I want to know if I should buy additives for latex paint that I will spray with an airless pressure sprayer (not a buzz gun). I've seen the flowtrol quarts at Home Depot. Are they strongly recommended? Do they count towards the thinning oz's used to thin latex?

 

Yes, I believe they count toward the thining oz's. I would use it to thin for spraying before using water.

 

What kind of airless diaphram or piston pump? Diaphrams tend to need thinning to get a good pattern with thick paint. I've shot loads through a diaphram and never used floetrol to thin always water and it works well. Floetrol extends the drying time helping to keep a wet edge but the airless applies paint so quickly keeping a wet edge isn't a problem. I might be missing out on something though (I am always the last to know).

 

I would bet my last dollar that jeffk knows sprayers better than I do. Listen to what he said.

 

Thanks guys. The sprayer is a out of the box new Paint Crew by Wagner.
Don't know if its diagram or pump. It's .20 gal a min and 2800 psi with the large spray tip, .13 I think. Only clue I have is that it is labeled tip '513'.
It's the low end airless with the built in 2 gal paint hopper from Home Depot for $178. Rated for 125 gals a year. Just bought it to paint this job, not for any long term usage. I didn't mention the model before because I wanted to avoid bragging rights dialog from everyone that owns the 'good' professional spray equipment.
I could not help but notice that these Paint Crew's are selling like hot cakes, and stocked in the store by the dozen. That is not a testiment to their value, just their popularity amoung diy's.
I just assembled it and will be begin spraying Thursday morning, (today is tuesday). I'm spraying a complete inside residential unit, walls, ceiling and all woodwork/trim. All the same color thank goodness. Using latex paint. The paint says to thin up to 40 oz per 5 gallon.

Should I start with 20oz thinning or no thinning before test pattern spraying?
I plan on the indoor temperature to be no lower than 60 degrees. Hopefull 65 or warmer since I can turn the furnace on the night before I spray. The house is unoccuppied. By the way, I will be spraying those heat radiators too because they were already sprayed by previous painters. They are the tall models that remind me of steam radiators, not hot water, but I really don't know which. I assume they might darken over time, but that won't be a problem because this unit was a rental unit previously and thus not in good condition. The walls and ceiling are textured, which is one reason why I am spraying it.

 

The paint crew is a piston pump and a good pattern is produced by developing a high enough pressure to force the thick latex out the opening (tip). The max tip size is .x15 where the x (number) is the fan width 1/2'd and the 15 is thousands of an inch. A 615 would be a 12" fan. I would try spraying straight out of the can first. If the pattern is not good then add a cup of water at a time (to the 1&1/2 gal. in the hopper) and stir well, circulate the paint in the hose back into the hopper for consistancy and retry. There is no pressure adjustment ( every other airless has one) which is ok. so thinning is your only option. If you use a 515 tip the pressure will be slightly less but speed and amount of film build will be better (all things being equal like how fast you move the gun). For tips on spraying go to www.geocities.com/jksabrosa (my site).

 

Jeff, thanks for the good advice and that web link. I read all he had to say and was glad that I did! Definately will save me from making some boo boo's. And I made a note to bring windex to the job site. I am now 100 percent ready to tackle that rascle!

Thanks!