Using a compressor for painting. Need Advice.

I like the HVLP finish but to do the really great job they get expensive I think a 4 stage is as low as I would go. There is not much that will compare with them for clear finishes.

I have posted this before but I bought a cheap one from Graco, think along the lines of a Paint Zoom. My thoughts were that it would good for when you had like just a couple doors to do. It turned into a disaster you had to thin the paint way too much then the warm air from the turbine dried it too fast and it looked streaked.

I really like the airless with the FF tips between them and the pressure control on the unit overspray can pretty much be controlled. If someone has never used one I would suggest getting a gallon of mismatched paint, usually about $5 and go to the appliance store and see if you can get some big pieces of cardboard, then practice before you start the room.

I like the videos from The Idaho Painter on Youtube.

Compressors are configured with capacity and storage. Capacity is related to the motor hp and size of the compressor. Storage is related to tank size. Manufacturers do a decent job of matching tank and compressor and you have many to choose from and price generally follows size. Today, many inexpensive off brand compressors, tools and accessories are available and likely fine for occasional use, but I wouldn't want my paycheck dependent upon them.

Sprayers and tools will be labeled with minimum psi and cfm requirements and the same capacity specs are on all compressors. Buying a compressor that's too small for your tools will result in buying a bigger compressor.

About a decade ago I bought a 1/2 hp 1 gallon Craftsman compressor as a package with a brad nailer, about as small as you get. It gets me by. I used it with my buddy's framing nailer to stud out our 1,000 sq ft basement, but had to wait for the tank to fill after a four or five shots. When filling our SUV's tires, the tank empties in a heartbeat and then I wait for the running compressor to finish the job. This little guy is perfect for my road bicycle tires, but won't do for sprayers and tools that require a continuous supply of air. I'll cry when it dies.

For blowing out sprinkler lines, I suspect storage capacity is more important so that you get a large mass of air at one shot verses a steady flow. For that, my little guy would do if coupled to a storage tank. How big a tank, I don't know.

Wagnor makes a line of airless sprayers that I suspect will cost near same or less than a decent spay gun and save you the expense of a compressor. I had one, but after painting four of my next door neighbors cars due to wind drift, tossed it.

For one garage, I suggest an extendable paint stick with better quality roller head, 5 gallon bucket, Metal Paint Grid, 3/8" or 1/2" nap roller and top quality paint. I painted that 1,000 sq. ft. basement with 9-1/2 ft walls and full length soffits in two days from bare drywall. The paint stick lets you put both hands to work and reach the ceiling and paint bucket without ladders or bending down. Top quality paint covers in two coats, drips less, lays up great and lasts forever. I suggest spending more on paint than tools since after the job is done, only the paint is left.

Several years ago we paid a contractor to paint over the builder's standard white. They used paint sticks long enough to reach the ceiling of our two story entry. A coworker's in-law painted for a developer. As standard practice, he sprayed and back rolled with paint sticks because the sprayer left too smooth a surface.

Hmmmm . . . Since I already have my little guy, I wonder if I could pump the SUV's tire to max rating and use it as a tank to blow out the sprinklers.