Airless Paint Sprayers

Airless sprayers pump paint at up to about 3,000 psi or more. At that pressure, a stream from the tip, or a pinhole leak in a hose, can shoot paint through your skin. An injection injury can look like a small cut, but it’s a medical emergency that can cost a finger or a hand.

• Painters
• Drywall finishers
• Homeowners

Injection injuries

Rules for the gun

• Keep the tip guard on. It keeps your fingers away from the tip.
• Lock the trigger whenever you stop spraying, even for a moment.
• Never point the gun at yourself or anyone else.
• Never put your hand, finger or a rag over the tip to stop or test the spray.
• Follow the pressure relief procedure before cleaning, changing or clearing a tip, or checking any part: lock the trigger, turn off the pump, open the prime/drain valve and trigger the gun into a pail.
• Clear clogs with the reversing tip as the maker instructs, with the spray pointed into a safe area.

Hoses and fittings

• Use only the maker’s high-pressure hose, rated for the pump’s pressure.
• Inspect hoses for cuts, bulges, kinks and worn covers. Don’t try to find leaks with your hand.
• Tighten fittings only after relieving pressure.
• Don’t pull the sprayer by the hose.

Fire and fumes

• Ground the sprayer, the gun and metal pails when spraying or flushing flammable materials. Static can ignite vapors.
• Keep the gas or electric pump outside the spray area, away from vapors.
• Ventilate well, and no smoking or open flames.
• Wear a respirator suited to the coating. Some coatings contain isocyanates and need special protection. See Isocyanates and Respirator Filters.

Before spraying

• Tip guard installed and trigger lock works
• Hose and fittings inspected and tight
• Sprayer and pails grounded for flammable materials
• Ventilation set up; ignition sources removed
• Goggles, respirator, gloves and coveralls on
• You know the pressure relief procedure
• SDS for the coating on hand

Last updated: October 2, 2026