Spray Paint Latex
Latex paint is a water-based paint. The water has been mixed with various acrylics, polymers that are used as binders. Latex paints are valued for their washability, resistance, and adhesion. Latex paints dry very quickly, apply in one coat, and clean up with soap and water. Latex paints are easily applied to most surfaces with paintbrush and/or roller. However, spray painting may be a better choice when speed, surface area, and texture are an issue. Because it reaches crevices and corners, applies a uniform and even coat, and applies a wetter coat that assures better adhesion, spray painting can be the best choice. Small containers of latex paint are readily available in aerosol spray cans, and these work well for small items and surface areas. To tackle the bigger jobs, you need to know the costs and challenges in how to spray paint latex.
Contents
Steps
Use a hand-held spray-paint gun.
- Use a spray-paint gun sprayer (sometimes called a "cup gun") for small jobs, such as furniture.
- The spray-gun is a virtually self-contained sprayer, electrical with a screw- on container for the paint.
- Prepare the surface to be sprayed by roughing the surface lightly with sandpaper and cleaning it thoroughly after.
- Cover all furniture, carpeting, and adjacent items because spray will drift.
- Test run the spray on a piece of wood to determine the most suitable tip for the sprayer and the most effective stoke motion.
- Spray paint surface with lightly sweeping motions.
- Clean spray-gun by spraying a container full of lightly soaped water.
Use an airless spray gun.
- Use an airless spray gun for larger surfaces, such as indoor and outdoor walls.
- Prime the gun, hose, and siphon tube according to sprayer instructions.
- Fill a bucket with approximately 2 gallons (7.57 L) of paint.
- Adjust the pressure, after dry-run test spray on piece of cardboard or wood, according manufacturer's directions.
- Pressure is too high if the coverage is thin or there is a lot of scatter.
- Hold sprayer tip 14 inches (35.56 cm) from the surface and sweep sprayer in easy movements that overlap each sweep by 50%.
- Flush spray system with lightly soaped water.
Use an HVLP (High Volume Low Pressure) paint sprayer.
- Use an HVLP sprayer for surfaces where it is important to avoid streaks.
- The HVLP, like the Airless Spray Gun, consists of a paint reservoir, a hose, compressor, and gun with a variety of tips..
- The high volume (HV) in the sprayer applies more paint, and it does so at low pressure (LP), thereby, reducing overspray.
- Test sprayer on piece of wood or cardboard to practice sweeping motion and determine most effective tip.
- Paint surface with sweeping motions that overlap last sweep by 50%.
- Clean sprayer by flushing with lightly soaped water.
Tips
- Latex paint is water-based, so the most available thinner is water; however, try to use distilled water because tap water has chemicals that may adversely affect the paint.
- Wash all tools with lightly soaped water.
- Clean up spatter and drips with lightly soaped water.
- Tightly cap latex paint cans when not in use.
- Mix your own latex paint thinner with 50% distilled water and 50% propylene glycol; the water will thin the paint, and the propylene glycol will promote slow drying.
- Thin latex paint according to the directions and specifications on spray device because each type of sprayer has different requirements regarding viscosity so as not to hamper flow.
- Locate paint reservoir and machinery away from spraying location, as much as 20 feet (6.096 m) away indoors and 50 feet (15.24 m) away outdoors.
Warnings
- Seek medical attention immediately if you accidentally inject paint into your skin.
- Latex is water-based, so it is not recommended for painting ferrous metals, over wall-paper, or un-primed wood.
- Wear safety equipment, including work gloves, goggles, and respirator.
Things You'll Need
- Safety goggles, work gloves, and respirator
- Paper towels
- Plastic sheeting and/or drop cloths
- Paint-spray gun
- Airless spray gun
- HVLP spray gun
- Lightly soaped water = 1 ounce (0.12 metric sup) of liquid dish soap per gallon of water
