What sprayer to use?

[MudDuck]

I'm going to bite the bullet and get a sprayer for deck staining. What would be your recommendation. I'm looking at some of the Apex airless sprayers at Lowe's for a starter. (should I upgrade the gun on it?) Are there any reason "not" to use one of these? I know about the Deckster but I don't necessarily want to spend that much at this point but is it really functionally any better and why. RS and Oly max is what I would be spraying normally. I really know nothing about sprayers so any advice is greatly appreciated.

[YVPW]

If I were using Ready Seal I would get the Deckster. Because you need something that puts out a substantial amount of stain. I don't know much about Olympic stains. But the Deckster can be used to apply any penetrating oil stain.

[CPW]

When we have to use Olympic, we use a Titan440i airless. Sprays beautifully.

[Rob R.]

I just ordered a brand new graco 190es, olympic sprays pretty well through an airless.. I will try ready seal down the road as most everyone on here swears by it..

[Beth n Rod]

We like Titans.
Beth

[Bryan C]

Titan 440i as well. Worth every penny.

[tattwd]

We use a spraytech 2155 but I sure wish we had gotten the graco 390

[fireandrain]

My deckster and Ready Seal, two my greatest discoveries. Thanks TGS...

[RPetry]

Ditto with Matt above on the Deckster and Ready Seal. Airless for solid stains.

Do know of a multiple location wood company that uses Ready Seal with custom Titan airless units for verticals and truck wash brushes for the floors. They apparently knock out jobs faster than I can do an estimate!

[Doug Dahlke]

What size tip are people using in the Titan 440i?

[MMI Enterprises]

Doug,
Probably a 3 or 411 on up...seems most go by which product they using and then application requirements such as overhead or close in work versus wide open decking.
(first number dictates fan size x2 then the last two numbers is orifice/flow size. -i.e. 3= 6", 4= 8", 5=10").
You might like a 415 for Omax.
This was a good tip selection thread : Spray tip?

[YVPW]

For Ready Seal with a Titan I would probably go on up to a .17 tip. Turning the pressure way down, just above clean, maybe even changing the filter to a coarse in the gun and pump. I use my Titan for thicker high resin stains and also solid stains.

Rick, I use an 18" truck brush for backbrushing, you can get a 24". IMO it's the best thing for that, better than the 18" speed mop pad. Never gets hung on splinters, gets between the boards better and holds more stain. If anyone is interested they can call Paul at E-Spec he has pretty much any truck brush that you would want.

[Kirk]

I got A reman 1420 SprayTeck from Gleem Paint for $175.00. Used it today with Ready Seal, works fine for me with a 411 and a 211 tip. I pad the horizontals. I'm cheap and don't use it every day so I could not justify the Titan dollars. SprayTech 1420 Paint Sprayer (Reconditioned) - Airless Paint Sprayers
Kirk

[YVPW]

Kirk, just make sure you apply enough Ready Seal to the wood. With an airless you're probably gonna have to apply 3 coats to saturate the wood, maybe more. Soak the floor then back pad.

[RPetry]

Originally Posted by YVPW

Kirk, just make sure you apply enough Ready Seal to the wood. With an airless you're probably gonna have to apply 3 coats to saturate the wood, maybe more. Soak the floor then back pad.

Great advice. The first time you treat softwoods with Ready Seal, douse it. Get as much stain into the wood as it will take.

2 yrs. later, a decent amount on the horizontal wood, usually 50-60% stain quantity of the initial application. Softwoods only. Hardwoods much less stain.

Not sure about a pad, try natural bristle brushes. Big ones.