Different Types of Paint Sprayers Explained

Whether you want to change up the look of your room or apply fresh paint to your old car, you cannot go wrong with a good quality paint sprayer.

It lets you think past ordinary paintbrushes and take the simple brush stroke to a whole other level. It is an artistic tool that enables you to explore various possibilities without any limitations.

That is why a paint sprayer is a much-loved tool in the inventory of any DIY enthusiast. It has a lot of applications, and because of its versatility, it is always handy to keep one at hand.

However, there are many different kinds of spray guns available on the market these days, and each comes with its own set of specifications.

So, which one do you need?

To find that answer, you need to look at different types of paint sprayers you can discover and cross-check them with your requirements.

So, without any delay, let us dive into the world of spray guns and take a look at the different variants we have available to buy.

Five Different Types of Paint Sprayers

In general, you can find five different types of spray painters that serve different purposes and functions. They are:

In the following section, we will take an in-depth look at the different categories to get a better understanding of the products.

1. Airless Paint Sprayers

This type of paint sprayer is the most expensive of the bunch and aims towards the high-end market. As such, it is recommended only for professionals or people who know what they are doing with the tool. An airless paint sprayer is the best solution when you want to deal with a large surface in a short time.

It does not make use of compressed air but instead uses pressure to turn the paint into tiny droplets.

The droplets are then pushed out through the head of the unit and spread across the work surface evenly. In only a few minutes, you can finish painting both the inside and outside of your project, which makes it a highly efficient tool.

The major setback of this type of device is that they are susceptible to overspray. For this reason, they are not suitable for delicate pieces of work.

Another issue is that you need to paint in a controlled environment with little to no breeze making it unable to use this device outside your workshop.

2. HVLP Paint Sprayers

HVLP or High-volume low-pressure paint sprayers are great budget options for those who cannot afford an airless model. It is an excellent tool for precise works and can handle delicate tasks better than that of an airless paint sprayer. However, it is not as fast nor as powerful.

These sprayers are ideal for furniture work. This type of unit atomizes the paint using pressure and converts the particles into mists. As the name suggests, it uses low pressure to create a high volume of paint mists that you can spray on your project. It shines when it comes to working on different kinds of finishing jobs such as crown molding or furniture finishing.

The main thing of concern with HVLP sprayers is their clotting issue. Because of its low pressure, the paint tends to get clogged up, which requires you to open up the device and clean it thoroughly.

3. LVLP Paint Sprayers

The next category on our list is the LVLP or low volume low pressure paint sprayers that have gathered a lot of popularity in the DIY community.

They are affordable, effective for low-profile jobs, and also quite easy to handle for a beginner. It essentially replaces the compressed air models by getting rid of all the nuances.

This type of unit uses low pressure like HVLP models, but rather than creating a high volume; they create a low volume of paint. The required pressure per square inch for the LVLP paint sprayer is a measly 10 PSI.

With just a basic air compressor, you can use this convenient tool to decorate your interior walls, fences, or decks.

4. Gravity Feed Paint Sprayers

For automobile painting, a gravity feed paint sprayer is the perfect tool. It can create a wide variety of coats on the work surface, similar to that of an HVLP paint sprayer. Because of the design and versatility, most people would even go as far as saying it is not a real paint sprayer. However, we beg to differ.

The gravity feed paint sprayer comes with a siphoning element located above the gun. It does not require too much pressure and can work with extreme accuracy and precision.

This quality makes this type of unit work best with cars since you do not want to slip and ruin the finish of your vehicle. It is also quite easy to clean up if you make a mistake with this type of sprayer.

5. Compressed Air Paint Sprayers

The final paint sprayer on our list is the compressed air paint sprayer. However, this gun has become obsolete over the years due to its many issues regarding overspray and clogging. However, due to its innovation at the time of conception, it deserves mention on our list.

This type of spray painters requires two parts to function: a spray gun and an air compressor. Despite the many flaws, it is easy to use and garnered much popularity among the beginners.

Although it is meant for high precision tasks, you could get accessories that let you work on delicate and precise tasks. However, nowadays, this type of spray painters is replaced by LVLP paint sprayers.

Give our tips on using paint sprayer piece a read if you want to learn the ins and outs about using these tools.

Final Thoughts

As you can see, there is a lot more to a spray painter than meets the eye. Depending on your task, you need to choose between the different categories available in the market.

If you are a beginner, our recommendation would be to get a high-quality LVLP spray painter. They are suitable for most tasks and also guaranteed not to break your wallet.