For contractors navigating the demands of high-volume painting projects and the challenges of applying diverse materials, the choice of equipment can significantly impact both the bottom line and client satisfaction. While traditional methods like rollers and brushes, or even air-assisted spray systems, have their place, professional paint operations increasingly turn to a different technology to meet the rigorous demands of large-scale residential and commercial jobs: the airless spray gun. This powerful tool fundamentally shifts the painting paradigm by relying on immense fluid pressure rather than compressed air, delivering paint directly from its source to the surface with unparalleled speed and effectiveness.
Unlike conventional spray guns that mix paint with a high volume of air for atomization, airless systems operate on hydraulic pressure. Paint is forced through a tiny orifice in the spray tip at pressures often ranging up to 5,000 PSI, causing it to atomize into a fine, consistent spray as it exits the nozzle. This method of atomization eliminates the need for an air compressor and associated hoses, streamlining the setup and operation. The result is a highly controlled spray pattern that ensures remarkably uniform coverage, even across vast surfaces, and drastically reduces the time spent on a project.
This reliance on fluid pressure is the key to why airless sprayers have become an indispensable asset for contractors. It enables them to handle heavier coatings – from latex paints to thick primers – that would bog down or require excessive thinning with other spray technologies. For contractors, understanding the capabilities of airless spray guns is not just an advantage but a necessity for competitive success.
Breaking Down the Benefits of Airless Spray Guns
Professional painters often opt for airless paint spray guns over air-pressure systems such as HVLP or conventional spray guns when working on larger projects and certain types of coatings. Airless setups can help maximize throughput while achieving a professional-grade finish across various substrates.
Here's a breakdown of why contractors opt for airless spray guns:
Speed and Efficiency: Airless sprayers apply paint significantly faster than air-powered systems, brushes, or rollers. They can cover large surface areas (walls, ceilings, exteriors of buildings) in a fraction of the time, dramatically increasing productivity and allowing professionals to complete more jobs.
High Volume Delivery: They pump paint at very high pressure, directly from the paint container, forcing it through a small tip.
Versatility with Materials: Airless sprayers can handle a wider range of paint viscosities, including thicker materials such as latex, primers, heavy enamels, and even some elastomeric coatings.
Direct from Container: They typically draw paint directly from a 1-gallon or 5-gallon bucket, eliminating the need to constantly refill smaller paint cups, which is common with air spray guns.
Consistent Coat: Airless sprayers produce a very uniform and consistent coat, free of brush marks or roller stipples, which is highly desirable for a professional finish on large, flat surfaces.
Excellent Adhesion: The high pressure forces paint deep into surface pores and textures, leading to better adhesion and a more durable finish. The atomized paint evenly fills in cracks, pores, and minor imperfections in the material.
Airless spray guns can also be cost-effective in the long term as the speed of application translates directly into lower labor costs per project. While initial overspray can be an issue if not properly managed, airless sprayers can achieve good transfer efficiency, meaning more paint reaches the surface compared to some air spray systems, especially on large, open areas. Newer technologies like fine finish low pressure (FFLP) can also reduce overspray.
Airless sprayers can also reduce the physical strain on the painter compared to constantly rolling or brushing. The gun itself is typically lighter than a full HVLP cup gun.
Other Factors to Consider For Your Airless Paint Sprayer Operation
In selecting airless spraying equipment, you also should consider the available power source, distance between your pump and spray gun, viscosity of the coating, operating environment, and portability. It’s also important to understand:
The different types of airless pumps such as electric, gas, and pneumatic.
The importance of tip selection for orifice size and fan width.
Which materials and substrates are ideal for an airless application (e.g., heavy coatings, latex paints, large surfaces).
Maintenance specific to airless sprayers (e.g., pump maintenance, tip cleaning).
And despite the many airless advantages, air-pressure systems like HVLP still have specific niches where they are superior for professionals. That’s where we can help with our extensive expertise and experience at Spray Equipment & Service Center. We can help you choose the right paint sprayer for every application to optimize your operation, whether you are an on-site contractor or run a production line. For more information on airless sprayers, see the Graco contractor guide or give us a call at 866-953-0526.
Even if you have the best possible equipment for your job, you will compromise your performance if you do not follow best practices for daily startup and shutdown, troubleshooting, and maintenance. We can also make sure you are compliant with OSHA rules and other regulations.
Featured Airless Spray Guns: Graco’s Silver Plus Series
The Graco Silver Plus series airless paint spray guns are highly regarded by contractors for their extreme durability, longevity, and high-pressure capability for various material applications. They are truly work-horse equipment built for heavy, continuous use in even the harshest job site environments. The Silver Plus series offers contractors an investment in productivity and long-term operational efficiency.
Let’s look at two of the most popular models in the Silver Plus Series.
Silver Plus Airless Spray Gun, RAC Tip Guard
The lightweight yet rugged design provides professional comfort during operation and lasting performance. It is crafted from durable forged aluminum, ensuring it stands up to the rigors of any job site while reducing painter fatigue during extended use. The ergonomic design features a comfortable handle and a responsive two-finger trigger, allowing for precise control and reducing strain, even on the most demanding projects.
This model is equipped with Graco's exclusive needle design, engineered for exceptional longevity and consistent performance without the need for constant adjustments, which contributes to reduced downtime and maintenance. The robust stainless steel fluid tube ensures reliable material flow and enhances the gun's overall durability and resistance to corrosive or abrasive coatings. The RAC Tip Guard offers crucial protection for the spray tip during operation.
Silver Plus Airless Spray Gun, RAC 5 517 Tip
The RAC 5 517 Tip model emphasizes versatility and an immediately ready-to-use setup. It shares the same ergonomic, lightweight, rugged forged aluminum design and comfortable two-finger trigger that minimizes fatigue and provides precise control. What differentiates this model is the Reverse-a-Clean (RAC) 5 517 SwitchTip and Guard. This popular tip size offers a 10-inch spray fan with a 0.017-inch orifice, making it incredibly versatile for spraying a wide range of medium to heavy-bodied materials with excellent transfer efficiency and a high-quality finish. This gun is engineered for faster shut-off, ensuring a cleaner and more professional outcome.
This gun is rated at 5000 PSI, solidifying its position as the preferred choice for a vast array of high-pressure applications, from standard paints to the most challenging high-solids and protective coatings.
Why Buy from Spray Equipment & Service Center for Your Airless Paint Sprayer Needs?
For many large-scale commercial painting projects, airless paint spray guns are the tool of choice for professional painters because of the speed, versatility, and ability to handle thicker coatings directly from the paint source. Our experts help you select the right commercial airless sprayers and accessories for your operation or determine a more appropriate alternative.
Spray Equipment & Service Center has been providing industrial finishing equipment to thousands of North American businesses for more than 50 years. We also provide qualified technical support and added value through:
Solutions Expertise: We listen and craft solutions to fit your unique business needs and goals.
Relationship-Focused Approach: We build trust by being responsive, meeting deadlines, and working hard to meet your highest expectations.
Industry Leadership: We have talented, experienced professionals at your service, here to keep your business as simple and profitable as possible.
We have the right equipment and parts in stock when you need them, and we are just a phone call away (800-666-6072).