The Paint Facts

Can I spray drywall mud through a paint sprayer?

Painting drywall is an interesting part. But when comes a question about spraying drywall mud as the quickest method, you need to learn more. 

Generally, you can spray drywall mud through a paint sprayer. And it is the quickest method for a big project. However, it is an expensive method. You need little skill to spray the mud. You also should know how to operate the machine.

In this article, I will describe the basics about spray drywall mud through a sprayer.

Can I spray drywall mud?

Yes, you can spray drywall mud. And you can easily spray each surface very equally and fast. But if you don’t do it properly, the mud doesn’t adhere properly. Before spraying drywall mud, make your surface ready.

Additionally, you should take care of some other factors. Example: what quality is mud, mud combine ratio with water, how to set up sprayer, what manufacturer says, dry time, and more. 

However, this spray project is not for very beginners. With these factors, you need minimum skills to successfully complete the project. 

You can check this article for understanding which type of mud good for spray.

Can I spray drywall mud with a pump sprayer?

A general pump sprayer can not work for drywall mud. The mud is sticky. So the pump needs very high pressure. Like 40-60 psi. A normal sprayer can not produce this type of high pressure. 

In the market, there have 2 types of sprayers that are designed for this type of work. These are,

  1. Airless paint gun
  2. Air spray gun

This type of sprayer features are different but can be used for the same project.

What sprayers can spray drywall mud?

For spray, drywall mud needs a high-pressure sprayer. The Sprayer needs the ability to spray every surface which you want. 

Here is the top-recommended sprayer which you can be used.

Air spray gun

HILTEX 31229 Air Texture Hopper Gun 

HILTEX 31229 Air Texture Hopper Gun is one of the best spray guns for this type of project. This sprayer comes with a 5 Liter hopper cap where you put the mud for spray. 

This Gun grip is comfortable. You can control this gun easily while you spray. This gun has 3 helpful nozzles. These are 8 mm, 6 mm, and 4 mm. 

What tools are needed for spraying drywall mud

You need more additional important tools for the project. Like air compressor, and drill mixer. I try to choose a good one which can be helpful for you.

BILT HARD Ultra Quiet Air Compressor

BILT HARD Ultra Quiet Air Compressor is provided up to 175 PSI, which is enough for this type of project. It has a 2-horsepower motor and motor power 60Hz with 120V. The tank capacity is 10 gallons. Create less noise. This compressor can use for any type of spray project. It has 2 wheels for easy movement. 

Edward Tools Paint and Mud Mixer

Install Edward Tools Paint and Mud Mixer with a drill and make ready your mud. Its material is steel, so it is durable, rustproof, and easy to clean. It is good for max 5-gallon baskets. It stayed for a long time. 

How much water do I mix with drywall mud to spray

You should use the right amount of water in drywall mud. And the water depends on your project. 

Generally, 1 kg compound needs 150 ml water. But it should not be all the time. But you can use one trick to make your drywall mud ready. 

First, take 1 kg compound in a bucket and put 50 ml of water then mixed the compound with a drill mixer. Then if you see mud is not ok, apply more than 50 ml of water and use the deal mixer. Follow this same method again and again until the mud is not ready.

It is a very easy method, and you will get the right thickness very easily.

For save your drywall mud against peeling in the future, you can check these tips.

How to spray drywall mud

Applying mud on drywall, the spray is the best option. You can do it easily with the following basic steps. 

Step 1. Cover up

Before the spay work, you should cover unnecessary areas like Windows, Doors, furniture, etc., and use tape on the wall or corner where you are not want to spay. The mud easily will stick to the surface, and it will be damaging to looks. 

Step 2. Ready the surface

You have to clean your wall properly. If there has old dust, clean it. Then take sandpaper, and lightly sand it. Remove all old peeling paint from the wall.

It is a very primary step, If you do it properly, your job will be long lasting. On the other hand for wrong work, the mud will peel off soon.

Step 3. Prepare mud

Mixing mud and water with proper thickness is quite important. This thickness always depends on your work.

Take a 5-gallon bucket. Put the compound/mud there. You need little water and should be careful about it. Take very little water one time like 50 ml for 1 kg compound. Then use the mud mixer drill for blending. Then, if you see the mud thickness is not ready, again use 50 ml of water and blend it. Repeat this process until your mud thickness is not ready.

If the mud is too watery, you need to mix more compounds to fix it. That will be costly. So you should follow the method to save your money.

Step 4. Spray

Take an air sprayer and the pot will fill with mud. Take air compressor power 40 psi. However, you see the sprayer not spraying properly increases the power of the compressor. 

Spray each wall surface properly. Although, if you make a small mistake, that will be fixed in the next step.

Step 5. Finishing

After spraying the mud, all surfaces are not smooth, and some spots can have no spray mud properly. So take a scraper. Apply it for making very surfaces equal. 

After finishing, wait to dry. If the weather is good, this mud will be dry within 12-24 hours. 

How to spray drywall mud for level 5

To spray drywall mud, you need to take care of something. Because this is the final step for priming. Following the below step, you can successfully complete this project.

If drywall joints show thought paint, you check this article.

Step 1. Clear the surface first

Take any kind of cloth and clear every surface of the level 4 wall. Then take sandpaper and lite sand every surface of the wall. 

Because if you don’t clean the dust, it will affect your level 5 priming. And it will not last long and very soon it will start to decay. 

Step 2. Ready your mud

Now time to ready your mud. The mud is already ready from the factory but you should need more extra steps to ready the mud completely.

Take a drill mixer and put it in the mud basket. And blend it sometimes for like 1 to 3 minutes. 

Mud blend is an important part because the company is not completely blended for long-lasting, so you need to take care of it before using the mud. 

Step 3. Apply the mud

Take an air spray gun. Put the mud on the pot. Ensure compressor power is 20-30 PSI. Now test the sprayer and how it is spraying the mud. 

If your test is okay now you can start to spray mod on the wall. Keep a distance of 18 to 20 inches from the wall to the sprayer. Maintain the same distance when you spray all over the wall. Spray tine coat. Use a wet mil thickness gauge to count the thickness of the mud. If you finish spraying all over the surface, give it time to dry like 6-12 hours.

Step 4. Apply second coat

After drying the first coat of spray mud, now is the time to apply the second coat. You do not need to follow any specific method for creating a second mud. You can use the first apply mud in the second coat. 

Take the air sprayer. Apply the spray as the first coat method. And make sure to use again wet mil thickness gauge to measure the thickness.

This coat is important because it will make your surface completely smooth and look awesome. And it will cover your first coat mistake gap. 

After dry, your project is completely ready, and it is resistant to any type of mud cracking, rain spots, forming, and other problems. 

Is it possible to spray drywall mud on wood walls?

Drywall mud has come for Indoor work. If the wood wall does not deal with water, it is possible to spray mud on the wood wall surface, and it works very well. 

This mud also sticks to the painted wood wall surface. But the wall needs some light sand before applying the mud.

Conclusion

Now you know you can spray drywall mud through a paint sprayer. And how to do it. If you are a beginner, I suggest that before you spray, you should take short practice. It will help you avoid any mistakes and make your project successful. 

I hope this article is helpful for you as well, as if you think someone could benefit from this article, feel free to share it.

About the Author

Shojib Hoq

My name is Shojib, and painting has been my passion since childhood, and it still holds a special place in my heart. I absolutely adore the process of painting, pouring, and creating crafts.