Spraying Mud With Airless. Help!

Tim0282

I tried spraying mud with my airless today. Sure showed a lot of texture. Like I was putting too much mud on and it pitted what was on the wall. Was my mud too stiff? Was I trying to cover too much of the surface? Do you completely cover the wall or leave it a little transparent and when it dries it is all white and sealed? Hoping for some more guidance...
Tim

jakester

Hey Tim
What type of machine were you using and what size was the tip of the gun, did you mix the mud loose or was it like a skim coat mud texture.

Tim0282

I was using a Graco 1595 with an HD 427, then I tried a Rac X 1229. The mud was pretty close to paint consistency. In my opinion, thin but, I'm not sure how thin to make it. Wondering if my pump is big enough. You guys use a Mark IV or V, don't you? I'm not sure how mine compares.

Capt-Sheetrock

tim. something don't sound right,,, I use a mark4, it sprays it on fine, I don't thin the mud quite that much, but close tho, I thin it to what we call stomp mud, its just a little thinner than my tapeing mud, without seeing whats going on, I can't really say for sure,might be the gun that your rig has on it, the gun on mine isthe one that came wioth the mark4, it has a graco 425 tip (if my memeory is right), one thing to check is remember to pull ALL the filters out, in the gun, and in the sprayer. If you didn't pull them out that may well be the problem,

good luck

Capt-Sheetrock

another thing Tim, not being a painter, don't really know all I should about sprayers and all, The gun that came with the mark4 has the hose running to "just behind the tip", in other words it does'nt run through the handle of the gun, like it does on my sprayer rigs, Maybe someone that knows a little more about sprayers can explain what that means, but it probbly has alot to do with the spraying of mud.another thing is that the mark4 has a bigger hose, with the last few feet reduced down to the smaller size right before it hits the gun. don't know if that makes a differance either, ,,

in other words I don't know, but the mark4 sprays it just like paint, it will spray it thick or thin without much differance, I would venture a guess that its in the gun that your using, IF your pump is strong enough

Brockster

Capt-
I added another gun and got the two fingered "Silver or Silver line" from Graco and it sure sprays texture and paint nice!! The gun does have the metal hose than goes in back of the tip like you described. I also bought some hose that is the next size smaller than what came with the Mark(s), it's nice not to be fighting with that heavy hose while painting.

Thanks again Capt-- for the skim coating tips as I am learning too.

__________________

jakester

Hey Tim
the Capt is 100% right pull all the filters out, the machine that your using is designed for high output and multiple guns, with the mark 4 or 5 you will not have any problems with it, I think it just may be that your pump is just not designed for mud, if you want to achieve a leval 5 finish there are other ways to do so, one way is, if the area is not to big you can roll on the mud and wipe off, the other way is to use a product from Sherwin Williams called Builders Solution surfacer you should spray this on for best results, you can use your machine or any type of sprayer that can use up to a .027" tip. We started to use this system and product, and we have had very very good results with it not only can you get a level 5 but it also has a high build primer built into it and that eliminates any flashing, might be worth your while to try it out I think you will be happy with the results. All the best
Jake

Tim0282

Thanks to all for your comments and tips. You are all most helpful. I am wondering if my pump is big enough. I had the mud thinned to at least as thin as primer, maybe a touch thinner. After it dried, it looked great. Another thing was the amount I used. I used ten gallons in a room 16x12 with 8 ft ceilings. I did the ceiling and one wall.

CrazyTaper

I suggest you retire Tim. This whole debocle has the forum worried beyond comprehension. I will accept your resignation upon answering of this note of FORUM.

Tim0282

I shall resign and retire But I don't really want to...

CrazyTaper

I do.

CrazyTaper

...

Tim0282

You're a crazy man taper!!

Tim0282

Akron the college and not Akron the prison like most of the guys that have worked for me.

CrazyTaper

Tim, I only usually spray for double crows foot, single stomp brush, then a knock-down. I have a pool room coming up that's 10,000 ft. scissor trusses that's level 5. I would like to get other suggestions on how to white coat this job. I have a Speeflo, Hydra Pro 4. What Tip?

Tim0282

I tried spraying with my Speedflow with a HD427 tip then I tried with a 1231. The mud really needs to be thin, but when dried it really looked nice and even. You have to be careful to keep the gun the same distance from the wall from top to bottom. It is natural to be closer to the wall in the middle and further away at the top and the bottom. reading about Sherwin Williams Builders Solution surfacer and finish. They sound good. But I think if you spray the mud then prime with a good sealing primer and finish it would look great. Those guys are talking spraying with really thick mud with the Mark V. But I think the your sprayer is like mine and we would just have to thin our mud more. Besides it should get more coverage when thinned.

Tim0282

The 427 tip gives you an eight inch wide pattern. The 1231 gives you a 24 inch pattern. Much faster and better coverage. We always use a 1231 or 1229 for spraying primer.

CrazyTaper

So my 435 is no good? I have been using this tip with my SS since I started.

CrazyTaper

12:32 my friends . Time for nite-nite.

Tim0282

I'm betting it'll work. Your tip size is 35, that's a bid ol' hole in the tip.