Latex paint and auto paint gun?

[Code54]

We bought a new outside door for the porch and was thinking it would be better to spray it before I install it. Wife got some of the better outdoor latex paint and I was wondering if anyone has used an auto paint gun to spray latex paint? Anything special to do other than thin it down a bit? Does it work?
Thanks

 

[jaxs]

Viscosity of latex is much to thick for a sprayer suitable for auto paint. Since you bought"better quality latex",use a better quality brush to apply and it should look great. Don't apply nor dry in direct sun and if temperature is above 75f,apply indoors.

 

[kenmac]

I don't think you'll be able to spray with auto sprayer. Latex is way too thick.
I bought a wagner from wal mart that will spray straight latex.

 

[Deere Dude]

Save the latex paint for a dog house and get some Rustoleum and thin to specifications. It will have a nice smooth finish.

 

[Code54]

Thanks all! I was a little afraid of that, oh well we can brush paint it, not a big deal.

Need it to match the trim and such so she had some mixed and at $40+ a gallon I will just brush it on in the garage out of the sun.

 

[KennyG]

If you are concerned about finish and brush marks, you might try adding a little Floetrol. It seems to me it helps a bit.

 

[3Ts]

No, you can't spray latex with an auto paint gun even if you thin it. I've tried, it doesn't work even if you thin it beyond what the mfgr says is the maximum amount of water that can be added.

I second the addition of Floetrol. Be sure to get the right one. There's one for latex and another for oil based.

Also, if you really want to spray it, there are latex paint sprayers that work well, but the surface texture is different than if you brush the same paint. It's more of a matte finish instead of a shiny surface.

 

[Code54]

Thanks - I look for some Floetrol!

 

[not2old]

More than forty years ago, I serviced DeVillbiss spray guns. I kept a JGA for personal use because it was made with stainless internal components that allowed it to be used with latex, but admit that I've never done that with it. It is smaller than the guns used by body shops and was the choice of furniture makers. This suggest to me that using latex in a standard gun would ruin it. I don't know for sure.

 

[EddieWalker]

Latex paint is water based and it is thinned all the time with water to spray it. The trick is to do it in layers since so much water is needed to get it thin enough to spray. For a door, I wouldn't go through the effort.

As mentioned Floetrol will help reduce brush strokes and give you a smoother finish, but it's mostly a waste of money and not needed for nice results.

When I paint a door with latex, I use a four inch roller and a Best quality smooth finish roller. I do it in two coats since it's so easy to create drips on a door. Paint it fairly dry the first time and don't worry to much if its thinner in some areas then others. Then after an hour, do it again, also as dry as you can keep the roller and still get paint on the door.

Then use the softest 1 1/2 inch brush that you can find. Soft is the secret. Compare everything on the rack, you'll find one that is a lot better then the others. Again, paint it as dry as you can so you avoid creating runs.

I always paint doors while on the hinges with a length of paper under the door. Sometimes I'll use a tarp, but only if I need the tarp for other things.