Using a Paint Sprayer to Paint a Dresser
Ready to level up your furniture painting game? You’ve landed in the right place. Using a paint sprayer to paint a dresser is easier than it may seem! We’re here to talk about the ins and outs, do’s and don’ts of how to use a paint sprayer on furniture.
You can use a cheap sprayer to quickly get a smooth brush free finish with paint like chalk paint. We’ll guide you like a trusted friend through each step, from choosing and preparing your paint, to executing that perfect spray finish. So let’s get right into it and make your furniture look amazing!
If you’ve ever found yourself in the middle of a DIY furniture makeover, you know time consuming they can be, especially when painting with a paint brush or roller! And then you’re left with brush marks or major texture in the finish.
But you know what really makes the magic happen? Using a paint sprayer on your furniture! We’re talking about taking your furniture makeovers from ‘meh’ to ‘wowza’!
So, let’s dive into the details and show you how you can put that paint sprayer to work like a pro.
When we painted this dresser we created a live video series on how to paint furniture from start to finish. In video TWO we talk all about the benefits of using a paint sprayer to paint a dresser. From being able to quickly paint furniture, to the smooth professional finish.
Plus, we even go through how tothin paint for a sprayer and what to do when your paint sprayer keeps clogging.
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Using a Paint Sprayer to Paint a Dresser
First things first, you need a paint sprayer if you want to learn about using a paint sprayer to paint a dresser.
I have tested many different paint sprayers and have narrowed it down to the best ones. Here is what I recommend.
Paint Sprayers for Furniture
This paint sprayer is the best budget friendly paint sprayer that can spray thick paints, without completely breaking the bank! I’ve been using mine since 2020 and it’s still working like a champ!
If you have never used a paint sprayer before, I completely recommend using this one! It comes with everything you need (no air compressor needed!).
In 2018 I invested in this professional Fuji Q4 paint sprayer. Honestly, I couldn’t be happier with it! But it is VERY expensive. I thought I would regret spending so much money on it. But I am so glad I did. It was so worth the investment! But I know that it’s too expensive for many!
For more information on the pros and cons of all of the best paint sprayers, visit our best HVLP paint sprayers for furniture post. And for those new to using one, check out this guide on the best paint sprayers for beginners to help you find the perfect tool for your furniture makeovers!
How to Paint Furniture with a Sprayer
Once you have a paint sprayer, you can use these tips and tricks in the video to use your paint sprayer on furniture!
Supplies Used to Paint a Dresser
- Vintage Dresser
- Peacoat and Jitterbug chalk style paint by Country Chic Paint
- Wagner Paint Sprayer
- Mesh Paint Filter
- Water
- Mask / Respirator
Painting Furniture Using a Paint Sprayer
If you don’t want all the nuggets of info from the video, but just want a quick overview, here are the basic steps for how to spray paint furniture with a spray gun.
- Mix the chalk paint really well.
- Put a mesh paint filter on a paint sprayer container. Pour the chalk paint through the filter and into the paint container.
- Add some water to the chalk paint. (Not too much, you don’t want the paint to be too thin!)
- Use the viscosity cup (included with the Wagner Paint Sprayer) to make sure the paint is the right consistency. I like the paint to empty out of the viscosity cup between 35-40 seconds.
- Test the paint by spraying it out of the sprayer (onto a scrap board), and set the sprayer controls as you want them.
- Spray your dresser! Remember – thin coats are best!
Can You Use Chalk Paint in a Sprayer?
YES! These paint sprayers can spray chalk paint, latex paint, oil based paint, primers, and even stain (yep, I’ve tried it).
I would recommend only spraying water based paint out of them, to keep the cleanup from being tedious. But you CAN spray multiple different products.
I would also only spray water based products out of one sprayer, and have a seperate sprayer for oil based products. For more helpful tips, here’s can you use chalk paint in a sprayer.
Do I Need to Thin Paint for a Wagner Sprayer?
It depends on what Wagner paint sprayer you have! The FLEXiO paint sprayers can spray thick paint.
But sprayers like the Double Duty paint sprayer, and 250 (also known as the QX2) can’t spray thick paint. It’s just not powerful enough for it. Check out my Wagner Control Spray 250 review here to learn more. Learn how to spray paint furniture, specifically a dresser, with our easy tips and tricks for successful paint spraying furniture projects.
Even though some sprayers can spray thick paints, the finish will most likely have a lot of texture to it, which isn’t good. So, I still always thin the paint at least 10% (unless the paint manufacturer recommends against thinning) so the paint can level out better.
Thinning paint is super easy, though! And Wagner makes it really easy. If you’re working with chalk paint, latex paint, or any other waterbased paint, you can thin them out with water.
You know that it’s waterbased because the label talks about easy water and soap cleanup. If it’s oil-based, you can thin it with paint thinner or mineral spirits. The label on the can will most likely say that you can clean up with mineral spirits.
Shellac based products can be thinned out with denatured alcohol.
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How to Thin Out Paint for Paint Sprayer
If you have a paint sprayer that can spray thick paint, but you want to thin the paint to make the paint have no texture, you can just add 10% water to the waterbased paint. Learn more about thinning paint for Wagner FLEXiO sprayers here.
Some paint sprayers come with a tool called the viscosity cup. You can use the viscosity cup to determine if your paint is the right thickness.
Simply add a little bit of water to your chalk paint. Mix it with the paint. Then fill the viscosity cup up and see how long it takes to drain out of the cup.
I like my paint to empty out of the viscosity cup between 35-40 seconds. If it isn’t thin enough, you can add more water. If it’s too thin, add more paint. Get more information about thinning paint with a viscosity cup in our how to thin paint for a Wagner sprayer post.
Most products will tell you not to thin it out more than 10-20%. I honestly thin the paint by how much the viscosity cup tells me to.
Can You Spray Polyurethane with a Paint Sprayer?
Yes! Spraying water-based polyurethane is my favorite way to seal chalk paint! Here’s our post on can you spray polyurethane with a Wagner sprayer if you have this specific paint sprayer.
The next video in this live video series, finishing touches of painting furniture is all about sealing chalk paint with water-based poly, and spraying it out of a paint sprayer!
We also talk about distressing furniture, how I quickly get a smooth streak-free top coat AND how to create a gold finish on hardware super fast!
If you missed the first video on how to prep furniture for painting, see it here!
What is the best way to clean up after using a paint sprayer?
You should clean up your paint sprayer after each use so it continues to work properly. It’s important to clean your sprayer thoroughly to prevent clogs and buildup of dried paint.
The best way to clean your sprayer depends on whether you used a waterbased or oil based product. You will know what to use to clean paint sprayer based on the type of product you sprayed.
For waterbased products, you can easily clean it with soap and water. First, empty any remaining paint from the container and rinse it out with warm water.
Then disassemble the sprayer and run all of its parts under warm water, making sure to remove any paint residue. Finally, let the parts dry completely before reassembling and storing.
For oil based products, you will need to use a solvent like mineral spirits to clean the sprayer. Follow the same steps as for water-based products, but use the solvent instead of water for cleaning. Then rinse all the parts with water and let them dry before reassembling.
Here’s how to clean a Wagner paint sprayer and how to clean a Wagner FLEXiO sprayer to learn more about the specific steps for cleaning Wagner sprayers.
If you’re wondering, can I leave paint in a sprayer between coats? – get answers here!
Check out this post for more Wagner paint sprayer tips and tricks to make your projects even easier and more successful! And if you come across any issues, our Wagner Paint Sprayer troubleshooting guide will come in handy.
And as always, please share and pin for your friends and family who want to create beautiful furniture for their own home or others!
Using a Paint Sprayer to Paint a Dresser
Using a paint sprayer to paint a dresser is easier than it may seem! Use a cheap sprayer to quickly get a smooth brush free finish with chalk paint.
Instructions
- Mix the chalk paint really well.
- Put a mesh paint filter on a paint sprayer container. Pour the chalk paint through the filter and into the paint container.
- Add some water to the chalk paint. (Not too much, you don’t want the paint to be too thin!)
- Use the viscosity cup (included with the Wagner paint sprayer) to make sure the paint is the right consistency. I like the paint to empty out of the viscosity cup between 35-40 seconds.
- Test the paint by spraying it out of the sprayer (onto a scrap board), and set the sprayer controls as you want them.
- Spray your dresser! Remember – thin coats are best!
Recommended Products
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More Paint Sprayer Resources
- Spray Painted Furniture
- Wagner Paint Sprayer Troubleshooting
- Best Wagner Paint Sprayers for Furniture
- Best Paint Sprayer for Walls
Follow us on YouTube to get more tips for painting furniture. Or share your project with us on our Facebook Group and be part of our community. See you there!
what is the name of the paint colours that were used? I see the brands, but not the colour names.
thanks.
I used Peacoat and Jitterbug for this dresser. Those are two different colors. You can find the ratio of how much I used of each one to make this color up in the post. Best of luck!