I've got to stain my fence I built last summer. Few questions.

Anyone have a stain/sealer they recommend over others?

I had a guy tell me he stained a fence with a pump up sprayer. Can this be done effectively or should I just go ahead and rent an airless sprayer?

Any other tips?

I used a pump sprayer, that advice was from guy that installed the fence. The brand of stain/finish was Olympic Maximum.

Pump sprayer is the way to go unless you use boiled linseed oil. I have use Thompson's water seal with great performance out of a pump-up sprayer. Tried Linseed oil and it would be better from a airless I think (especially for the cost of LO). Most folks I have seen, also use a pump up sprayer

Ready seal is quality ,forgiving product for a diy

All the professional companies I see have airless, they wet down the house when they get close to it to keep the overspray off.

I did my fence one time, I used a airless, a pump seems like a bunch of pumping to do.

HD and lowes both carry a Wagner power stainer. $100. I use it on smaller jobs that aren't worth the hassle of the spray rig.
As far as a pump sprayer I watched a guy use one and it was spotty. Looked bad when he was done.
Wood Defender is what I've used for years and recently switched to Ready Seal for cost and availability reasons. Both are great products.

Readyseal and Wagner power stainer.

I got ready seal and a $25 pump up sprayer from Lowe's. I'm 3/4 done with the fence and it looks really good. No streaks or spotty appearance.

I just need the wind to be calm on a day I have time so I can get it finished up.

I have used both methods. I recommend a pump sprayer. But you need a quality sprayer. Plastic tips will not create a fine mist. I used one with a brass tip and a metal pump handle. Don't remember the name, but you get what you pay for.

I'll try to get some pictures tomorrow

What stain did you use? and cost per gallon?

I got some fence stain company wants to charge me $800 to stain my fence, says it will take 21 gallons of stain.

I don't think it would require that much stain

Disregard the mess that is my backyard. It's a work in progress. I used ready seal light oak stain. Boards are pressure treated pine. I put them up last summer so they're pretty dried out by now. I don't remember how many feet of fence it was total. I've used 10 gallons of stain and I'll have to open another 5 gallon can to finish. I paid like $86/can at lowes. It was marked down.

Looks good Sir!

Beautiful color,
I am doing my fence this spring, I hope it looks that good. Today I am repairing siding, the house got old suddenly.

The light oak was a good choice looks really nice.

Thanks guys. I was afraid the light oak was going to be too light but I'm really happy with the color.

Looks good. You got a smoking deal on the stain too. My cost is $120 otd per 5 gallons.