Tips for Using a Paint Sprayer + Bookshelves Makeover

Thank you to HomeRight for sponsoring this post.

Today I’m here to show you not only a fabulous makeover I did on a gorgeous bookshelf I got for a steal, but a tool that makes my home improvement projects a ton easier. I know we are always looking for ways to simplify and improve what we do at home and I have definitely found a way to do all of that and more with my HomeRight Finish Max paint sprayer.

Finding and making over furniture is one of my favorite things to do, but now it’s even easier and quicker with this sprayer.  And I have lots of tips for you when using this must-have DIY tool.

There’s a place about an hour from where I live that is the largest collection of used furniture and goods you ever saw. Really. Picture about 40 years worth of estate sales packed into an enormous building. We call it “The Junk Barn.” It’s since become my go-to place for furniture and its where I scored these shelves for only $40. Who wants to come visit and go to The Junk Barn with me now?

Sadly this is not The Junk Barn, it’s our messy garage.

They were a dirty off-white color, but an outstanding 78 inches tall, with a bamboo look and pretty details along the shelves. I knew this was the perfect job for the Finish Max. Now, just what color was I going to paint them? Hale Navy of course.

I learned a few things along the way of using the Finish Max. When HomeRight sent me one for review I knew it was a chance to paint some pieces that I might not have selected to paint before. Here are my tips for using the HomeRight Finish Max paint sprayer.

Read the Instructions for Operating

This may seem simple, but can go a long way in helping you understand how to use a paint sprayer for the first time. There are various steps to make the job a breeze. Spend 5 minutes with the user manual and you are good to go.

Prep Your Paint Area

One great thing about this sprayer is that it has very little over-spray, which means you don’t have to cover up a large area. Depending on where you are painting, this can save you lots of time. For these shelves, I just moved them outside {from our garage} and put a large piece of cardboard under them. This did the trick and I didn’t get any paint elsewhere.

Prep Your Paint

There are so many types of paint on the market and most of them can be used in this sprayer. Read the manual for more information on that. When using this, I like to thin my paint out a little bit with water. Depending on the viscosity of your paint {how fast or slow it runs}, you may have to thin it out.

You can also use a mesh sleeve to “sift” your paint to make sure there are no particles in it that will clog the sprayer. I do this each time I use the Finish Max. The mesh sleeves only cost about $1 at the paint store.

Adjust the Paint Flow Speed

There is small wheel behind the trigger on this sprayer that controls how much paint comes out of the sprayer depending on how tightly you squeeze the handle. I liked to keep it on “low flow” so that I don’t get any drips or too much over spray on what I’m spraying. Depending on what you are painting, you might want more paint to come out, however I always think several light coats will give you the best results. I painted the shelves with 2 coats of tinted primer and 2 coats of paint, both of which are from Benjamin Moore.

Move Your Arm, Not Your Wrist

Upon using this for the first time I learned that paint sprayers are very different than spray painting. With spray cans, you move pretty quickly, often with your wrist. With a sprayer like the Finish Max, you move your entire arm very slowly across your piece. A slow and steady fluid movement with your arm will help ensure even coverage and prevent drips on the piece.

Clean your Finish Max the Right Way!

And clean it immediately after painting. What is the right way to clean it? I discovered the following has been a great method for keeping the Finish Max in tip top shape.

1. Unplug the sprayer
2. Unscrew the paint cup and pour any extra paint back into the can
3. Lightly screw the cup back on and take your sprayer to a place you can use it (with water instead of paint) that won’t get ruined. For me this was in my laundry room in the utility sink. You’ll need a plug here since you’ll use the sprayer.
4. Fill the cup with a little bit of water, screw it back on, and use the sprayer until the water comes out clean. Swish the water around in the cup to get as much of the paint out as you can.
5. Then you take the sprayer outside where you can use the hose. Take off the     and brass nozzle, and clean them off with your hose. Make sure you spray into the part of the sprayer where the intake hose meets the unit, being careful not to get too much water near the motor.
6. Let the sprayer dry fully, reassemble and store.

Now that you have some tips on making the most of your paint sprayer, here is how my shelves came out. I would NOT have been able to paint these without the Finish Max. There are so many details on them and the sprayer did a perfect job of giving me a factory-like finish. I keep thinking of other projects I can use it on.

Read more about the HomeRight Finish Max here and HomeRight’s other products here. You can also buy a HomeRight Finish Max Fine Finish Sprayer (affiliate link).

Here is another before and after.

I hope you find some solutions to make your home projects easier and come out at beautifully as these shelves did?

Do you think you’d ever use a paint sprayer?

Have you used one and loved it? Leave us your tips in the comments!

 

Disclosure: I was provided with the HomeRight Finish Max paint sprayer for review and compensated to write this post. The opinions here are all my own.