airless sprayer switch tips

Welcome to CT.

Sometimes tips are personal preference so I will just tell you what we use and others might chime in too.

The 517 you got with the sprayer is a good general purpose tip. We will use the 517 mostly on lightly textured surfaces. Drywall, exterior rough siding, etc.

You can use the 517 for the stucco, brick, block but we use a 619. You don't necessarily need the width but the volume is what you would be after with those surfaces. So a 519 would do you some good. Also back rolling with a 1 1/4 nap roller will help even out your finish while getting into nooks and crannies. We like the lamb skin rollers.

For your trim work and wood work you want to go for a finer finish. .15 or below and the width would be up to you depending on what you are spraying. We like 311 and sometimes a 313.

For your doors a fine finish will be what you are after also. Textured doors we use a 515. For the industrial metal doors you speak of I would go lower like a .13 or .11.

Like I said the advice I gave you is kinda personal preference and others may agree or have different opinions. So really it depends on you technique more than anything.

Good luck!!

Sprayers are sooo much fun. I would recommend you play with tipsizes. Since your a maintenance guy, scrap plywood & drywall should be readily available.

Your collection should include:

515 or 517 For when you just gotta get it done

313 for when you care about the mess you make

211 for trim & doors

6** for giggles

Leave your pressure at 1/2 to 3/4 of full throttle.

The way tipsizes were explained to me is that you double the first digit to get ideal fan width at 12" from the surface. So a 515 should create a 10" fan. The last two digits deal with atomization of the paint. So for thicker paints & paint brands *cough*behr*cough* go bigger but for thinner paints *cough*speedwall*cough* go smaller.

Also, on the pressure, use the MINIMUM pressure that makes your tail go away. Don't automatically crank it wide open.

Pleaze backroll. It may seem like a waste of time, but it really isn't.

I was a flat tip user for years before RAC's came out. I tried RAC's and they weren't to my liking. I found them to be more a hassle than help.

1. Reverse a tip feature to unclog tips. Not needed. I use flat tips with a screened plastic washer (gasket) behind the tip (Filter Boss, others). I can spray an entire day without one clog and without needing to change the Filter Boss washer.

2. Changing tips on the fly. I can change to a different sized flat tip just as fast as an RAC.

3. Leakage. This happens more often than you'd think with an RAC setup.

4. Price. While RAC tips may last longer, flat tips cost much much less. The worn tips I use for spraying fences or non important areas, then toss.

5. Cleanup. Much easier with flat tips. Guard, flat tip, washer.

Anyways, I gave RAC's a try for awhile.