Choose and understand tips
Using the correct tip in combination with the spray gun plays an important role in achieving professional spray results. The size of the tips not only determines the amount of fluid sprayed when the trigger is pulled, but also determines the width of the spray fan.
When choosing the right tips for your painting project, follow these recommendations:
Select a tip with an orifice size that matches the material being sprayed. Lighter coatings such as varnishes, stains and enamels require smaller tips, while heavier coatings such as textured materials require larger tips. Many coating manufacturers specify recommended tip sizes directly on the packaging or product specification sheet.
The size of the tip should be selected according to the specifications of the sprayer. Make sure the sprayer supports the tips you plan to use. If your job requires the use of multiple spray guns, select tips that meet the ratings of all the spray guns.
Most tips have a three-digit identification code. Multiply the first number by 2 to get a number that represents how much fan will be produced when spraying 12 inches from the surface. The latter two numbers are the tip's orifice size in thousandths of an inch, which determines the amount of fluid the tips can eject. For example, a 515 tip produces a fan width of 10 inches and has an orifice size of 15 thousandths of an inch. The fan width and orifice size together determine the thickness of the coating.
For example – the orifice size of the 317 tip and the 517 tip are the same, 17 thousandths of an inch. However, the 517 tip sprays a 10-inch fan width, while the 317 tip sprays a 6-inch fan width. For both tips, the amount of paint sprayed from the orifice is the same, but the paint sprayed by the 517 tip is spread over a wider fan width, so the 517 tip has a thinner coating and can reduce mil build-up. .
