When it comes to achieving a smooth, professional finish with your airless sprayer, choosing the right Graco Spray Tips is just as important as choosing the sprayer itself. Spray tips control your fan width, paint flow, and overall finish quality. Whether you're painting walls, ceilings, cabinets, or exterior surfaces, the correct tip determines how efficiently and accurately you can complete the job.
How to Read Graco Spray Tip Numbers
Each Graco Spray Tip features a three-digit number, such as 515, 517, 619, or 310. These numbers indicate two important details:
1. Fan Width (First Digit × 2)
The first digit, when doubled, gives you the approximate fan width in inches when standing 12 inches from the surface.
- Tip 5 → 10-inch fan
- Tip 3 → 6-inch fan
- Tip 6 → 12-inch fan
A wider fan is ideal for large walls and exterior surfaces, while a narrow fan works best for trim, doors, and detailed work.
2. Orifice Size (Last Two Digits)
The last two digits represent the size of the opening in thousandths of an inch.
- 15 → 0.015"
- 17 → 0.017"
- 23 → 0.023"
Larger orifice sizes allow thicker paints (such as exterior acrylics) to pass through, while smaller orifices are best for light materials (like stains or lacquers).
Graco Spray Tips Size Chart
Here is a simplified and practical Graco Spray Tips selection chart for the most common painting jobs:
These sizes cover most household and commercial applications. Always check your sprayer’s TIP MAX rating before choosing a larger orifice.
Types of Graco Spray Tips
Graco manufactures different tip series designed for specific applications. Here are the most commonly used types:
1. Graco RAC X Green (Fine Finish Low Pressure Tips)
- Ideal for: Cabinets, doors, trim
- Benefit: Ultra-smooth finish at lower pressure
- Works with light coatings like enamels & varnishes
2. Graco RAC X Blue (FFLP & LP Tips)
- Ideal for: Interior walls, ceilings, and exteriors
- Benefit: Reduces overspray, improves control
- Works with latex and standard house paints
3. Graco WideRAC Tips
- Ideal for: Large exterior surfaces
- Benefit: Doubles the fan width for faster coverage
- Perfect for siding, barns, warehouses
4. Graco SwitchTips (RAC 5 and RAC X)
- Reversible tips that unclog with a quick twist
- Highly durable and compatible with most Graco sprayers
Different tip types allow you to match both the paint material and surface type for the best results.
How to Choose the Right Graco Spray Tip
Selecting the best Graco Spray Tips depends on three key factors:
1. What Material Are You Spraying?
- Thin materials (stains, lacquer): 208, 310, 312
- Medium materials (interior latex): 410, 515
- Thick paints (exterior latex, primers): 517, 519, 619
2. What Surface Are You Painting?
- Large walls or ceilings: Use 10–12" fan width (5xx, 6xx)
- Trim, doors, cabinets: Use narrow fans (3xx, 4xx)
- Large exteriors: Consider WideRAC tips
3. Your Sprayer’s Power & Tip Max
Always verify your sprayer’s maximum supported tip size.
Example:
- Graco X7: up to 0.017"
- Graco Magnum X5: up to 0.015"
- Graco 395: up to 0.023"
Using a tip larger than your sprayer’s capacity can cause pressure loss and poor spray patterns.
When Should You Replace a Graco Spray Tip?
Worn Graco Spray Tips can cause overspray, uneven patterns, and wasted paint. A general rule:
- Replace after ~40 gallons (latex)
- Replace after ~20 gallons (abrasive coatings)
If the fan pattern becomes narrow or requires more pressure, it’s time for a new tip.
Final Thoughts
Choosing the correct Graco Spray Tips makes your painting faster, smoother, and more efficient. By understanding tip numbers, fan widths, and material compatibility, you can achieve professional-quality results on any project. Keep this size chart handy and select your tip based on the paint type, sprayer capacity, and surface size to get the best performance every time.
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