Airless Sprayers: This Is What Matters When Purchasing

Airless sprayers ensure a uniform surface application, offer an optimal material yield and are also very easy to use. How do the devices differ? What to look out for? Here are our tips.

Author: Jürgen Linz | Photos: Linz

Airless sprayers (pressure range approx. 80 to 230 bar) are used for larger areas and large quantities to be processed (from approx. Ten liters). Compact and lightweight low-pressure sprayers (0.7 bar, XVLP, HVLP) are ideal for processing small quantities.

Airless sprayers: membrane and piston devices

Airless sprayers distinguish technologically between diaphragm and piston devices. Membrane devices have their strengths when processing small amounts of paint or paint (e.g. Wagner SF series, Monster FF). For technical reasons, small hose lengths and inner hose diameters can be used. This means that the cleaning effort for expensive materials such as paints is significantly lower. The disadvantage is that the devices run continuously and are not suitable for spray fillers.

Piston devices switch off as soon as the preset pressure is reached. They also process spray fillers. Piston devices are available with electronic pressure control (e.g. Graco Mark series, Monster or Titan) as well as in a particularly robust version with hydraulic pressure control (e.g. Wagner HC, Monster HX). Buying tip: not only compare the performance data (maximum nozzle size and delivery rate / min.), But also the weight of the airless system. Every employee is happy for every kilogram that they don't have to carry. This is where the Monster devices stand out: they are by far the lightest in the respective performance class.

The perfect nozzle for airless sprayers

Basically, there are three airless nozzle concepts:

• 1. Classic reversing nozzles for all applications. Available in different flow rates (specified in inches) and spray angles (10 degrees to 80 degrees).
• 2. FineFinish, reversible nozzles for high-quality painting and painting work
• 3. Low-fog HEA / FFLP reversing nozzles for dispersion in the pressure range up to 110 bar

The selection of the correct nozzle size depends on the material to be sprayed and the object conditions.

A distinction is made between the bore or the passage (specified in inches from 0.007 “to 0.055“in steps of 2) and the spray angle (20 degrees to 80 degrees in steps of 10). Narrow spray angles of 20 degrees or 30 degrees are ideal for door frames.

For large-scale coatings such as doors, walls or facades 40 to 60 degrees. The sizes can be recognized by the engraved numbers: 411 means 40 degrees and 0.011 “bore. 517 means 50 degrees and 0.017”hole. Although more than 100 different sizes are available, three sizes are sufficient for 80 percent of all applications: 411 for paints, 521 for dispersion and 535 for spray filler.

Further information:

www.linz-service.de

More on the subject:

Hoses for airless devices

Low-fog spraying with airless

PraxisPlus

Equipment recommendations

Nozzle extensions: From 15 cm to 1.80 m. By combining extensions, lengths of four meters are easily possible. For example, useful for coating ceilings in industrial halls as an alternative to mobile scaffolding or risers.

Rotatable hose connectors: make it easier to roll up long hose lengths.

SprayRoller: The perfect combination of spraying and rolling in one operation. Perfect on the facade or for walls. Can be used very variably due to the combination with different nozzle extensions (15 cm / 45 cm / 90 cm).

Heating modules: Heated airless hoses heat the material to be processed and thereby change the viscosity. The result is a finer spray pattern, sustainable spray mist reduction and perfect surfaces. Particularly recommended when processing water-based paints and on the facade.