Crayola Sidewalk Paint Sprayer......We're Hip, We're Cool, We've Got the Sprayer!
Written: Sep 07 '07 (Updated Sep 07 '07)
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Pros: unique item, easy to clean, works fine once you get the hang of it
Cons: big expense in paint, paint doesn't wash off as claimed
The Bottom Line: Expect it to function as a toy, not a professional paint sprayer. It's a fun toy, a unique toy, and appeals across ages.
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| LRGuis's Full Review: Crayola Sidewalk Paint Sprayer |
My children rarely get to be the cool kids who get the newest thing first. We just purchased a GameCube last year, my daughter's favorite Barbies are from the 1970s, and my sons only now know what a Jedi is. I know, horrid childhood they share!
But, wait, things are looking brighter. When mom (that's me) saw the ads on TV for the Crayola Sidewalk Paint and Paint Sprayer I just about ran to the nearest Target (pronounced with French accent). It's probably the artist in me, but I thought it all looked fun and figured the kids may enjoy it as well.
The Crayola Paint Set & Tray has been reviewed, but the sprayer I saved until now. The jury has been out a bit on this one and after a summer of deliberation it is time to render a verdict.
Should the wise consumer now find this on sale in some post-summer clearance, here's what can be found:
CONTENTS
Inside your box you'll find a plastic spray tool complete with two resevoirs for liquid chalk, a central unit which can be held by a small handle or clipped to a waist band, and a sort of gun like mechanism for spraying the paint.
Know in advance that 4-AA batteries will be required and not included.
USAGE
Once your clear plastic resevoirs are filled with the requisite liquid chalk - included in the kit - a long clear plastic tubing fishes from each container up to a center control which finalizes at the actual gun sprayer. This center control is a large turning knob which lets the user determine which color paint he will use. The spray nozzle itself also has an adjustment to determine if the spray will be thin or heavy.
After this, the actual use is pretty obvious. Once my youngest realized where the knobs were and how to squeeze the nozzle (very easy) she was off to spray the driveway, the sidewalk, the dog's tail, and assorted ants which got into her path. She tried part of a brother's ankle as well which was quickly discouraged. (Note to parents who will also find their children like this as a personal tattoo set - the liquid chalk washes off skin quite well.)
INTERESTING OBSERVATIONS
I suppose I should have known, but I was initially surprised that there was noise involved. Obviously there is a small motor operating, thus the batteries, but I guess I just didn't put it all together that this would mean spraying a sidewalk is not a completely silent activity. Not too noisy, just not quiet.
Our box came with two paints - a blue and a red, with the red looking more like pink. The actual quantity is listed as 7 ounces each color. What really matters is the fact that the sprayer goes through paint like crazy. If the sprayer is purchased and is meant to be shared by more than one child, even just initially, it's really necessary to buy additional liquid right away. Of course Crayola will gladly sell more replacement paint, never fear!
Technique is rather important here. When first starting up the gadget we thought it was a complete dud - lots of dripping, the occasional squirt - just not consistent at all. After playing around a bit, no pun intended, we realized that the liquid really needs to get flowing to work well. The nozzle also works best when more of an airbrush effect is tried rather than anything precise. Finding the technique that works best is initially frustrating.
Finally, if the television commercials didn't inspire some artistic burst, the box of a young boy doing crazily creative things with sidewalk chalk is enough to have you looking into art & design schools for your child because of their use of this sprayer. Don't bother. Well, go ahead if your child is naturally artistic, but even if he is, the sprayer just is not the most accurate tool for a burgeoning artist. Set artistic expectations low. I would have loved to see the graphic artist that created the art which sucked us in from both the commercial and the box. It's just not going to happen with this sprayer. Treat it as a toy and the let-down will be minimal.
FINAL COMMENTS
After cleaning our unit by letting water flow through the hoses for a bit, we left not completely thrilled but not terribly disappointed. We had already tried the liquid sidewalk paint on its own. We knew:
1) The paint will not be as dark initially but will darken as time goes by.
2) The colors are not quite as true as a crayon. Red in liquid sidewalk paint is a cross between red and pink, for example.
3) The stuff works better on black asphalt than on concrete.
4) Daddy won't be happy when the stuff doesn't rinse off as well as promised on the packaging.
This was still a fun - unique item. It gets high points for originality. The price was fairly good, though the expense of going through liquid paint like there's no tomorrow has significantly raised the overall expense. It is equally appreciated by a six year old and an 11 year old. In a summer, though we've gone through the paint, the batteries are still functioning.
Worth the money? I think so as long as expectations in art are relatively tame and the expense of paint is also expected. As great as the commercials would lead us to believe - not really, but the commercials for McDonald's make burgers look plump and juicy so....
More pros than cons for this family.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 19.99
Type of Toy: Arts and Crafts
Age Range of Child: Whole Family
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LRGuis
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