Airless sprayers are the fastest way to paint large areas: whole rooms, ceilings, warehouses, barns, stable blocks and long fences. This guide covers how they work, how to read tip sizes, and how to set one up and clean it.
How an airless sprayer works
The pump draws paint straight from the tin and pushes it through a hose to the gun at high pressure. The tip at the front of the gun breaks the paint into a fine, even fan. There's no air compressor and no pot to refill: you work straight from the tin.
Our 1500W airless sprayer has adjustable pressure, an 8-metre hose and a flow rate of up to 2.2 litres per minute, and it's listed for walls, ceilings, fences and warehouses.
Reading tip sizes (e.g. 517)
Airless tips use a three-digit code:
- First digit × 2 = the approximate fan width in inches at about 30 cm from the surface. A 5xx tip gives a fan of about 10 inches (25 cm).
- Last two digits = the orifice size in thousandths of an inch. A x17 tip has a 0.017-inch hole.
So a 517 is a medium all-rounder for emulsion on walls and ceilings. Smaller orifices (around 0.011–0.013) suit thin products such as stains and varnish. Larger ones (0.019–0.021) suit thicker coatings. Tips wear with use: when the fan gets narrower and the edges heavier, it's time for a new one. Browse spray guns and tips.
Setting the pressure
Start low and turn the pressure up until the fan has no heavy "tails" at the top and bottom edges. Too much pressure wastes paint and causes overspray. Too little leaves stripes. Hold the gun about 30–40 cm from the surface and overlap each pass by about half.
Filters keep you spraying
Most airless blockages come from bits in the paint. Use three lines of defence:
- Strain paint as you pour it.
- Keep the suction filter on the intake clean.
- Match the gun filter in the handle to your paint: finer mesh for thin products, coarser mesh for thick ones.
Extension poles and lights
An extension pole lets you spray ceilings, gables and tall walls from the ground, and a flexible wand reaches behind pipes and under eaves. A clip-on LED light helps you see every pass in dim barns and warehouses.
Masking and protection
Airless overspray travels further than HVLP. Mask windows, floors and fixtures with pre-taped masking film, and wear a suitable respirator, eye protection and coveralls.
Cleaning
Clean the same day:
- Release the pressure and remove the tip.
- Pump the remaining paint back into the tin.
- Run water (or the right solvent) through the pump and hose until it comes out clear.
- Clean the suction filter, gun filter and tip guard.
Safety
Airless sprayers work at very high pressure. Never put a hand or finger in front of the tip, always lock the trigger when you're not spraying, and release the pressure before changing tips or filters.
Shop airless spraying.