I used this Wagner painter.
http://www.wagnerspraytech.com/portal/optimus_power_painter_plus_spray,307692,747.htmlAnd the paint was a latex based exterior paint....no doubt a house paint. The instructions on the paint specifically said NOT to thin it...so I didn't. And it was a little too thick for the Wagner gun, so it came out kinda drippy here and there. It wasn't a super fine mist like I imagined it would be, but I'm real happy with it.
It only took me one sunny day to do the whole thing, from start to finish. I drove into the yard at around 11 to start washing it and sanding off some rust spots.....then I taped it up and painted it. I was done and had the tape all off by 6pm.
A few bugs met their demise in the wet paint.....
Adds to the tough look of it with dead bugs stuck to it.