Airless paint sprayer help: primer OK, but enamel has streaks/tails

[terrence.nixa]

I have a Graco Magnum DX sprayer with the 515 tip (0.015"). I also
added another 25' 1/4" hose section at the sprayer and coupled that to
the 3/16" 25' hose that came with the sprayer. I am painting my trim
and doors in my basement. The sprayer worked well for the latex primer
(Sherwin Williams PrepRite Classic). I set the sprayer to about half
pressure (middle of full and prime/clean).

I then flushed the sprayer with water and then paint thinner and
switched to the enamel (Sherwin Williams ProClassic Interior Alkyd
Satin Enamel). At half pressure there was considerable streaking/tails
in the paint pattern (4 or 5 main streams of paint). At full pressure
the streaking/tails were better but still not very good. I then tried a
411 tip (0.011") but the spray with that was worse than the 515 tip.

The enamel is considerably thinner than the latex so I thought the
smaller tip was going to help but it did not. I have cleaned the gun
filter and flushed the sprayer again.

Should I try using just the one 25' 1/4" hose or maybe just the 25'
3/16" hose?
Should I try a 0.017" tip even though the max tip for the DX is 0.015"?
Or is this sprayer just not going to work for the enamel?

Thank you!!

 

[Lawrence]

in the paint pattern (4 or 5 main streams of paint). At full pressure
the streaking/tails were better but still not very good. I then tried a
411 tip (0.011") but the spray with that was worse than the 515 tip.

The proble may not be with your sprayer but with your technique. Not
sure exactly what you mean by streaking and tails however. I have an
Graco airless and have used it long enough to learn a few tricks don't
know it they will help you.

It sounds like you are applying too much paint too slowly. The idea is
to apply very thin coats very quickly is what you should shoot for. A
thin coat will dry quickly and keep you out of trouble with over
applying. Massive overapplication is easy to do with an airless and
can be your worst nightmare.

You want to be sure the nozzle is perpidicular to the direction you are
fanning the gun, up and down. You can get streaking when you are
applying too much paint too slowly. To fix it you want to a lower
pressure not higher. I like to use the lowest pressure my situation
will allow.

fan the gun back and forth across the surface very, very quickly.
Paint the surface in overlapping passes. This will apply the paint
more evenly. Do not trigger the gun continuously. Trigger the gun
just before entering your pass and release the trigger just before the
end of the pass. You will therefore trigger the gun with every pass.
Keep the gun parallel to the surface rather than swinging it in an arc.
Also keep your gun at a consistent distance about 12 inches or a bit
more. Move back an inch or two if you see streaking.

Another fix is to use an roller. It is something of a defeat, I know,
to use a roller when you have commited to the sprayer but it's really
no big deal. Do a wall and if it has streaks you should be able to
even out quickly with the roller while the paint is wet. Stop after
each wall to check for streaks and try to improve your technique each
time.

 

[terrence.nixa]

Thanks for the response Lawrence!

I think my technique is ok. The problem is that I am not getting an
even/uniform spray. When I spray I get 4/5 pronounced streams with a
significant gap between two of them. Its not terrible but its not good
enough to paint my interior doors. It might be good enough to paint my
door frames and windows though.

 

[Pete C.]

Thanks for the response Lawrence!

I think my technique is ok. The problem is that I am not getting an
even/uniform spray. When I spray I get 4/5 pronounced streams with a
significant gap between two of them. Its not terrible but its not good
enough to paint my interior doors. It might be good enough to paint my
door frames and windows though.

Did you strain the paint before pumping? Could perhaps have a clog? Do
you have a viscosity cup to check the paint viscosity and thin as
appropriate?

Pete C.

 

[terrence.nixa]

I did not strain the paint but I don't think I have a clog but I guess
its possible. I just talked to a painter and he said there are
different kinds of tips. The black ones (what I have) are mainly for
latex and the green ones are for finer stuff like oil base so I'm going
to try a green tip.

 

[Lawrence]

I have a Graco Magnum DX sprayer with the 515 tip (0.015"). I also
added another 25' 1/4" hose section at the sprayer and coupled that to
the 3/16" 25' hose that came with the sprayer. I am painting my trim
and doors in my basement. The sprayer worked well for the latex primer
(Sherwin Williams PrepRite Classic). I set the sprayer to about half
pressure (middle of full and prime/clean).

I then flushed the sprayer with water and then paint thinner and
switched to the enamel (Sherwin Williams ProClassic Interior Alkyd
Satin Enamel). At half pressure there was considerable streaking/tails
in the paint pattern (4 or 5 main streams of paint). At full pressure
the streaking/tails were better but still not very good. I then tried a
411 tip (0.011") but the spray with that was worse than the 515 tip.

The enamel is considerably thinner than the latex so I thought the
smaller tip was going to help but it did not. I have cleaned the gun
filter and flushed the sprayer again.

Should I try using just the one 25' 1/4" hose or maybe just the 25'
3/16" hose?
Should I try a 0.017" tip even though the max tip for the DX is 0.015"?
Or is this sprayer just not going to work for the enamel?

I think you are using the right tips. I looked at my machine ( Graco
Nova 395) and I am using a 413 tip and also have a 517 on hand using
oil based primers and enamels.

You many have the tip in backward. the graco has self cleaning tips.
when they get clogged you just turn them around and run the sprayer to
unclog. There is an arrow on the tip which shows the direction the
paint flows when the gun is in use. I have made the same mistake.

 

[terrence.nixa]

I bought a Graco FF 312 tip (green) yesterday and it works much better.
I still have to have the pressure maxed out but I am getting a good
spray pattern now.

 

[NickySantoro]

I have a Graco Magnum DX sprayer with the 515 tip (0.015"). I also
added another 25' 1/4" hose section at the sprayer and coupled that to
the 3/16" 25' hose that came with the sprayer. I am painting my trim
and doors in my basement. The sprayer worked well for the latex primer
(Sherwin Williams PrepRite Classic). I set the sprayer to about half
pressure (middle of full and prime/clean).

I then flushed the sprayer with water and then paint thinner and
switched to the enamel (Sherwin Williams ProClassic Interior Alkyd
Satin Enamel). At half pressure there was considerable streaking/tails
in the paint pattern (4 or 5 main streams of paint). At full pressure
the streaking/tails were better but still not very good. I then tried a
411 tip (0.011") but the spray with that was worse than the 515 tip.

The enamel is considerably thinner than the latex so I thought the
smaller tip was going to help but it did not. I have cleaned the gun
filter and flushed the sprayer again.

Should I try using just the one 25' 1/4" hose or maybe just the 25'
3/16" hose?
Should I try a 0.017" tip even though the max tip for the DX is 0.015"?
Or is this sprayer just not going to work for the enamel?

Thank you!!

Try adding some Penetrol to oil base and Flotrol to latex. See package
directions.