Trendy and effective, spray painting requires, like any DIY operation, a good knowledge of its equipment. For walls painted to perfection with a spray gun, here are all the mistakes to avoid.
Less tiring and faster to use than a roller or brush, the paint gun is an ideal piece of equipment for easily painting raised surfaces (wire mesh, radiators, etc.) as well as the flattest ones (walls, stairs, etc.). It can be used for primers as well as for varnishes, glycero paint and acrylic. However, its use requires a little technique before throwing oneself headlong into one's painting project. Deciphering the mistakes not to make to make a flawless shot with a paint gun.
NOT CHOOSING THE RIGHT MODEL OF PAINT GUN
Increasingly popular for express renovations, the paint gun comes in several models. The air gun is the most expensive and technical model. It is recommended for painting large surfaces such as imposing walls or exterior facades. It is commonly used for car bodies. The electric gun is very suitable for medium and small surfaces (radiators and fences). Its smaller tank makes it light and therefore easier to handle.
The pressure of the device will also be an element to be taken into consideration. A low-pressure paint gun will be much easier to handle for small jobs. The pressure helps to spray the paint via the nozzle, depending on its amplitude, the result may vary as well as unpleasant surprises.DO NOT PREPARE THE SURFACE TO BE PAINTED WITH A SPRAY GUN
Roller, brush or paint gun, the method to follow is always the same: you have to prepare the surface to be painted with precision to obtain a quality result. It is essential to protect the area where the surface to be painted is located: with the spray gun, the risk of jets and therefore stains is greater than by using a roller or brush. Place plastic sheeting and masking tape wherever necessary. Then, remove the old paint or wallpaper with a wire brush. Fill in the visible cracks with plaster and finish by sanding the surface with sandpaper. Finally, clean the wall with a soap and water mixture and rinse with clean water. Dry before painting with the spray gun.
FORGETTING TO THIN THE PAINT BEFORE USING YOUR SPRAY GUN
Although the paint gun adapts to different types of paint, its system requires that the paint be diluted well before being used. The smoother the paint, the more efficient the result will be. To make paint more liquid, it must be diluted with a solvent such as water for acrylic paints and white spirit for glycerol paints. Then mix the paint with a stick and check its condition with a viscometer. This tool, which sometimes comes with the paint gun, takes the shape of a funnel and measures the time it takes to flow the paint to dilute it properly.NOT CHECKING YOUR EQUIPMENT BEFORE PAINTING
If the brush and roller are easy to use, the paint gun, although faster, requires fine-tuning before being used. Read the gun's instructions carefully: you almost always have to dilute the paint (with water) before pouring it into the gun. Check that the nozzle (the nozzle) is not clogged and is working well by doing a test, for example on a piece of cardboard. It is important to know that all guns are equipped with a flow adjustment system. This will adapt to the fluidity of the paintMISUSING A PAINT GUN TO PAINT A WALL
More imposing than a brush and a roller, the paint gun requires careful support. To avoid surfaces that are painted approximately, choose a painting technique that always starts at the top of the wall and goes down. The gun must be kept straight about twenty centimetres from the surface to be covered: you must not move the wrist but the forearm. Proceed with slow, steady sweeping motions, crossing the paint jets. Always move the gun at the same time as you pull the trigger: if you spray several seconds in the same place, drips may appear.NEGLECTING PAINT GUN CLEANING
You know the saying 'There are no bad tools, there are only bad workers'? That's pretty much the idea of this last council. To reuse a spray gun in the future, it is advisable to clean the equipment properly. To do this, fill a jar with water if you have used acrylic, white spirit or acetone if you have used a solvent product, and spray several times on cardboard to clean the internal pipes. Repeat until the spray comes out without a trace of paint. Also, remember to disassemble and clean the nozzle.
