1. THE MOST IMPORTANT FACTOR WHEN SELECTING A TIP IS THE MATERIAL TO BE SPRAYED.

WE RECOMMEND
YOU FOLLOW THE COATING MANUFACTURER’S RECOMMENDATIONS. IF THE PRODUCT CALLS FOR A .017, THEN
THE DECISION IS UP TO THE PAINTING CONTRACTOR AS TO WHICH TYPE OF TIP TO USE. ( I.E. CONVENIENCE AND
TIME SAVINGS ---

2. REMEMBER MATCH THE FLOW RATE OF THE TIP WITH THE OUTPUT OF THE SPRAYER.

3. THE FINAL FINISH REQUIRED WILL ALSO INFLUENCE WHICH TIP TO USE --- ESPECIALLY IF A “HVLP” LIKE FINISH
IS REQUIRED (I.E. CABINETS, LOCKERS, DOORS, ETC.).

4. EXPERIENCE ALSO PLAYS A ROLE IN TIP SELECTION. TYPICALLY, THE WIDER FANS ARE HARDER TO CONTROL.
THEREFORE, START A NEW PAINTER OFF WITH A NARROWER FAN PATTERN.

5. SPRAYING ON A WINDY DAY IS DIFFERENTER TO THE SURFACE. THEREFORE, TO GET A GOOD MIL BUILD, YOU
SHOULD ALSO CHOOSE A WIDER FAN PATTERN.

***WE WILL GO INTO MORE SPRAY TECHNIQUES ON THE NEXT OVERHEAD.***

1. THE TIP IS OFTEN CALLED THE “BRAIN OF THE SYSTEM” BECAUSE IT CONTROLS THE FLUID OUTPUT OF THE
PUMP.

2. CHANGING THE AIRLESS TIP ALSO CHANGES:

- THE AMOUNT OF PAINT APPLIED

- THE SIZE OF THE SPRAY PATTERN (FAN WIDTH)

- 221-517 RAC

- 269-211 CONTRACTOR FLAT TIP

4. THE LAST THREE DIGITS DESIGNATE THE ORIFICE SIZE AND FAN WIDTH.

5. ASK THE PARTICIPANTS WHAT A “517” MEANS.

- FIRST DIGIT “5” DESIGNATES THE WIDTH OF THE FAN PATTERN

SIMPLY DOUBLE THAT NUMBER AND YOU GET YOUR FAN WIDTH (PLUS OR MINUS 2”) WHEN YOU’RE HOLDING
THE GUN 12” FROM THE SURFACE.

- LAST TWO DIGITS “17” DESIGNATE THE ORIFICE SIZE

THIS IS A .017 TIP WHICH ALLOWS WHAT GPM? LET THE PARTICIPANTS LOOK UP THE CORRECT ANSWER IN
THEIR BOOKLET (.30 OR APPROXIMATELY 1/3 GPM).

6. DISCUSS THE 211 TIP AND LET THE PARTICIPANTS DETERMINE FAN WIDTH AND ORIFICE SIZE.
1. AS YOU KNOW, THE ANSWER IS THAT EACH TIP ALLOWS THE SAME FLOW OF MATERIAL - APPROXIMATELY .30
GPM.

2. THE 517 TIP WILL SPRAY THE PAINT IN A LARGER AREA AND THE MIL BUILD WILL BE LESS THAN THE 317.

3. AN ILLUSTRATION OF THIS IS SHOWN ON THE NEXT OVERHEAD.

1. REINFORCE THAT THE TIP SIZE CONTROLS THE FLOW --- NO MATTER WHICH PUMP YOU PUT A .015 TIP ON,
THE FLOW WILL ONLY BE ABOUT 1/4 GPM (OR .87 LPM).

2. IT IS IMPORTANT TO SIZE THE SPRAY TIP TO THE AIRLESS PUMP. IN ADDITION, THE SPRAY TIP USED WILL
DEPEND UPON THE MATERIAL TO BE SPRAYED. THEREFORE, IF THE MATERIAL TO BE SPRAYED REQUIRES A .031
TIP, YOU MUST USE A PUMP THAT HAS A CAPACITY (OUTPUT) OF AT LEAST 1 GPM (3.79 LPM).

3. ANY PUMP SMALLER THAN 1.0 GPM (LESS OUTPUT) WILL NOT BE ABLE TO “KEEP UP” WITH THE FLOW RATE
OF A .031 TIP.

4. ALSO, IF THE CONTRACTOR IS GOING TO USE A .031 TIP ON A DAILY BASIS OR ON A LARGE JOB, IT MAY BE
BENEFICIAL FOR HIM OR HER TO USE A SPRAYER THAT CAN SUPPORT A LARGER TIP SIZE (I.E. A .035). THIS WAY,
YOU ARE ACCOUNTING FOR TIP WEAR.

***WE WILL BE COVERING TIP WEAR LATER IN THE SESSION***

1. THIS CHART IS JUST A GUIDE --- ACTUAL TIP SIZES USED WILL VARY FROM ONE MATERIAL MANUFACTURER TO
THE NEXT.

2. FOR BEST RESULTS, USE THE TIP SIZE RECOMMENDED BY THE PAINT MANUFACTURER. THIS INFORMATION
CAN USUALLY BE FOUND ON THE PAINT CAN OR PRODUCT SPECIFICATION SHEET.

3. IT IS IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE THE AIRLESS SPRAYER THAT WILL BE USED CAN SUPPORT THE TIP SIZE
REQUIRED FOR THE PRODUCT APPLICATION.