Putting Valspar all in one sealant/stain in a garden sprayer

[CindyCRNA]

Probably should have posted this here first but this is a cross post from Off Course:

I had a cross country jump made and it has a sloping face that you put mulch and and flowers in. It is boards covered with 1/2" mesh wire . The mesh wire is keeping me from getting the stain sealant onto the boards right below. Since they are going to be covered with mulch, I want them to thoroughly sealed but perfectly smooth is not an issue. I have read that stain can be sprayed in a garden sprayer but while this is very thin, it’s a bit more texture than water thin. I don’t want to sink a lot to finish this one last part. Anyone tried this?
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[mmeqcenter]

Are you sure the builder did not use pressure treated wood? As someone who builds jumps, I would have done so for something I knew would contain organic matter.
You could always dilute it more with a thinner.
I wouldn’t use an expensive garden sprayer and risk it getting gooped/clogged up. I’m not really understanding the design of the jump, though, that makes you unable to just paint with a paintbrush.

[Guilherme]

If you do this I’d follow mm’s advice and consider a garden sprayer a “one time use” item. Does the sealant you wish to use come in aerosol cans? Or is there a comparable product that does? That might be the most practical and economical route.

G.

[gumtree]

Yes you can put it in a garden sprayer. I’ve done it lots of times. Thomson water sealer comes in a water base. But you can also use a “chemical” based sealer, stain etc. There are water based stains to be had.

For small jobs and or ones I don’t mind refilling when needed. 1 gallon sprayer can be had at wall mart for $5+. Larger ones for not much more. The spray nozzle can be adjusted/opened enough for thicker stuff.

But the cheap sprayers have plastic spray wamd and plastic nozzles. So, depending on the chemical composition of what is being sprayed there is a possibility the plastic components, esp the nozzle may start to “melt”, gum up, break down. It also depends on how much is being run through it. A real cheapo sprayer may only serve once, but should last long enough to get the job done. They are meant to have garden chemicals used in them. You can get inexpensive ones that have a metal wand and spray nozzles. Some come with several different "tips"nozzles to suit the job.

The cheap ones I have bought and used work fine for the cost. The internal hand pump seals give out before the rest does. I bought a decent size one with metal wand and nozzle. I think it was around $30. The pump seals gave out. So I drilled a hole in the top/side and put a tire valve in. I have a small air tank I fill with my compressor. Take that with me to pressurize the sprayer. The sprayer has a pressure release valve if I fill it too much. Most of the better ones do.

I fill garden sprayers with disinfectant for foaling stalls, stalls, barn walls etc. Soap up barn walls and then spray off with a hose. Works great if one doesn’t have a pressure washer.