Spray Painting Equipment
The technique of spray painting is basically the use of certain tools that use compressed air to atomize and distribute paint onto a surface or medium. There are many types of spray painting equipment that may be used for this purpose, dependent upon the actual preference of an individual.
For example, one very popular trend is the airbrush temporary tattoo that many people subscribe to get just for the sake of having temporary tattoo artwork on their bodies. This uses a small, handheld airbrush that functions like most air brushes, using compressed air to place hypoallergenic or special paint onto the skin. There are many tattoo businesses that use this method for family gatherings and special occasions.
Another type of equipment that is used for spray painting in an industrial capacity is the air gun. This tool uses a variety of nozzles, has a gun-like trigger mechanism, and is connected directly to an air compressor. Paint is released upon trigger activation and the area being sprayed is actually quite large – requiring an experienced operator to ensure that the coat of paint is sprayed evenly onto the surface.
Usually the procedure is repeated back and forth so that the surface receives an even coating, thickness depending upon preference. The tendency of this technique is that the paint may be too overdone (overspray) and requires that the surface being sprayed be placed on rollers to ensure that all areas are covered.
Somewhat similar to the air gun, is the low pressure type of gun or HVLP (high volume and low pressure). The HVLP gun usually requires a regulator to control the pressure being used as well as a type of vacuum turbine that distributes the air into the gun.
The high volume air is for carrying the particles, and the low pressure allows for better control of the paint distribution. This allows for more areas to be covered with less waste of paint, and less particles that add to air pollution. This type of tool is commonly used for furniture, architectural finishes, and painting works on cars.
Similar to the HVLP gun, there is also the low volume, low pressure gun (LVLP). This uses the same concept except for it requires low air volume to start with. This type of tool is utilized in more or less the same manner as the HVLP gun.
From these two main types of air distribution, a variety of methods in spray painting have evolved. There is the electrostatic method, the rotational bell, the electric fan, and the airless method that uses a type of pump in its system to distribute the paint. Of course, one cannot rule out the existence of the ever-popular spray paint cans that use compressed air and is a handy tool for graffiti artists.