On 21 Feb 2006 10:59:27 -0800, "The Reverend Natural Light"
wrote:

Greetings!

I'm about to paint a newly finished basement. I have zero experience
painting interior surfaces and am not sure what the ideal method would
be:

1. Automotive sprayer and compressor. I have these already and know
how to use them. It is not an HVLP set up. The paint would have to be
thinned.

2. Homeowner grade paint sprayer: I picked up one of those Wagner
"Power Painter Pro" paint guns from HD last weekend. From looking
around news archives, it doesn't seem like too many users are happy
with these.

3. Roller and brush: Even most professional jobs I've seen show brush
and roller marks, which I don't like. And then there's no excuse to
buy a new tool.

All the rooms are empty, there's no flooring yet, and masking shouldn't
be too difficult. I'll have to paint ceilings and several doors. I'm
in no hurry, just want nice results.

Any opinions or advice?

Thanks!


-rev

Airless sprayers are great for new construction, but even there they
leave a mess if you aren't carefully and it is a good idea to back
roll the walls and ceilings so that you can touch them up with a
roller once the finished floor and fixtures are in.

My painters generally spray wall primers and the ceilings using an
airless. They spray the trim with an HVLP which puts out very little
overspray. But the walls are always rolled.

We follow a meticulous paint schedule that greatly reduces any need
for touch up. Save the airless gun for the next time you want to paint
your fence.