Frequently Asked Questions

The following information has been compiled from some of the many e-mail's we receive asking for information about Paint Spraying Equipment. They are divided into four categories. Click on the heading below to jump down the page to the type of equipment that interests you.

Handyman Airless Paint Sprayers
HVLP Paint Sprayers
Professional Airless Paint Sprayers
Airbrush Equipment

Handyman Airless Paint Sprayers

Sandra
Q…I want to paint some doors with gloss water based paint & I'm considering buying a spray gun for this purpose, however, I don't know where to start. I've been looking at your site but I'm not sure which type of gun would be the best for this. I was looking at the airless guns or an air spray gun (we have a compressor). I don't particularly want to thin the paint out to spray it, so I'm hoping that there is a type of gun that will spray the paint as is. (I think nozzle size makes a difference but don't know what nozzle size I'd need). I'd also like to be able to use it to spray other house paints, fence paints, etc., if possible. Also can nozzle sizes be changed? Or is it a case of buying a different gun for different applications? What would you suggest?

A…The W220 airless handyman cup gun is a good cheap all rounder for water-based paints and is a good buy because it comes with a few accessories. I have also heard extremely good reports of the W180P. (Update..The W220 is no longer available and has been replaced by the more modern W180P. At this point in time it does not come with any extra accessories.) All the guns come standard with a number 8 nozzle which is suitable for water based paints. You can buy other nozzles that spray more or less paint. They are available in the 'Handyman Accessories' part of the catalogue. You would use a number 4 for enamels and a number 6 would be OK for water-based paints where you want a finer finish. (You can find out more about nozzle sizes and materials sprayed in the chart on the Information page titled 'Handyman Airless'.)

Emma
Q… which sprayer for putting paint on hardifence?

A… All will do it but you can't go wrong with the Wagner W180P cup gun. (And you can use it for heaps of other stuff besides just fences.)

Dave
Q… I am thinking of purchasing an airless spray gun for the home handy person. Can you have a long hose to a large paint pot instead of the paint pot under the gun? Reason being I have a large shed and I intend to paint the roof 100m2 and somebody suggested just get a long hose direct to the paint can. So to try to avoid climbing up and down the 4-metre ladder it would be quicker and safer.

A…There is a kit available for this purpose on the web site under "Handyman Accessories". Called a suction system extension it is under $30 and has attachments and fittings for different model guns. The only thing is, the plastic hose is only 1.5 metres long. Longer is not recommended, as the gun will struggle to suck the paint up. However, there is no reason why you can't spray out of a 5 or 10 litre can beside you.

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Steve Manuel
Q…I'm looking for accessories for the Wagner W400SE. The handbooks shows the part number as 0209043 but your site doesn't list this part. Is this part number available? Also you do not seem to have 0209042 listed (Water-Based Swirl Valves). DO you have these?

A…The swirl valves come in packs of 3. The valves for enamel paints are at the bottom of the first page of Handyman Tools, Airless Accessories. (Part Number 0209041) The Valves for water-based paints are on the 2nd page. (Part number 0209042) Go right to the bottom of the first page and click 'Next'. 0209043 is a suction system for W300 and W400 cup guns (List price is $75). These are not sold by us because you can us an alternative found in Handyman Airless Accessories on the web site. Part number 0272910, Suction System Extension. Price is around $28

Q…Thanks Mel, It is very pleasing to find someone who is helpful with the Wagner units and actually gets back to you! Are you sure this alternative is OK to use. Have you used it or seen it used? It's just that the Handbook (page 136) says in regard to the 0209043 unit ... "Materials discharged from the pump return flow bore are collected in the return flow container." In the case of the alternative what happens to the return Materials? The 0209043 also seems superior in that it,
*secures to the can with a clip,
*secures to the return cup and therefore the gun body with a clip,
*has a filter unit at the can end of the unit,
*has an angled feed pipe.
All in all, this seems a much better arrangement?

A… The alternative is indeed OK to use with the W400. There is no return cup. Instead there are 2 tubes going into the paint container. One for suction and one for return. It has all the other items you mentioned.

Neil Stewart
Q… I have an Oldfield 100 airless spray gun which I purchased in the mid
80's. Are parts for this gun still available (I need a new suction tube and nozzles etc.). If parts are not available, what would be your recommendation and price for a new airless gun suitable for serious home use predominantly for applying acrylic paints and polyurethane to walls, furniture etc. Your advice re the above would be appreciated.

A…The Oldfields Airless cup guns have not been around for a long time now. We may be able to track down the spare parts you mention but they won't be cheap. The Wagner W140P Airless cup gun at the special price of AU$99 is just as powerful as the Oldfields gun and with it's modern design will give long trouble free service. We have been very impressed with the performance of the latest Wagner guns the W140P and the W180P. All handyman Airless cup guns will occasionally jam during operation depending on the viscosity and quality of the paint being sprayed. (This is less likely to occur with the more powerful guns.) These 2 guns never jammed during our testing and I am confident you won't be disappointed if you purchase one of them.

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HVLP Paint Sprayers

Tim Vero
Q…Hi there, I would like some advice on an application for a product I am making. I need to spray a Zincsteel metal frame around 500mm x 400mm (that has a flat face) with a satin enamel finish. The colours are custom and I would be doing about 50 parts of each colour (3 colours) on a weekly basis. I would also like to be able to do smaller quantities with custom colours if required. The finish need to be visually good and is only for indoor use (not functional). What type of system should I use?

A…I am confident that both the Handyman and Professional Painting Contractor HVLP equipment are more than capable of doing the job. Your choice is only governed by your budget. Keep in mind that the professional equipment is more ruggedly constructed and designed for sustained heavy-duty use.

Stephen Jay Kemp
Q…I saw your web site. I am a cabinetmaker in Sydney and up until now have been applying all of my finishes by hand or contracting spray painting. I am looking for a small unit that will allow me to spray finishes without a spray booth. Can you help?

A…All the HVLP sprayers are low over spray. For professional use any one of the Wagner Professional HVLP units would suit.

Rick Biesboer
Q…what is the difference between the Wagner w600 and the w850e and are these all plastic as the pictures seem to show.

A…The w850e is more robustly constructed, has a larger paint container and can apply thicker paints than the w600. They are both plastic.

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Professional Airless Paint Sprayers

Derek Price
Q…Is the Graco 190ES capability of spraying two pack paints, duty cycle, spray tip variation? Thanks.

A…Graco claim their 190ES sprays all paints viscosity permitting.
Some authorities feel that two-pack paint may soak into the leather packing's of the pump and can never properly be flushed out. This causes them to harden and prematurely wears the piston and packing's. The only way to avoid the possibility of this occurring is to use a Diaphragm pump such as sold by Wagner Spraytech. They do not have packing's. As far as duty cycle is concerned, the 190ES is the smallest Graco available therefore would not be considered for continuous heavy-duty use though many professional house painters have them. As stated in the specs, the maximum tip size is 19thou. Most house painters use 17thou tips for interior walls, even roofs, but the capacity of the pump is such that you would not get full use out of that tip as it wears and the paint flow increases.

Leon Hart
Q… I am looking to purchase a spray-painting system and whilst your web site is excellent there are a lot of choices. I need to paint at least 3 houses external and internal. I have a compressor and require a quality gun and remote paint pot. Can you narrow the choices for me?

A… Air spray guns are not recommended for spraying houses with water based paints.
* They don't put the paint on in high enough volume.
* You need to thin the paint to get a decent finish.
* They mix air with the paint to create the spray pattern and this causes excessive over spray (paint fog).
* The over spray can make a mess and wastes paint.
The professionals (and handymen) all use Airless paint sprayers to paint houses. If you have 3 houses to do, the top of the range handyman airless cup gun would still not be good enough for the job. I doubt if it would go the distance. In my opinion the only way to go is to use a professional Airless paint sprayer. Unfortunately they are expensive. You could sell the pump after you have finished with it. As long as you keep it clean you would get a good price for it 2nd hand. Or you could hire a pump. If the house is empty and everything is prepared beforehand, a professional painter should be able to spray it outside and inside in two days. All the air spray guns in our catalogue are recommended by the manufacturers for use in the automotive trade, on structural steel and machinery, etc. I don't know that any would be suitable for what you require. I'm sorry I haven't been much help.

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Michael Knight
Q…I am looking for an all-purpose paint sprayer for use in renovating houses. Can you recommend one? I need the sprayer to do the following: Exterior plastic paint (i.e.: Dulux Weathershield) on weatherboards, etc. - preferably undiluted Interior plastic paint on walls, ceilings, etc. - preferably undiluted Hi-Gloss enamel on trim, doors, cupboards, etc. Acrylic render (i.e.: Dulux Acratex) on fibre cement sheet.

A…For professional use the cheapest airless pump that will do most of what you want is the Wagner EP2005i . The only product there may be a question about is the Dulux Acratex. As long as there is no sandy grainy material in the stuff it should pump it, however you may not get a good spray pattern (even spray fan) because of the pressure loss between the pump and the gun caused by the thickness of the paint. This may not be a problem if you intend to roll a textured finish after using the pump to apply the paint. Note: no airless pump should be used to spray granulated paint. There are pumps specifically designed for that purpose.

As with everything, the cheapest is not necessarily the best way to go if you want to be sure of getting a pump that will do all you want.

Piston pumps are the best way to go for thick paints used in the housing industry (the EP2005i is one such) because they suck the paint into themselves more easily than diaphragm pumps. (Unless the diaphragm pump has a hopper on top).

Update..The rather large Wagner EP2005i was recommended here because of one of the materials asked about was a thick acrylic render. If we remove that material from the list of requirements, almost all professional airless paint sprayers would do the job. The difference in the pumps is flow volume and stroke rate. The cheaper the pump the more often it will require maintenance and repairs and the smaller the tip size that the pump will support. Smaller tips mean slower work rates.

Justin Begg
Q… What would be the best industrial strength paint stray unit that will still spray when the paint is mixed with 1-1.2mm sand particles? What would be the maximum size of the sand particles that could be effectively sprayed without clogging up the unit?

A… None of the professional airless sprayers spray a sand mixture. They are not designed for that purpose. There is equipment specifically for spraying texture coat type paints. They spray up to a 3mm diameter aggregate. They need an air compressor of at least 15cfm to operate. The cost is between $5,000 and $6,000. If the price hasn't put you off, I will obtain and scan brochures to send you. Let me know.

Update...We have since discovered a 5 litre hopper gun that is held in the hand and operates with air from a compressor. It is priced around the $250 mark. We will be adding this to our shop soon. Meanwhile if you are interested, e-mail us.

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Airbrush Equipment

Anthony Maugeri
Q… I am looking for an airbrush compressor and want something that requires no maintenance and is extremely reliable. The Iwata compressor looks good but the Sparmax Standard is a lot cheaper. What does it give away to the Iwata ?

A… The noticeable difference between the two compressors is the Iwata shuts itself off when not in use (when you stop spraying). The Sparmax runs all the time and unloads air through a valve when not in use. (Both compressors have good reputations)

Ian Hancock
Q…I have been a keen artist for a few years now and I heard about airbrushing. I decided to check it out and see if I like it. To do this, I thought that I should search the web (and I found you!) to find out some info. I also want to get some art classes in airbrushing just to make sure that I have made the right decision. Can you recommend a class around the Parramatta area? From my research I decided that something like a badger 150 would be a good idea. Will this be a good choice? With that and things like a compressor cost

A…Regarding airbrush lessons, I'm afraid we can't be of help, as we don't associate with any one in the airbrush-training field. We just sell airbrush equipment. We don't sell Badger so don't know about the 150. Pricing for our airbrushes and airbrush compressors are in the 'Product Catalogue". Just click on a product in the list (e.g.. Compressor list) and you will get more detailed information as well as pricing.

A2…Have you tried your local tafe college? They have all sorts of night classes and may be able to help you with airbrush training.

Philip Macdonald
Q…I'm looking for a single action, quality airbrush for hobby use, gravity feed if possible.

A…Just go the 'Products Catalogue' on the web site, use the menu on the left to navigate to the Airbrush section and you'll find what you are looking for there.

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Darrin
Q…I am making inquiries regarding the Iwata revolution HP.CR airbrush. What comes supplied with the airbrush? Do I have to purchase an air hose separately? Do you sell or recommend fittings to connect to an air compressor (as I have a 2.5 h.p with 50L tank). Any information would be most grateful.

A…The Iwata airbrushes do not come with hoses. There is a category for hoses in the menu on the left of the products catalogue under Airbrush equipment. I'm sorry, at this point we cannot help you with fittings to you compressor. The end on the hose should go on to it. It does go straight on to an Iwata compressor. (All the airbrush compressors in our on-line shop come with hoses.)

Sean Foster
Q… I am interested in the book/manual "Spraypainting & Grafx" on your home page, I can't seem to find it your Products section. Is it available & How Much?

A…The Spraypainting & Grafx image on the home page is not a book. It is a pic of an art piece produced at the 2000 Automotive Trade Exhibition held in Melbourne.

Maria K Booth
Q…I am looking for a Paasche spray booth. Do you stock them, if so how much, can you get back to me.

A…I'm sorry but our supplier does not bring the spray booths into Australia. Something to do with their size! They say you can get one made locally by a sheet metal fabricator.

Q…Thanks for the reply. Do you know of any other spray booths without having one made specially? We spray fishing lures and the size of the Paasche spray booth was perfect. Thanks again. Maria, ps the web site is great.

A…Below are two spray booth manufacturers. Although they look like they make rather large booths, if they don't have what you need, they should be able to point you in the direction of a company that does.
http://www.oliverspray.com.au
http://www.seetal.com.au/index.htm

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