To get the grand finish in your painting project, you’ll need a high-quality paint sprayer, but the spray tip is another significant aspect of the sprayer, which determines how much clear coat you will get. Spray tips come in different sizes.
Deciding which tip size you should choose for your project is very important, just as it is essential to choose a suitable sprayer for your project.
To save you from the confusion of choosing the right size spray tip, we are presenting this guide for you. This guide will assist you with what size spray tip to choose for your spray gun and how to choose one, to get the best effect from your painting.
Table of Contents
How To Choose An Airless Spray Tip For Your Project?
If you are using an airless sprayer, you need to consider a few factors when selecting the proper size spray tip. We’ve detailed the factors underneath that will enable you to choose the right size spray tip.
9 Tips For Choosing The Right Size Airless Spray Tip
1. Check The Technical Data
Check the technical information on the airless sprayer label as your first step. The majority of materials marketed today are mandated to include pertinent product information and technical data for suitable applications.
The product technical data sheet also includes a section for suggested spray tip sizes. That is why be sure to check the required spray tip size when purchasing a sprayer.
2. Check The Product Packing
Some airless spray tips have applications that are clearly defined. Besides, some spray tips are highly tailored to certain work specifications. Spray tips are color-coded by manufacturers, like Graco, Wagner, and Titan, for convenience. They frequently list the proper uses for that specific spray tip on the box itself. Hence, carefully check the product packing.
3. Understand The Airless Spray Tip Number
Spray tips have many code numbers, and each one reveals a lot about the product. Let’s say your spray tip number is 517. You can find the spray angle, fan breadth, and hole size in thousands of inches using this three-digit value. Like this:
- The First Digit 5
The fan’s breadth is equal to the first “5” digit. The “5” in “517” is equivalent to a spray fan width of 10 inches (5 x 2 = 10)
- The Last Two Digits 17
The tip opening measurement in thousandths of an inch is represented by the last two digits “17”. The “17” in “517” denotes that the tip hole is .017 inches in diameter.
The spray fan’s breadth is crucial for the job you are spraying. The thickness of the paint you use affects the size of the spray tip hole.
4. Spray Tip Construction
The spray tip’s main job is to provide the proper fan-shaped sprayer and flow rate. The airless sprayer tip’s hole size is hampered by the pump’s pressure generation. A few common requirements are included with each spray tips.
It has a shaped and color-coded plastic handle. An arrow on the handle directs the spray in that direction. Most manufacturers provide color-coded compatibility guidelines for different programs.
The cylindrical stainless steel barrel and tungsten carbide tips are included. The three or four digit number on the plastic handle corresponds to the spray angle, fan breadth, and borehole size. Additional abbreviations may be used for airless spray tips to explain their key characteristics further.
5. Seat And Gasket For Spray Tips
With every new spray tip you purchase, the seat and gasket are always included.
The spray tip protector contains these spray tip seats and gaskets. You can insert the spray safeguard using the spray tip’s lower portion if you use the new spray tip, seat, and gasket version you bought. Regular Graco gaskets come in the black standard, whereas joint Wagner gaskets are available in white.
6. Understanding Spray Tip Wear And Effects
The majority of coatings contain solids, which increase friction. Consequently, regular use may cause spray tips to degrade. The width of the fan narrows, and the pore size grows as a tip age. More paint ends up falling over a smaller area; as a result, wasting paint. Additionally, it reduces productivity. Hence, tip change is crucial to get an accurate spray pattern, optimum efficiency, and a high-quality finish on your painting job.
At tip wear, we recommend lowering the spray pressure as much as possible while maintaining an excellent spray pattern. Low pressure saves paint by reducing overspray. It also lessens tip wear. Increased pump life is thereby guaranteed.
7. Consider Your Project Surface Area
It’s essential to consider your project surface area when it comes to choosing the proper tip size for a sprayer. This will determine the sprayer’s true fan’s width. That is the form in which the product will emerge from the spray gun’s nozzle. The breadth of the fan can be adjusted more precisely with an airless spray gun than with a conventional spray gun.
Due to the coating being pushed into the tip without being atomized by air, this occurs. This significantly impacts the fan tip’s breadth and shape. A wide fan will maximize spray coverage and provide you the opportunity to spray close to the surface without creating too much buildup because most boat projects have huge surfaces. Smaller fans will be needed to reduce overspray on smaller surfaces.
8. Choose A Tip That Allows Your Airless Sprayer To Supply Paint
When choosing a tip, it is essential to check that your tip is manageable for your pump. In this case, you can take the user manual’s help to ensure the tip’s maximum hole size. If your tip is too large, it will create a problem with the paint atomization.
9. Consider The Paint You Will Use For Spraying
It is essential to consider the thickness or thinness of your paint while choosing a sprayer. If you want to spray a thin coating on the surface, it is advisable to spray with smaller orifice tips. In contrast, a larger hole tip is generally used for thicker paints.
Recommended Paint Spray Tips For Different Interior Paint Application
| Interior Paint Applications | Spray Tips Sizes |
| Walls & ceilings | 515, 615, 517, 617 |
| Cabinets | 310, 410, 311 |
| Doors | 310, 410, 311, 411, 412 |
| Windows | 210, 310, 211, 311, 212, 312 |
| Furniture | 310, 410 |
| Trim | 310, 311, 312 |
Recommended Paint Spray Tips For Different Exterior Paint Application
| Exterior Paint Applications | Spray Tips Sizes |
| Walls & ceilings | 515, 517 |
| Exterior brick walls | 515, 615, 517, 617 |
| Gutters and Fascia Boards | 413, 415, 515 |
| Elastomeric Paint | 523, 623, 525, 625, 527, 627 |
| Exterior Doors and Windows | 413, 415 |
| Exterior Trim | 413, 415, 515 |
| Stucco Walls | 515, 615, 517, 617 |
| Wood Siding | 515, 615, 517, 617 |
How To Extend The Life Of The Spray Tip?
You’ll definitely wish your spray tip to the last longer, saving you dollars on spray tip purchases after a few days. And therefore, adhere to some directions. Here, we offer some helpful suggestions that will extend the lifespan of your spray tip:
- It would be best if you cleaned up your tip. However, you should not use any metal tools to do the cleaning work.
- After each application of your airless sprayer, you should maintain the cleanliness of the sprayer as well as the spray tip.
- If you choose to use grittier paint for your project, buff it with cheesecloth to lessen the grit.
- Always think about spraying with the minimum amount of pressure.
- Avoid standing too far, or too close to the surface you are going to spray when spraying. You will need to stand between 9 and 11 inches from what you are working on.
Conclusion
Selecting the right size tip is vital – whether you want to use it for your large or small project. The amount of paint that can flow out of the tip depends on its size. More paint will pass through a pore the larger it is. The volume of pressure impacts the paint’s flow. More paint is forced through the aperture under higher pressure.
You can also choose the tip size considering your project, which we have mentioned in detail in the above table. Different sizes of tips are required for different purposes. In choosing the right size tip, considering the project you are going to accomplish is very helpful.
Travis is a painter by profession. His valuable painting tips help customers know how to do painting hassle-free. He is an expert in handling painting tools and loves sharing his experiences with customers. Travis has been in the painting business for the past 20 years. He is now on the verge of early retirement, passing on the secrets.