Latex paint and auto paint gun?

[cqaigy2]

I've tried latex in an auto gun. Thinned it down, lower air pressure and open the center up more. Sprayed just ok, i didn't think it was the best for finish, but was ok for applying a lot of paint on a lot of uneven surface in short time. Like others have said, I'd probably brush it to get a better finish

 

[Code54]

Going to grab a top grade brush this weekend and have at it. Thanks for advice and information. Learned several things!

 

[MossRoad]

Someone gave me gift certificates for Lowe's at Christmas one year. I found a Wagoner power painter (don't remember which model) on sale for about half price. It is specifically made to paint with latex and stains, not automotive type paints. I used it on our metal sided garage last summer. Man, was that fast. It took me longer to clean the dang thing than it did to spray three sides of the 24 x 24 x 10' high garage. Worked great!

But for just a door, it's not worth the cleanup time VS just using brushes and/or rollers. The Wagoner requires some very deliberate cleaning and flushing and rinsing, disassembley, reassembly, etc...

But if you're ever in the need of a not to bad sprayer for large areas, I'd recommend the Wagoner. It's not the bottom of the line model, and not the top of the line model, but somewhere in the middle.

 

[not2old]

More than forty years ago, I serviced DeVillbiss spray guns. I kept a JGA for personal use because it was made with stainless internal components that allowed it to be used with latex, but admit that I've never done that with it. It is smaller than the guns used by body shops and was the choice of furniture makers. This suggest to me that using latex in a standard gun would ruin it. I don't know for sure.

I think I've used the wrong model number here. Latex can be sprayed without so much water to thin it by using different needles and tips in the gun.

 

[ray66v]

Spray latex paint with an automotive spray gun? Yes, it can be done.

I own every type of spray equipment out there, and have used them all extensively.

With a siphon feed cup gun, (cup on the bottom): Unless you have a professional gun like an old Devilbiss MBC, or Binks model 10, with a large fluid nozzle, you will have to thin the paint excessively. So, you won't usually get a good result. And, you will create a lot of over spray. I don't recommend it.

With a gravity feed gun, (cup on the top): As long as it has a large fluid nozzle, (2.0 or larger), it will be able to spray latex paint. You will still have to thin it.

A HF Chinese gravity feed HVLP will spray latex better than a good siphon feed cup gun.

Automotive spray guns are not ideal here, because they are made to break up the paint, and atomize it into fine particles. You don't do that with latex paint.

So, I would either use a different type of sprayer. Or, a different paint.

An airless sprayer such as the Wagner mentioned, is the better way to go with latex paint. Graco makes nice professional grade, and semiprofessional grade airless cup guns, the latter are reasonably affordable. See Lowe's.

An airless splatters the paint on, using a high pressure pump. I do not have to thin latex, to spray it with my Graco Trucoat.

My exterior doors are all sprayed with automotive paint products. While expensive, with no children to mess it up, it is a finish lasts for the life of the door.

Rustoleum satin finishes are a viable, cheaper alternative.

 

[Snobdds]

Expensive, but so worth it. I had to paint some louvered doors and this saved my bacon. It turned out looking like a factory finish. Hard to clean though...

 

[MossRoad]

That's pretty neat. Cordless is handy, too.

 

[Industrial Toys]

I tried it years ago to paint a block wall. It just turned into a runny mess once I thinned it out enough to spray. I think I borrowed a wagner after that.

 

[Trail_Time]

Spray latex paint with an automotive spray gun? Yes, it can be done.



With a gravity feed gun, (cup on the top): As long as it has a large fluid nozzle, (2.0 or larger), it will be able to spray latex paint. You will still have to thin it.

A HF Chinese gravity feed HVLP will spray latex better than a good siphon feed cup gun.


.

This is correct. The key is the tip/nozzle. Larger is better. Look for what is called a primer gun. Thin with a little water and it will work just fine. The spray pattern will not be very wide, but it does produce a nice finished product.