I’ve owned my Graco Magnum LTS sprayer since 2010. Just finished using it again. About to clean it. Have watched your video in the past to recall how to easily clean and ready it for storage. This cleaning process definitely works well and preserves your sprayer long term. Thanks for a great how to video.
That's exactly how I clean mine. Learned it early on. Good video, only thing I would add is cleaning the spray tip at the same time after clearing the hose of paint, putting the spray tip on and spraying water through.
thanks for the add to your FB group! :) and thanks more for this video. I bought the x5 off of Craigslist as well, to do exactly what you do with yours. I'm one that researches reviews etc. before making a purchase and this sprayer was EXTREMELY well received, so I bought it. I was remorseful, briefly, because I felt that I got carried away with quality and power and ultimately bought a semi truck to use as a daily driver! ;) But your other video (painting furniture)set my mind at ease. You rock! !! ignore the negative comments. There's always gonna be those people. Keep up the good work!
Just saw this comment. Awesome. I'm glad it has helped. I need to make a new video on this to show people how to clean it using a bucket instead of a hose.
Nice job; about the only thing I do differently, especially prior to storage, is, after running a ton of water through the hose, I disconnect it from the pump and blow it out with an air compressor. I also put a plumbing test cap over the hose outlet to seal in the pump armor and seal the pump. Then I thoroughly clean the gun and gun filter, check all the gaskets and wrap the intake tube and cleaned screen in a plastic bag. I'm a remodeler/ trim carpenter so I don't use my sprayer more than a few times a year, and this just makes it last longer.
Glad to help. You can also substitute using the water hose by having a 5 gallon bucket of water to clean the sprayer. Just put the intake tube in the water and do the rest of the steps as normal.
That Shabby Guy. Thanks. That’s what I normally do. I just bought it, and used it twice. The clean up takes time, but your way definitely makes it simpler. Really appreciate vids like these. ***** (5 stars)
One thing to add: The SG gun that comes with the sprayer has a 3 or 4" mesh filter in the handle of the gun. Make sure to clean or replace it as it gets full, especially if you switch between paint and clear top coats frequently. Otherwise it will spit flakes of paint in your top coat. If you're just painting, keeping it clear will improve the spray quality. I change mine out a few times a year. Part number is 288749 "SG Gun Filter"
That Shabby Guy. I bought the Pro X17. I didn’t see anything in the instructions about cleaning the filters, but might have missed it. I’ll check it out. Thanks again.
Sure thing. What I like to do these days is fill a clean bucket with water and put the intake tube in that to clean the system. Less messy and saves on water.
I just bought a used x5, it was only used once a few days ago and they let it sit with paint. Whats the best method to get the paint out and clean off the gun? Things are caked on with paint, but it is sucking water and spraying through the gun, although a bit weak. Thank you!
2 Questions; when you put the Armor fluid, should you run that through the hose too? AND, do you ever run Lacquer Thinner through your machine to clean it?
No. You do not need to run it through the hose. I haven't run lacquer thinner but I have done mineral spirits just to clean it out a bit. It seems help once you notice the pump getting a little weak (paint sputtering because of low pressure / the pump randomly running for a split second due to loss of pressure - those are signs of a pump weakening)
Do you load up pump armor for overnight storage as well to continue the next day or you can just flush the system and call it a day. Prime next day and ready to go?
Nobody answered your question in over a year, it should tell you in the instruction booklet, I usually put the pump armor in to store it through the winter.
Sorry for just now getting around to this. Yes, proper clean up and storage is important. I use my sprayers (I own 3 now) to paint furniture so I am constantly switching between paints. I have to say that I have left my sprayers sitting for days at a time without cleaning them. I do however, leave them in the paint and on the spray setting so that no air is getting to the paint inside the intake tube or the sprayer hose. While I don't recommend it, I have had one of the sprayers for about a year and a half now and have painted over 400+ pieces of furniture and it is still holding up but I am starting to notice some spitting sometimes when I spray so it is about time to get a kit to replace some parts. Just my experience.
ThatShabbyGuy I have a new Graco Magnum LTS-15 I purchased to spray my kitchen cabinets. While spraying them I would have some spitting every so often maybe 1-6 dot splatters each pass. Is that something that is common? What am I doing wrong?
Jared Adkins I also bought the LTS-15 for cabinets, but haven't started in on them yet. Did you look up the paint's TDS to see what orifice was recommended for the spray tip? Are you also using a fine finish green tip? If you've done all that, maybe try turning up the pressure? If you were able to solve the issue, what did you end up doing?
Late response here... I'm actually really bad about cleaning the sprayer out at the end of the day. A lot of times I stop work for the day and come back in the next day to continue where I left off. When it is butt-cold outside, I really dont want to be cleaning and repriming every day so I just leave everything primed and just clean the tip. Everything else is sealed with no air getting to it so it wont dry up your system overnight. I used to have 3 of these sprayers when I had a big shop so I could do multiple colors at a time. I once left one pressurized for about a month lol. Cleaned the tip out and it sprayed fine. So, if you're lazy or in a hurry like I get, yeah, it might be okay here and there but obviously you'll get more life out of it if you take care of it properly. For me, the sprayer pays for itself after like 1 day of work. I get a new one every year because the pump begins to weaken and not hold pressure after that. Again, the only time I clean mine is when I am switching from paint to poly, and vice versa. Every so often, I'll run some mineral spirits through it.
Oil based paint is usually cleaned up using mineral spirits. I only used water based mediums so I dont have the full info on the process. (sorry 1 year late)
I have the same machine but I stored it about 5 month ago and I didn't use that cleaner and now I'm trying to use it but it doesn't prime doesn't do anything doesn't suck up the water, there is something I still can do on it to fixed or I lose it already?
koka Eliezzer Turn the machine on and set it to prime with the intake tube in your paint or water ready to prime. Lower the pressure knob until the machine stops running then barely turn it back up until it turns up and see if it primes. Just keep lowering it and raising it a few times and see if it will start to get suction. Usually have to do this when a pump starts to show signs of wear. Once it starts to prime you can turn up the pressure and flip to spray when ready. If it doesn't get suction, the pump may be junked. A dealer/repair shop told me for the cost of getting it repaired, you could spend a a little more and get a new machine. He also said that with the LTS-15s and LTS-17s, the new pump kit doesn't always guarantee that it is going to work good as new again and in some cases, does nothing. Sell the machine for $25 to $50 to someone who repairs them and ebay the gun for $70 (They're $120 new). Good luck!
Hi, why does the water come out in a steam like way when I pull the trigger ? Could it be the spray tip that in using? It's a graco size 515. Thank you!
I paint furniture using these sprayers. I know a lot of people come here using it to paint houses and all that. The original intent of this video was, by many requests, to show other people who paint furniture how to clean it easier.
I havent used the 395. Just the smaller units. However I'd think that if it has the same cleaning system it would be fine. These days I use two 5 gallon buckets to clean out the machine rather than messing with the hose. Allows me to clean my machine inside my paint booth.
Would this work for other airless paint sprayers, or is this specific to this machine? I'm asking because I'm just about to purchased a Krause & Becker airless paint sprayer and this looks like the simplest way to clean the machine.
Yeah. That sprayer looks nearly identical to the Graco or other airless sprayers. You can also use 5 gal buckets if you dont want to hook up to a water hose
+JMC2013 There is one I believe but I think it is literally inside the unit which is not fun to open or put back together speaking from experience. I think it is part of the pump replacement parts kits you can buy but I'm not 100% on that. I did ask a few paint sprayer repair guys about whether it was worth it to fix when they got weak and he said for anything as a Graco LTS 15 and lower, you might as well buy a new machine because by the time you pay for the kit and repairs (or your own time which may be more valuable), you've spent over half the cost of a new unit. Along with that, a few of them said the pumps dont ever really work as good after the kit. Bought a new one and it was nice to feel that strong spray again.
sprayed shellac with a graco sprayer, thought I cleaned it out pretty good ... used a mixture of denatured and water ... tried to use it a couple days later and it's clogged up ... won't spray ... any tips?
I would have used mineral spirits. Give that a try. At this point it could be clogged up in the pump which requires taking it apart to attempt to fix (not fun) or taking it to a repairman (not cheap). Is it priming or just running and never sucking anything through?
+Turner Eaton if it is dried up in the pump you can try to disassemble it and clean it out. It might give you a little more time with the machine. If it is an LTS 15 or 17 even, I would consider buying a new machine. A pump replacement kit will cost you $70 and 4 to 6 hours of your own time or more $$ if you take it to a repair guy. I've talked to several authorized repair guys and they say the machine doesn't run as well, even with the new pumps. For $300 you have yourself a new machine. Sell the old spray gun for $60 (retails for $100 new) and enjoy a brand new machine
If you go to Lowe's and look at the sprayers they will have a "guide" that says that the LTS-15 is rated to be used every month or so. I used my sprayer day in and day out for about 2 years before I needed to replace it. It has been well worth the money. Just make sure to clean them after every use and store them properly.
Cool, thanks, man. It'll get quite a bit of use, but probably not near as much as yours since it will only be for my house, but it'll be used to paint the exterior house, the interior walls/ceiling, cabinets, and likely a few other odds and ends. I went to lowes and checked it out earlier this week and the only thing I didn't like, as minor as it may seem, is I couldn't find a 12" extension. Thanks for the response, and thanks for posting how to clean this thing!
***** Check some other Lowe's stores. I've seen the extension before. Seems like it was a 3ft extension though. Probably easily purchased online. The LTS-15 would be great for doing stuff around the house here and there. Mine got used for 8-12 hours a day for 2 years before I replaced it.
***** Doesn't the X15 have wheels and sits higher up for 5 gallon buckets? I keep looking at a way to put wheels on my X5. I've used mine for about 4 years and so far the only thing I've had to replace is the worn tips. Use it for spraying condos. Good little machine for the money! Almost forgot.... I also found it a great investment to buy the roller set up for it. Man, that saves a lot of dipping the roller in the pan when it comes to painting walls. As any painter knows, cutting in takes the longest part of any paint job. Once that is done, it's a piece of cake with the roller attachment.
I used my X5 a few years ago.. at that time, I remember seeing a video (I thought it was this one) where they cautioned you to not lose a small plastic part from the gun when cleaning.. well I think I lost that part, but now I can't find that video and I don't know what part I lost..anyone have any idea what I'm talking about?
It might be my other video here: th-cam.com/video/Xn4kTluBEgs/w-d-xo.html I have it queued up to the part where I address the nozzle of the paint gun. The part you're looking for is "Graco 243004"
Sorry. Just saw your reply. Yes, you can find these at Home Depot where the water hose parts are. If you go to the paint section where they sell the sprayers, I'm sure you can get one made by Graco but I'd assume it would be more expensive for no reason. It is literally just a male to male plastic shutoff.
The point of the shutoff is for ease of use so you don't have to turn the water off at the source. You have it screwed onto your water hose, then connect it to your sprayer's intake tube, turn the water on, flush it, then you can shut off the valve and continue with cleaning or whatever else. I actually do not use this method anymore. This was when I had had the sprayer for about 6 months or so and people were constantly asking how to clean it easier. I was tired of spending 15-20 minutes cleaning just to put more paint in it an hour later. Now, I use 5 gallon buckets. One filled with about 3 gal of water, the other empty where the old paint and flushed water will go into. This way I can do it all right in my garage without moving my sprayer and hooking it up near a water hose. The whole process is messy no matter what, but the bucket make it go much faster if you do it on a regular basis.
What if I don’t have faucet to hook up my garden hose??? I’d like to buy this but that’s my main problem I live in nyc and the buildings here don’t have faucet for garden hose to be hooked up!
Please I’m open for suggestions I’m debating on buying this over the hand held ones but it’s really expensive! It’s about $400 that one with the cord and $500 with the cordless and I have to buy desalt battery and charger which cost 100-150 . This one I saw for 250 I think in Amazon but major problem is no faucet to hook up garden hose in most buildings in nyc :(
We have the x and we are having trouble getting the paint to go through then the machine turns off we have used paint thinner any other suggestions to help us
Is it a new machine? If so, take it back and get it exchanged. It sounds like there is a problem with the pump. You shouldn't have to thin any paint. If it is a used machine, the pump kit price, plus the time it takes to replace parts, and the fact that the machine wont be nearly like brand new warrants buying a new machine rather than jacking with all that work to replace it.
The only downside I have with it for what I use it for (painting furniture) is that is struggles a bit with thicker paint like Valspar Reserve. It does fine with other paints.
I use mine every day. At one point, i didnt clean any of mine out for months. Just kept paint in them and kept them primed since I was using them every day. Im not sure how bad it is for the pump. Probably not too good but a full days worth of use, every day for a year before they started getting weak.
I used mine a week ago, got side tracked, then sick, and had paint in it and actually even left it on 😣. Cleaned out fine still but I wouldn’t recommend it. I think I got lucky, I certainly wouldn’t go more than a day or so.
Is there anyway possible that the lubricating wet cup or weep hole can be shown or displayed. I've googled and asked and keep "I don't know from people" and when watching shared videos on TH-cam (which by the way are very appreciated) it shows every thing from start up to clean up and even how to add pump armor. I feel stupid ass hell because I have been using Titan Commercial rigs because I've been painting for 25 years. Myself and best friend decided to go out on our own and be on the other end of the paychecks. Neither of us have ever used one of these residential do-it-yourself at home rigs. Any help would be deeply appreciated. We would have read the instructions but the moron "helper" we had trashed the box and instructions so here we are on this fillet lol. If anyone knows where to add the lubricant please write back. And thank you all for the tutorial videos, I'm positive that you helped someone extend the life of a home upkeep investment. Ricky H.
I do not think there is any lubrication needed for these residential ones. I think they tried to keep it as simple as possible. The only product I have ever run into was throat seal liquid for these smaller Gracos. I've never used it and I think it is just to keep paint from drying and building up inside the pump. Hopefully that doesn't count as an "I dont know". :) I've been through 4 machines in the past 5 years. I could extend the life more but I rarely clean my machines and I don't do any extra maintenance on them.
Thank you Furniture Envy for your reply and it is not counted as an I don't know I've read the manual front to back several times and nothing was ever said in it about where a lubricating wet cup or weep hole was located. I'm a bit of a obsessive compulsive person so I called the company that manufactures these sprayers and ask them about it and they said they do not put any kind of lubricating area hole but as I was cleaning the machine out and I had been using an oil-based primer on a fence after I had ran mineral spirits through it I then ran a 5 gallon bucket about three-quarters full of hot water with a light degreaser just to get lining of spirits out and I noticed behind the pump an area barely visible that had a sponge in it sure just for shitz and giggles I tipped it up and squirted the oil in it left it like that for a few so that it would go down. I was just about to go to the latex super paint and they're right behind the pressure handle it is the little button that frees the ball that is inside the pump when it gets stuck and I pressed it a few times and I seen coming down the suction tube the oil that I put in. Now for all I know this could be a ventilator to allow heat to escape I'm not sure the people from Graco didn't seem to know anything about it either go figure but the machine seemed to work just fine afterwards and I appreciate you taking the time to write me back. I seen where you said you go through quite a few rigs if any of them have what I described behind the pump sponge type opening behind the pump try it out I could extend the life of your rigs I know sometimes these things can pay for their selves on one job if the job is big enough I'm hoping to get at least 5 to 10 2500 square foot homes at least the Interiors and hopefully the exterior as long as I don't have to run elastomeric through it because that stuff is thick as pudding and those little Riggs just can't Pump It Out the only time I was ever able to get it one to do that was to remove the filter from within the gun and it broke about three-quarters of the way before we're done with the job. Thank you again and I hope my reply helpful to you in the future or anyone else that reads this thank you again
I would have to mention that I go through so many because I mistreat them too. I will load a sprayer, spray my paint, and perhaps be done with the day but still have another dresser or two that needs to be finished the next day. Instead of cleaning out my rig and reloading it the next day, I just leave everything primed. The next day I just clean the tip and it is good to go. Lazy, I know but it doesn't kill the machine overnight and saves me a lot of time. To touch on the thickness of mediums, yeah, the LTS-15 doesn't have the power for thicker mediums. I use Valspar Signature (latex) to do all of my painting and it is fine. When they came out with Valspar Reserve, I used it for a bit and loved it. I could get 1-2 coat full coverage with it. The problem was is the thickness of the paint was wearing out the pump way too fast so I was having to thin it with Floetrol. Got to where $50 a gallon plus problems wasnt worth it. Good luck with your painting. I think your rig will last you longer than mine with your meticulous maintenance.
Doesn’t it hurt the pump to have the water being forced into it from the garden hose but also having the intake hose on, sucking the water into it?! Should you leave the machine off and just run water through it?
The hose attachment comes with the sprayer. It is meant to be used this way. But no. It doesnt hurt it. You need the pump to run to fully clear paint from the system. These days I do this from a bucket though. No hose.
That's awesome to hear. This is my wife's favorite video. She was the one recording at the time and she loves the part where I get visually pissed at a loud motorcycle passing by while trying to record.
It is an adapter that comes with the sprayer. Just a plastic male/male-ended piece with a shutoff valve to make things easier when using a hose to clean. I use 5 gallon buckets now. Much easier and less mess.
Better get down the plumb center then...I didn't get one with my graco...takes more water to flush than I thought...your vid helped out a lot for my first flush...now I've got to figure out why my graco stoppes pumping whilst spraying....cheers
Just continually pumps..even if I take hand off trigger...no paint comes out when I pull trigger...seems like a pressure issue. ..until I figure it out...only thing that worked was flushing it out then starting again...think I'll be pulling my hair out if it happens continously...
If you think those are great then you should really try the original graco sprayers they are worth the money trust me you will feel a huge difference Graco NOVA is one you should buy also the Titan impact 440 those are heavy duty sprayers just giving you some advice on your tools!
you should detail the outside of the machine and hose as well, I've had mine for 4 years and the entire machine still looks like brand new,, lacquer thinner works great for cleaning the outside machine and hose,,and gun,,,I'm not trying to be a axxhole its just since your doing the inside ,why not do the entire thing,,,
My father would do the same thing. For me, spending the extra time to keep the outside looking good doesn't make me any money. ;) I'd rather not keep it like a trailer queen show car just for the looks. Im the only one that really sees it.
The only time exterior cleaning increases the value of the machine is when it’s time for sale. It does not affect operation. I doubt a customer would pay more or less based on the amount of paint on the machine. It could possibly impact a referral if the customer values perceptions of cleanliness. That’s going to be based more on overall cleanliness and how the painters protect the job site. Because the machine is being used to make money, the only real question is whether the time spent cleaning the machine will improve the sale price more than using that same amount of time to make money working in or on the business. I thought his method for saving unused paint was a great value. Many people probably would just dispose of it. That being said, I am also a bit OCD and will spend my time cleaning the machine. To me, it’s a sign that the tools are being properly cared for. Thank you for the video.
good instructions for the new style gracos.......lol at all the people who don't store their pumps with antifreeze or pump armor, then wonder why their pump doesn't work next time
Behind every good man there is a woman. This is the case with many TH-cam videos. PS You probably attracted this weirdo's question by the way you shuck-off the hose like you were taking a whiz and then stroked it to remove the paint in the first min. Hahaha
Haha, yeah, but for different reasons. I was working with some guys the other week and one of them started doing something similar as a joke. Everyone got a good laugh out of it. That's why I picked up on it in this video.
Just returned mine after one use...the cleanup makes a mess! F**K that. The Graco TrueCoat 360 VSP Airless Paint Sprayer does a much better job and super easy cleanup and efficient on paint/stain. You just have to keep filling the paint bag but big deal.
When you're lining up several dressers at a time, loading paint over and over is a big deal. It also doesn't have the same pressure and cant spray thicker paints with the same finish. Handhelds 1500 psi versus 3000 psi means it doesn't have as smooth of a finish if it cant atomize the paint when spraying. I went through two Graco cordless sprayers in a month when I first started and the Graco Magnum was my answer. You apparently need something more for a hobbyist. I need something that can keep up with me.
If I were doing this in someone's home, I would obviously have a drop cloth under my equipment, but I don't spray anywhere but my shop. Thanks for the comment though.
Worst graco sprayer to ever buy cheaply made cheap results it's all plastic Original graco sprayers are the best and Titan impact also that sprayer is just a waste of money!
juan lerma I own three of them and they are great. One of them I bought used off of Craigslist. Never had a problem with them and I use them 5-7 days a week in both hot and cold temperatures. The outer casing is plastic, but you obviously haven't seen the inside or you wouldn't be saying that.
![How to Clean your Graco Airless Sprayer & Use Pump Armor [QuickStart Guide - Pt. 3]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/eyHdmxhVMog/mqdefault.jpg)
I’ve owned my Graco Magnum LTS sprayer since 2010. Just finished using it again. About to clean it. Have watched your video in the past to recall how to easily clean and ready it for storage. This cleaning process definitely works well and preserves your sprayer long term. Thanks for a great how to video.
Glad I could help!
That's exactly how I clean mine. Learned it early on. Good video, only thing I would add is cleaning the spray tip at the same time after clearing the hose of paint, putting the spray tip on and spraying water through.
Awesome. Thx for the great tips. It’s much less complicated than the grace’s quick guide.
thanks for the add to your FB group! :) and thanks more for this video. I bought the x5 off of Craigslist as well, to do exactly what you do with yours. I'm one that researches reviews etc. before making a purchase and this sprayer was EXTREMELY well received, so I bought it. I was remorseful, briefly, because I felt that I got carried away with quality and power and ultimately bought a semi truck to use as a daily driver! ;) But your other video (painting furniture)set my mind at ease. You rock! !!
ignore the negative comments. There's always gonna be those people. Keep up the good work!
Thank you for the kind words! Keep truckin!
Great video thanks. Just bought a sprayer and you saved me hours of clean up.
Trainer
Just saw this comment. Awesome. I'm glad it has helped. I need to make a new video on this to show people how to clean it using a bucket instead of a hose.
If you could do that within the next 5 days please do! I am buying one tomorrow to paint or cabin. Would you recommend this model sprayer?
Eric Phillips This thing has a lot of overspray. That would probably be the biggest downside
Thanks Mate, I destroyed my last machine not cleaning it correctly. Thanks for the tips on doing it quickly.
This vid helped me so much!
Nice job; about the only thing I do differently, especially prior to storage, is, after running a ton of water through the hose, I disconnect it from the pump and blow it out with an air compressor. I also put a plumbing test cap over the hose outlet to seal in the pump armor and seal the pump. Then I thoroughly clean the gun and gun filter, check all the gaskets and wrap the intake tube and cleaned screen in a plastic bag. I'm a remodeler/ trim carpenter so I don't use my sprayer more than a few times a year, and this just makes it last longer.
What about the filter in the pump?
Thanks for posting! This is definitely faster than the instructions Graco includes. Same processes, but better organized.
Thank you :)
Man, this will make my life easier. Thanks for sharing this.
Glad to help. You can also substitute using the water hose by having a 5 gallon bucket of water to clean the sprayer. Just put the intake tube in the water and do the rest of the steps as normal.
That Shabby Guy. Thanks. That’s what I normally do. I just bought it, and used it twice. The clean up takes time, but your way definitely makes it simpler. Really appreciate vids like these. ***** (5 stars)
One thing to add: The SG gun that comes with the sprayer has a 3 or 4" mesh filter in the handle of the gun. Make sure to clean or replace it as it gets full, especially if you switch between paint and clear top coats frequently. Otherwise it will spit flakes of paint in your top coat. If you're just painting, keeping it clear will improve the spray quality. I change mine out a few times a year. Part number is 288749 "SG Gun Filter"
That Shabby Guy. I bought the Pro X17. I didn’t see anything in the instructions about cleaning the filters, but might have missed it. I’ll check it out. Thanks again.
Thanks man a lot simpler than the manual
Sure thing. What I like to do these days is fill a clean bucket with water and put the intake tube in that to clean the system. Less messy and saves on water.
Best common sense cleaning video I’ve seen. 👍🏼
Replace the water hose hook up method with pulling clean water from a 5 gallon bucket and this can be done with less of a mess and water usage.
tres clair . Bien joué les gars
how do you reckon this gun would go spraying exterior and interior of a house??
That Shabby Guy. Thanks for your swift reply. I think I will lean towards the newer Titan 440 model. Read good reviews on them.👍
If you watch some videos by the Idaho painter that's what he uses a lot
Thanks for this video it really helped me. One question I have is what do you do with the waste water?
I just bought a used x5, it was only used once a few days ago and they let it sit with paint. Whats the best method to get the paint out and clean off the gun? Things are caked on with paint, but it is sucking water and spraying through the gun, although a bit weak.
Thank you!
2 Questions; when you put the Armor fluid, should you run that through the hose too? AND, do you ever run Lacquer Thinner through your machine to clean it?
No. You do not need to run it through the hose. I haven't run lacquer thinner but I have done mineral spirits just to clean it out a bit. It seems help once you notice the pump getting a little weak (paint sputtering because of low pressure / the pump randomly running for a split second due to loss of pressure - those are signs of a pump weakening)
Hey, how much solvent do you need to clean up all equipment (airless sprayer) after using anti corrosive painting let’s say zinc based?
Do you load up pump armor for overnight storage as well to continue the next day or you can just flush the system and call it a day. Prime next day and ready to go?
Nobody answered your question in over a year, it should tell you in the instruction booklet, I usually put the pump armor in to store it through the winter.
Nice vid man. Just got the X7 and this was a lot of help.. Proper clean up and proper storage is key to long life of these machines I am sure.
Sorry for just now getting around to this. Yes, proper clean up and storage is important. I use my sprayers (I own 3 now) to paint furniture so I am constantly switching between paints. I have to say that I have left my sprayers sitting for days at a time without cleaning them. I do however, leave them in the paint and on the spray setting so that no air is getting to the paint inside the intake tube or the sprayer hose. While I don't recommend it, I have had one of the sprayers for about a year and a half now and have painted over 400+ pieces of furniture and it is still holding up but I am starting to notice some spitting sometimes when I spray so it is about time to get a kit to replace some parts. Just my experience.
ThatShabbyGuy I have a new Graco Magnum LTS-15 I purchased to spray my kitchen cabinets. While spraying them I would have some spitting every so often maybe 1-6 dot splatters each pass. Is that something that is common? What am I doing wrong?
Jared Adkins I also bought the LTS-15 for cabinets, but haven't started in on them yet. Did you look up the paint's TDS to see what orifice was recommended for the spray tip? Are you also using a fine finish green tip? If you've done all that, maybe try turning up the pressure? If you were able to solve the issue, what did you end up doing?
Jared Adkins Try reducing the spray, if that doesn't work, rotate the tip to clear the tip. Outside of that, possibly a worn tip.
Do you still use pump armor if you're going to be using it the next day or is it only for extended storage?
Late response here... I'm actually really bad about cleaning the sprayer out at the end of the day. A lot of times I stop work for the day and come back in the next day to continue where I left off. When it is butt-cold outside, I really dont want to be cleaning and repriming every day so I just leave everything primed and just clean the tip. Everything else is sealed with no air getting to it so it wont dry up your system overnight. I used to have 3 of these sprayers when I had a big shop so I could do multiple colors at a time. I once left one pressurized for about a month lol. Cleaned the tip out and it sprayed fine.
So, if you're lazy or in a hurry like I get, yeah, it might be okay here and there but obviously you'll get more life out of it if you take care of it properly. For me, the sprayer pays for itself after like 1 day of work. I get a new one every year because the pump begins to weaken and not hold pressure after that. Again, the only time I clean mine is when I am switching from paint to poly, and vice versa. Every so often, I'll run some mineral spirits through it.
Hi. How do you clean it if you've used oil based paint (not water based)?
Oil based paint is usually cleaned up using mineral spirits. I only used water based mediums so I dont have the full info on the process. (sorry 1 year late)
Can I use oil-based paint with this machine?
Yes. You can. Instead of water you will need to clean it out using mineral spirits, which also needs to be disposed of properly.
I have the same machine but I stored it about 5 month ago and I didn't use that cleaner and now I'm trying to use it but it doesn't prime doesn't do anything doesn't suck up the water, there is something I still can do on it to fixed or I lose it already?
koka Eliezzer Turn the machine on and set it to prime with the intake tube in your paint or water ready to prime. Lower the pressure knob until the machine stops running then barely turn it back up until it turns up and see if it primes. Just keep lowering it and raising it a few times and see if it will start to get suction. Usually have to do this when a pump starts to show signs of wear. Once it starts to prime you can turn up the pressure and flip to spray when ready. If it doesn't get suction, the pump may be junked. A dealer/repair shop told me for the cost of getting it repaired, you could spend a a little more and get a new machine. He also said that with the LTS-15s and LTS-17s, the new pump kit doesn't always guarantee that it is going to work good as new again and in some cases, does nothing. Sell the machine for $25 to $50 to someone who repairs them and ebay the gun for $70 (They're $120 new). Good luck!
Thanks man I will try it. Thanks a lot.
Hi, why does the water come out in a steam like way when I pull the trigger ? Could it be the spray tip that in using? It's a graco size 515. Thank you!
+Doc Sun Do you mean when you are spraying paint?
what kind of painting do you do? like Houses, you say you only do it at your shop, like what kind of stuff?
I paint furniture using these sprayers. I know a lot of people come here using it to paint houses and all that. The original intent of this video was, by many requests, to show other people who paint furniture how to clean it easier.
Wsup Shabby guy. Great tutorial. Can this same method work with the Graco 395?
I havent used the 395. Just the smaller units. However I'd think that if it has the same cleaning system it would be fine. These days I use two 5 gallon buckets to clean out the machine rather than messing with the hose. Allows me to clean my machine inside my paint booth.
Would this work for other airless paint sprayers, or is this specific to this machine?
I'm asking because I'm just about to purchased a Krause & Becker airless paint sprayer and this looks like the simplest way to clean the machine.
This is the only airless I have ever used but let me Google your sprayer, take a look at it, and see if I think it would work. I'll reply soon.
Yeah. That sprayer looks nearly identical to the Graco or other airless sprayers. You can also use 5 gal buckets if you dont want to hook up to a water hose
@@ThatShabbyGuy Thanks
Sure thing! Good luck!
Is there a filter inside the pump that needs to be cleaned? I know there is one in the gun but not sure about inside of sprayer
+JMC2013 There is one I believe but I think it is literally inside the unit which is not fun to open or put back together speaking from experience. I think it is part of the pump replacement parts kits you can buy but I'm not 100% on that.
I did ask a few paint sprayer repair guys about whether it was worth it to fix when they got weak and he said for anything as a Graco LTS 15 and lower, you might as well buy a new machine because by the time you pay for the kit and repairs (or your own time which may be more valuable), you've spent over half the cost of a new unit. Along with that, a few of them said the pumps dont ever really work as good after the kit. Bought a new one and it was nice to feel that strong spray again.
Thanks for the reply and info>> I really appreciate it
do you think x5 is better than LTS-15 or just about the same? im buying one but the bestone
They're the same model. Different retailers. I have both now. Bought the X5 used on Craigslist for $100 and it lasted over a year of full time work.
sprayed shellac with a graco sprayer, thought I cleaned it out pretty good ... used a mixture of denatured and water ... tried to use it a couple days later and it's clogged up ... won't spray ... any tips?
I would have used mineral spirits. Give that a try. At this point it could be clogged up in the pump which requires taking it apart to attempt to fix (not fun) or taking it to a repairman (not cheap).
Is it priming or just running and never sucking anything through?
Amona
What do we do if the paint has already dried in and on the paint sprayer?
+Turner Eaton if it is dried up in the pump you can try to disassemble it and clean it out. It might give you a little more time with the machine. If it is an LTS 15 or 17 even, I would consider buying a new machine. A pump replacement kit will cost you $70 and 4 to 6 hours of your own time or more $$ if you take it to a repair guy. I've talked to several authorized repair guys and they say the machine doesn't run as well, even with the new pumps. For $300 you have yourself a new machine. Sell the old spray gun for $60 (retails for $100 new) and enjoy a brand new machine
Thinking about getting one of these this weekend, have your thoughts changes on them, or do you still feel they're worth the money?
If you go to Lowe's and look at the sprayers they will have a "guide" that says that the LTS-15 is rated to be used every month or so. I used my sprayer day in and day out for about 2 years before I needed to replace it. It has been well worth the money. Just make sure to clean them after every use and store them properly.
Cool, thanks, man. It'll get quite a bit of use, but probably not near as much as yours since it will only be for my house, but it'll be used to paint the exterior house, the interior walls/ceiling, cabinets, and likely a few other odds and ends. I went to lowes and checked it out earlier this week and the only thing I didn't like, as minor as it may seem, is I couldn't find a 12" extension. Thanks for the response, and thanks for posting how to clean this thing!
***** Check some other Lowe's stores. I've seen the extension before. Seems like it was a 3ft extension though. Probably easily purchased online. The LTS-15 would be great for doing stuff around the house here and there. Mine got used for 8-12 hours a day for 2 years before I replaced it.
***** Doesn't the X15 have wheels and sits higher up for 5 gallon buckets? I keep looking at a way to put wheels on my X5. I've used mine for about 4 years and so far the only thing I've had to replace is the worn tips. Use it for spraying condos. Good little machine for the money! Almost forgot.... I also found it a great investment to buy the roller set up for it. Man, that saves a lot of dipping the roller in the pan when it comes to painting walls. As any painter knows, cutting in takes the longest part of any paint job. Once that is done, it's a piece of cake with the roller attachment.
ThatShabbyGuy - I am not sure about the X15, other than it's the Home Depot version of the same thing? But I do not know, for sure. Sorry.
I used my X5 a few years ago.. at that time, I remember seeing a video (I thought it was this one) where they cautioned you to not lose a small plastic part from the gun when cleaning.. well I think I lost that part, but now I can't find that video and I don't know what part I lost..anyone have any idea what I'm talking about?
It might be my other video here: th-cam.com/video/Xn4kTluBEgs/w-d-xo.html I have it queued up to the part where I address the nozzle of the paint gun. The part you're looking for is "Graco 243004"
Do you need to buy a part to connect the water hose or does it connect automatically .
A connector comes with the machine if you buy it new. If not, you just need to get a male to male hose connector with a shutoff. That's all it is.
Furniture Envy can this be found at Home Depot ?
Furniture Envy and what is the point of the shut off . Is this needed ?
Sorry. Just saw your reply. Yes, you can find these at Home Depot where the water hose parts are. If you go to the paint section where they sell the sprayers, I'm sure you can get one made by Graco but I'd assume it would be more expensive for no reason. It is literally just a male to male plastic shutoff.
The point of the shutoff is for ease of use so you don't have to turn the water off at the source. You have it screwed onto your water hose, then connect it to your sprayer's intake tube, turn the water on, flush it, then you can shut off the valve and continue with cleaning or whatever else.
I actually do not use this method anymore. This was when I had had the sprayer for about 6 months or so and people were constantly asking how to clean it easier. I was tired of spending 15-20 minutes cleaning just to put more paint in it an hour later.
Now, I use 5 gallon buckets. One filled with about 3 gal of water, the other empty where the old paint and flushed water will go into. This way I can do it all right in my garage without moving my sprayer and hooking it up near a water hose.
The whole process is messy no matter what, but the bucket make it go much faster if you do it on a regular basis.
What if I don’t have faucet to hook up my garden hose??? I’d like to buy this but that’s my main problem I live in nyc and the buildings here don’t have faucet for garden hose to be hooked up!
Please I’m open for suggestions I’m debating on buying this over the hand held ones but it’s really expensive! It’s about $400 that one with the cord and $500 with the cordless and I have to buy desalt battery and charger which cost 100-150 . This one I saw for 250 I think in Amazon but major problem is no faucet to hook up garden hose in most buildings in nyc :(
I know I'm a bit late on this reply if you have a laundry room, there's a washer hook up... a garden hose fits perfectly on that.
We have the x and we are having trouble getting the paint to go through then the machine turns off we have used paint thinner any other suggestions to help us
Is it a new machine? If so, take it back and get it exchanged. It sounds like there is a problem with the pump. You shouldn't have to thin any paint. If it is a used machine, the pump kit price, plus the time it takes to replace parts, and the fact that the machine wont be nearly like brand new warrants buying a new machine rather than jacking with all that work to replace it.
No its bran new
Thanks for the brilliant video, it was SO helpful!
Thanks for watching!
thanks
hi, tell me please what is your opinion of graco magnum lts 15? what negatives has?
The only downside I have with it for what I use it for (painting furniture) is that is struggles a bit with thicker paint like Valspar Reserve. It does fine with other paints.
Just bought an X7, but have not got a chance to use it. I'm hoping the 25% extra hp from the X5 will not stress the motor with thicker paints.
Ever consider getting a HVLP or LVLP spray gun and a compressor? Would be so much easier to clean and operate!
What if i need to use for 3 days in a row.do i have to clean it every night after i use it or can i let it sit over night and use the next day? Thanks
I use mine every day. At one point, i didnt clean any of mine out for months. Just kept paint in them and kept them primed since I was using them every day. Im not sure how bad it is for the pump. Probably not too good but a full days worth of use, every day for a year before they started getting weak.
I used mine a week ago, got side tracked, then sick, and had paint in it and actually even left it on 😣. Cleaned out fine still but I wouldn’t recommend it. I think I got lucky, I certainly wouldn’t go more than a day or so.
Is there anyway possible that the lubricating wet cup or weep hole can be shown or displayed. I've googled and asked and keep "I don't know from people" and when watching shared videos on TH-cam (which by the way are very appreciated) it shows every thing from start up to clean up and even how to add pump armor. I feel stupid ass hell because I have been using Titan Commercial rigs because I've been painting for 25 years. Myself and best friend decided to go out on our own and be on the other end of the paychecks. Neither of us have ever used one of these residential do-it-yourself at home rigs. Any help would be deeply appreciated. We would have read the instructions but the moron "helper" we had trashed the box and instructions so here we are on this fillet lol. If anyone knows where to add the lubricant please write back. And thank you all for the tutorial videos, I'm positive that you helped someone extend the life of a home upkeep investment.
Ricky H.
I do not think there is any lubrication needed for these residential ones. I think they tried to keep it as simple as possible. The only product I have ever run into was throat seal liquid for these smaller Gracos. I've never used it and I think it is just to keep paint from drying and building up inside the pump. Hopefully that doesn't count as an "I dont know". :)
I've been through 4 machines in the past 5 years. I could extend the life more but I rarely clean my machines and I don't do any extra maintenance on them.
Thank you Furniture Envy for your reply and it is not counted as an I don't know I've read the manual front to back several times and nothing was ever said in it about where a lubricating wet cup or weep hole was located. I'm a bit of a obsessive compulsive person so I called the company that manufactures these sprayers and ask them about it and they said they do not put any kind of lubricating area hole but as I was cleaning the machine out and I had been using an oil-based primer on a fence after I had ran mineral spirits through it I then ran a 5 gallon bucket about three-quarters full of hot water with a light degreaser just to get lining of spirits out and I noticed behind the pump an area barely visible that had a sponge in it sure just for shitz and giggles I tipped it up and squirted the oil in it left it like that for a few so that it would go down. I was just about to go to the latex super paint and they're right behind the pressure handle it is the little button that frees the ball that is inside the pump when it gets stuck and I pressed it a few times and I seen coming down the suction tube the oil that I put in. Now for all I know this could be a ventilator to allow heat to escape I'm not sure the people from Graco didn't seem to know anything about it either go figure but the machine seemed to work just fine afterwards and I appreciate you taking the time to write me back. I seen where you said you go through quite a few rigs if any of them have what I described behind the pump sponge type opening behind the pump try it out I could extend the life of your rigs I know sometimes these things can pay for their selves on one job if the job is big enough I'm hoping to get at least 5 to 10 2500 square foot homes at least the Interiors and hopefully the exterior as long as I don't have to run elastomeric through it because that stuff is thick as pudding and those little Riggs just can't Pump It Out the only time I was ever able to get it one to do that was to remove the filter from within the gun and it broke about three-quarters of the way before we're done with the job. Thank you again and I hope my reply helpful to you in the future or anyone else that reads this thank you again
I would have to mention that I go through so many because I mistreat them too. I will load a sprayer, spray my paint, and perhaps be done with the day but still have another dresser or two that needs to be finished the next day. Instead of cleaning out my rig and reloading it the next day, I just leave everything primed.
The next day I just clean the tip and it is good to go. Lazy, I know but it doesn't kill the machine overnight and saves me a lot of time.
To touch on the thickness of mediums, yeah, the LTS-15 doesn't have the power for thicker mediums. I use Valspar Signature (latex) to do all of my painting and it is fine. When they came out with Valspar Reserve, I used it for a bit and loved it. I could get 1-2 coat full coverage with it. The problem was is the thickness of the paint was wearing out the pump way too fast so I was having to thin it with Floetrol. Got to where $50 a gallon plus problems wasnt worth it.
Good luck with your painting. I think your rig will last you longer than mine with your meticulous maintenance.
How do you clean the pressure roller?
+Justin Stokes I only paint furniture so I don't have experience with the roller, sorry.
Hi. I cannot find it anywhere to see if I can spray water based polycrylic as a finish through this. Any help would be greatly 🙏🏼
Yes. Polycrylic is water based polyurethane. It's just Minwax's brand name for it. Spray in thin coats.
@@ThatShabbyGuy what tip would you recommend? Thank you for answering. I'm not sure why it has been hard to find the answer 🤷🏾♀️
Any 13 tip. I use 413.
@@ThatShabbyGuy thank you so much. Can't wait for your other uploads👍
I think it's the same as described in instruction
Doesn’t it hurt the pump to have the water being forced into it from the garden hose but also having the intake hose on, sucking the water into it?! Should you leave the machine off and just run water through it?
The hose attachment comes with the sprayer. It is meant to be used this way. But no. It doesnt hurt it. You need the pump to run to fully clear paint from the system.
These days I do this from a bucket though. No hose.
@@ThatShabbyGuy Thanks for the reply.
I remember seeing this video 10 years ago when you first made it. Thanks again!
That's awesome to hear. This is my wife's favorite video. She was the one recording at the time and she loves the part where I get visually pissed at a loud motorcycle passing by while trying to record.
So nobody cleans the outside of the paint hose or pump housing ?
You can if you feel the need to. It doesn't affect the performance or value of the machine.
hi...what attachment are you using to attach the hose?
It is an adapter that comes with the sprayer. Just a plastic male/male-ended piece with a shutoff valve to make things easier when using a hose to clean. I use 5 gallon buckets now. Much easier and less mess.
Better get down the plumb center then...I didn't get one with my graco...takes more water to flush than I thought...your vid helped out a lot for my first flush...now I've got to figure out why my graco stoppes pumping whilst spraying....cheers
Could be the pump going out. Does it literally stop working or does the spray cut off and the pump starts running as if you're priming the system?
Just continually pumps..even if I take hand off trigger...no paint comes out when I pull trigger...seems like a pressure issue. ..until I figure it out...only thing that worked was flushing it out then starting again...think I'll be pulling my hair out if it happens continously...
You can also use antifreeze instead of pump armor it's pretty much the exact same thing but a lot cheaper
YOU DIDN'T MENTION cleaning the gun filter, the guard or the tip??? Do you find these to be unnecessary steps?
If you think those are great then you should really try the original graco sprayers they are worth the money trust me you will feel a huge difference Graco NOVA is one you should buy also the Titan impact 440 those are heavy duty sprayers just giving you some advice on your tools!
That's like saying people shouldn't drive new Chevys because the old ones were built better. They work great for what I do.
you should detail the outside of the machine and hose as well, I've had mine for 4 years and the entire machine still looks like brand new,, lacquer thinner works great for cleaning the outside machine and hose,,and gun,,,I'm not trying to be a axxhole its just since your doing the inside ,why not do the entire thing,,,
My father would do the same thing. For me, spending the extra time to keep the outside looking good doesn't make me any money. ;) I'd rather not keep it like a trailer queen show car just for the looks. Im the only one that really sees it.
The only time exterior cleaning increases the value of the machine is when it’s time for sale. It does not affect operation. I doubt a customer would pay more or less based on the amount of paint on the machine. It could possibly impact a referral if the customer values perceptions of cleanliness. That’s going to be based more on overall cleanliness and how the painters protect the job site. Because the machine is being used to make money, the only real question is whether the time spent cleaning the machine will improve the sale price more than using that same amount of time to make money working in or on the business. I thought his method for saving unused paint was a great value. Many people probably would just dispose of it.
That being said, I am also a bit OCD and will spend my time cleaning the machine. To me, it’s a sign that the tools are being properly cared for.
Thank you for the video.
Has your sprayer ever shocked you while cleaning?
Never happened before.
Furniture Envy Hummm while cleaning ours did that to us. 😬
Your outlet may have had an issue with the Neutral. Use a GFCI adapter between the outlet and the sprayer.
3 people bought a Wagner. :(
+Furniture Envy Ha! ha! ha! how about it.
13 people bought a Wagner (in 4 years) 3 sales per year? No wonder they're salty with the thumbs down
@@ThatShabbyGuy Up to 48 now. You still have your afro? :D
It is OK to also clean off the outside of the paint sprayer as well. 😂
But that would take extra effort and I'm lazy.
After watching this video, this is the main reason why i dont want an airless sprayer, What a mess!
Cool. Glad it helped you avoid a piece of equipment that doesn't fit your work flow.
good instructions for the new style gracos.......lol at all the people who don't store their pumps with antifreeze or pump armor, then wonder why their pump doesn't work next time
Bill David antifreeze really work? I’d rather buy it than expensive pump armor that’s so expensive.
no tienes algo que sea en español.
No. Siento. No habla mucho espanol pero tengo un amigo de Mexico...
Btwsce
Un desastre pintura regada en el piso muy mal y se llevó casi una hora para lavar la pinche máquina
No hablo espanol. Lo siento.
you're cute boo. u have a boyfriend?
Lol. I've got a wife. She's the one recording.
ThatShabbyGuy :(
Behind every good man there is a woman. This is the case with many TH-cam videos. PS You probably attracted this weirdo's question by the way you shuck-off the hose like you were taking a whiz and then stroked it to remove the paint in the first min. Hahaha
You, too, seemed intrigued by his features, so much so to comment. thank you & good night. Bloop!
Haha, yeah, but for different reasons. I was working with some guys the other week and one of them started doing something similar as a joke. Everyone got a good laugh out of it. That's why I picked up on it in this video.
Lots of wastage with this method, especially when using paints that retail for $120/gallon
Just returned mine after one use...the cleanup makes a mess! F**K that. The Graco TrueCoat 360 VSP Airless Paint Sprayer does a much better job and super easy cleanup and efficient on paint/stain. You just have to keep filling the paint bag but big deal.
When you're lining up several dressers at a time, loading paint over and over is a big deal. It also doesn't have the same pressure and cant spray thicker paints with the same finish. Handhelds 1500 psi versus 3000 psi means it doesn't have as smooth of a finish if it cant atomize the paint when spraying. I went through two Graco cordless sprayers in a month when I first started and the Graco Magnum was my answer. You apparently need something more for a hobbyist. I need something that can keep up with me.
Nice mess you caused. Do that in someone's home.
If I were doing this in someone's home, I would obviously have a drop cloth under my equipment, but I don't spray anywhere but my shop. Thanks for the comment though.
Worst graco sprayer to ever buy cheaply made cheap results it's all plastic Original graco sprayers are the best and Titan impact also that sprayer is just a waste of money!
juan lerma I own three of them and they are great. One of them I bought used off of Craigslist. Never had a problem with them and I use them 5-7 days a week in both hot and cold temperatures. The outer casing is plastic, but you obviously haven't seen the inside or you wouldn't be saying that.