Airless Sprayer vs. Air Sprayer

Airless for Large Jobs

• Airless sprayers use high pressure to force material through the nozzle, so the resultant spray is coarse and there is a lot of it. For this reason, airless is best used for fences, walls and other large areas. Because the spray is so copious, the drying paint is subject to dripping and cupping, defects that are not so noticeable on large areas.

Air Spray for Finer Jobs

• Air sprayers work by mixing air with the finish material and the resultant spray is finer and easier to control. Because of this, air spray is best suited for furniture and household fixtures like bookcases. It is also used by auto finishing professionals.

Finish Materials

• Furniture and automotive finishing professionals typically use lacquer, shellac, urethane or acrylic enamel. Since these dry quickly and are less likely to drip, they can be reduced to a thinner mixture and are thus more appropriate for an air sprayer. Airless is the best choice for latex paints and enamels, varnishes and other thick, slow-drying materials.

Airless is Easier to Use

• Because you can pour paint from the can directly into the cup of an airless sprayer, plug it in and begin spraying, it is the usual choice of the home handy person. Airless sprayers spray material faster than air sprayers so that large jobs are completed faster. It is important to remember, however, that the high pressure can force paint through the skin.

Clean-up is Essential

• Not matter which sprayer you choose, it is essential to clean up thoroughly after each use. Either type of sprayer can become easily clogged and it is easier to run solvent through the machine and thoroughly clean the tip and the cup than it is to scrape away dried material.