Looking to purchase a Graco Ultra or Ultra Max?

[petersd]

Have been reading up on the new Graco cordless sprayers.
They seem like they would work great for me to get started spraying projects. I am a hobbyist and will be using it to spray a bit of latex paint for a couple doors and small projects. I would also use it to spray water and some oil based poly, possibly some stain and shellac. May also use to spray lacquer.
I think this will be better to start out with than a HVLP system for easier setup and use.

My question is which model to get?
The difference between them is that the Ultra Max can spray hot solvents where the Ultra cannot. They can both spray water and oil based products which are the most common.

I am new to the finishing process and wonder how common hot solvents would be? Any good examples of hot solvents? Are they something that I would use or be likely to come across? Or has water based taken over most things? I don't mind the extra expense for the Max if it able to spray products that one would purchase and use.

Also if anyone has an airless sprayer with the new FFLP tips, do you have and tip recommendations for different finishes?
Currently I have shellac, general finishes water based poly, and household poly. I assume the standard tip is for latex.

Thanks for your input. Looking forward to a new toy to play with.

 

[petersd]

Well, I went with the Ultra Max model.
After the included extra tip and coupon for an extra tip over the Ultra sprayer tip coupon (3 vs 4 free tips) there was minimal difference in unit pricing. Just hope it shows up by the end of June for the tip coupons. Was told it would be 4 - 6 weeks till it shows up.

But still have the question about tip sizing. What do you use for tip hole size and fan width preference for different materials and products? Looking to spray some stain, water based poly (currently use general finished poly), shellac and a little latex. Just looking to see what others use to save myself some trouble and wasted tip purchases.

Thanks

 

[wptski]

Well, I went with the Ultra Max model.
After the included extra tip and coupon for an extra tip over the Ultra sprayer tip coupon (3 vs 4 free tips) there was minimal difference in unit pricing. Just hope it shows up by the end of June for the tip coupons. Was told it would be 4 - 6 weeks till it shows up.

But still have the question about tip sizing. What do you use for tip hole size and fan width preference for different materials and products? Looking to spray some stain, water based poly (currently use general finished poly), shellac and a little latex. Just looking to see what others use to save myself some trouble and wasted tip purchases.

Thanks

There is a $200 USD difference between the Ultra and UltraMax.  You get an extra free spray tip with the UltraMax or $40 USD.  I still see a pretty hefty difference unless I'm missing something?

 

[petersd]

Factored in the extra included tip, strainer, and cups as well as the extra tip in the coupon. Thats over 80 US dollars and I'm pretty sure the dealer gave me a decent deal on the Max or the Ultra price was high from them.
Either was it seemed like a good deal and it should be a better sprayer if it can spray anything.

 

[tjbnwi]

Seeing as petersd is spraying shellac, the only choice is the Ultra Max. None of the other Graco handhelds are rated to shoot shellac.

Tom

 

[live4ever]

Grrr, just found out Graco doesn’t offer tip extensions for the UltraMax but they do fit the Ultra.

I do NOT like having to choose between ability to spray hot (shellac based mainly) vs having tip extensions.  Talk about a major oversight IMHO.  [mad]

 

[grobkuschelig]

I thought they both use the same RAC X tips?
Isn’t this a standard tip carrier you could switch for the extension?

 

[live4ever]

I thought they both use the same RAC X tips?
Isn’t this a standard tip carrier you could switch for the extension?

Yeah they are both RAC X but the UltraMax has a slightly different thread and guard so standard accessories can't thread on.  Graco might be working on something (how hard could an adapter be?) but there's no timeline - I'm not holding my breath.

Of course if anyone with an UltraMax has found a workaround I'm all ears because I really like them extensions..

 

[tiralie]

Looking to spray some stain,

I would use the smallest tips - 1 series with as low a pressure as possible. These machines throw a lot of material quick. I haven't done it but I don't think spraying stain with these would work well as they throw a lot of material fast. When I spray stain, I mist it on to control the colour.

water based poly (currently use general finished poly),

Depending on the size of the piece you are spraying a cabinet box to a wall you could use any size from 3 series to 5 or 6 series. Generally I like the 308 or 310 for cabinet work

shellac

I would use the 1 series tips and turn the pressure down to as low as you can. I expect that it would still throw a lot of shellac.

 

[Ajax]

So I just ordered the Ultra Max.  The coupon will allow me to order 3 tips.  What do you guys recommends?

I will use it mostly for DIY house projects with latex paint, some oil based poly for furniture, and maybe drylock if it can handle it.