What are manual coating sprayers made of?

4th March 2020


	What are manual coating sprayers made of?


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			Manual coating sprayer casings are made from either galvanised or stainless sheet steel, or plastic.

			Sheet steel
			Sheet steel is often used to make the manual coating sprayer casing and the comb fingers as it can be easily shaped.

			Sheet steel is also strong yet lightweight which is important to reduce the overall weight of the manual coating sprayer once the mix is introduced.

			The sheets of steel used to make the casings and comb fingers are usually between 1.5mm (1/16″) and 2mm (5/64″) thick. Cheaper sprayers tend to be thinner, whereas the more expensive ones are thicker and therefore stronger and more hard wearing.

			Sheet steel has a tendency to oxidise (rust) when it comes into contact with air and water. Manual coating sprayers are continually operated in wet conditions due to mixes used, and over time this can become a problem.

			As a result, special types of sheet steel (galvanised sheet steel and stainless sheet steel) are used to overcome this.

			Galvanised sheet steel Galvanised sheet steel is covered with a protective zinc coating.

			It is more cost effective to produce than stainless steel…..

			….but still allows the manual sprayer casing and comb fingers to be strong, yet lightweight and rust resistant.


			Stainless sheet steel Stainless sheet steel is strong and resists oxidation (rust/corrosion) when immersed in water. It is therefore ideal for making manual coating sprayer casings that are so frequently subjected to these conditions.

			Despite the name, however, it is not fully stain-proof and will stain when subjected to salty conditions or left in damp conditions with little air content.

			The handle lever, flicker bar and comb are all usually made from stainless steel or galvanised steel to give protection from corrosion/rust.

			Plastics
			Manual coating sprayers with a plastic casing are also available. Plastics can be divided into two major categories: Thermosetting plastics (thermosets) Once cooled and hardened, these plastics retain their shape and cannot return to their original form. They are hard and durable and often used for automotive parts, aircraft parts, household goods and even tyres, amongst other things.

			Thermoplastics Less rigid than thermosets, thermoplastics can soften upon heating and return to their original form. They are easily moulded and extruded into films, fibres and packaging.

			The substances that make up the plastic are called polymers. These polymers can be dyed different colours; most plastic manual coating sprayers you will see are either green or blue.

			Plastic moulding The plastic moulding forming the casing of the manual coating sprayer is a thermosetting plastic. This means that it is strong, rigid and light in weight.

			It’s only the casing that is made from this type of plastic. The ‘working’ parts are still made from stainless or galvanised steel.

			Plastic manual coatings sprayers tend to be a more expensive option than the steel type due to their resistance to corrosion in all weathers and their bigger size and lightness compared to metal types with the advantage of covering large areas more quickly. They are aimed more for the professional.

			However, cheaper imitations do exist that may not fulfil the job, so be sure of what you are hiring or buying!