Spray painters are great for adding primer, painting vehicle surfaces, mixing and matching colors, and applying finishing coats. But it doesn’t stop there. Spray paint guns can be used for so much more than the few tasks I listed above.
In addition, spray painters can handle many types of paint but to get the best results you may have to make some adjustments, and that’s what we’re going to look at today.
You can spray a wide variety of different paints with a spray gun as long as the paint is thin enough to avoid clogging the gun. Latex, water-based paint, acrylic, primers, vinyl, alkyd, lacquer, enamel, high-heat paint, oil-based paint, epoxy, rust-preventive paint, and plastic paint can all be used with a paint sprayer but results may vary depending on which paint sprayer and turbine you are using in combination with the viscosity of the paint.
Talking about spray paint guns is usually confusing because there are different types of guns and they’re not equally good at handling all paints, and with the variety of paints available on the market it can get quite confusing.
Simply saying that any paint gun can spray any paint isn’t nearly enough, you need to understand how well it handles the paint in order to get the best results.
What Paint Can You Put in a Paint Spray Gun?
Understanding how the spray paint guns work and what they’re made for will be the foundation of your competence. Before we jump into the paints, let me share a few details that will come in handy once we start talking about the paints.
The two primary paint sprayers that are most commonly used for at-home painting are HVLP and LVLP-paint sprayers, they’re also known as high-volume low-pressure and low-volume low-pressure spray painters. Other popular alternatives include; airless sprayers, airbrushes, and compressed air sprayers.
- HVLP: High volume, low pressure
This paint spray gun atomizes paint at a much faster rate than an LVLP. The pressure that forces the paint to the nozzle and then out through it onto the surface is at 10 PSI or more, which is higher than the low-volume counterpart.
This paint sprayer is great for spraying thinner materials but may have trouble spraying thicker paints, such as oil-based paints and primers, at 10 PSI. For more demanding paints the HVLP may need a powerful compressor to produce the best results.
- LVLP: Low volume, low pressure
The low-volume gun is oftentimes used for its ability to produce more precise details, as a direct result of lowering the pressure, which minimizes the spread. Furthermore, this makes the LVLP a very attractive alternative for low-viscosity paints.
While the LVLP can be used for latex, primers, lacquers, water-based paints, and automotive paints, it’s not always the best option but can be used as your last resort.
- Turbine To Power The Machine
These machines need power in order to generate enough pressure to spray paint. Different paints will demand different levels of power in order to be sprayed seamlessly. The machines get their power from an exterior unit – a turbine.
The more power the project demands, the bigger (and oftentimes pricier) the turbine must be. The power provided and required is graded in “stages” with 2 being the lowest and 5 being the highest output. Compressors can then be added to increase power further.
These guns are used for different types of projects and paints, picking the wrong one will garner sub-optimal results compared to what can be achieved with the right paint in the right gun.
Regardless of which paint you go for, it’s imperative that you thin the paint by using either water or any other thinning agent, such as mineral spirits or acetone before spraying the paint through your paint sprayer.
Let’s take a look at each paint, specifically.
Can You Use Water-Based Paint in a Paint Sprayer?
Water-based paints are some of the most environmentally-friendly paints available on the market. Water-based paints consist of a binder and a pigment with water being used as the carrier. They dominate the market for interior painting and can be used for walls, ceilings, interior and exterior wood and metal, and much more.
They’re both used by hobby painters and professionals, regardless of their level of skill. Oftentimes applied using a brush or a roller, which is much more time-consuming than using a spray painter. Yes, water-based paints can absolutely be used in a paint spray gun and produce great results if applied correctly.
In order to spray water-based paints (acrylic and latex) you will need a minimum of a stage 4 turbine but a 5 would be preferable and paint thinning will be required in most cases. Using cheaper turbines will require you thin the paint to the point where it’s no longer usable.
Painting a wall using a brush or a roller will take a lot more time than it would if you were using a spray paint gun. For those who don’t feel comfortable using a spray painter for the fear of making mistakes. Don’t worry – there are a ton of guides available on Youtube that will show you how to do it.
There seems to be a perception regarding water-based paint and it’s durability-levels. People may think that it’s not nearly as hard-wearing as it’s solvent-counterparts but that’s not actually true. You can expect pretty much the same lifespan and quality when using water-based paint.
Can You Use Acrylic Paint in a Spray Paint Gun?
Acrylic paint is actually one of the water-based paints that we use on a regular basis for our household projects. Since it’s water-based, you know it can be used in a spray paint gun for faster and better results, as we talked about above.
Again, using a stage 4 or 5 turbine is required and a little bit of paint thinning will most likely also be needed when spray-painting acrylic paint. You may be tempted to use a lower-staged spray painter that comes at a cheaper price but the results will not be desirable to anyone so it’s much better to spend a little extra for good results the first time around.
Can You Use Latex in a Paint Sprayer?
Yes, you can spray paint latex. The most effective way of doing so is with an airless sprayer, which you may be able to rent from your local paint store for no more than 100 bucks if you live in the US.
Other sprayers can also handle latex but they will require you to thin the paint to the right consistency to avoid clogging the nozzle. While latex is a water-based paint, it’s still very, very thick and will need to be thinned in order for the paint sprayer to be able to distribute it evenly.
Latex should be thinned down with water, as water is the main carrier of the solids in latex paints. You can use an HVLP gun when spraying latex but it needs a lot of power and the paint must be thin enough, which is why I strongly recommend getting an airless sprayer for projects that involve latex paint.
Can You Use Primer in a Paint Spray Gun?
Primers can be applied using a brush, a roller or a spray painter and they’re all eligible. Spray painting can be advantageous because it’s less time-consuming and creates the perfect solid base to apply your top coats of paint on.
The ability to create even coats the way the spray painter does is hard with a brush or a roller unless you’re very skilled.
Some primers may be too thick to put in a spray painter and need to be thinned prior to spraying them through the paint sprayer to avoid clogging.
Some primers are, however, formulated to be applied with spray painters and will come at the perfect viscosity straight out of the can. Some primers can even be rendered useless when thinned so do your research before you start spraying.
Avoid thinning the primer if possible. I think it’s better to get a primer that’s already ready to be sprayed right from the get-go.
Can You Use Gloss Paint in a Paint Sprayer?
Spraying gloss is not recommended. First and foremost, it contains cyanide and will pose a potential threat to your health.
To counteract the toxins floating in the air you will need a clean air supply, and preferably an air purifier with a HEPA-filter that runs for a couple of days before you should even consider spending time on-site without wearing proper protective equipment.
Applying gloss paint with a sprayer will require precise consistency to avoid clogging. The downside is that you may compromise the integrity of the gloss paint by thinning it, reducing the quality of the final product.
Thinning gloss paint should be done outside to avoid the build-up of fumes. A good portion of the sprayed paint will become airborne, leaving you with a very sticky air full of toxins lingering in the room.
You can spray paint gloss but it demands proper preparations and can be quite expensive when you consider all of the gear you should take into consideration to protect yourself.
Hiring a firm or applying it with a roller is probably going to be the better alternative in this case, even though it may be either more expensive or time-consuming than spray painting.
Can You Use Lacquer in a Paint Sprayer?
Yes, lacquer can be used in a paint sprayer, preferably using a fine tip as it makes it easier to atomize the paint, which is a bit more important when spraying lacquer than it is when spraying latex.
Applying lacquer with the right tools will give the smooth, and perfect finish that every project you undertake deserves to get.
I’ve been using the Graco Magnum for lacquer application for a good while now and it’s made such a big difference, making it easier for me to justify the purchase, even though it’s a budget option within its category.
On a final note; it’s important to clean your tools thoroughly to prevent the lacquer from mixing with other paint. There will almost always be particles left in your pump when you’ve finished spraying. You could end up with specks and globs in your paint if the lacquer is sprayed through a sprayer that’s got leftover paint particles in it.
The best option is to switch between two different pumps and to have dedicated equipment for the sole purpose of spraying lacquer, but since that’s not an option for everyone, cleaning the sprayer properly will be the second-best option.
Can You Use Enamel in a Paint Sprayer?
You can spray paint enamel using a paint spray gun but you may have to mix it with a thinning agent. If you thin it too much, it won’t cover the surface effectively so look for the right ratio on the label to make sure you do it right.
I won’t provide general ratios as there are far too many products available on the market and I won’t be able to guarantee success. The label should however give you all of the information needed regarding how much of your thinning agent the product can take.