Paint sprayers can be messy, so the first of our airless paint sprayer tips includes learning to cover things up! Keep in mind that anything – and that means ANYTHING – that’s left exposed will get paint on it. If you can’t move all furniture out of the room in which you’re painting, move it at least three feet away from the walls and cover completely with plastic or painter’s drop cloth. If you don’t want to remove light fixtures and switchplates, you’ll need to cover them with masking tape. Paintings and any other wall décor need to be taken out.

Test for Pressure

All airless paint sprayers work with pressure, so the next of our airless paint sprayer tips includes making sure the pressure of your rig is adjusted properly. Before you begin painting your room, turn the knob on your rig that controls the re-circulation of paint and allow it to run for two minutes.

Then, adjust the pressure knob to where, when you spray on a test piece cardboard or several thicknesses of laid-out newspaper, your spraying pattern is that of an even fan of paint with no thicker lines of paint at the edges. Twist the control knob one-quarter turn at a time until you reach the desired pressure.

It’s All in the Wrist

There’s an art to airless paint sprayer tips regarding technique. Because of the way an airless sprayer works – emitting paint as soon as you pull the trigger – you need to begin the motion of your hand before you pull the trigger. And because paint continues to spray out after you release the trigger, don’t stop your hand/arm movement when you release the trigger.

Continue following through with your painting movement until the paint actually stops coming out of the sprayer. Once you get accustomed to the timing of your own individual sprayer, this becomes second nature, and you will quickly develop a rhythm.

Where to Start

Another thing you need to know about airless paint sprayer tips involves where to begin painting. Do the difficult, hard-to-get-at areas first. For instance, begin with the edges of the walls at the top corners and move your sprayer toward the middle of the room on your “trigger-off” motion. If you get too much paint in an area, simply spread it and smooth it out using a regular paintbrush.

After you’ve gotten next to windows, the corners, and all the other harder-to-paint areas, then go back and do the wide-open spaces of the walls and ceiling. Touch up any small areas you may have missed or not gotten enough paint on with a paintbrush. Wipe off any over-sprayed areas with a damp sponge (be sure and do this before the paint has had time to dry).

Keep it Clean!

And finally, as the last of our airless paint sprayer tips, be sure and thoroughly clean the rig after you’ve finished your job. There’s little that will “gum up the works” like old, dried paint and only a good flushing out with water as soon as you’re finished painting will clean it properly. Follow the manufacturer’s directions and make cleaning your airless sprayer a religious habit after each and every project.

See Also:

How do Airless Paint Sprayers Work?