[ohmzoned1]

After doing a bunch of research on stains for my untreated cedar fence, I came to the conclusion that Ready Seal is my best bet for staining. The fence is 1 year old and has not had any treatment/stain applied so I think it is just considered rough cut. I do not believe it is considered milled since it is not perfectly smooth. I also got a moisture meter so I can check before starting.

I have a few questions about the application - in life I have found that having the right tool makes all the difference in the world. Assuming I am going to have to restain the fence every few years, I don't mind buying the right tools to make the job easier since I consider them a bit of an investment.

The fence is 300' linear feet of 6x8 solid panels, basically a cedar wall. I will have to stain both sides since I have neighbors on all sides. What is the best way to approach this? I was considering an airless sprayer, but there seems to be a lot of potential overspray which I don't want given the size of the fence I am staining.

Then I saw HVLP sprayers and this seems a bit more of the appropriate tool for the job. There are a few models I am considering, but I would love to get all of your thoughts...

• Erlex HV5500 ($300) : Hose and sprayer has a tendency to pop out, and is it only 1 quart at a time?
• Wagner FLEXiO 970 HVLP - $200, lots of over spray, pulls from 5 gallon and 1 gallon directly
• Graco Magnum 257025 ($235) Project Painter Plus Paint Sprayer- pulls from 5 gallon bucket
• California Air Tools 5 gallon pressure pot sprayer $350

Or do I just put in the labor and stain it with a brush and a roller and some friends with beer?

Thanks!

 

[Windows on Wash]

You might find that for 300' and not working with it that much, the airless might be more work by the time you prep, worry about overspray, and clean it up.

 

[ohmzoned1]

That was my thought as well which is why I was asking about the HVLP sprayers... any suggestions on if that is a more appropriate tool, or am I looking at good old paintbrushes and rollers?

 

[Windows on Wash]

Depends on how close you are to stuff. Typically its good, even with a sprayer, to back roll them to push the stain in. If you have one, you can still use it if you are good with it and are aren't worried about getting it on a bunch of stuff. If you are close to folks, it might be more work than its worth.

 

[mark sr]

I couldn't imagine using any type of cup gun to spray a fence. I'd use an airless and back roll ...... or just use a roller and brush.

 

[Bondo]

Ayuh,..... No matter what sorta sprayer you use, there'll be plenty of over-spray,.....

I suggest a 4" brush, 'n the biggest roller you can find,......

 

[mark sr]

I've sprayed a lot of fences but overspray is something you have to take into account - before you start!

 

[ohmzoned1]

Hmm... so am I hearing that I am about to paint my 300' (600' both sides) with a brush and a roller? The HVLP systems make it look so easy, but I guess the overspray is something the neighbors (in their white sided houses) probably don't want to deal with. Same for the cars on the nearby driveways. Does HVLP overspray significantly, or is that the airless sprayer?

If I do it manually, maybe I will get two of these (one for each of us): Roller Handle

How about this one? Smart Paint Roller

Final thought... would a garden sprayer + roller work to help speed things up?

 

[Calson]

A lesser airless sprayer from Wagner will be fine for stains applied to wood. If you plan to use it for latex paint then it is a different matter. With the airless sprayer that has its own cannister for the stain your only need will be for a long enough extension cord.

I found that the coverage indicated by the stain product manufacture was half of the actual coverage I actually got on my own fencing.

 

[ohmzoned1]

Thanks to everyone for the input, I think I am going to go with rolling/painting by hand. They say 625 sqft/5 gallons. My math is something like this:

[32 (panels) * (6x8) * 2 (sides)] + (34*.5*2(sides) posts)= 3072 + 34 = 3106 sq/ft + 10% overage = 3416 sq ft/625 = 5.5 gallons. I think I will order 6, 5-gallon containers so I can also stain other things in the yard. Hopefully I don't need to go up to 12, 5-gallon containers... this will turn into quite an expensive project. Also kicking myself for not just getting vinyl....

 

[mark sr]

They say 625 sqft/5 gallons.

That doesn't sound right. Paint normally goes 400 sq ft per gallon on smooth surfaces. Obviously rough sawn wood will take more stain than something smooth. Site unseen I'd guess 300 sq ft per 1 gallon.

 

[ron45]

My weapon of choice.

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Husqvarna-...MIvOTBlKTR6AIVhojICh23jwDMEAkYAiABEgIlGvD_BwE

 

[mark sr]

A pump up garden sprayer is only capable of spraying very thin stains. Generally the thicker the stain the longer it will last.

 

[ohmzoned1]

That doesn't sound right. Paint normally goes 400 sq ft per gallon on smooth surfaces. Obviously rough sawn wood will take more stain than something smooth. Site unseen I'd guess 300 sq ft per 1 gallon.

According to the Ready Seal FAQ, it says "125 sqft/gallon" which is what I was basing my estimates on. I will buy it from a big box store so I can return it if I get too much.

 

[ohmzoned1]

My weapon of choice.

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Husqvarna-...MIvOTBlKTR6AIVhojICh23jwDMEAkYAiABEgIlGvD_BwE

Have you used this with Ready Seal? I don't think it is a very thick stain, but not sure. According to the Ready Seal application site, you can use "Pump-Up Garden Sprayer: any mid-range or higher quality sprayer."

 

[ron45]

Have you used this with Ready Seal? I don't think it is a very thick stain, but not sure. According to the Ready Seal application site, you can use "Pump-Up Garden Sprayer: any mid-range or higher quality sprayer."

You can get different size nozzle tips.

I just used the one that came with it.

I used mine for many different things and never had a problem. Just make sure to clean it good

Fences, decks, siding, decontamination, weed kill, in carpet and furniture cleaning etc....

 

[Dave Sal]

I have about the same length of cedar fence around my yard. I've stained it with a spray gun and compressor about 20 years ago and gave up after about an hour and switched to a roller and brush combo. I found that I was refilling the cup too often and not getting even coverage. Granted, it was my first time using a spray gun but the roller made relatively quick work of the job.

 

[RanK2]

If my math is correct, your 300' of 6' fence gives you 3600 sq ft of surface, which will probably take 15 to 20 gallons. Any 'cup gun' type sprayer will wear you out as you will be holding a cup full of paint in one hand the whole time.

'Over spray' with an airless is caused by two things: 1. Too high pressure (which actually causes the coating to 'bounce off' the surface), or 2. Wind. ...... So if you can get the pressure low enough, and still get the coating to 'atomize', you should be OK.

My second choice would be an HVLP, but I would want a larger unit or it could take forever. The trick with the HVLP is the 'LP' (low pressure), no 'bounce back'.

But again, I would go airless. ...... I just painted my son's rental house and his neighbor let him use his brand new airless from Harbor Freight ($169). Worked fine, done in a day. I would expect you to complete the fence in a day, so the set up, and clean up time would be worth it. ........ Advice: don't let it set too long once you start, and clean it good when done. ........ When they work right, it's almost fun ........ almost.