What Are the Different Types of Paint Sprayers

Paint sprayers are mechanical devices which evenly and quickly coat large surfaces with paint or some other type of protective coating. A common misconception is that paint sprayers are only able to spray paint on wooden surfaces. This can’t be further than the truth as there are many types of materials and objects, such as masonry, brick and metal, which can be also painted not only with paint, but with varnish or ink as well. This makes paint sprayers versatile pieces of equipment suitable for a wide variety of industrial and household projects.

Like most other tools, paint sprayers come in distinctive varieties. For those of you who don’t have much experience working with one, picking a paint sprayer can be a bit confusing. Especially nowadays, when there are so many models that operate differently, such as the electric paint sprayer, conventional sprayers and high volume low pressure sprayers.

Electric Paint Sprayer

Electric paint sprayers are also known as airless. This type is typically used in large projects where over-spraying isn’t a concern. They are powered by an electric, hydraulic or gas motor. Some are even powered by air compression, which makes them air-powered airless sprayers. They offer sheer power as they operate under high pressure. They create a uniform, thick coating, which reduces the amount of coats needed to complete a project. Furthermore, they’re extremely effective at penetrating hard-to-reach cracks and uneven surfaces. Coats of paint applied by electric sprayers adhere well to the painted surface, meaning, you will need to do less painting in the long run, making them one of the fastest and best sprayers on the market.

Conventional Sprayers

Unlike the electric sprayers, these use an air compressor to generate thin, smooth finishes of coating. The compressor is usually built into the sprayer itself, but there are many other models which can be hooked up to an external compressor. If you already have an air compressor, you can use this method to cut down on costs, but if you don’t, you should factor the added cost of a compressor in the overall cost. Conventional sprayers can be difficult or tricky to use. In most models, the flow of the paint, the width of the spray fan and the air flow are adjustable, and each adjustment affects everything else. This can create a steep learning curve and it may take you some time to get used to it. Nevertheless, with enough practice, this can be seen as an advantage.

High Volume Low Pressure Sprayers

These sprayers were developed as a response to the inefficiency of conventional sprayers. By combining lower pressure and higher volume, they have transfer rates of up to 80%. Simply put, the spray ends where it’s intended to. Because of this combination, HVLP sprayers create a fine and smooth coating. They’re renowned for their accuracy, making them attractive for people who need to pay attention to precision and detail.