using paint spray system outside

i have miles of what we call 'hit & miss' fence to paint surrounding my back garden. i don't doubt it would be quick using a domestic paint spray system and i know i'd have to find a way to stop overspray going into neighbours gardens e.g. when reaching top of fence, but that aside almost everyone i've spoken to says ...

NO, DON'T DO IT!!

the reason they give? even on mild days i'll be surprised how far the spray can reach on to things it's not intended for e.g. my house, a neighbours car if parked quite close etc etc. one girl at work said they tried one, on a very mild/calm day, then noticed specs of paint on their double glazing a fair distance from where they were spraying!

i would have thought the spray would have dried in the atmosphere before reaching things 3+ metres away, especially if not in the direction of spray. are these things basically a 'no no' outside if there are houses etc quite close?

Personally I wouldn't use one, and I would be mightily upset if any of my neighbours did. My friend's neighbour did his fence with a spray system (closed panels, not hit-and-miss) and it ended up on my friend's car, his house walls and windows (UPVC window frames were ruined), sandstone patio, and killed a few of the plants in his garden. The mists are just too fine and go everywhere. I fail to see the point at all - a paint brush gives better coverage, is quick and easy to do, and leaves virtually no damage in the process. It is also a lot cheaper.

If you must spray, setup a system of shields for next door, or even better remove each panel and spray it in an outdoor booth (think gazebo with sides on).

That way you get it done, on both sides to protect the wood and keep any overspray to a minimum.

Or put the gazebo over the fence so that any overspray goes onto the inside of the back side which can be covered in old sheets etc to absorb the spray or a sheet of plastic.

I just use a sheet of hardboard against the rear of anything I'm spraying and move along, calm day obviously helps.
Over-spray onto lawns etc will disappear after a few weeks.
Fence spray is water based and dries quickly, can be wiped off easily, any that travels any distance will be dry before it settles.