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Machines & equipment
Painting & Surface Preparation Equipment
Spraying, sanding, washing and preparing surfaces before and during finishing.
Overview
What this covers
Preparation
Sanding, washing, grinding.
Application
Airless and HVLP spraying.
Cleaning
Sprayers must be cleaned immediately.
Equipment
Machines in this group
Marked by how we normally hold them. Availability is confirmed at quotation.
Airless sprayers
High output for walls and large areas.
HVLP sprayers
Finer finish, lower overspray.
Wall & drywall sanding
Sanding walls and ceilings.
Pressure washing
Cleaning before coating.
Surface grinding
Removing old coatings and levelling.
Dust extraction
Keeping the site workable.
Mixing
Paint, putty and coatings.
Applications
Typical work
- Spraying walls, ceilings and exteriors
- Sanding putty and plaster before painting
- Washing exteriors before coating
- Removing old coatings from floors and walls
- Controlling dust during sanding
- Mixing paint, putty and coatings
Who buys these
Trades and teams
Power
Power and drive options
Most of this range is single-phase electric. Pressure washers vary widely in motor rating and flow, and petrol units exist for sites with no supply.
Airless sprayers draw a heavy startup current. On a long site extension lead, voltage drop can stop one starting — use adequately sized cable rather than blaming the machine.
Comparison
How the options compare
| Airless sprayer | HVLP sprayer | Brush and roller | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Output | Highest | Moderate | Lowest |
| Finish | Good on large flat areas | Finest | Depends on skill |
| Overspray | High — heavy masking | Lower | None |
| Setup and cleaning | Substantial | Substantial | Minimal |
| Best for | Large areas, repeat work | Fine finish, joinery | Small areas, cutting in |
| Availability | Supplier-confirmed availability | Supplier-confirmed availability | Fast-moving consumables |
Choosing
How to choose
- Be honest about the area. A sprayer only saves time when the area justifies masking and cleaning. On small rooms it does not.
- Match the sprayer to the coating. Viscosity and tip size go together. Thick coatings need larger tips and more capable pumps.
- Plan for cleaning. An airless sprayer left uncleaned is a scrapped pump. Cleaning solvent and time are part of the job.
- Buy the extraction with the sander. Sanding without extraction fills a building with dust and makes the next trade wait.
- Check pressure washer flow, not just pressure. Flow rate does much of the cleaning work.
Accessories
What goes with it
Accessories
Consumables and wear parts
Safety equipment
Ownership
Maintenance, spares and service
Airless sprayers live or die on cleaning. Flush immediately after use, every time. Replace worn tips — a worn tip sprays a wider, less controlled pattern and wastes more paint than the tip costs.
Pressure washer pumps dislike running dry. Check the water supply before starting, not after.
Price
What affects the price
- Machine type and output
- Motor rating
- Pump type on sprayers
- Flow and pressure on washers
- Brand
- Hoses, tips and accessories included
- Warranty terms
- Spare parts availability
- Quantity
Availability
What affects availability and lead time
- Pressure washers and mixers move fastest
- Sprayers, sanders and vacuums available through the supplier network in limited quantity
- Larger airless units and industrial cleaning machines sourced on order
- Specific tip sizes and pump configurations may need confirmation
Quotation
What to send with an enquiry
- The coating you will spray, and its viscosity if known
- Approximate area per job
- How often the machine will be used
- Power available on site
- Whether extraction is needed with sanding
- Quantity and preferred brand
Avoid
Common mistakes
- Buying a sprayer for jobs too small to justify masking
- Failing to clean an airless sprayer immediately
- Running a sprayer on undersized extension cable
- Sanding without extraction
Questions
Frequently asked
How do I choose an airless paint sprayer?
Start with the coating and the area. Thicker coatings need a more capable pump and larger tips; larger areas justify higher output.
Then be realistic about masking and cleaning time. Below a certain area, a roller finishes faster than a sprayer can be set up and cleaned.
How do I choose a pressure washer?
Look at flow rate as well as pressure. Pressure loosens; flow carries away. A high-pressure machine with low flow cleans more slowly than the figures suggest.
Then consider duty — occasional domestic use and daily contractor use are different machine classes.
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