So called because air is not used to atomize the paint.

The paint is pumped into a special gun at varying pressures up to 3,000 p.s.i. When the paint and solvents cross the orifice of the gun. They vaporise due to the drop in pressure from high value to atmospheric.

The solvent boil that follows produces volume expansion and automatic disruption of the paint stream into fine globules. When this process is used it causes electrostatic potential and the gun must be earthed. There is no gun control as such, just off and on. There is little 'fog' or overspray, no rebound, no wastage, but the equipment does need extensive cleaning after use.

The airless spray is normally confined to commercial vehicle refinishing and is widely used in the marine and civil engineering industries.

Its use allows more rapid application of a surface coating by giving a much thicker film, and the absence of air pressure reduces the spray fog.

Airless spray is often used as hot airless spray. The paint passes through a heat transformer before being atomized by the tip.