While paint guns are one of the most amazing innovations we can find in the DIY painting world, you must remember that not all that glitter is gold. That is why before buying a paint gun you should take a few things into account.
We’re going to run through the main disadvantages of painting with a spray gun so you’ll know both sides of the story. Know both the pros and cons will make it much easier to find the best option to refurb your house and decide which model to buy.
Maintenance is a MUST
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One of the most common frustrations of paint spraying is the maintenance that these paint guns require. If you don’t put in the time to sufficiently maintain your machine it considerably affects the performance, leaving it either useless or causing weird spray patterns.
Day to day maintenance cannot be left until its too late, because it’s generally an expensive repair and simply not worth sitting on.
For example, it’s is not only a requirement to clean the spray tips and nozzles after use but also all the hoses and filters. Another important point when doing the maintenance is to make sure you actively replace broken or faulty parts, such as old filters with tears in or leaky hose connections.
It’s Important To Clean The Machine Thoroughly
Aside to the general day-to-day maintenance, cleaning is so important that it is worth mentioning separately.
If you do not clean your spray gun and machine properly, you’ll run the risk of paint drying inside, which will solidify and and render your paint sprayer useless.
Your cleaning routine must be thorough, detailed, and regular. You must clean all the parts that come in contact with the paint, such as the suction hose, the spray hoses, filters, guns, and nozzles.
In addition, you’ll probably need some toothbrushes or small brushes and a lot of water to get rid of paint in the harder to reach areas.
Some Paint Sprayers Are Not Compatible with All Paints
Whilst most paints are compatible with different types of paints such as latex, enamels or acrylics, not of them have the same versatility, which can sometimes limit to work you can do with your spray gun.
More importantly, the density or thickness of the paint is more important than its base compound, especially when it comes to handheld sprayers.
Paints such as latex can easily be thinned if needed, but when it comes to exterior paints you often can’t thin beyond a certain limit otherwise they lose their protective properties.
It’s always worth reading the paint manufacturers datasheet to see what they recommend using to spray the product, as well as checking the technical specs of the paint sprayer itself.
Paint Sprayers Need Electricity To Run
Unlike a brush or roller which can paint without any limitations, paint guns need electricity (unless you invest in an expensive battery-powered handheld paint sprayer).
To be able to use your spray gun you will need a power outlet since most of them work with a cord. This can also limit the range of the gun to the length of the cable or extension, another issue you don’t have when comparing paint sprayers vs rollers.
It’s worth remembering that when using an airless paint sprayer, you also have the length of the spray hose to take into account, which can often we extended with a longer one if needed.
You Can’t Achieve As Many Finishes
Another disadvantage is the fact that spray guns do not have the ability to create as many types of finishes as other painting equipment.
Although you can change the tips and nozzles, if you’re looking for a rustic or rough finish then a paint sprayer probably isn’t the best tool for the job.
However, if you are looking to cover a large area in a short time, or looking for factory-quality finish on a piece of furniture then a paint sprayer is the way to go.
They Are Normally A More Expensive Method
Finally, a clear disadvantage of paint sprayers is the fact that the price of good spray equipment is always going to be higher than the price of a simple brush. By incorporating better technology and powerful motors, it’s obvious that the price will always be more expensive than a good old brush and roller.
This can be a limitation for many people, especially if you only need it for one or two small jobs. Besides taking into account the cost of the spray gun itself, we also recommend you to take into account the cost of ongoing maintenance, spare parts, accessories, and the potential that at some point a major repair may be needed.
So Is a Paint Sprayer Really Your Best Option?
Without a doubt, paint sprayers are a great option if you want to save a lot of time. Their technology and power allow you to cover much more space in much less time.
Although we’ll always be able to find disadvantages to using a paint sprayer, the fact is they fill a niche in the market and there are plenty of people that love them, and always will.
But as with all power tools, it really does depend on the job you have at hand and if it’s worth the investment.
