What is a Texture Gun?
It is unclear who invented the first texture gun, but it likely evolved from the paint spray gun. Joseph Binks is credited with inventing the first cold-water paint spray machine in 1892. Binks created his machine to hasten the process of whitewashing the expansive basements of the Marshall Field & Company store where he worked. Binks went on to introduce the first hand spray gun in the early 1900s and the popular Model 7 spray gun in 1934. The texture guns of today, like paint spray guns, are available in hand-held models as well as larger compressor-equipped texture guns.
What is a Texture Gun?
A texture gun is an invaluable tool for home improvement projects that require the installation, replacement or repair of drywall. It is faster than painting and allows for a quick and inexpensive method of adding a textured finish to walls and ceilings. Closely resembling a paint spray gun, a texture gun consists of a container called a hopper which holds the material being sprayed and a pump and nozzle for directing the spray and regulating the thickness of the spray.
Textured paints are manufactured by adding a mixture of mineral materials, typically vermiculite, or polystyrene (rigid white foam) mixed with wall or ceiling paint. The added texture material will vary in thickness or fluidity depending on its use. The nozzle of a texture gun is typically equipped with a round metal plate with different-sized holes. The plate can be turned to adjust the nozzle opening to the appropriate particle size and thickness for the texture material being used.
For small areas where texture is desired, a self-contained texture gun with a hand pump is adequate. For larger areas, a compressor-equipped texture gun is more desirable. The texture material is forced from the hopper through the nozzle and to the surface by compressed air, allowing for quick, easy coverage of more area.
Other Uses
Texture is wonderful for hiding flaws in drywall or for acoustic purposes to cut down on the
echo effect in a room, especially a room that is uncarpeted. In addition to applying a designer finish with textured wall or ceiling paints, a texture gun can be used for a number of other home improvement applications.
- Spraying drywall compound
- Spraying glitter (may clog a paint sprayer)
- Applying acoustic finishing material
- Waterproofing for foundations or decks
- Applying a stucco or cement façade effect to a building (exterior-use models)
- Refinishing or painting wood
Many texture guns are capable of spraying several texture patterns to allow for creating custom looks or matching an existing pattern.
Using a Texture Gun
Although it is generally faster than painting, using a texture gun can also be fairly messy. Once you have determined if you will need a compressor-driven or hand-pump texture gun, practice before beginning your project if you have never used this type of tool. There a few points to remember when using a gun to apply texture.
- Make sure all furniture, appliances and carpets are covered along with any other items you want to protect from the spray that tends to settle all around when using a texture gun.
- Load the texture paint or other texture material into the hopper and adjust the gun to the proper setting for the texture material being used and the desired pattern. Test spray to ensure you are getting the texture pattern you had in mind.
- Spray the walls or ceiling from a distance of at least four feet.
- Spray slowly to avoid leaving any bare spots.
Once you have finished your project make sure you clean the texture gun and all of its components. As most paint and texture materials dry quickly it is best to clean the equipment right away.
Where to Find Texture Guns
There are many online retailers that offer a wide variety of texture guns for sale to meet your particular home improvement needs. Many of these guns cost anywhere from $20 to $100 or more. Inexpensive texture guns can be found on Ebay or other online auctions. Yard sales may offer another less expensive option for purchasing a texture gun, or you may consider borrowing from a friend, neighbor or relative who already owns one. You can also check with your local home improvement store about renting a texture gun for a one-time project.
When considering home improvement, the right tool for the right job is essential. One tool that many do-it-yourselfers don’t often consider is a texture gun. This handy coating applicator is invaluable for quickly and inexpensively applying a textured finish to a wall or, especially, a ceiling. A textured finish will effectively hide imperfections in a surface as well as provide the bumpy surface found on most ceilings. The textured effect on the ceiling of a room is most often a matter acoustics as opposed to aesthetics. A textured ceiling will help cut down on echoing in the room. A texture gun resembles an ordinary paint spray gun in that it consists of a hopper or container to hold the material to be sprayed, a pump and a nozzle to direct and regulate the thickness of the spray. For larger jobs, there are compressor equipped texture guns that use compressed air to force the texture paint from the hopper through the nozzle to the surface. Smaller jobs require only a self-contained t
