What sprayer to use?

[Kirk]

Thanks guys. I was wondering about the amount I was putting on with the sprayer on the last job I did with it. Seemed light. Other jobs I have done with it seemed to be saturating better. I swear on this last deck I did they used the same wood they make pallets out of. Looked OK after I was done though. You said use a natural bristle brush, you mean like a hogs hair? I tried using an el-cheap o truck brush (synthetic from HD) on a shake roof a couple weeks ago and it just wouldn't move enough stain so I sprayer it. That right there made me VERY happy I had an airless!
Kirk

[RPetry]

Originally Posted by Kirk

... You said use a natural bristle brush, you mean like a hogs hair? I tried using an el-cheap o truck brush (synthetic from HD) on a shake roof a couple weeks ago and it just wouldn't move enough stain so I sprayer it. ...

Kirk,

Yes, the real china bristle brushes are made from hog hair and the material comes from China. Liebco among others makes good ones. Quite expensive, but IMO worth it. Will last a very long time if cared for after use.

[Beth n Rod]

I agree. Large china bristle brushes are great. One of my favorite tools for sure!

Beth

[MudDuck]

No one has cominted on the Apex from Lowes...Hmmm..It was like 300.00 for the cheapo. I tried to put Oly Max 5yr Nat Cedar on a deck last week w/ a pump up and it just didn't work so I went to brush. Wheeew!!! 700 ft plus rails... Still didn't like it, it was too orange, blochi and ran after shines like an olympic trainer..The cust didn't like it either but I had most of it done before he saw it. (note he picked it out and brought it to location which is 2nd home, said thats what he wanted)
Don't want to do that again and thought the airless would work better next time. Thanks for the help guys and gals. Keep it coming I still am confused some what.

[Kirk]

Thats the same as what I was talking about only I got a reconditioned one. If you think you need a brand new one you should still compare prices at the Gleem Paint site. I've used them twice, great service.
Kirk

[MudDuck]

I probably would get a new one at 300.00 but I just wanted some feed back as to if anyone used the base Apex or knew of any reason not too.
Also there are 3 or 4 different guns used with the Apex's and was wondering if the one that came with the base model was ok or needed tossed and up graded.
What did your re-con cost if I may ask?

[jeffex11]

mud duck I just bought a spray tech 1420 this yr for $300 from lowes and it works fine. I would buy a better srpayer if you plan on spraying every day though. If your just getting your feet wet on spraying it is a good place to start for the $. I still have my campbel hausfeld cheapo sprayer that last about 4 yrs for me before they start to leak hydraulic fluid . I did repair it though and it still works . When a piece of equipment becomes undependable I replace it and repair it for a backup. I can afford a better sprayer but at less than $100 a year to use one of these its well worth the time savings. How are your skills at masking off with plastic ? I have spent 1/2 hour to 1 hr just getting ready to spray for a deck that takes 1hr or less to spray. My first job with my first sprayer I had bid 12 man hours to hand stain and it took my wife and I ...2 hrs each to spray it. good spraying!!!!

[jeffex11]

SSSOOOO what sprayer did you get?

[MudDuck]

Still sitting on the fence on dropping some coin or start out on the cheap w/ the 300.00 job from Lowes because I need to order the Delevan roof systm too. I'm getting set up with Celeste and Roger on helping with some jobs over the next few weeks and I want to see what their using and how their using it and pick his brain some.

[jeffex11]

always a good move to be patient. investment in equipment is a decision process that is individual to each business model. sometimes renting a more expensive piece of equipment can give you a real picture of what it can do to save time on a job or produce better results. It helps calculate the return on the investment vs other alternatives

[big mike]

Mudduck,
If you want the low cost, and functionality, build your own "Deckster". I'm still using one I built 4 years ago, and it kicks butt. Cost me about $120 total. Easy to do, and I believe that the plans for it were gleaned from this BBS. Do a search for homemade sprayer and see what comes up. If you can't find anything, PM me and i'll give you the info.

[weaselcossey]

My local Sherwin Williams is having a sale through late august. They got the Titan 440i for $699, with hose, gun, and 4 tips. Might be worth looking into. Wouldn't you be kicking yourself this time next year if you had to replace the $300 sprayer from Lowe's?