How to Paint Trim With an Airless Sprayer

Prepping the Trim Work

• 1

  Fill nail holes in finish with wood putty using your fingers and a stiff putty knife.

• 2

  Sand rough wood areas with 100- or 120-grit sandpaper.

• 3

  Caulk seams with a caulking gun.

• 4

  Cut off wood fibers with a utility knife.

• 5

  Vacuum dust and wood particles along the edge of the baseboard, window sills and door trim headers.

Preparing the Airless Sprayer for Priming and Painting

• 6

  Remove the lid from the primer and submerge the airless sprayer's siphon tube into the paint.

• 7

  Place the return hose into an empty 5-gallon bucket.

• 8

  Set the pressure control knob to its lowest setting.

• 9

  Set the prime/spray valve to "Prime."

• 10

  Set the on/off switch to "On" to engage the primer pump. Watch the end of the return hose in the 5-gallon bucket. When primer paint flows out of it, switch the prime/spray valve to the "Spray" setting.

Priming and Painting the Trim

• 11

  Hold the spray gun inside the bottom of the 5-gallon bucket, pointing the tip toward the side. Pull the trigger to release the pressure on the gun to allow the cleaning agents stored in the hose and sprayer to drain out. Spray until you see primer paint coming out.

• 12

  Stand at one end of any given section of trim, holding the gun perpendicular to its surface. Turn the spray pressure up using the pressure control knob.

• 13

  Position the gun between 14 and 18 inches away from the trim and begin moving your hand in the direction you'll be spraying before pulling the trigger. This practice of moving before pulling the trigger will help you avoid piling up too much paint in one given area.

• 14

  Walk parallel to the wall, keeping the gun at an even distance from the trim throughout the entire length of the section.

• 15

  Allow all primed trim to dry, then sand with 120-grit sandpaper. Repeat steps 2 through 4 of the third section for finish-coat application.