Paint Spraying Remedies

From time to time even the most experienced paint sprayer can have difficulties in applying industrial paint coatings. Find out more about some of the more common spray irregularities and how to solve them!

Irregularity Potential Cause Remedy
Tails Tails - blobs of paint
  • Inadequate fluid delivery
  • Fluid not atomising
  • Increase fluid pressure
  • Change to larger tip orifice size
  • Reduce fluid viscosity
  • Clean gun and filters
  • Reduce number of guns using pump
Hour Glass Hour glassed shaped drips
  • Inadequate fluid delivery
  • Same as above
Distorted Paint distortions
  • Plugged or worn nozzle tip
  • Clean or replace nozzle tip
Pattern Expanding & Contracting (surge) Concertina like spray pattern
  • Pulsating fluid delivery
  • Suction leak
  • Change to a smaller tip oriface size
  • Install pulsation chamber in system
  • Reduce number of guns using pump
  • Increase air supply to air motor
  • Remove restrictions in system, clean tip screen or filter if used
  • Inspect for syphon hose leak
Round pattern Round blob of paint
  • Worn tip
  • Fluid too heavy for tip
  • Replace tip
  • Increase pressure
  • Thin material
  • Change nozzle tip
Spitting gun
  • Air in system
  • Dirty gun
  • Cartridge out of adjustment
  • Packing gland too tight
  • Inspect for syphon hose leak
  • Disassemble and clean gun
  • Inspect and repair cartridge
Gun will not shut off
  • Worn parts
  • Cartridge out of adjustment
  • Dirty gun
  • Packing gland too tight
  • Inspect gun, replace defective parts
  • Inspect and replace cartridge
  • Disassemble and clean gun
  • Loosen gland, oil needle, adjust
Gun does not spray any fluid
  • Lost of air pressure
  • Suction leak
  • No paint
  • Plugged pump foot valve
  • Plugged filters or tip
  • Ball check valve stuck open
  • Check for leaks and repair as required
  • Inspect syphon hose leak
  • Check fluid supply
  • Remove, clean and inspect foot valve
  • Clean filters or tip
  • Clean and inspect pump ball check valve

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