Anyone buy a paint sprayer for personal use?

[mugs]

Thinking about getting one for painting the house.

[*]Is overspray a big problem? They had a video at home depot and it looked like they were just using ~2" masking tape
[*]Are they a PITA to clean?
[*]I was looking at this one: Text (sorry if the link doesn't work, Home Depot's website isn't very link-friendly - it's the Graco Magnum DX). That one is $300, it's the homeowner-targeted model in the product line (bottom end). What's the downside to the ~$50-100 ones that have the paint bottle built into the sprayer so they're basically self-contianed?
[*]Are they difficult to use (and get a good finish)?

 

[dartworth]

what about renting one?

 

[GuitarDaddy]

The small self contained units are OK for small projects, but a real PITA for large projects like painting a house. The $300 model would be what you want for house painting. Overspray can be a problem especially if its windy, just takes some experience to know when it will be a problem.

Clean up is critical and a PITA depending on the type of paint used. You need to store it with oil or solvents in it, if your using it weekly this isn't necessary. The spray and coverage are determined by the gun and tips, you need different tips for different applications and different paints.
The gun and tips that come with the $300 will be limited, if you use it alot you will want to invest in a better gun and more tips which shouldn't be a problem with the Graco unit as they make stuff up to the professional level

 

[Greenman]

The low end sprayers are ok, you just can't expect to use them everyday. I have a $300 sprayer that I'v painted 3 houses with, I only expected it to live through 1. Be sure the one your looking at has a spray gun that you can dissmantel to clean, some can't be taken apart, which means you prolly won't get through the first 5 gallons of paint before it's worthless.

Overspray isn't a huge problem, but you do have to protect everything you don't want it on. And NEVER spray if there is any wind at all.
Not to hard to clean, half an hour should do the trick.
The little units with the attached bottle are a waste of time. They often won't spray latex out of the can, and they use a round spray patteren, so you get lots of drips.

Also, it's always a good idea to back roll everything you spray (except trim and doors), it works the paint into the surface a bit better and makes the job last longer.

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: dartworth
what about renting one?

It's like $70 a day to rent it at Home Depot... might as well buy it and have it whenever I need it. And I know my parents will want to borrow it and probably other people too, so for $300 it's worth it.

Overspray can be a problem especially if its windy, just takes some experience to know when it will be a problem.

I'll probably be using it inside mostly. Our current house has vinyl siding, next house probably will too since that seems to be the most common siding in our price range.

 

[Doggiedog]

I got a Wagner for stuff around the house.

It's ok but the little paint container runs out pretty quickly. When the paint starts getting low, the sprayer spurts out globs of paint which forces me to redo the painting again. You're probably better off using the hose and attach it to a paint can. I've used latex paint in my sprayer with no problem. The parts get dirty but its not too bad cleaning up. I kind of enjoy it. It was a decent $100 investment for me.

 

[mugs]

Are there sprayers that use an air compressor to push the paint out? I have an air compressor.

 

[bctbct]

If you want to paint ext. you will need a pump that will support a .19 tip, usually 3/4 or more. Interior you can use a .15 or .17 and 5/8 or 3/4 should work.

I have a 3/4 graco from HD because I bought it to paint interior. Works fine and saves time for new construction.

If you plan on painting a occupied house, you are probably better off rolling it.

I suck, three edits for spelling