Skip to main content

Choosing the Proper Tip for FFLP

How do you choose the proper tip size when spraying FFLP?

12 October, 2021

 

 

 

How do you choose the proper tip size when spraying FFLP?

SDS Sheets

If your  product calls for a 308 tip (SDS sheets  or on the can), you would use a 308 FFLP tip, except you should reduce the pressure to almost half the recommended pressure of the regular tip.  

If it doesn’t say what size to use on  the can, there are general sizes that are common, such as 308. The 08 orifice size can accommodate most of the coatings we use for cabinets, including lacquer, Milesi and Renner. For primers that are thicker, we would most likely use a 10, and for trim paint, generally a 10 or a 12 would work. For most walls, you would use anything from a 12 to a 16. I’m a cabinet refinisher, almost all of my tips are between 08 and 12.

 

Painting Contractor Mike Denahy
Mike Danahy, Danahy Design,  Cambridge, ON  

Test, Don't Guess

I determine my choice based on the viscosity of the coating and the final  mil thickness desired. Typically, for lower- viscosity coatings, I use a 306 or a 308. For a higher-viscosity coating, I generally use a 308 or a 310. If you  are new to airless and having issues  with verticals, a 306 is the way to go.  Sometimes you just have to “test, don’t guess.” A 310 puts out more than  a 308 or a 306, so you can move faster,  but I personally think you get better atomization and a better look versus  308 or 306.

 

Cabinet Refinisher Eric Reason
Eric Reason, Eric Reason Productions,  Nashville, TN 

Again... Test It Out

We use the 310 FFLP tip for most of our trim/cabinet jobs. The 310 covers a standard 4 inch base and frames, but if you’re working on a bigger baseboard or trim, you may want to try a bigger tip  (410). If you use a small tip with a high paint output, you could apply the paint too heavily; this can lead to runs and having to make a second pass to cover the remaining trim.

how to choose the right spray tip

 

If your tip is too big and doesn’t put out enough paint, your surface won’t  have the proper coverage, leaving light spots and tracks around the fan of your sprayer. We always recommend testing your sprayer on a piece of cardboard to  make sure your pressure is set correctly and the gun is shooting the proper width for your job. Tips are made to be sprayed at a distance of 10 to 12 inch from your substrate. Test your tip to  make sure you have the proper width  and paint-cover your substrate.   

 

Painting Contractor Chad Turpen
Chad Turpen, Turpen’s Painting,  Evansville, IN

Need more spray tips? Check out this best tips and tricks video.

Add new comment

Restricted HTML

  • Allowed HTML tags: <a href hreflang> <em> <strong> <cite> <blockquote cite> <code> <ul type> <ol start type> <li> <dl> <dt> <dd> <h2 id> <h3 id> <h4 id> <h5 id> <h6 id>
  • Lines and paragraphs break automatically.
  • Web page addresses and email addresses turn into links automatically.

What do you wish Santa brought you?

Choices

Does your company own at least one AED/Automated External Defibrillator?

Choices

Did you attend any in-person paint industry events in 2023?

Choices
Post

Jobsite of the Week: Stucco in Hawaii

Read Now
Post

Disposable Respirator Choices

By now, we’re probably all familiar with N95 disposable…

Read Now
Post

The Future of Paint

Read Now
Post

Paint Polls Results: Competitive Hiring

Last week we asked painters, Have/w

Read Now
^