How to Spray Latex With HVLP

Water-based latex paint being sprayed through an HVLP spray gun must be properly thinned prior to application. It's important to keep in mind that as you spray latex with an HVLP spray gun, a tremendous amount of overspray will be created, particularly if you are spraying indoors. For this reason, you must make certain to properly mask off or cover anything that you don't want to get paint on prior to beginning the painting process.

Air compressor with air lines
Paint strainer
Latex paint thinner
Paint cup

Instructions

- 1
  Place the paint cup on a steady, level surface, and then fill it to 2/3 full with the latex paint.
- 2
  Pour the latex paint thinner into the paint cup, stirring with the paint stick until you have reached the consistency of penetrating oil. The paint should run quickly in a continuous line off of the paint stick, but not drip.
- 3
  Place the paint strainer over the paint gun's reservoir cup, and then pour the paint through the strainer. Replace the paint reservoir's cap, and then plug the air line into the HVLP spray gun's air fitting.
- 4
  Adjust the air pressure for the spray gun to 20 psi. The knob for the air pressure is located at the base of the spray gun, where the air line meets the spray gun base. Next, adjust the spray pattern by adjusting the knob located on the side. Turning the knob counterclockwise opens the spray pattern up all the way.
- 5
  Adjust the fluid control valve. This is the knob on top and in the back of the spray gun, located above the webbing of your thumb and forefinger. This controls how far back the trigger can be pulled. You should be able to pull the trigger back at least 3/4 of the way back.
- 6
  Hold the spray gun between 12 and 16 inches from the surface being painted and pull the trigger. Move steadily along, holding the spray gun a consistent distance from the surface. Avoid moving too slowly, as this will cause the paint to run.

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