Airless Tips / Gun filters Selection Guide

The following charts will provide a guideline which should help you decide which tip size and filter is most appropriate for spraying different materials. Viscosity was measured using a standard viscosity cup. Tip wear can only be estimated due to different spraying paint materials.

Coating

Viscosity
(seconds)

Fan Size-Inches

2″

4″

6″

8″

10″

12″

Lacquer, varnish, furniture stain

15-35

*

209 R

309 R

411 R

511 R

611R

Industrial enamels, stain, colored lacquer

25-50

109 R

211 R

311 R

413 R

513 R

615 R

Shop primer, solid stain, oil base, latex

40-100

111 R

213 R

313 R

415 Y

515Y

617 W

Flat oil base, latex

60-150

113 Y

215 Y

315 Y

417 W

517 W

619 W

Thick latex, prepared block filler

150-200

115 W

217 W

317 W

419 W

519 W

621 *

Most block fillers

n/a

117 W

219 W

319 W

421 *

521 *

623 *

Explanation of tip and filter sizing
eg: ( 517W )
5 = half of the fan width (10″ @ 1 foot away from wall)
17 = orifice size in thousands of an inch (0.017)
W = (W)hite filter

Filter Selection:
R = Fine screen red filter (150 mesh)
Y = medium screen yellow filter (100 mesh)
W = coarse white filter (50 mesh)
* = not recommended

Tip volume at various pressures
—Gallons per minute—
Results are based on water, heavier viscosities will produce less volume. This is especially noticeable with large tips and very heavy coatings.

Tip size

500 PSI

1000 PSI

1500 PSI

2000 PSI

.007

.028

.040

.049

.057

.009

.039

.055

.067

.078

.011

.060

.080

.10

.12

.013

.090

.12

.15

.18

.015

.12

.16

.20

.23

.017

.16

.23

.27

.32

.019

.20

.27

.33

.39

.021

.24

..33

.41

.47

.023

.28

.40

.49

.57

.025

.33

.47

.58

.68

.027

.37

.52

.64

.76

.029

.47

.65

.79

.98

.031

.53

.75

.91

1.1

.035

.69

.90

1.0

1.2

.043

1.1

1.5

1.8

2.1

.053

1.5

2.2

2.9

3.4

.057

1.8

2.5

3.1

3.5

.063

2.2

3.1

3.9

4.4
 

Very approximate wear values comparing tungsten tip size and paint type (in gallons).

New Tip Size

.015

.017

.019

.027

Tip Worn to

.017

.019

.021

.029

Lacquer

400

–

–

–

Latex

75

150

250

–

Block filler

–

–

75

250

Road paint

20

20

50

200
Remark:

1) Low pressure equals longer life for tips and also less overspray;

2) Replace the worn tips timely. The worn tips will waste paint and cause overworks the pump. The maximum tip of pump is the largest tip that the machine will deliver a proper pressure for spraying materials without overworking or overloading. When a tip is used for some period of time, it can wear beyond the maximum size recommended for the pump, which will cause low pressure and a poor spray pattern. • Stains and thick latex products often cause the most rapid wear of the tip, while clear lacquers and varnishes cause the least wear. Thus tip life can vary from as little as 50 gallons to as much as 200 or more, depending on the product being sprayed and the pressure used. • Filter screen mesh for the gun or pump are picked not because of the type of paint being used, but to protect a given size of tip from plugging. Pick the tip for the type of paint and job being done and then choose the correct filter to protect the tip.

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