Spray a Fence?

[ctpres]

Have several hundred feet of five board fence to paint with TSC asphalt base fence paint. Did paint poles before boards went up with a brush so I know what a pain it will be to use a brush. Been thinking about low end airless paint spayer for painting house, shop and barn in the future and this may be justification to buy now - if I can spray the heavy fence paint. Anyone with experiance?

 

[MrJimi]

I don't know if your low end sprayer would spray the paint or last the job, have you considered a long nap roller?
Jim

 

[ctpres]

I don't know if your low end sprayer would spray the paint or last the job, have you considered a long nap roller?
Jim

When I say low end something like graco magnum DX about $250. Think its rated around 10 gal a month use.

 

[MrJimi]

Another thought will you have electricity to operate this a few hundred feet or will you use a generator?
and 10 gallons per month is not much, each wall 16 feet high by 50 feet wide on my building in my avatar will use 5 gallons and take me about 25 minutes to spray each wall.
Jim

 

[ctpres]

Another thought will you have electricity to operate this a few hundred feet or will you use a generator?
and 10 gallons per month is not much, each wall 16 feet high by 50 feet wide on my building in my avatar will use 5 gallons and take me about 25 minutes to spray each wall.
Jim

Have 110 at gate for operator and intercomm, also have two gen's if needed. I'm to old to paint over 120 gal a year! But I could go up a size or two on sprayer if needed just to get fence painted. I like $250 range and am thinking a brush or roller is better than over five hundred for a sprayer

 

[MrJimi]

Heck, I could write you a book on old I won't buy anymore big dollar tools for a one time use. I do like the long nap roller idea and if your fence has narrow boards you could get a smaller roller, I have bought 12" roller refills and cut them on my saw and used them on a 4" roller = cheaper and better
and you could get one of those screen things that go in a 5 gallon bucket and git R done in no time
Jim

 

[jinman]

Have several hundred feet of five board fence to paint with TSC asphalt base fence paint. Did paint poles before boards went up with a brush so I know what a pain it will be to use a brush. Been thinking about low end airless paint spayer for painting house, shop and barn in the future and this may be justification to buy now - if I can spray the heavy fence paint. Anyone with experiance?

I have a Wagner Paint Crew sprayer (about $150) and it is okay, but some units are prone to failure. I've ordered spare orings and parts for mine and have them ready. Before you buy this unit, I'd recommend reading online reviews so you know what to expect, especially cleaning technique and times. I think if I had a big job to do, I'd check into renting an airless sprayer and compare that to purchasing. I will probably buy a more expensive unit for myself since I have a cedar siding home and spraying stain is a way of life for me. I try to do 1/4 to 1/3 of the house each year.

 

[EastTexFrank]

I don't have a whole lot of experience with sprayers but I have used TSC fence paint. I honestly think that there is no way, this side of next Christmas, that you will ever get that stuff through a sprayer without massive dilution, which means you will probably have to do it 2, 3 or 4 times. I suppose you could use the same stuff to dilute it that you use on oil base paint.

I use the long nap roller method personally with touch-up using a brush. You'd be surprised how fast is goes.

 

[J_J]

When I say low end something like graco magnum DX about $250. Think its rated around 10 gal a month use.

I have used the Magnum DX sprayers quite a bit. They work fine for what you want to do. I have sprayed 1300 ft of fence, with brick columns in 95 degree heat, and it was tough on me, but the paint went on fine. I bought the fence paint from Home Depot, {sorry Jim} and it went on very well. They say to not thin the paint. I saw the fence I painted over two years ago, and it still looks good. I used a generator on the back of my golf cart, and moved the cart when necessary. I was also using a hose on a reel, probably about 75 ft. That sprayer can spray up to 2500 psi. You can get different nozzles for the gun, that allow 3 in to 12 in. I had to be careful so that I didn't spray through the fence and ruin something for someone. Cleaning your equipment is important. They make a kit for long time stowage. I also used a filter in each 5 gal bucket I used. Also keep the filter in the gun clean or replace when necessary. Cover your self well, it will get on you somehow.

The paint was latex, water clean up.

 

[czechsonofagun]

I have this cheapo spray gun from HD (Wagner I think) and used it on the barn and the fence too - worked ok, it drips some, but outside I dont really care. Beats the brush, IMHO.

 

[Tyrun]

Heck, I could write you a book on old I won't buy anymore big dollar tools for a one time use. I do like the long nap roller idea and if your fence has narrow boards you could get a smaller roller, I have bought 12" roller refills and cut them on my saw and used them on a 4" roller = cheaper and better
and you could get one of those screen things that go in a 5 gallon bucket and git R done in no time
Jim

I can see you've never tried this. I just came in from painting a 4 board fence using a long nap roller, 5 gallon bucket and screen. I have 8 Kentucky 4 board fenced paddocks of good size. The roller idea sounds fine until you try it. After about 4 sections, the long nap compacts. At that point, you have to repeatedly go over the same board to cover the "skips" because the boards are not evenly flat. That doesn't include the time it takes to brush the areas a roller can't get to, and there are many. I'm now looking for a sprayer.

 

[brin]

Home depot and Lowes sell the pump up sprayers for such application...I bought a 55 gallon drum of the Asphalt paint direct from a supplier in KY. to do our board fence ..some 2,000 feet of 3 board..and the pump up sprayer worked great ..We bought 4 of them..there were four of us painting the fence and it took us a long weekend with minimal waste...by the way the Asphalt base paint has lasted for more years than I can count..20 yrs..so far and my friend at the time did his fence in White latex...it looks awful now and has for the last 18 yrs....he has never repainted ..he would have to scrape all the fence and he has 3 times as much as me 6,000 feet...Never paint white unless you have unlimited funds...

 

[jinman]

I can see you've never tried this. I just came in from painting a 4 board fence using a long nap roller, 5 gallon bucket and screen. I have 8 Kentucky 4 board fenced paddocks of good size. The roller idea sounds fine until you try it. After about 4 sections, the long nap compacts. At that point, you have to repeatedly go over the same board to cover the "skips" because the boards are not evenly flat. That doesn't include the time it takes to brush the areas a roller can't get to, and there are many. I'm now looking for a sprayer.

Tyrun, welcome to TBN.:thumbsup: You just quoted and replied to a gent who passed away in July of 2008. I'm sure Mr Jimi meant well with his comments, but he is no longer here to defend his position. I hope your painting goes well. I too would opt for a sprayer if I could get a string of days where the wind wasn't blowing 20-30 mph. High wind and spraying just don't produce good results.

 

[Tyrun]

Sorry Jinman, I had no idea when I responded. I had just finished my third day trying that method and was frustrated. I read several similar responses on the net but unfortunately responded to his. Sometimes I wish we had some of that Texas wind here, on those hot and muggy days but you're right about the wind and spraying. I suspect you have more wire fences there than in Kentucky. I moved from an area where wire fencing was common. Here in Kentucky there are miles of these 4 board fences. They look great but require more maintenance. I've just got to find a better way, other than hiring a paint contractor. Thanks for letting me know.