Had a fence put up. Now I'm staining it. Have to use a specific stain per HOA. I bought a basic Wagner power paint sprayer. I never used one before.

But my question is it normal to go through a ton of paint/stain using a sprayer? So far I went through 4 gallons. Have to get another 2 to finish the job. Almost $180 worth. If I used a brush, 1 or 2 gallons should have been enough. Maybe I'm not doing something right? Or is it because the stain is thinner then paint?

 

I've personally never used one but I would think if there are no runs on the fence and there's no dripping/spitting on the nozzle then you must be doing it right.

 

I did something similar on mine, except I used a pump sprayer. It did take more sealer than I thought it would too. A lot actually goes thru the fence pickets also. I found this out when my neighbor said they had clear spots on the ground on their side of the fence.

 

I thought with stain you brush it on, let it sit for about 1 minute and then wipe off the excess. By spraying it on and leaving it there you are letting all of the excess just drip down or staining the wood quite a bit!

 

It was a non transparent wood stain. Almost like paint but thinner.

 

I used a sprayer to do a huge porch ceiling at one of my mom's places, took way more paint then I expected and I was covered in it. I think a lot has to do with blowing away in a fence situation and the fact you are putting nice thin coats on that dry quickly and sometimes you overlap and put too much on but since they are thin coats, drips don't really form.