Last updated on March 28th, 2024
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After doing some real world testing with electric fence sprayers, more recently spraying my garden fence which was made up of 18 panels in total, a mix of 5ft and 6ft panels. I also sprayed a couple of 8ft long troughs (see picture below) which I made from some half round rails I’d recycled from my dad’s old paddock fence which I jet washed off with my Karcher K5 pressure washer first and then sprayed with Ultima-Plus XP Moss, Mould & Algae Killer before spraying them with Cuprinol garden shades paint.
I even sprayed my solid wood garage door which was in need of a new lease of life with a couple of coats of paint, you can see the results below as I apply a second coat with Cuprinol garden shades in black ash colour.
Watch my video review
Best Pick
Let me tell you, I couldn’t wait to get on the computer and tell the world why I think this Wagner Fence & Decking Paint Sprayer is leagues ahead of other models, and when I say leagues, I not even joking either. I also own the Wagner heat gun so thought the Wager paint sprayer would be worth a try. It really is one impressive piece of kit that gives professional results you would only expect from a commercial sprayer. When you consider this model was only around £20 more than some of the other models in my review (at least when I purchased mine), it definitely offered the best value pound for pound.
For me now, I would only use the Wagner sprayer, I don’t see the point in jumping through the extra hoops using the other models. If I’m honest, it puts the other models in this review to shame with the exception of the Mylek MYPS700 PRO-Sprayer which is a very close second, both with performance, ease of use (no need to water the paint down, thats a big selling point for me but more on this below) and overall, the build quality and how everything easily pushes together makes it a joy to use. Some models are just very stiff when it comes to inserting the hose connections. But with the Wagner sprayer, everything just slid in nice and smoothly.
Paint viscosity requirements
If you have not used a paint sprayer before, one thing you might not know is that with nearly all models, you need to water the paint down first (at least with decent paint that is not already like water) and let me tell you, it’s a right pain to do and take’s time. For me, it’s the downside of having to use a fence sprayer and a job I had previously dreaded doing.
That is with the exception of the Wagner Paint Sprayer which can handle almost any paint without needing to be watered down, this is really what separates it from most other models. So usually, I had to use a paint viscosity tester, basically a little funnel with a small borehole you pour ‘watered down paint’ down until it passes through smoothly. If it’s too thick, the sprayer just clogs up as they don’t have the power to push the paint through. Not with this Wagner sprayer though, I’m yet to find a paint that it couldn’t spray straight from the tin.
Now Cupronal garden shades paint is quite thick as you can see in my picture above, you only need two coats and comes with a 6-year weatherproof rating, it’s really is good stuff, none of this cheap B&Q paint that’s like water and needs 5 coats and some.
With all other sprayers, this paint needed watering down to get the right viscosity, however, with the Wagner Fence & Decking Paint Sprayer, it could be used straight from the tin and it had no issues pumping it through and spraying it. For me, this says a lot about the machine and either how good the Wagner model is or how, how can I put it, disappointing the other sprayers are. To be fair, there not totally useless, I would just prefer not to have to water the paint down for pure ease of use. It didn’t always affect the overall finish which is why the Mylek MYPS700 PRO-Sprayer was a close second after Wagner.
Whatever you do, wear a mask
Before I forget, whatever you do, make sure you wear a mask and read the safety instructions. You don’t want to be breathing in any paint or solvents and the sprayers do produce a fine mist. Just wear a mask, it’s not worth taking the risk. The one, I have pictured above was about 10 quid but you can get cheaper disposable ones or more expensive ones with changeable filters.
Masking off to protect areas you don’t want to get paint on and allow for overspray
The only downside to using a sprayer compared to using a brush is the overspray and getting paint onto areas you don’t want paint on. The good news is, it is avoidable it just takes a little preparation.
With fence panels, this is easy if you can take the panels out. I usually just fasten a polythene dust sheet to the side of my house with some masking tape or lay it down on the lawn and then put the panels on the polythene. I then spray the panels one by one and don’t have to worry too much about overspray. If I do this I can spray one side of a panel in about 1 minute and spray both sides in about 2 minutes.
If I can’t remove the panels, which is the case for some of the fence panels in my garden, I just mask off all the posts on my side with masking tape, put some polythene over the concrete bases and spray slowly taking extra care to avoid overspray as much as possible. Overall, I need about 6 inches of masking tape to allow for the overspray. For the top of the fences, I just hold a large piece of card in one hand as I spray so the overspray sprays the card and doesn’t go over the fence. It’s well worth taking the time to mask and prep an area before spraying it is makes spraying much fast and gives a much neater finish.
How easy are they to clean
All the sprayers are very easy to clean as long as you don’t leave the paint in the container and nozzles and let it dry. I often leave the paint in for 30 minutes to an hour while waiting for coats to dry and have had no issues. The trick is to make sure you wash the sprayer out with warm water after every use. This was surprisingly easy and just consist of cleaning out the main paint container with warm water, unscrewing the nozzles and then rinsing them off too. Literally takes a couple of minutes.
One final clean I think helps, once you rinsed everything with clean water, put some clean water in the sprayer’s tank and turn it on and use the sprayer to pass water through all the pipes and nozzles, this will make sure all the nozzles ad suction tubes are clean. Thats it, you will be good for another day. It only takes a few minutes to do so don’t get lazy or you will have some serious issues when you try and use it again, all for the sake of a few minutes.
Top 4 Fence Sprayers Review
1. Wagner Fence & Decking Paint Sprayer
Best Pick
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I already talked a lot about this Wagner Fence & Decking Paint Sprayer and I can’t recommend this model enough. You can really tell it’s made by a company that has a reputation for producing high-quality equipment and that they specialise in sprayers so they know them inside out.
Since I have already made it clear how impressed I have been with the Wager sprayer I will try and talk more about how to use it and its specifications. So first off, where this sprayer differs from many alternative models is that the pump and motor are not built into the sprayer itself. What this actually means in the real world is that even though the overall kit is the heavest at around 2kg, it’s the easiest to use as the bulk of the weight is either on your shoulder (if using the shoulder strap) which you barely notice or on the ground as you can simply have the main unit on the floor as shown below.
You can watch the video below of my spraying the large 8ft troughs in under 3 minutes
I found it’s also very comfortable to use even if you hold the sprayer in one hand and the main unit in the other hand as shown below in the picture. Trust me, it’s the easiest type of sprayer to use. The main reason the alternative models with the pump built into the sprayer itself are more tiring to use is that all the weight is in your hand and when you have your arm raised up and outwards, it doesn’t take long for you to start feeling the weight and causing your arm and back to ake. This is why you often see people holding some sprayers with two arms which makes your movements less fluid.
Something you may notice is that it’s a 450w model, now at first, this had me worried as other models had a higher wattage. What I can tell you is that it doesn’t affect the performance, in fact, this has the best performance in terms of what it can spray if I’m going to compare the spraying performance.
As you can see in the picture above, the hose is 6ft (1.8 meters) so it gives you plenty of hose to reach where needed. The air hose just slides smoothly into the connections on the main unit and the sprayer with no silly clips to break or anything like that, simple push fit connections that work. On some models, it can actually be quite difficult to connect the hoses.
Let’s talk a little about the nozzle, it’s simple enough. You turn to a horizontal position and it sprays a horizontal fan and the same if you turn it vertically. You can then also part turn the nozzle for more detailed spraying as it produces a narrow spray. It’s a great system that works, no need to manually change the nozzles as you do on some of the alternative models such as the NoCry electric sprayer. Everything just seems to have been designed with ease of use in mind.
What product can the Wagner fence sprayer spray
So the big question and this was something that was on my mind, what can this spray? Well, it will pretty much spray anything straight for the tin and I mean anything. Water or solvent-based fence paint; oil; varnish; wood preservatives, stains and any other treatments. This is what separates this model from all the other models and this is a big big plus because you don’t need to use a paint viscosity tester to water the paint down.
It will literally spray anything straight from the tin, no mixing with water. It’s such a great time safer and just makes it that much easier to get set up and start spraying. I can also say this after testing too, not just theory. I’ve used some fairly thick paint and had no issues including Cuprinol ducksbacks fence paint, Cuprinnal all shades more recently, its also great for spraying creosote too. I have also noticed that with this sprayer any paints that are also one coat are really one coat too as you don’t need to water it down.
Something else, the paint jar at 1.4 litres is the largest one of all the sprayers in my review so you can spray for longer before needing to refill the jar again.
How to use the sprayer
Firstly you need to connect the hose to the spray gun and main unit and plug it in, this will probably mean using an extension lead. Now, this is something that could be improved, why they don’t include a longer power cable I don’t know, this would make using it more convenient. It’s the same on all models so it is what it is.
Now pour your chosen paint into the paint jar (no mixing with water needed), just make sure it’s well mixed in the paint tin first. I use a coke bottle and cut the top off to make a funnel. Screw the jar onto the sprayer and switch the sprayer on.
It will take a little practice to get the rhythm right but it’s easy enough and you will soon catch on. I find my spraying gets better, the more I do it. Do some test spraying on a piece of cardboard first so you can choose the right spray pattern.
When spraying you can go up and down or left to right. I like to do one coat left to right and the second up and down. I also like to overlap the spray by around 50% with each pass to avoid any missed areas.
The picture above is of two large troughs and my garage door I recently sprayed with the Wagner Spayer using Cuprinol All Shades paint.
Pros
- Power is 460W; the sprayer covers 5m2 in 2 minutes.
- Suitable for decking, sheds or garden furniture as well as fencing.
- Works with low-viscosity, standard solvent or water-based fence paint, varnish, oil, wood preservatives, stain and treatments for all your fence needs.
- The capacity of the paint jar is 1.4 litres so you don’t have to refill it very often.
- Three paint settings give you a choice of horizontal, vertical or detailed spraying.
- Paint flow is fully adjustable so you can paint your fence accurately.
- Comes with a 1.8m hose so you have some freedom of movement.
- Sprayer puts out extra fine particles that give uniform paint coverage for a smooth finish.
- Detachable paint gun for quickly changing the attachment, the paint or to refill or clean the sprayer.
- Suitable for use inside the house painting furniture or walls as well as outside.
Cons
- Flow control on its lowest setting, some may find it still puts out a strong stream of liquid.
Fence before
Fence after
Our recommendation
The Wagner fence sprayer really is an impressive piece of kit and if it means choosing between this model and other alternatives, I would choose this Wagner fence sprayer every time.
To sum it up, it gives an excellent finish, it takes all paints out of the tin, not watering down needed. For me, this is a big plus. It’s comfortable to use whether you have the main unit on the floor, use the shoulder strap or hold it in your hand. It’s just such a versatile paint sprayer which is why it’s my best pick. You won’t be disappointed with this model if you invest in one. I wish I’d got this model sooner!
2. Mylek MYPS700 PRO-Spray 700W Electric Sprayer Gun Kit
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The Mylek MYPS700 PRO-Spray 700W Electric Sprayer Gun Kit is the most powerful sprayer in my review, it’s a very close runner-up to the Wagner sprayer. It’s a professional level sprayer that’s suitable for large expanses of fences. You can also use it on wood, brick, plaster and metal.
This sprayer gun can be used with a wide range of materials including standard solvent or water-based fence paints, primers, wood preservatives and stains. Check the manufacturer’s instructions to make sure that you don’t use a liquid that will clog or even harm the sprayer. The unit comes with a viscosity-measuring cup and instructions on how to obtain the right consistency of liquid – you may have to water down the paint etc which is the big downside compared to the Wagner sprayer.
Several features of the Mylek MYPS700 PRO-Spray make your painting life even easier. It comes with a shoulder strap that lets you carry the sprayer in more comfort and operate it with more stability. Two paint cups are included; one has a capacity of 1.2 litres and the other of 900ml so this is a plus when compared to the Wagner sprayer but even the largest jar is still small than that the Wagner comes with at 1.4 litres.
You can use the one whose volume is best suited to what you can hold which is how it could be handy if you don’t want or need more than 1.2 litres. Or you can fill them both for a quick change to the second paint jar when you finish the first one. Finally, this sprayer comes with two air filters which are washable. Change the filter out when you clean the sprayer at the end of each job and replace it with the clean one.
The Mylek MYPS700 PRO-Spray has just one spray nozzle but you can adjust it to three spray settings for extra fine to large sprays. In addition, the adjustable flow regulator gives you control over the speed the liquid exits the nozzle to control how you paint the fence but the Wagner also has this feature although I always have it on full.
Pros
- Professional level sprayer provides uniform paint coverage in a single application.
- Electric sprayer gun with 700W for impressive power from an industrial strength motor
- Use with standard solvent or water-based fence paints, stain, sealers, oil, emulsions, enamels, primers, lacquers, varnish, wood preservatives and treatments.
- Three spray head settings give you a choice of spray patterns.
- An adjustable flow rate regulator lets you decide how fast the paint stream should be.
- Two paint cups are included – 1.2 litres and 900ml; lets you use the one appropriate for the size of your job.
- The filters (includes 2) are easily changed and washable so you’ll always have cleanly strained paint.
- A viscosity measuring cup allows you to thin the paint etc. to the correct viscosity
- The shoulder strap (included) lets you carry the sprayer more comfortably.
- The hose is 1.8m long
- The power cable is 2m long so you and the sprayer can reach quite a distance.
- 1-year warranty.
Cons
- Messy to clean, especially if you’ve used oil-based paints.
- The learning curve to use it properly and get good results.
Our recommendation
The power of the Mylek MYPS700 PRO-Spray 700W Electric Sprayer Gun Kit sets it apart from other fence sprayers. It can cover a regular fence panel in less than two minutes. The industrial-strength motor gives this sprayer a longer life too. The addition of the removable, washable filters (not usually found on paint sprayers) keeps your paint strained from lumps and debris. The included shoulder strap gives you options on how to carry this spray gun.
Reviewers are impressed with this professional-grade fence sprayer but state that there’s a learning curve to get it to operate properly, this is the same for all paint sprayers, especially if you have never used one before. It’s also messy and time-consuming to clean, especially if you use oil-based paints but again, the same is to be said about most models. You have to water down the paint etc.
I’m impressed with the power of the MYLEK MYPS700 PRO-Spray 700W Electric Sprayer Gun Kit. All pro-quality tools always take some effort to learn how to use them to their full capability. This sprayer is for you if you need a powerful tool for your many metres of fence.
Read next: Best compact small sheds
3. NoCry 1200ml/min Electric Paint Sprayer
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The NoCry 1200ml/min Electric Paint Sprayer has a 600W motor for enough power to cover a fence quickly. You can spray the usual range of materials – paint, stain, oil, lacquer, enamel – but check the manufacturer’s instructions before you put anything into the paint jar. In addition, this model also handles texture paint and airbrush coating materials, two liquids that other paint sprayers in this review don’t appear to handle.
Another notable difference is that the NoCry Paint Spray can take materials with more viscosity/more “thickness” than most other fence sprayers. You won’t have to thin your paint so much, but do use the viscosity test kit included in this package to get just the right consistency.
You have the choice of four nozzle tips that determine the width of your liquid spray. Select from 1.5mm, 1.8, 2.2mm and 2.6mm. The widest tip is best for painting the entire fence panel whilst the narrowest tip handles the crevices in the wood. Worth mentioning that you can get replacement or refund if you’re not happy with the product.
Pros
- Electric paint sprayer with 600W motor for significant power.
- Adjustable airflow speed lets you be in full control of how paint comes out.
- Three spray patterns – horizontal, vertical and circular – for the best coverage for your fence panels.
- Four nozzle tips let you spray thin or thick coating materials – 1.5mm/1.8mm/2.2mm/2.6mm.
- Sprays paint, lacquer, stain, oil, texture, enamel, and airbrush coating materials without needing to water them down.
- Paint container is 1 litre so you don’t have to change it very often.
- Viscosity cup is included so you can check that your paint is neither too thick not too thin.
- Cleaning brush and pin included; disassembly and cleaning is easy.
- Power cable is 2m long so you can travel with the sprayer along the fence.
- Handles viscosity up to 100 DIN/s; other sprayers in this review can only handle 70 DIN/s.
- 4-year warranty and NoCry guarantee for replacement or refund if you don’t like the sprayer.
Cons
- Needs practice to get a smooth finish.
- Gets heavy after 20 minutes or so.
Our recommendation
The NoCry 1200ml/min Electric Paint Sprayer states that as long as it’s not corrosive or flammable, you can use pretty much any material in the sprayer (but check the recommended list first). With this and the adjustable airflow, choice of four nozzle tips and three spray patterns, you can perk up your fences exactly how you want to. This NOCRY model also takes thicker liquids than most other sprayers and you can use the sprayer at any angle.
As with most other fence sprayers, online reviewers state that you need to practice to get a satisfactory finish on the fence. With the paint consistent and three features to juggle, this is not surprising. It’s worth the time and effort to experiment with all this before you start your job.
The NoCry 1200ml/min Electric Paint Sprayer could be for you if you’re looking for a fairly powerful paint sprayer that can safely take thicker liquids and looking for a more budget-friendly option.
4. Bosch PFS 3000-2 All Paint Spray System
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The Bosch PFS 3000-2 All Paint Spray System is the most expensive fence sprayer in our review. It offers spraying for all types of wood as well as walls inside your home. This Bosch model has a powerful 600W motor that lets you cover the fence in a short time. The motor has two settings, one for wood and the other for wall paints.
Unlike the other sprayers discussed here, the Bosch PFS 3000-2 comes with two nozzles; one is for wall paint and the other is for glazes. A steady paint supply is produced by the ConstantFeed paint tank for uniform coverage. The 1-litre paint jar is easy to refill thanks to Bosch’s SDS quick-fastening locks. This lock is also on the 2m hose, which is slightly longer than with most other fence sprayers.
You can adjust the width of the paint stream by using one of the three settings n the adjustable nozzle. In addition, you have the choice of three paint patterns – horizontal, vertical and pencil spray.
Pros
- Power is from a 650W motor for fast painting.
- Paint nozzle is adjustable in three stages for different sizes of stream.
- Two nozzles: one for lacquers and glazes; one for wall paint.
- Paint jar holds 1 litre of paint or glaze.
- ALLPaint spray system: sprays wall paint, glaze, or varnish on wood or metal.
- ConstantFeed paint container delivers a constant paint supply for an even finish.
- Bosch SDS locks for fast paint changes and cleaning.
- Shoulder strap stabilises the sprayer and you don’t have to hold the sprayer by hand all the time.
- Two-year guarantee; three-year guarantee if you register online.
Cons
- Expels fine air-borne particles that settle everywhere.
- Atomisation is too thick for a smooth finish, even at the lowest setting.
- Air from the blower gets hot and dries the paint in the nozzle.
Our recommendation
The Bosch PFS 3000-2 All Paint Spray System comes from a manufacturer famous for the quality of its products. This fence sprayer is designed a little differently than the others we’ve included in this review. It has separate nozzles for paint and glazes and you adjust the width of the spray by turning the nozzle, not by inserting different size tips. It does come with a shoulder strap for you to wear the unit to ease the strain on your hand.
Some online reviewers complain that this model expels fine particles from the spray that get everywhere around where you’re painting. They had to spend time to cover up everything close by. Even at the lowest (smallest) setting, the size of the paint particles is rather large making it difficult to achieve a fine or smooth finish. Probably not a problem for painting outdoors, decking fencing but could be a nightmare for indoor use.
FAQs
Which uses more paint, spraying or rolling?
Spray painting uses at least double the amount of paint as rolling. Some of the extra paint stays in the hose line and some of it is lost in overspray. But sprayers produce a more even and smooth finish on the fence while you may be able to see the marks from the roller and runs from the wet paint. Spray painting is the fastest way to paint large areas.
Can you spray Creosote?
Yes. Creosote is a wood preserver frequently used on fences. You can either brush it on or spray it on. But read the manufacturer’s instructions first to make sure that the sprayer can handle this and for instructions on how to do it. Creosote can kill plants so make sure that you cover yours before starting to spray.
Final Conclusion
If you have a large area of fence to paint, using a fence sprayer rather than a brush or roller will speed up the process big time. You won’t have to make it a multi-day task and worry if it’s going to rain tomorrow before you’ve finished painting.
My top recommended fence sprayer
Wagner Fence & Decking Paint Sprayer
My Best Pick is the Wagner Fence & Decking Paint Sprayer. It has an average power of 450W and the paint jar is the largest of the models in my review at 1.4 litres and is the only sprayer that takes all types of paint straight from the tin with no watering down. This really is an amazing piece of kit.
Last update on 2024-12-03 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
