Graco PT2500 owner manual Application Methods, Right Wrong

Application Methods

Always hold the gun perpendicular to the surface and keep the gun at an even 12 to 14 inch (300 to 356 mm) from the surface you are spraying. See Fig. 12.

Begin moving the gun in a horizontal direction at a steady rate. Start the spray stroke off the target surface and pull the trigger as the gun is moving. Then, while the gun is still moving, and as you approach the other edge, release the trigger. This method avoids excess paint build-up at the end of each stroke.

The best way to control the rate of coverage is with the gun tip size. A small tip orifice applies less paint. A larger tip orifice applies more paint. The width of the pattern de- pends on the fan pattern of the tip you choose.

Do not try to increase coverage by increasing the fluid pressure! Using the lowest pressure necessary to get the results you want will help prolong the life of your sprayer and minimize paint lost by overspray.

For interior corners, such as on a bookcase or inside a cabinet, aim the gun toward the center of the corner to spray. By dividing the spray pattern this way, the edges on both sides are sprayed evenly. See Fig. 14.

RIGHT

Fig. 12

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Fig. 14 ￿￿79

If there is a wind, angle the spray pattern into the wind to minimize drifting. Paint from the ground to the roof.

The correct speed for moving the gun will allow a full, wet coating to be applied without runs or sags. Lapping each stroke about 50% over the previous stroke produces uni- form paint thickness. Spraying in a uniform pattern alter- nately from right to left and then left to right, provides a professional finish. See Fig. 13.

Fig. 13 ￿￿78

To avoid getting paint on these objects:

Shrubs. When next to the house, tie back shrubs from the surface to be painted with rope and stakes. Then cover them with a canvas dropcloth as the painter approaches the area. Remove the canvas dropcloth as soon as the area is painted to prevent possible damage to the shrubs.

Concrete walks. If the walkways will be walked on, cover them with a canvas dropcloth to avoid slipping. Other- wise a plastic cloth is all that is needed.

Electrical outlets and lamps. Protect electrical outlets with masking tape. Cover lamps with plastic bags se- cured with masking tape.

Nearby objects. Move objects such as automobiles, pic- nic tables, lawn furniture, etc. upwind of the surface to be sprayed. In the case of a nearby home, make a protective barrier by hanging plastic between two long poles.

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