The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Paint and Body Shop Why Not a Wagner Power painter for my 51??

Why couldn't I use a wagner power painter to paint my truck? So long as it is a new one and is kept meticulously clean so it doesn't splatter (like wagners do when they aren't cleaned right). I can put oil based paint through the wagner just fine and latex with conditioner. For the 51 and 49 gmcs that I have (which are far from ready to see paint), why couldn't I run some Tractor Supply tractor paint (Oliver Green) through a wanger with some enamel hardener mixed in to make it like real auto paint? Wouldn't this apply the paint in a decent fashion? I am too afraid to try without someone acting like I am not crazy. Thanks. please email me at [email protected]

And I guess to paint it right I need to take out the windsheild and back glass and all the weatherstripping and such don't I?? I don't know how to do that part, this is going to be stressful.

Don't do it! The Wagner Power Painter is not designed to handle automtive type paint (tractor paint falls into this category, too). You'll get much better results using the proper spray gun. I've personally seen a Corvette (yes, Corvette) that was painted with a Wagner. One of the worst pint jobs I've ever seen. Using a brush or roller would have been better. The color in question was a metallic, which made it look even worse.

the atomization on a wagner power painter "spray mist" isn't good enough to spray automotive paints through neither is the pressure to carry the fine particals if you use the powerpainter your paint job will closer resember colored sand paper then a paint job

That's exactly what that Corvette looked like.

Go to Harbor Freight and get one of their HVLP guns for like $60 and use it. I've sprayed Tractor Supply's BPS with one and it flowed out fine. Getting a smooth enamel job is simply a matter of thinning the paint properly and getting it on wet enough to flow out but no so wet that it runs.

Problem is you need a compressor and I'll bet you're considering the Wagner because you don't have a compressor... right?

There are several sources of information for applying automotive paint with rollers. If you have time and little money look into that.

A Wagner uses a diaphragm so the paint comes out in spurts as well as not being atomized well enough. If all you want is color on it go ahead. If you want a smooth finish stay away from it.

ouch, looks like wagner sales are going down. That is what I needed to know. I do have an air compressor, but I am so cheap that I didn't want to buy a paint sprayer unless I could use it on more than just my trucks. I will have to suffer the loss fo a few more dollars...drop in a bucket really. Thanks guys. I think I should buy the version for my air compressor and do it right and stop cutting corners.

You also need to be aware of the capacity (CFM not PSI) of your compressor. If it won't keep up with the demand of the gun you'll have to stop & wait on it which can/will cause dry transition spots.