sounds like the primer might need to be thinned a little

 

I thought so too, but the can and Zinsser customer service advise against it. Wondering if I should just give it a shot? How much mineral spirits should I use?

 

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They always say not to thin it but sometimes reality doesn't work that way. I had to thin my primer before spraying as well. I don't remember the ratio, but I do remember that on my first try I thinned it way too much and got streaks. Just try a small batch, and add maybe 1 Tbsp of thinner to a cup of paint. If that doesn't do it, add a little more and keep going until you get a sprayable consistency.

 

Ok, I will try to thin it and see what happens. Thank you!!

 

Paint manufactures always recommend against thinning because if it's applied too thin you might complain because it didn't cover or wear well. 95% of coatings need to be thinned in order to atomize properly with that type of gun. I always thin by eye but a spoonful of thinner to a cup full of paint would be a good starting point.

 

They’re not permitted to tell you to thin it due to VOC regulations.

 

This is actually very true for a lot of products.

And, the Flexio is a crap product. You wont get a good result from it. Thats good for spraying thompsons water seal, (which is a crap product) and thats about it. And IDK which Avanti you got, but its probably crap too.

However, oil primer isnt supposed to flow to a smooth surface, its supposed to be super sandable, so you can sand it and make it babys ass smooth. As for the topcoats you put over it, thats a whole other ballgame. How about telling us exactly what your doing and post some pics...

 

Well, the Wagner FLEXiO 2000 is a durable unit designed for the professionals. The key behind this machine is user-control — allowing you to tailor the delivery both to your base material and the viscosity of the coat.
So you should try to thin the primer as well.

 

Agreed, here’s the thing, I literally had my entire basement floor covered in cardboard, brown paper and scrap wood. I tried every. single. setting mixed with another setting, then another with another. It’s definitely the paint. I even ended up finally thinning it and that did not help. Over a period of 30 minutes I added a little bit more and a little bit more thinner after testing each time. I still didn’t get the smooth finish you know and hear of when it comes to paint sprayers.

 

I agree thin the primer

 

There's a possibility you are not properly using the spray gun....
you may be applying too much coating.

Pick one pump/one gun and learn it.... you have differently performing tools.
practice by painting all the cardboard sheets.

pay attention to when/where you trigger the gun and when/where you release the trigger.
Also learn the proper spray pattern overlap.

Quality spray finish is not as easy as it appears when practiced pros pick up a gun.

Note that Air assisted spraying is a different application technique than what you are undertaking.

Relax a bit. Have fun with it. It's an adventure in learning.

Try this YT page for tutorials....

Spray application tutorials

 

There's a possibility you are not properly using the spray gun....
you may be applying too much coating.

Pick one pump/one gun and learn it.... you have differently performing tools.
practice by painting all the cardboard sheets.

pay attention to when/where you trigger the gun and when/where you release the trigger.
Also learn the proper spray pattern overlap.

Quality spray finish is not as easy as it appears when practiced pros pick up a gun.

Note that Air assisted spraying is a different application technique than what you are undertaking.

Relax a bit. Have fun with it. It's an adventure in learning.

Try this YT page for tutorials....

Spray application tutorials

Thank you! I will check it out.

 

If you have something thats still wet 6 hours later, you are putting WWWAAAAAAYYYYYY too much material.

And I repeat: POST PICS. you're making us guess. SHOW US what it looks like.

 

If you have something thats still wet 6 hours later, you are putting WWWAAAAAAYYYYYY too much material.

And I repeat: POST PICS. you're making us guess. SHOW US what it looks like.

I figured out the issue. Cover stain cannot be used in a handheld sprayer. I ended up buying Zinsser BIN shellac primer and it’s flawless.