The right spray gun can make all the difference between the perfect professional finish and an inferior finish with loads of wasted paint.
We supply some of the best spray paint guns in the business for most types of paint sprayers including:
- Electric Airless
- HVLP (high volume low pressure)
- High Pressure Airless
- Air
- Gravity & Suction
So, whether you’re looking for the perfect gun for painting walls and interiors, or structural steel this guide will walk you through some of the best guns around and provide some really useful advice about using your new paint spray gun.
BEST FOR | SPRAYERS | CLEANING | HOW TO USE | MIXING PAINT| SPRAY GUNS| SPECIALS
WHAT’S THE BEST SPRAY GUNS FOR:
WALLS & INTERIORS
High quality airless guns such as the TriTech T360 are ideal for spray painting walls and interiors in both DIY and contractor settings.
Automatic pressure adjustment and ergonomic design make it easy to cover large areas quickly and with exceptional results.
The use of an Ultra Finish spary tip will ensure you get that really glass smooth professional finish on even the most intricate jobs.
FENCE PAINTING
If the fence you need to spray consists of large panels with a solid surface then you’ll probably find airless/ electric or high pressure guns to be your best choice. You’ll be able to apply solid coverage really quickly with minimal wastage.
If the fence consists of more delicate or ornamental features or is on a small scale then an HVLP or a smaller airless sprayer with the TriTech 360 will give you fine control with minimal wastage.
ROOF PAINTING
Airless / electric or high pressure guns are ideal for spray painting roofs.
The higher pressure and thicker coverage means you can cover large areas quickly with a consistently thick coat. Overspray isn’t usually such an issue either.
FURNITURE
Airless paint sprayers are perfect for painting or coating furniture. With the right spray gun you can achieve a mirror like finish and perfectly even coats without any brush marks.
HVLP and airless sprayers can help you cover large areas with a high quality finish and they’re also great for tight corners and detailed work but HVLP won’t always cope so well with thicker materials.
HOME USE
Superior quality airless guns such as the TriTech T360 give you the flexibility to achieve truly professional results on all pray painting jobs around the house.
From roofs to walls and interior trims or furniture the T360 has it covered and the Ultra Finish tip gives you perfect control for the really detailed work too.
LATEX PAINT
Latex paints are water based paints that are popular because of their adhesion, washability, and speed of application. Latex paints use acrylics or polymers to bind the paint and they offer fast drying times.
Electric Airless guns and sprayer kits are the ideal choice for most latex applications on houses.
Where used for structural steel or large truck bodies (eg mine dump trucks) the High pressure airless gun is used
This is because latex paints are frequently quite thick and low pressure guns and sprayers will not atomise the paint properly leaving globules and splatter marks to spoil the finish.
WATER BASED
Water-based paints are increasingly popular because of the lower impact on the environment and the easier clean-up.
Water-based coatings are available across most types of applications from car paint to external house paints, and even stains. Water-based paints tend to be easier to prepare and may be used with most types of spray guns.
ENAMEL
Enamel paints are often used as a finishing top coat to add shine.
Enamels form a hard layer due to the binding polymers.
Enamel paints are ideal for metal, wood and plastic surfaces and are frequently used in automotive painting but getting the right mix of reducer and hardener can make working with enamel a challenge.
Choosing the right gun for enamel application will depend on the nature of your project.
Airless guns will allow you to cover large areas very quickly but they do tend to produce more overspray. HVLP guns are better for smaller areas and intricate, detailed work.
WHICH SPRAY GUNS TO USE WITH:
AIRLESS / ELECTRIC
The TriTech T360 is one of the best all-round guns available for airless/electric sprayers. Its incredible versatility across a broad range of applications and superior finish and build quality means it will deliver outstanding professional results time after time.
Airless spray guns such as the T360 have a very high transfer efficiency of between 60 and 90%. That means you’re not wasting paint and money.
It’s compatible with all leading brands of airless sprayers and the high quality stainless steel and aluminium construction means it will last for many years under professional contractor working conditions.
The T360 features a maximum working pressure of 250 bar / 3625 psi and the lightweight, beautifully balanced handle means this is one tool you won’t want to put down.
The T360 is standard issue will all our TriTech and Q-Tech sprayers and it’s available with a 4 or a 2 finger trigger.
Its bigger brother, the T720, offers the same exceptional build quality and is ideal for heavy-duty, high pressure industrial and commercial spraying up to 7500psi.
HVLP (High Volume Low Pressure)
HVLP guns use a large volume of air to atomise paint at a low pressure. This results in a large amount of paint reaching the surface (around 90%), which is great for coverage with minimal waste.
The low pressure (around 10psi) delivers highly professional results. HVLP guns are perfect for detailed work and with expensive coatings.
Because they operate at lower pressures, HVLP guns tend to be quieter. The limitation is that HVLP guns don’t cope with thick materials such as latex unless they are thinned. HVLP guns are slower and not ideal for covering large areas.
The Prona 203P gun is ideal for use with HVLP spray systems (excluding the gravity and suction type guns). A high transfer efficiency, fine atomisation, and consistent spray pattern ensures an exceptional and professional finish every time.
HIGH PRESSURE
High pressure airless spray guns are mainly used with protective coatings including heavy duty industrial, chemical and marine coatings and linings that need a higher pressure to atomise. The TriTech T720 gun is ideal for commercial and industrial jobs. A MWP (maximum working pressure) of 7250 psi (500 bar) and large sized fluid passages ensure excellent coverage and an improved flow. This is a truly professional gun that is built to last. ACME threads for easy filter change without tools.
Another type of high pressure gun is the HDS700 which has external fluid path so paint is not going through the handle. These are rated at 450 bar (6525 psi) MWP.
AIR ASSISTED
These use air pressure and fluid pressure 300 to 3,000 psi (21 – 207 Bar) to achieve atomization of the coating. This equipment provides high transfer and increased application speed and is most often used with flat-line applications in factory finish shops.
The fluid pressure is provided by an airless pump, which allows much heavier materials to be sprayed than is possible with an airspray gun. Compressed air is introduced into the spray via an air nozzle (sometimes called air cap) similar to a standard conventional spray gun. The addition of compressed air improves the fineness of atomization. Additionally unlike a pure airless spray gun, an Air Assisted gun has some control over fan spray to round spray.
The Mini Xtreme Mix air assisted gun combines quality construction and superb ergonomic design for a high level of user comfort over extended periods of time.
AIR/LOW PRESSURE
The difference between airless and air sprayer guns is that air guns use air to atomise the paint. With airless guns, hydraulic pressure atomises the paint before it passes through the air cap.
The Prona 203P gun is an example of a low pressure air spray gun. A high transfer efficiency, fine atomisation, and consistent spray pattern ensures an exceptional and professional finish every time.
GRAVITY
Gravity guns feature a paint cup that sits on top of the gun.
Paint feeds into the nozzle under low pressure, which makes them a good choice for detailed precision work. Gravity guns are not a good choice for large jobs although there is minimal paint wastage.
SUCTION
The paint cup sits underneath a suction gun. This is the traditional gun used for many years in automotive paint shops. Paint is sucked up to the gun tip where the paint is atomised.
The disadvantage is that the air pressure has to be reasonably high to draw the paint up out of the cup. This makes suction guns a little awkward in settings where a low-pressure system would provide a better finish.
HOW TO CLEAN
Cleaning your paint spray gun is an essential part of maintenance after every session.
Keeping your gun spotlessly clean ensures trouble free operation and a long life. A clean gun also delivers better performance so you won’t end up spoiling your good work with paint splatters or blocked nozzles.
Some paints and other coatings can dry extremely quickly so you should thoroughly clean your gun immediately after you finish painting. Remember too that your spray gun is a precision instrument with some finely machined parts.
Use the correct cleaning fluids and brushes for cleaning your gun. Otherwise you risk damaging the gun and inferior painting finishes will be the result.
Do not use wire brushes to clean the internal parts. Scratches on these parts can interfere with the smooth delivery of paint and the quality of spray pattern.
- Disconnect the gun from the air hose and paint supply. Aim the gun nozzle into a paint discard tin and hold the trigger down until excess paint has been expelled from the gun.
- Flush the gun out fully by replacing the paint in the gravity cup or other paint source with the appropriate cleaner (water for water-based paints, solvents for oil based paints) and hold the trigger down while pointing the gun into the discard paint tin. Repeat this step until only clean solution is being expelled.
- Clean the inside and outside of the gravity cup and other external parts. Be very thorough and pay attention to inside caps and threaded areas.
- Dismantle the gun (collar, air cap, fluid nozzle etc.) and using brushes and the correct cleaning fluid remove all paint. You can use wooden toothpicks to check the small holes in the air cap are clean and free from any paint. Do not use metal wires or brushes as these can cause significant damage.
- If you are using water to clean your gun and intend storing the gun for any length of time it pays to finish off by running some fast-drying solvent such as acetone or meths to prevent corrosion.
- Do not simply soak the gun in thinner to clean it as this can damage sensitive parts such as the rubber seals.
HOW TO USE
Good results with spray guns start with the surface preparation. Check the manufacturer’s instructions and spend some time making sure the surface is ready for painting.
Make sure the paint is correctly thinned and well mixed.
Choose the right tip for the product you want to spray. If you’re using an HVLP gun you may need to adjust the pressure. Do some test sprays on a piece of cardboard to check the adjustments and get your eye in.
Use good technique.
Maintain the tip at an even distance from the surface (around 30cms). Depress the trigger before you move onto the surface and sweep the sprayer in an even line across the surface. Hold the trigger down until after you finish each sweep. Overlap each stroke by around 40%.
Avoid laying down too thick a coat—several thinner coats are better.
Always make sure you clean your gun and paint equipment immediately after use.
HOW TO MIX PAINT
Mixing paint for spray paint guns.
Good results with spray guns start with the surface preparation. Check the manufacturer’s instructions and spend some time making sure the surface is ready for painting.
Make sure the paint is correctly thinned and well mixed.
Choose the right tip for the product you want to spray. If you’re using an HVLP gun you may need to adjust the pressure. Do some test sprays on a piece of cardboard to check the adjustments and get your eye in.
Use good technique.
Maintain the tip at an even distance from the surface (around 30cms). Depress the trigger before you move onto the surface and sweep the sprayer in an even line across the surface. Hold the trigger down until after you finish each sweep. Overlap each stroke by around 40%.
Avoid laying down too thick a coat – several thinner coats are better.
Always make sure you clean your gun and paint equipment immediately after use.
HOW TO ADJUST PRESSURE
You need to make sure the pressure is set correctly whatever type of gun and sprayer you’re using but each type of gun and sprayer manages this aspect differently. With an airless setup pressure is controlled on the pump while the spray pattern is determined by your choice of tip.
Setting your paint spray gun correctly is vital for making sure you get good results.
You need to get the correct balance of air pressure and flow of coating material for effective coverage.
If the air pressure is incorrect you will end up with a disrupted spray pattern; too high and you may get streaking and paint wastage, too low and you end up with poor separation of paint particles and excessive paint build-up.
HVLP & Air guns allow for a much greater range of adjustment and spray pattern. This gives you incredibly precise control over spray coverage and spray pattern.
Remember that wider fan patterns are good for large projects but you’ll want to reduce the fan size for those smaller more detailed jobs. Most guns have three adjustable controls that regulate the flow and pressure.
Having these adjustments does give you good control but it also means you need to optimise the gun for each and every project and for spraying different materials.
The TriTech 360 and 720 guns feature fully automatic adjustment thanks to a calibrated spring and valve stem. This ensures the trigger spring is set to provide minimum resistance while allowing a positive shut-off at maximum pressure.
QTech Q345 Airless Spray Gun
QTech Q345 airless spray guns are ideal for the painter and decorator.
The QTech Q345 features:
- Refined design and quality engineering
- Lightweight and balanced handle for ease of use
- Ergonomic 4 finger trigger pull for user comfort
- Easy to change push in gun filter – Wagner style
- High pressure swivel to prevent hose tangles
- Superior valve stem design for better spray control
- Quality aluminium forgings for maximum durability
- All wetted parts made from high quality stainless steel for strength and durability
- MWP 250 Bar – 3625 psi
- 1/4″ thread for hose connection
- 7/8″ ‘G’ thread suits QTech, Tritech, Wagner, Titan & Graco accessories
TriTech T360 Airless Spray Gun
TriTech Contractor T360 airless spray guns are ideal for the painter and decorator.
The TriTech 360 features:
- Refined design and quality engineering – all 100% made in USA
- Lightweight and balanced handle for ease of use
- Ergonomic 4 finger trigger pull for user comfort
- Easy to change push in gun filter – Wagner style
- High pressure swivel to prevent hose tangles
- Superior valve stem design for better spray control
- Aerospace quality aluminium forgings for maximum durability
- All wetted parts made from high quality stainless steel for strength and durability
Comes complete with TriTech Contractor 517 spray tip
- MWP 250 Bar – 3625 psi
- 1/4″ thread for hose connection
- 7/8″ ‘G’ thread suits Tritech, Wagner, Titan & Graco accessories
TriTech MAXX T720 Airless Spray Gun
TriTech Maxx T720 airless spray guns are ideal for spraying industrial protective coatings
The TriTech MAXX T720 features:
- Refined design and quality engineering – all 100% USA
- Lightweight and balanced handle
- Ergonomic 4 finger trigger pull
- Easy to change push in gun filter – Wagner style
- High pressure swivel to prevent hose tangles
- Superior valve stem design
- Aerospace quality aluminium forgings
- Durable and lightweight
- All wetted parts made from high quality stainless steel for strength and durability
- Comes complete with TriTech Maxx 517 spray tip
- MWP 500 Bar – 7250 psi
- 1/4″ thread for hose connection
- 7/8″ ‘G’ thread suits Tritech, Wagner, Titan & Graco accessories
Comes complete with TriTech Contractor 517 spray tip
- MWP 500 Bar – 7250 psi
- 1/4″ thread for hose connection
- 7/8″ ‘G’ thread suits Tritech, Wagner, Titan & Graco accessories
FURTHER INFORMATION
- SPRAY TIP CHART
- SPRAY PAINT TIPS
- MATERIALS
- FINISH
- HOSES
- FILTERS
- COVERAGE
- PAINT TYPES
- PAINT APPLICATION
