And Accessories!
This is a short review of the Graco hand-held paint sprayers, and some accessories.
First of all, know that I am not a pro painter, and I have no other sprayer experience. I am not in a position to compare these sprayers to their Wagner, Harbor Freight, or informercial (“Paint Zoom”) counterparts. Since my description could easily go into pages, I will be quite brief here. If there are any more specific concerns, ask and I’ll expand upon topics as they arise.
The Flagship of the Graco line is the ProShot, available from Sherwin-Williams and, now, some other pro suppliers. Lowes has the slightly downscale “TruCoat Pro” line. The major difference – the reason for the $50 price difference- is that the expensive one can be rebuilt ONCE, while the box store version cannot. Life expectancy is 50 gallons of latex paint per rebuild.
Available in corded or cordless versions, I used the Li-Ion version at home. At the local plant they use the corded version for painting their machinery. Either comes with a quart-size paint jar that hangs from the gun. With the cordless version, there are NO cords or hoses- think ‘big cordless drill with a jar of paint.’
A quart is about enough to do one bedroom wall. Even for larger projects, the actual painting is done in a jiffy. The use of the sprayer doies not, however, eliminate all the prep work beforehand, and masking needs to be far more thorough than what you brush & roller guys are used to. Badly glossed over by the “Paint Zoom” informercial, masking is a BIG deal. The overspray gets everywhere.
(The “Paint Zoom” is actually an HVLP, not an ‘airless’ sprayer. I mention it because it is aimed at the same market.)
Each battery charge will spray about a gallon of paint, plus clean-up. “Dissecting” the price of the ProShot, it appears that Graco is charging about 20% more for the Li-Ion batteries and charger than Makita. I have not tried interchanging batteries. On balance, you can paint faster than you can charge batteries; plan a break every 8-10 quarts.
Clean-up is a snap, though the unit could have more detailed instructions. You will want to snap the intake screen off the suction tube, and remove the tube, to clean them thoroughly. For storage of a week or longe, you will also want to run some “pump armor” or mineral spirits through the gun. Latex paint, Graco tells me, is both corrosive AND abrasive, thus limiting the life of the gun.
For me, the biggest hassle was filling the paint cup. the cup liners make the job messier, if anything. So, your first ‘accessory’ will be a funnel/ spout lid for the paint can. So, with great eagerness I bought the just-released 1-gallon “pro pack’ accessory. This is a one-gallon reservoir that you carry in a little backpack, and a hose assembly to replace the paint jar.
Alas, the verdict is still out for the ProPack. While it is nice to be able to spray without interruption, I have yet to be able to clean the hoses to my satisfaction. Simply flushing them with water is not enough. I have a few things I plan to try ….
Another problem with the ProPack is that if you bend over, you lose your prime. Either learn to squat, or use the paint jar for everything below the knees.
Finally, the connection of the hose to the gun kept coming loose on me.That got messy, fast.
Another accessory I wanted to try was an extension head that would make it easier to paint ceilings -without tipping the gun. The extension would allow me to point the nozzle ‘up’ while keeping the gun level. Well, you need a pair of 9/16″ to adjust the extension -so add another $15 or so to the expense. I also encountered some trouble attaching the extension to the gun; the threads don’t seem to fit. So, I was not able to try it out. I will investigate further.
Replies
A surprise delivery from UPS today ....
I had noted (above) the tendency of the hose from the Pro-pack accessory to come loose from the sprayer. Well, Gracco also discovered this- and sent me, unasked, a replacement assembly.
I haven't used it, so I can't offer an opinion. Still, I give them credit for tracking me down and addressing the issue on their own.
Finally got around to looking closely at my 12" extension, and there is no way it can work.
It seems that the sprayer sold through Sherwin-Williams (what I have) and the sprayers sold eleswhere have different threads on the nose- so no tips or extensions will interchange.
Oddly enough, Portland Compressor was able to give me the part number for the Sherwin-Williams extension - something the local S-W store had not been able to find. Part is now on order.
I bet I got a pipe wrench in the garage that would make them fit!
Got the correct extension, and painting the carport ceiling was a breeze.
OK, the extension is a bit fussy; you need a pair of wrenched to adjust the angle, and another wrench to snug the extension in position. The nose thread are only slightly rough from trying to attach the 'wrong' extension.
I wrote Graco with my concerns, and their response was quite nice. They tell me that they're reconsidering the thread issue.
Heck, my sprayer just might turn into a 'collectors item!" :)
Now that I have a certain familiarity with the tool, I just might start experimenting with different tips.
BTW ... I discovered that by putting the spray tip in the 'cleaning' position, this thing makes a fairly decent pressure washer- for little things like an oil spot on the drive.
Considering the lack of responses, you might wonder why I continue to update this thread. My reasons are fairly simple:
I've got, by now, nearly $1000 invested in this thing. That's real money. Yet, the tool has a certain appeal; the ability to quickly set-up and paint is something sure to tempt others. I hope to provide them with the information they need to make the best use of this tool.
Any regrets? Well, considering the supply-chain issues with S-W, I'd get the cheaper, not-rebuildable model from the box store next time. 50 gallons of paint is a lot of paint to spray; I figure that will do most houses, inside and out, at least twice.
Spraying certainly changes your painting sequence. Light colors first, trim last, mask like you've never masked before, get an air cleaner and tent off the area (cloth sheets, not plastic). This includes tenting the outside- or you'll get overspray on cars three doors down.
Were I to start again, with today's knowledge, I'd buy:
- The box-store model sprayer;
-the 12" extension;
-a third Li-ion battery;
-at least three additional quart jars; and,
-setting up the parts washer as a cleaning station, dedicated clothing (head sock, dust mask, Keds shoes) are strongly recommended steps.
I'd pass on the 1-gallon backpack. While it might be handy for painting outside walls, cleaning the hoses is an issue.
As a final note, I see that GliddenPro has come out with an engineered version of my 'parts washer' arrangement. You just can't fence off a good idea! Now ... if I could just warm up the water a bit ....