Initial Preparation

• Prepare the surface area by sanding away any old paint chips or loose debris. Fill and repair any cracks or other surface flaws before sanding or painting. If you will be painting indoors, remove all furniture from the room and take out as many fixtures as possible (such as light fixtures). Spread drop cloths across the floor and use masking tape to cover any remaining fixtures that you do not want to be painted.
  
  

Wagner Suction Kit

• Wagner paint sprayers come standard with a 1 qt. repository for holding paint. This is typically an ample amount of paint for small projects, but for larger jobs, you will have to stop frequently to refill the container. A solution to this problem is to use the Wagner suction kit. This kit allows you to use the original paint can as the paint source, and draw it up to 5 feet away to where you are using the paint sprayer. The suction kit eliminates the need for frequent refills, but also removes some of the portability of the paint sprayer. Evaluate the size of your job to determine which option is best for you--the 1 qt. reservoir or the 5-foot suction kit.
  
  

How Much Paint

• In order to determine how much paint you will need, calculate how much space you are painting. On average, you will need to use 1 gallon of paint for every 300 to 400 square feet of surface.
  It is also important to thin the paint that you use in your Wagner paint sprayer. Traditional paint sprayers use compressed air to blast the paint into a thin spray. Since the Wagner sprayer does not use compressed air, you must manually thin any paint that will be sprayed through it. Ask the paint store to mix 1 pt. of paint thinner into each gallon of paint.
  
  

Proper Spray Technique

• Hold the Wagner power sprayer 6 inches from the surface you are painting. It does not matter if you move the sprayer up and down or side to side, as long as you move the sprayer in a smooth, sweeping motion. Many people like to alternate the direction of their stroke with each coat.
  To apply a thinner coat, simply move the sprayer farther away from the surface being painted. Having multiple thin coats of paint generally yields better results than a single thick coat of paint.