Water sealer/stain application

I have about 200ft of wooden fence I want to treat, but I'm curious about how to get the product on the fence in an efficient manner.

I've been advised to use a paint sprayer (that I don't have), but I'm wondering if a backpack sprayer would work? I have a 4 gallon backpack sprayer that I could use, if it would.

What reasons, if any, would make this a bad idea?

If your sealer congeals in the narrow passages or orifices, you could have a problem.

If your sealer is oil based, creating a spray (even low pressure) is creating a fuel/air mixture, which could be a problem.

If you like doing things other than chores with your time, being willing to toss a pump or backpack sprayer after a single use might be worth it.

Windini said:

If your sealer congeals in the narrow passages or orifices, you could have a problem.

If your sealer is oil based, creating a spray (even low pressure) is creating a fuel/air mixture, which could be a problem.

If you like doing things other than chores with your time, being willing to toss a pump or backpack sprayer after a single use might be worth it.

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There's a possibility of it congealing during the application, or do you mean if I let it sit without rinsing it out first?

If it ever cools down a bit I have a similar job. Got the front porch pressure washed last week and now have to put water sealer on. Last time I did it I used a hand pump sprayer for the deck but brushed the pickets and rails. It seemed too wasteful to try and spray 4 sides of over 100 pickets. If you have a lot of fencing to do and extra pump sprayer might be a good investment at that time.

Underpay a dullard neighbor boy to do it.

Depending on viscosity, a pump style sprayer wont spray it. That style didn't push thompson water seal, was just too thick for it.

kcult said:

There's a possibility of it congealing during the application, or do you mean if I let it sit without rinsing it out first?

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Sorta?

If you keep a steady flow going from the nozzle, it should be ok for quite awhile. Stopping for a while, the material will start to cure. You might keep a container of solvent handy to dip or leave the wand tip in if you have to stop before you're ready to clean up.

@Diablos has a good point: aperture sizes are critical in getting a decent spray/mist. That's why Graco and other sprayers have different tips available.

Given the cost of a homeowner-quality pump sprayer that might work, but keel over in the process, would it be worth it to rent a paint sprayer for a 1/2-day to a day?

What product are you using? The sealer, not the sprayer.

I used a 2 gallon garden sprayer....... Like said above......keep it spraying! It will begin to thicken and gum up in the spray nozzle. The acrylic was worse about gumming up than oil base in my experience.

Garden sprayers usually come with 3? nozzles....... Every gallon or so I would swap out a nozzle and let it soak in thinner to keep it from gumming up. If..... the do get clogged up you can sometimes use compressed air or a fine piece of wire (such as a guitar string) to unclog the nozzle.

You can use an 8x12 plastic sheet with squeeze clamps on the other side of the fence to reduce overspray. You can........ spray close to the house but be sure to mask anything off you don't want any overspray. If you were spraying an area where the fence were to join the hose.... it can overspray by 6 feet or more. Using a brush would be a little safer in that situation. Do not use a sprayer on a windy day!!!

You just got alot of damn good info!!!! I use the oldest of the backpacks I have and try to flush with hot water when done. If it goes tits up it goes to the landfill.

A couple of cheap, pump up sprayers from Wally World ($6.99) adjust to a med mist and GO!! Toss 'em when done.....

Bailey Boat said:

A couple of cheap, pump up sprayers from Wally World ($6.99) adjust to a med mist and GO!! Toss 'em when done.....

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this. If you don’t spray what you’re gonna spray the first day and let it sit overnight it’s useless. The cheap ones aren’t worth cleaning

Burt Gummer said:

this. If you don’t spray what you’re gonna spray the first day and let it sit overnight it’s useless. The cheap ones aren’t worth cleaning

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Correct, you might even want to cut the breaks short... Plan on ONE long day with the wife bringing you refreshments and if you still don't finish make sure you have plenty of flashlight batteries and bug spray....