages.
Airless painting principle
For painting large flat industrial surfaces, the airless method is best suited. Using special equipment (for example, Graco, Wagner), the paint is supplied under high pressure (about 530 bar, 1 bar - 0.987 atm.) into a kind of spray gun and sprayed with a fan.
- Moving at high speed, all the dust particles of paint purposefully reach the surface to be painted.
- There is no fog, which ensures much less paint and varnish material consumption.
Airless spray guns can spray thicker paint, which saves solvent and time, since there is no need to apply multiple layers of paint.
Advantages and disadvantages of the tool
By choosing an air or airless version of the spray gun, the person who will use such equipment hopes to make it easier for himself to carry out the work of painting surfaces and at the same time get the highest quality result.
Any of these types of electric tools has its advantages and disadvantages. The price of airless sprayers is a little higher, but this does not mean that they are less profitable. Such devices have a number of undoubted advantages that allow you to fully compensate for the costs of their acquisition.
The crushed paint materials that pass through the nozzle are sprayed onto the surface in a very thin layer. At the same time, high pressure allows you to paint even hard-to-reach places. Any angles are not an obstacle for an airless spray gun.
Often the package includes special attachments that make it easy to shoot a beam of the required size and shape. Thus, performing airless painting reduces the consumption of paint and varnish material.
The surface is processed contact-free, so no extraneous marks will remain. This allows you to achieve an even tone, which is not typical for water-based paint applied with brushes.
An airless spray gun is also good because it is highly productive. Even large surfaces can be easily covered with the material in a very short period.
Since the paint is released through the nozzle under high pressure, there is no need to apply an additional layer. Various stripes and stains will be absent.
For water-based paint and other viscous materials, it is best to use an airless spray gun. With this tool you can create the perfect coating on any surface with your own hands.
Where is airless painting used?
The airless painting method is used mainly in construction for repair and finishing work. This method is universal for applying paint to the interior and exterior of houses, roofs, fences, garages, warehouse metal structures, large tanks for liquids, and freight cars.
- This is a very effective way of painting cargo ships, barges in shipbuilding.
- When producing windows and doors, a primer is applied in this way.
- Airless spray guns are of great importance in the work of organizations ensuring fire safety.
- Fire retardant coatings are characterized by a fairly thick consistency.
- Airborne sprayers cannot be used to apply them.
. The high pressure of airless spray guns is the best way to apply flame retardant, viscous substances.
How to choose the best airless spray gun?
Before buying such a tool, you need to consider the highest quality and most popular options. It is worth noting that good models that will last a long time are quite expensive. In some cases, the best solution is to rent a device.
However, if such equipment is intended to be used for a large volume of construction work, preference should be given to models from the most popular and reputable manufacturers. The best devices are considered to be from the following companies:
- Bosch;
- Caliber;
- Sturm;
- Graco;
- Bison;
- Wagner;
- Specialist.
When the question arises of which spray gun to choose, it is necessary to consider all commercially available models.
If you plan to use such a device for water-based paint at home and on limited surfaces, you can use a Wagner or Bosch airless spray gun, as well as models from domestic manufacturers with a nozzle diameter of up to 0.8 m. Professional devices have a larger diameter. Paint consumption in high-quality Bosch spray guns ranges from about 200 to 500 ml/min. There are units with other parameters, but they are more expensive. For novice craftsmen who do not have experience working with such a tool, it is better to choose those that have low paint consumption.
It is better for professionals to give preference to models of paint sprayers from Bosch and other manufacturers that apply material to the surface at high speed. The power of good devices ranges from 440 to 1200 W. When making a choice in favor of one or another spray gun, you must take this parameter into account.
When considering the characteristics of devices from Bosch and other manufacturers, it is necessary to pay attention to the maximum permissible viscosity of the material, which can be effectively sprayed under pressure. For example, for water-based paint, it is better to choose a device with the ability to apply paintwork materials up to 50-80 Din.
In addition, when planning the purchase of such equipment, you need to pay attention to the comfort of the handle, the absence of noise during operation, the presence of a flexible nozzle, the ability to regulate the spray intensity, etc.
If the model you like is not available on the market, you can order it through the online store, where you can choose any delivery city. Thus, you can acquire an airless spray gun with the necessary characteristics both in Lipetsk and in any other locality.
In large cities, it is usually possible to rent such equipment from manufacturers Bosch, Wagner, etc. This allows significant savings for those who need to carry out a small amount of work in their home.
By renting a powerful machine for water-based paint, you won’t have to overpay for it and then allocate storage space in the future.
Thus, in some cases it is much more profitable to rent a tool. This option is especially suitable for people whose devices of this type are usually idle all the time after purchase, since there are no jobs where they can be used.
In some cases, you can rent a specialist to spray paint purchased in advance with a wagner spray gun. This will save not only money, but also time.
Advantages of airless painting
The airless painting method allows you to reduce the time required to complete the job by tens of times.
- When painting large surfaces, effort is saved many times over. Getting the job done becomes much easier with an airless spray gun.
- Material savings are ensured: solvent - an airless painting apparatus works with liquids of different consistencies, so there is no need to constantly ensure that the paint is liquid by adding solvent. With a thicker paint coating, an even layer is formed, for which it is not necessary to apply several layers.
- When using an airless spray gun with high pressure, all drops of paint adhere to the surface being painted without being released into the atmosphere. There is much less pollution of all kinds. No mist is formed from parts of the paint. It is easier to work without inhaling spray particles.
- High spray speed prevents air and foreign particles from entering the paint.
An electric paint sprayer does not require a compressor to operate.
Technical features
Main parts of an airless spray gun:
- Frame
- Pipe for the supply of paints and varnishes
- Hoses, pump
The devices differ from air models in the absence of a compressor. A hose is connected to the gun, which supplies the solution through a nozzle. Some models are located on mobile stands. The pressure in the unit is created by a piston pump or diaphragm oscillation. To work with mineral compounds or coatings containing abrasive, it is more advisable to buy piston painting machines for airless spraying.
To withstand high pressure, airtight seals are required. The Graco spray gun is equipped with a safety lock to prevent accidental starting. The working parts are equipped with a filter against dust. The paint is supplied by an electric motor with different types of drive. The price of an airless spray painting machine depends on its type, power and drive.
Difficulties and disadvantages of airless painting
The result of painting is not always aesthetically pleasing: excessive layers of paint are possible and it can slide off. Thickened layers are formed and fine-grained elements appear.
It is necessary to select the right nozzles with holes for a coating of a certain consistency so that it does not flow or form clumps.
- Equipment for airless painting is expensive. If it is necessary to use it, you must contact specialized organizations that professionally use such technical means of coloring.
- Difficult maintenance of airless painting equipment.
- Solvent consumption during complex and time-consuming washing of equipment after work is completed.
Preliminary atomization is used using special devices to obtain powder particles.
Before painting large surfaces, you need to think about what the result should be, make the right choice between air and airless painting, and select the appropriate equipment. Only in this case the work will be completed quickly and efficiently.
Design and principle of operation of the device
When choosing an airless spray gun, first of all you need to pay attention to its configuration. The design of good models of such devices includes the following components:
- plastic or aluminum housing;
- nozzle;
- electric drive;
- paint supply hose;
- safety system;
- nozzle holder;
- protective bracket;
- filter;
- drain hose;
- gun;
- pressure regulator;
- piston pump;
- handle;
- swivel mechanism on some models.
The main difference between this unit is the absence of an air compressor.
The principle of operation is largely due to the design features of such spray guns. Paint is applied by pumping liquid through the nozzle holes under high pressure. Thus, spraying is carried out without additional air injection. The paint passes through a special nozzle. Thanks to this, it is crushed and sprayed into a more even and thin layer.
When using a household pneumatic apparatus, this effect cannot be achieved.
This is the qualitative difference between air and airless versions of spray guns.
In addition, high pressure significantly expands the scope of application of the device.
Airless spray guns are suitable not only for water-based paint, but also for substances with higher viscosity, the spraying of which is prohibited in pneumatic devices due to the risk of clogging the nozzle.
Thanks to the installed ultra-sensitive filter, even small dust particles are captured.
This significantly increases the service life of the unit, since its nozzle practically does not become clogged during operation.
In addition, this allows you to use the spray gun to apply a variety of materials.
Despite the fact that spray guns from different manufacturers may differ significantly in configuration, in most cases they have a special safety system and bracket that protect against accidental pressing, for example, when the unit falls.
