Paint sprayer makes our hands free to keep a painting job on track with ease. A Paint job is not a difficult task anymore. Every type of paint sprayer comes with different specifications and performance capacity.
That’s why there are lots of options available for a paint spray system. Airless and HVLP sprayer is one of them. So, which to choose between the airless vs HVLP sprayer?
The manufacturer knows well why we need such types of the sprayer. Considering our necessity, they are continuously improving the spray technology. As a result, we have an airless paint sprayer, an HVLP sprayer, and many more.
However, choosing a sprayer among both options is a bit tricky. Based on the preference, you need to find out which one suits your paint job. In that regard, we tried to focus on tech as well as the performance on the HVLP vs airless sprayer issue.
Airless vs HVLP Sprayer:
Without getting every detail about it, you can’t pick the right option. It can even ruin your painting and decorating projects. Below, all the particular differences between airless and HVLP paint sprayers are briefly discussed, along with the benefits and drawbacks.
What Is An HVLP sprayer?
HVLP sprayer uses a high volume of air and low pressure that ensures high transfer efficiency. Such efficiency ensures better coating on the surface. Additionally, this sprayer draws attention because of its two separate chamber systems.
Both chambers have different roles to play. One is for the fluid, and the other one is for air. But all the fluid can be used, adopting different methods by the user like a suction cup, gravity, pressure pot, or cup.
HVLP is used to break the coating and ensures fine results. That means HVLP spray is good for a high-quality finish.
What Is an Airless Paint Sprayer?
An airless paint sprayer is best for atomizing the fluid as well as the pressure. But it doesn’t use air pressure. So to get the best finish, this sprayer is not perfect as HVLP.
When you need to ensure high volume paint, then use an airless paint sprayer. It can do this job better than HVLP.
On top of that, such a sprayer is available in both gas-driven and electric models. So based on your situation, this sprayer could be the best choice for you.
What Are The Differences Between Airless and HVLP sprayers?
We love to discuss the main functional differences between airless and HVLP sprayers. Besides, we also pointed out some most crucial differences, and these are given below.
Compressor and Atomizing System
Atomizing system of paint sprayers creates the basic difference in the performance. The airless paint sprayer doesn’t come with any compressor. To siphon the paint, it has a pressurized pump mechanism. That’s how the fluid flows through the line to the prey tip and starts to atomize.
On the other hand, HVLP includes a compressor. That’s how it can atomize the paint. Additionally, this sprayer allows to attach a cup full of paint and goes to the spray tip through the nozzle.
Over Spray Factor
An airless sprayer is known for the high pressure, where HVLP doesn’t offer such volume of pressure. For example, if your airless sprayer gives 2000 PSI for a certain job, then HVLP needs 10 PSI. But such low pressure can ruin most things like floors or furniture.
Quality Finish
In terms of finishing quality, HVLP is the best option. The only reason is its low pressure. Additionally, HVLP offers more control over the pain flow as well. That’s how it’s best to get the perfect coating thickness for the specific spray pattern and finish.
On the other hand, an Airless sprayer may not give such a quality finish, but using the right size and type of tip gives almost similar results as HVLP. To produce a high-quality finish, get the tip that suits your paint job.
Thin Paint
An airless sprayer doesn’t thin the material, but it’s powerful enough to pump the paint. HVLP sprayer required thin paint because of the orifices. Airless doesn’t require thinning paint, where HVLP does.
Cleaning
HVLP sprayer required more clean-up process than airless. Because of the cup sprayer and the orifices, you can’t keep anything unobstructed. It can clog the gun as well as the fan. So, an HVLP sprayer must be disassembled properly, like dissembling fluid needles and nozzles.
Cleaning an HVLP sprayer is time-consuming, but airless is not because airless doesn’t require such a dissembling process.
What Are The Drawbacks of Airless Paint Sprayer
Despite having different benefits of using airless paint sprayers, we figured out a few cons as well, and these are.
- An airless paint sprayer is more expensive than HVLP, even for the maintenance and buying additional parts.
- It minimizes the option to control the amount of fluid
- Not easy to get an actual paint pattern without having previous experience
- High pressure on the tip of the gun can injure you.
What Are The Drawbacks of HVLP Sprayer?
HVLP is best for different painting jobs but it has some cons as well. Some of these are given below.
- HVLP sprayer makes problem to deal with a thicker coating
- It’s not a suitable option for quick painting
- The atomization system of the HVLP sprayer is not perfect for the finest finish.
- Lack of high production rate.
Airless Sprayer Applications:
- Painting ships
- Residential painting
- Construction works
- Painting large area
- For thick coating
- Painting locomotive
HVLP Sprayer Application
- Fine finish
- Car finishing
- Car repair
- Wood surface coating
Which One We Should Choose?
To pick the right paint sprayer between Airless and HVLP, you need to understand your task and requirement. For large projects like painting fences or houses, there is no best option except an airless sprayer. But for small applications like paint shelving or furniture, HVLP is particularly good.
Verdict:
Although both HVLP and airless paint sprayers are best to offer a professional look in different painting jobs. You can get various ways to use these two sprayers, especially when you have previous painting experience. But without having enough details about it, it’s hard to get a particular view.
That’s why we tried to clear the concept about airless vs HVLP sprayer. It will help you to understand your requirement as well as the option for the sprayer. Most importantly, choosing the right sprayers ensures the best and smooth painting experience.
Both airless and HVLP sprayers are right for a different job, but they must suit your painting system. If you are serious about your painting, you should be careful to choose a suitable sprayer.
