Chosing the right spray tip
Advice on Tip Selection and Tip Wear
The following information should help you understand why spray tips are so important, how to determine which tip to use depending on the spray application and which specific Graco RentalPro sprayer will be used, along with general information on tip wear.
Using the appropriate tip reduces overspray and provides more control. This means you can save money and complete your painting project faster when you use the right tip for the job.
- Tip Size Selection
- Coating Determines Hole Size
- Spraying Surface Determines Fan Size
- Match Your Sprayer With The Right Tip
- Understanding Tip Wear
Tip Size Selection
The size of the tip is determined by three main factors:
- Coating being sprayed - determines hole size.
- Surface area to cover - determines fan size.
- Which sprayer you’re using - determines maximum tip size.
How to Determine Spray Tip Size
Example:
The first digit is half of the fan width (#5 x 2 = 10 inch fan width).
The last two digits are the size of the tip opening in thousandths (15 = .015 inches).
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Coating Determines Hole Size
You can determine which spray tip orifice (hole) size to use by the thickness (viscosity) of the coating you will spray. Spray tips are labeled by their hole size in inches.
| Tip Sizes |
Coatings |
| Light |
Medium |
Heavy |
| Stains |
Enamels |
Primers |
Interior Paints |
Exterior Paints |
Elastomerics/ Smooth Block Fillers |
| .011 |
X |
|
|
|
|
|
| .013 |
X |
X |
X |
X |
|
|
| .015 |
|
X |
X |
X |
X |
|
| .017 |
|
|
X |
X |
X |
|
| .019 |
|
|
|
|
X |
|
| .021 |
|
|
|
|
X |
|
| .023 |
|
|
|
|
X |
|
| .036 |
|
|
|
|
|
X |
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Spraying Surface Determines Fan Size
Small surfaces (cabinets, fences, railings) require smaller fan widths for:
- Sharper spray pattern definition
- Reduced overspray
- Ability to spray further with less fall-off
Large surfaces (ceilings and walls) require larger fan widths for:
- Increased coverage
- Ability to spray closer with less build up
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Match Your Sprayer With The Right Tip
The key difference in sprayers is the maximum tip size they can support. Choose your sprayer based on the coating types you’ll be spraying.
| Sprayer |
Maximum Tip Size Supported |
| RentalPro 210 |
.021 inch |
| RentalPro 230 |
.023 inch |
| RentalPro 360G |
.036 inch |
Start with a tip one size smaller than the maximum tip size your sprayer supports. This allows for tip wear, which increases the tip hole size.
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Understanding Tip Wear
Choosing the right spray tip is essential for ensuring a quality finish -- no matter which coating material is being sprayed. However, spray tips will wear with normal use.
It’s important to replace a tip when it gets worn to ensure a precise spray pattern, maximum productivity and quality finish. When a tip wears, the orifice size increases and the fan width decreases.
This causes more paint to hit a smaller area, which wastes paint and slows productivity.
Tip life varies by coating, so if a tip is worn, replace it. Extend tip life by spraying at the lowest pressure that breaks up the coating into a complete spray pattern (atomize).
Do not increase the pump pressure; it only wastes paint and causes unnecessary pump component wear.
Recommended Spray Tip Replacement Time:
Latex - Replace after 15-40 gallons (57-151 L)
Oils & Stains - Replace after 35-60 gallons (132-227 L)
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