Achieving a Flawless Application With a Spray Gun: A Guide

Rachel Stevens

October 31, 2025

Achieving a Flawless Application With a Spray Gun: A Guide

Paint spray guns are a great tool for efficiently painting a wide range of surfaces. They allow users to cover large areas in a quick and even manner, boosting efficiency and lowering physical effort – so more time can be spent on other tasks.

While paint spray guns are designed to make life easier, there are still some tricks to getting the best results. Below, we’ve put together a guide of what to do during set and use to get the most from your paint spray gun. Keep reading to learn more…

A brief introduction to spray guns

A spray gun is a hand tool with a trigger that allows the user to, with a range of customisation, spray various substances onto various surfaces. For example, paint, varnish, and other coatings can all be applied via spray guns across metals, plastics, and woods in an efficient and timely manner.

While there are some instances where the fine hand with a brush may be required, there are a number of handy benefits to going with a spray gun.

It’s easier to cover hard-to-reach places, such as ceilings and high walls.
Spray guns require substantially less physical effort, saving you time and energy. This can be a game changer for large-scale projects.
Due to their customisation, spray guns can help you control your paint usage better, meaning there is less waste at the end of the job.

Top tip: investing in a spray gun for the first time, or looking to upgrade? Check out our Essential Guide to Buying a Paint Spray Gun to help you make your decision.

How to use a spray gun effectively

A spray gun is supposed to make your life, and the job you’re doing, easier. Using one requires less effort than a brush, and can be customised to suit specific scenarios to ensure everything is completed efficiently. However, there are several issues that can arise if not used correctly, including:

Uneven pattern or coverage: this could be due to a clogged nozzle, improper pressure settings, or water in the paint affecting the viscosity.
Overspray: this is where excess paint lands outside of the intended area.
The ‘Orange Peel’ effect: this is where the air pressure or thickness of paint affects the finished result, and is named for the textured, inconsistent finish it results in.
Clogging and sputtering: damage to, or dirt within, the paint nozzle can cause the gun to get clogged or sputter, which impacts how well your tool works.

Each of these can be caused by a range of factors, from incorrect use and poor maintenance, to inexperience and improper material choice. Below, we’ve included some of our top tips to help you avoid these common issues.

Don’t overfill your spray gun

Overfilling your paint spray gun can lead to an excess amount of paint spilling into the air, which is one of the leading causes of overspray. When there is too much paint in the tool, the excess can linger in the air, landing on unintended surfaces or objects. It also increases the chance of inhalation, which can cause damage to yourself and those around you.

Top tip: always wear protective equipment, including goggles and a face mask when using a spray gun.

Other issues that can be caused by overspray include a poor finish and extra work to clean up after yourself, which will slow down progress as you move through your job.

Overfilling your spray gun can also lead to more waste, as you may not finish what is in the spray tank. This can increase your costs in the long run.

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Mix your material according to recommended ratios

Before you can start, it is important for the paint to be diluted properly. The viscosity, or thickness, of your chosen material has a big impact on how effectively you can use a paint spray gun. Too thick, and it will clog the nozzle: too thin, and it can run or spider on the surface as it can’t stick properly.

You want your material to the point where it can pass through the spray gun without clogging up the nozzle. Depending on your material, you may need to dilute it with water (for water or latex-based materials), or paint thinners like white spirits and turpentine (for oil-based liquids), to get the right consistency.

Top tip: stirring the material to check if it is ready to be applied. Using a dip stick, lift and watch to see if the material drips freely from the stick. If it falls in a continuous stream, you should be good to go.

Once you have reached the desired consistency, fill the spray gun to the maximum limit, then test spray on some cardboard to check that the material is released in a steady oval pattern. If it clogs or splatters, you will need to dilute the paint further. Continue this process until you reach the desired oval spray pattern.

Top tip: test and retest as needed, as it’s often easier to make a liquid thinner than to thicken it.

Set the pressure

For air-based paint spray guns, ensuring you have set the correct pressure will mean you can avoid damage and see the best results on the surface. If you’re unsure of the pressure requirements for your model, you should check the recommended PSI (pounds per square inch) from the manufacturer and go from there.

Once tested, you may still need to adjust your pressure settings further. For example, for thinner materials, a lower PSI is the better way to go, while a higher PSI may be more suitable for thicker materials.

Top tip: always check the pressure settings each time you use your spray gun, and don’t be afraid to adjust as needed to avoid problems like overspray or running when you try to paint.

Keep an even distance from the surface

When you’re ready to paint, set up your paint spray gun roughly 15cm - 20cm from the targeted surface and move up and down the wall vertically first, before applying a second coat horizontally. This will ensure that the surface is covered evenly in its entirety. Keeping an even distance is essential:

Standing at the right distance from the surface helps you avoid paint pooling in concentrated areas, drying unevenly for a patchy or blotchy surface.
Standing too close can increase the risk of the paint dripping down the surface, which will again lead to unevenness after drying.
Standing too far from the surface will lead to a grainy texture and poor adhesion, as well as being another way you can achieve overspray while painting.

While many of these issues can be solved by simply applying another coat of paint at the correct distance, this wastes both time and materials.

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Hold the paint gun perpendicular to the surface

Holding the gun perpendicular to the surface means that you can get a good, even coverage, and avoids the risks of drips, runs, and overspray.

To achieve this, you should find the ideal stance setup that works for you and allows you to work comfortably and safely.

For example, try to hold a steady stance, facing the surface and with a slight bend in the knees for comfort. Hold the spray gun in front of you, inline with your shoulder, and hold your arm and wrist steady so that you can maintain a controlled spray.

Following these key steps at the start of the job will go a long way to ensuring that you can get that impeccable finish you’re after.

Choose The Hosemaster for the best results

Choosing high-quality products from excellent, reputable brands is key if you want to achieve a polished, professional finish with your paint spray gun. Fortunately, you’ve come to the right place. Here at The Hosemaster, we have a wealth of experience to help you make the best choices for your next project.

Explore the wider website today, or get in touch with our team at any point in your buying journey for expert advice and guidance.