Tips on Using a Paint Sprayer

Preparation

• Inspect all surfaces before starting your paint sprayer. Cover any surrounding surfaces with drop cloths or plastic so that you don't get paint on them. This is even more important when spray painting than when painting with a brush or roller because the paint tends to spatter further.
  
  Ensure that the surface you intend to paint is clean, as any dust or debris could ruin the final paint finish. Make sure the weather is fair with little or no wind if you are painting outdoors. Even the slightest breeze can ruin your paint job by blowing debris onto the wet surface.
  
  Wear protective clothing, such as goggles and gloves, when using a spray painter. Consider wearing a full body paint suit with a hood, which you can purchase from any paint store. Wrap masking tape around your wrists and ankles to help prevent paint blow-back from entering the suit.
  
  

Practice

• Practice using the sprayer so that you can paint with an experienced hand. Start by practicing how to get a uniform coat of paint on a surface with your spray painter before attempting to actually paint. Practice on any disposable surface you have handy. Hold the spray painter about a foot away from the surface you are painting, and spray the paint directly onto the surface.
  
  

Use

• Spray the paint in overlapping strips, moving the spray painter smoothly. Release the sprayer at the end of each strip, and engage it again when you reverse the direction. The key to spraying a uniform coat of paint is spraying with a steady hand and at a consistent pace.
  
  Avoid taking long breaks during the spraying process (15 minutes tops) because the paint will quickly harden inside your sprayer. This either makes it very difficult to clean, or ruins your sprayer entirely by clogging it up. Ensure that the safety lock is on while the sprayer isn't in use. Clean the sprayer thoroughly when you are finished with the paint job.