Mixing Paint for Spraying

It’s important to know about mixing paint if you’re going to use a paint sprayer. The paint has to be thin enough to run through the tiny nozzle of the sprayer. At the same time, if the paint is too thin, you’ll end up with very poor coverage. Finding the perfect balance is vital when mixing paint.

Step 1 - Type of Paint

What you use when mixing paint will depend on the type of paint you’re using. You can thin latex paint with water but if you plan on using an oil-based paint, you’ll need mineral spirits to thin it. Some paints can also be thinned with other products. You’ll need to look on the can for the manufacturer’s recommendations. Be aware, however, that some paints can’t be thinned; if this is the case, it will say so on the can.

Step 2 - Safety

Since oil-based paints can sometimes give out toxic fumes, you should always wear a face mask when you’re working with them as well as safety goggles to protect your eyes when actually spraying the paint.

Step 3 - Straining Paint

Even the best-shaken paint can still contain lumps and these will quickly clog a sprayer. The first step in mixing paint is to pour it through a paint strainer into another container. The strainer will catch all of the lumps, leaving you with a much more usable liquid.

Step 4 - Testing

Before mixing the paint with thinner, test to see how it sprays. Put a little in the sprayer container and spray it onto a test board. If it sprays well, comes out in a fine mist and gives good coverage, you won’t need to thin it at all. If the flow is interrupted, you will need thin the paint.

Step 5 - Mixing

Add a little water or thinner to the bucket of paint and stir thoroughly. When mixing paint, the recommendation with latex paint is 1/4 cup of water to 1 gallon of paint. Put in the sprayer and try it again. For oil-based paint, start with a smaller amount of thinner.

Step 6 - More Mixing

You can also experiment with different spray tips on the paint sprayer when you’re mixing paint. Always test the paint and spray tips on a test board before you cover a wall. Continue experimenting with thinner until you achieve a good consistency and excellent coverage.

Step 7 - Sprayer

If you’re using a cheap paint sprayer when mixing paint, you should be aware that you might have problems with it as the cheap manufacturing methods involved in building them means they rarely work properly. If you have a large area to spray, you might do better to rent an industrial quality sprayer.

After experimenting with different tips, clean them thoroughly in mineral spirits before you spray the wall or ceiling. Don’t expect perfect coverage with a single coat of paint. It’s much better to use 2 or 3 thin coats of paint, letting each one dry before spraying again.