Homeowner / How To / Spray Tip Information
Spray Tip Information
The information provided in this section should help you understand why spray tips are so important, how to determine which tip is the best choice depending on the spray application at hand and your specific Graco or Magnum sprayer, and some general information on tip wear.
Using the appropriate tip reduces overspray and provides more control. This means you can save money and complete your painting project faster when you use the right tip for the job.
Tip Size Selection
The size of the tip is determined by three main factors:
- Coating being sprayed - determines hole size.
- Surface area to cover - determines fan size.
- Which sprayer you’re using - determines maximum tip size.
Coating Determines Hole Size
You can determine which spray tip orifice (hole) size to use by the thickness (viscosity) of the coating you will spray. Spray tips are labeled by their hole size in inches.
Recommended Tip Sizes for Common Coating Materials
| Tip Sizes | Coatings | ||||
| Light | Medium | Heavy | |||
| Stains | Enamels | Primers | Interior Paints | Exterior Paints | |
| .011 | X | ||||
| .013 | X | X | X | X | |
| .015 | X | X | X | X | |
| .017 | X | X | X | ||
| .019 | X | ||||
| .021 | X | ||||
Try the online, tip size recommendation tool.
Spraying Surface Determines Fan Size
Small surfaces (cabinets, fences, railings) require smaller fan widths for:
- Sharper spray pattern definition
- Reduced overspray
- Ability to spray further with less fall-off
Large surfaces (ceilings and walls) require larger fan widths for:
- Increased coverage
- Ability to spray closer with less build up
Match Your Sprayer To The Right Tip
The key difference in sprayers is the maximum tip size they can support. Choose your sprayer based on the coating types you’ll be spraying.
| Sprayer | Maximum Tip Size Supported |
| Magnum dx | .015 inch |
| Magnum XR5 | .015 inch |
| Magnum XR7 | .017 inch |
| Magnum XR9 | .019 inch |
| Graco 190ES | .019 inch |
Start with a tip one size smaller than the maximum tip size your sprayer supports. This allows for tip wear, which increases the tip hole size.
Understanding Tip Wear
Choosing the right spray tip is essential for ensuring a quality finish -- no matter which coating material is being sprayed. However, spray tips will wear with normal use.
It’s important to replace a tip when it gets worn to ensure a precise spray pattern, maximum productivity and quality finish. When a tip wears, the orifice size increases and the fan width decreases.
This causes more paint to hit a smaller area, which wastes paint and slows productivity.
Tip life varies by coating, so if a tip is worn, replace it. Extend tip life by spraying at the lowest pressure that breaks up the coating into a complete spray pattern (atomize).
Do not increase the pump pressure; it only wastes paint and causes unnecessary pump component wear.
Recommended Spray Tip Replacement Time:
Latex - Replace after 15-40 gallons (57-151 L)
Oils & Stains - Replace after 35-60 gallons (132-227 L)
Does your tip need replacing? Buy a Graco Spray Tip and get better results - fast.