Choosing the Correct Tips for Sprayers

By now we know that the air sprayers offer a much higher quality compared to regular brush and roller painting.  We often find ourselves constantly offering advice to painters regarding spray tip size. So let’s get down to it and offer you our take on choosing the correct tips for sprayers.

Pairing the correct spray tip with your spray gun lays a big role in helping you create the professional finish your job demands. The spray tip determines how much fluid will leave the gun when the trigger is pulled.  The spray tips determine how wide a spray area that the gun will create. These are all important considerations in creating an even-size spray.

• Pick a tip that your airless paint sprayer can provide material to.
• Consider the material to be sprayed:  Oil-based paint? Lacquer or stain? Latex Paint? 
• Make sure the tip isn’t too big for your pump.  Check your manual for orifice size. Paint will not convert into the tiny fine particles if it is too big.
• Coordinate and choose a tip with an orifice size rated for the paint you're using or spraying.  Lacquers, stains, and enamels often require a smaller tip, while heavy textures require large spray tips.  Most paint companies suggest spray tip size typically is written on their container or spec sheet.  
• Size the spray tip depending on the tip rating of your sprayer. Make sure that the sprayer can hold up with the tip you are planning to use. If you plan on using multiple spray guns on your job, pick a tip size that matches the different gun tip rating of your sprayer.

Spray Tip Reference Sheet

Materials	Tips Sizes
Lacquer or Stain:	.009 - .013
Oil Based Paint:	.013 - .015
Latex Paint:	.015 - .019
Heavy Latex or Smooth Elastomeric:	.021 - .025
Elastomeric & Blockfiller:	.025 - .035 +

Typically, lighter or thinner coatings are sprayed with smaller orifice tips and thicker materials use a larger orifice tip. Again, most paint manufacturers list suggest tip orifice and/or recommended tips on the container.

Located in Houston, Texas BombaTek Spray Equipment Repair has been in the industry for more than 60-years among all our three partners. Whether you’re a professional painting contractor or a do-it-yourself enthusiast, we can fix your machine and offer you the most suitable parts for your spray equipment. Feel free to contact us or drop by our shop today! Learn how Bombatek Spray Equipment Repair can help maintain your equipment. Visit our website or give us a call at 281-935-0584.

---

sources:

https://www.portlandcompressor.com/airless/tip-sizing

https://www.graco.com/us/en/contractor/solutions/articles/choosing-understanding-airless-spray-tips.html