I'm taking the plunge!!

I'm joining the ranks and I should take delivery early next week. Now what? Veteran Stripers, please give me some tips on what to do with the machine right out of the box as well as what not to do. I need set-up tips, pressure settings, tip sizes, mil settings, etc. Any input from you guys would be greatly appreciated. When it gets here , I want to be ready to roll.

Have the Grco rep. show you how to operate and clean the machine.

Rub it down with wheel bearing grease that's the only thing I have found to keep paint from sticking to the machine. As far as pressure, start with the 3-17 that comes with the machine and a low pressure. Increase pressure in small steps until you get a nice looking line. The minimum pressure it takes to spray a nice line is what you want to run on. This will vary depending on paint and temperature. if you want to walk faster, get a bigger (3-19 or 4-21) tip.

I'll add that you should look over the machine carefully before you take it away to make sure nothing is missing or damaged. As far as mill settings go whatever looks good on the ground is the right mill setting (unless you have a spec). Once you know what that is in relation to the mill setting on the machine you can stay consistant, even at night, just by looking at the display. The computer is fun, but I find that I don't use at as much as I did at first. Congrats.. you bought a great machine.

Read the manual - then put water in it and practice! You're gonna LOVE it!!

I really appreciate all of your input. I've been getting by for the last 4 months with a Trusco-like machine but like I said earlier after much research and reading on this and other sites , I ve decided to take the plunge and purchase the 3900. I've been getting some good jobs and bidding on some bigger jobs. It seems that I can't find anyone who has any legit. complaints about this machine. I just hope when it gets here, I' m not intimidated and don't no where to start with it. Once again, thanks. Ace

You won't be joing my ranks unless you upgrade to Speeflo but, you will love the 3900. It is very user friendly for beginners. Novices can stripe straighter with Graco machines. The only negative is that the pump system has more parts. A large portion of its operation is electronic. They don't break often but when they do, you pretty much have to take it to a shop to have it repaired.

ace just ahead and open some yellow paint, some white paint, some blue paint, take a 2 inch brush dip into each pail and throw on machine.... that way you won't have to worry anymore about getting paint on new machine..

JimJack42 wrote on Sep 2, 2006:Go to #8

ace just ahead and open some yellow paint, some white paint, some blue paint, take a 2 inch brush dip into each pail and throw on machine.... that way you won't have to worry anymore about getting paint on new machine..

Or we could wager how long it takes to get the first bit of paint on it. I say.... 2 days. He will be carefull at first.

2 minutes around here.

Here's a good link http://parkinglotplanet.com/forum/index.php/topic,81.0.html Cormac has some reassuring input about Graco reliability.

Thanks alot for the input guys. I'm sure I'll be relying on all of you in the next few weeks as I get aquainted with the new 3900. I was looking over the Graco bucks order form and I have a few questions. 1) Do I need a pointer and if so which one the 25" or 40"? 2) What size tips should I buy? I'm not sure what size tips come with a new machine. 3) Lastly, is the shirt cool looking and worth getting? Thanks again, ACE

STOP THE PRESSES, ACE. DO NOT USE WHEEL BEARING GREASE. We have found by spraying our unit with PAM ( store brand will work) we can keep our machine nice and clean. We give it a light coat each time we go out, then after we are done we take a little warm water and rinse the unit down( That gets the PAM off). Good Luck With Your Graco, AkronPW

You dont need a pointer. I would buy 319 tips and a 419 or 421.

PAM Does work great i have used an off brand BAKER'S choice only cuz my my is GM at a restaurant so she gets it cheap

Woo hoo time for a new poll!

So Kris (and others), I really don't need a pointer?? Do you guys just "eyeball" it ? Even on new layouts?

With the gun at the front wheel, the spray pattern will be at or on the line you are following. No real need for a pointer. However, pointers are very necessary when you get experienced and start taking advantage of the benefits of placing the gun at or near the rear wheel. There is a short learning curve for striping with the gun at the rear wheel. But, after becoming accustommed, it is actually easier than with the gun on the front plus there are other benefits.

You'll never look back after you get used to it. On the advice here....I passed up on the trussco and went with the graco3900 and am looking to add another one soon. Three years into it and remains the best decision I've made. (after hooking up with a veteran striper ie. Stripes) One piece of advice I would pass along is the one on not using the pointer so you don't become hooked. I probably would have used mine but I lost it on the way to my first job. After a couple of jobs I never missed it. Good luck

any good striper don't worry about paint on there machine... take it to car wash and just wash it off.. if you getting that much overspray something wrong with tip or paint...