Rant: I dropped $300 on a 'pro' paint sprayer and it was a total waste for my garage

I was redoing my two-car garage and thought a sprayer would make it fast. This thing cost about three hundred bucks and it clogged every ten minutes with the latex paint. I spent more time cleaning it than actually painting the walls. Ended up finishing the job with a roller in half the time. Has anyone actually had a GOOD experience with these for a basic DIY paint job?

3 comments

3 Comments

sean_robinson2mo ago

Yeah but @ben_wright97, how much thinning are we talking? I've heard you can mess up the paint if you add too much water.

blair_fox71mo ago

Watch people overthink mixing paint and it reminds me of every recipe comment section. Someone will ask "how much salt" and you get fifty replies ranging from a pinch to three tablespoons, each person swearing their way is the only way to not ruin dinner. Same energy here. You just have to start with less than you think, test it on some cardboard, and add a tiny bit more if it's spitting. The fear of messing up often causes more problems than just trying the thing.

ben_wright972mo ago

That's a real shame about your experience. A good sprayer can be a game changer if you get the prep and paint mix right. Thinning that latex paint is not just a suggestion, it's a must for most machines in that price range. The learning curve is steep and messy at first. Once you dial it in, though, the speed and finish on large, open spaces like a garage are hard to beat. It just takes some practice and maybe watching a few tutorials to avoid the constant clogs.