That $12 paint sprayer tip from a forum saved my kitchen cabinets

I was sure thinning latex paint with water would ruin the finish, but after 3 failed brush jobs on my cabinet doors I tried it anyway. Mixed in about 10% water and ran it through a cheap Wagner sprayer on my porch last Saturday. The coats came out way smoother than any roller I've used, and it only took me one afternoon instead of the usual weekend. My only disaster was forgetting to cover the neighbor's car, which got a fine mist of gray primer. Has anyone else had luck with the water trick, or am I just lucky with this paint brand?

2 comments

2 Comments

nathan_foster601mo ago

Back when I refinished my bathroom vanity, I read a blog post that swore by adding Floetrol instead of water for latex paint, so I tried that first and it worked like a charm. It keeps the paint from getting too runny while still leveling out smooth, which might save you from overspray issues on windy days like you had. Your 10% water result sounds solid too, but that neighbor car story made me laugh since I learned the hard way to always check the wind before pulling the trigger.

charlie_fisher451mo agoMost Upvoted

Wait, your neighbor's car got hit by overspray? I mean, I thought my disaster was bad when I ended up with orange peel texture on my hands from gripping the sprayer too tight. That's a whole different level of oops, did they ever find out it was you?