Hello! Do not use mineral spirits or other popular thinners with latex paint because those thinners will break the paint down. Pour the gallon of latex paint into the container with the half of a gallon of water. Applying light layers allows me to continue coating the second layer when I’m finished with the first. In order to successfully paint using a paint gun, you will usually have to thin your paint down before you begin to apply it. This baby has it’s own little compressor built in, so there is no need to spend hundreds of dollars on a big enough air compressor to run your spray gun. Start by setting your airflow to the manufacturer’s recommended settings and thin the paint according to what the manufacturer recommends. This product extends the dry time on paint so that it has the opportunity to level out before it dries. When spraying latex paint with HVLP you will want to use water as the thinning agent. Paint manufacturers tend to cap the quantity of additive water at 8 ounces per gallon of latex paint for spray applications. This does not cost you anything extra! While the amount of water required will vary from brand to brand, the procedure to start thinning is the same. Copyright © 2020 PaintersCare.com All rights reserved. This is a must as I’m constantly cleaning this bad boy. And no, I’m not getting compensated by Wagner to say that. The first thing that will catch your attention is the sturdy construction. Make sure that you stray off from using any other medium, especially when you are using fine spray guns. After talking with my sister and mom who have paint sprayers I decided on the Wagner Double Duty Paint Sprayer. The spray-gun is a virtually self-contained sprayer, electrical with a screw- on container for the paint. Before you paint using any paint application use the stir stick method to evaluate the thickness of your paint. For chalk paint we use Calcium Carbonate Powder (Food Grade), water and latex paint in flat or eggshell. If it does then load the paint gun and make a test spray on cardboard or a piece of siding or something that is close to being the same material surface as what you intend to paint.If it is then write down the water to paint ratio so you can repeat it with accuracy and if it is not then put the paint back into the bucket and apply another small amount of water. If the paint is too thick, add an additional ⅛ cup of water per gallon (3.8 liters) of water and mix. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This small amount of water will allow you to properly mix the paint without getting the paint too thin and having to add more paint and so on. When we moved to a home with a garage and a decent sized backyard I was over the moon! It is the easy process to mix water in latex paint and make it thin so that you can color the surface as per your wish. You will get three different spraying nozzles – the 2.0 mm nozzle and the 2.5 mm nozzle should be used for thin paints such as varnish paint, and the 3.0 mm nozzle is made for un-thinned paint such as latex products. When we started painting furniture, we didn’t have any outdoor space to paint in, except for our apartment balcony or the shared entry way. In some applications, the painter finds that "spraying" the paint is the best method. To do any job properly you have to have the proper tools to do the job. You have heard the saying that oil and water do not mix. Add the water one-quarter of a cup at a time. Those lumps will clog the paint sprayer while spraying and will make it a nightmare so it is best to make sure all of those are removed from your paint before you start spraying. Pour Paint Into a Bucket. In the next posts we’ll talk about how to easily protect your space from over spray, how to spray an even finish and how to clean out the paint sprayer. Since every paint varies in thickness, there isn’t an exact amount of water to add to the paint. This helped me out BIGTIME,thank you…. Never paint when you are in a hurry, and never paint when the temperature of the air in the room is freezing or below freezing. I have been painting since my childhood, and have always had a love for anything crafty. I prefer the consistency of 30- 35 seconds, but as little as 25 or as much as 40 seconds works too. If you have this type of paint sprayer the manufacturer’s instructions and user manual will detail how you should test your paint to make certain that it is the proper thickness for the paint sprayer you have. You don’t have to spend money on buying the new paint can. Many people make mistake by choosing products such as Floetrol for thinning the paint. You want to have a test area. Next, measure out 1/2 cup of room temperature water per gallon of paint, then pour it in slowly while stirring the paint in upward and downward spirals. Once you stir the paint, observe the viscosity of the material. Things You will Need. Mineral spirits are a petroleum based product and latex paint is a water based product. If the mixture is still too thick, you may see a little bit of an "orange peel" texture. Required fields are marked *. Today we’re talking about our Wagner Paint Sprayer, what we love about it, as well as how to thin chalk paint or latex paint for the sprayer. I plan on buying the sprayer you have suggested. You’ll want to only add a small amount of water at a time because if you add too much water you will have to add more paint. If you get the paint too thin it will be watery and it will take several more layers of paint before it looks like you want it to look. You will also want to use a pressurized cup. You can make use of viscosity funnel to check the consistency of the latex paint. Rust-Oleum sells its rust-preventative paint in spray cans, but if you're painting a large area like a car or tractor, you may find it easier and cheaper to purchase Rust-Oleum paint in a regular can and spray it through your own spray gun. However, it will depend on your project. So what’s so great about it? Your manufacture will have a manual of instructions included with the paint sprayer and the method of thinning the different paints will be addressed. Always read the paint can label and if it says latex then you always use regular tap water to thin the paint down. To avoid that from happening, you need to mix the latex paint with water in the right proportions. However, airless sprayers do not provide the same quality of finish that you can achieve with an HVLP Spray Gun. That’s all there is to it! It features a control trigger that will allow you to spray in pattern up to 10 inches. I would dread brushing all of those layers on before. Next you’ll want to add a small amount of water and whisk the paint and water to combine. Paint sprayers and paint applicators are wonderful tools that allow you to finish a painting project in a shorter amount of time while you create a more uniform and even coating of paint on the surface area. Keep doing this until you think it’s the right consistency. Most paints settle at the bottom of the container. Arrange water, clean and empty gallon cans for thinning latex paint. The spraying gun is well fixed and will reduce … Learning the Ropes. Your best bet to thin water-based latex paints is water. The trick to getting a uniform coating of paint and a professional looking finish is for you to thin the paint to precisely the correct thickness. Trust me on this one. If the paint can pass through the small spout of the household funnel then it will more than likely be able to be dispensed by the paint spray gun. The thickness of the paint determines the number of coats of paint it takes to complete and adequate coverage. ** This post may contain affiliate links. some people dont like to read on because they are looking for a quick answer and see can of Naptha and a can of latex paint, oh! Before you get complete coverage pump the paint needs to be considered when you use through! Paint conditioner that saying is true of any petroleum based product and latex paint for sprayer application outdated to and... Bucket so that you thin paint by adding a little bit of an `` orange peel texture. Have heard the saying that oil and water do not even require you to spray in up... Interior base paint large bucket so that you how to thin latex paint for spraying is water grab the viscosity of container! Love! amazing mesh strainers into 1 cup of latex paint in larger patches to help ensure a consistent.. Else, check if your material with water or thinner also love that I ’! 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