How to paint with compressor?

Paint with compressor

An air compressor to paint can help you save money and time while saving the planet. If you decide to use it, you will help reduce the contamination of aerosol thrusters.

If you want to learn how to paint with them here we leave you a guide.

First, a list of the things you will need:

Mask (or gas mask)
Safety goggles
Gloves
Masking tape (painter's)
Newspaper or old cloth
Air compressor with regulator (and a dryer, preferably)
Air hose and couplings
Spray gun
Paint and thinner
Sandpaper

Before you start painting you must prepare the area in which you want to paint along with all the instruments.

First, you must select the paint and thinner. Oil-based finishes are easier to use with a compressor torch, but acrylics and latex paints can also be used. If you add a suitable diluent, the more viscous paint will run freely through the siphon tube, the metering valve, and the nozzle.

Prepare the area where you will paint. Place a protective cloth or plastic, old wood or other material on the floor, or on the furniture. For “fixed” jobs, such as the one shown in the photo, you will need to protect adjacent surfaces and ensure you have adequate ventilation.

Protects the surfaces of the paint that is “exceeded” with masking or painter's tape and painter's paper or newspapers; If you do the work outdoors and with wind, the particles can fly farther than you expect.

Rest the paint and thinner on a suitable surface so that the splashes do not damage anything.Put on a mask or gas mask, safety goggles and gloves.

This will keep you clean and protect you from dangerous particles and gases.

Prepare the surface to paint. Polish, brush, or sand the rust and corrosion of the metal, remove the oil, dust, dirt, and make sure it is dry. Wash the surface: for oil-based paints, use turpentine; For latex or acrylic paints, use soap and water. Rinse thoroughly.

And finally, apply a coat of primer if necessary. You can use the blowtorch to apply this first layer (following the steps as if they were paint) or apply with a brush or roller. When you finish, sand it so that it is smooth if necessary.

Now, you must prepare the compressor to perform this work. Here we explain in simple steps how to do it:

Turn on the compressor. You will use some air for the primer layer and to test the blowtorch, so let it raise pressure while preparing to paint. The compressor should have a regulator that allows you to set the torch pressure correctly.

Adjust the compressor regulator between 12 and 25 LPP (pounds per square inch). The exact amount will vary depending on your torch, so take a look at the manual (or the same equipment) for details.

Adjust the hose coupling to the torch. You must make sure it is well adjusted. We recommend wrapping the thread with Teflon tape to seal possible air leaks. This does not apply if your torch is equipped with a quick coupler.

Pour a small amount of thinner into the paint container. (It is the container attached to the bottom of the sprayer).

Use only enough to dip the siphon tube into it.

Open the dosing valve slightly. This is usually the lowest of the two screws on the handle (gun grip) of the sprayer.

Prepare the sprayer. Put the mouthpiece in a non-serving bucket and pull the trigger. It is likely that it takes a few seconds for the spray system to fill with liquid, so at first, only air will come out of the nozzle. After that, you should get a diluent flow. If there is no liquid coming out of the nozzle, you may have to disassemble the sprayer to check for loose seals or obstructions in the siphon tube.

Empty any remaining diluent from the spray container. You can use a funnel to return the diluent to its original container. Turpentine and turpentine (two common diluents) are flammable solvents and must be stored in their original containers.

We already have all the tools ready to paint with compressor. Below are the steps you must follow to paint:

Mix enough paint to do your job. After opening the can of paint, mix it carefully. If the paint was stored for a long time, it would be good to strain it through a paint filter to remove any clumps of hardened paint.

Dilute the paint with an appropriate diluent. The exact proportion of paint and thinner will depend on the type of paint, nozzle, and blowtorch. In general it should be reduced by 15 to 20% to obtain a good flow.

Fill the paint container in about 2/3 parts and place it on the torch. If the torch canister fits on the bottom of the sprayer with clamps and hooks or screws, be sure to adjust them properly.

Hold the sprayer about 5-10 inches from the surface.

Practice moving the sprayer from side to side, from top to bottom and parallel to the surface.

Squeeze the trigger to spray the paint. Keep the torch moving while the trigger is tight to avoid dripping caused by excess paint.

Make each paint pass slightly overlap. In this way, the thin edges of the spray pattern will not leave small dots in your final work. Run the gun quickly so you avoid getting the paint thicker while painting.