Seek and you shall find?

Okay okay.. I'm all confused now. I landed a municipal town so I had to get that IV 3900 last week. I'm getting ready, Maybe in over my head since I'm a sealcoater not a striper, yet! All this talk about tips is confusing. I guess I'm going to start out with a 412 ( I think thats right) and have it like 12 inches off the ground for my four inch line. Then theres the thickness subject. Don't even know where to start with that one. Then the Graco guys tell me to run it at 800-1200 psi! SHEESH gimme that paint roller instead! I guess ill figure something out and just jump in and Git Er Dun! (Hopefully). Oh yeah then theres the 2nd gun kit I got. They suggested install gun and put a gate valve on and open only when needed. I wasn't going to tell them NO I don't want the gun kit. Then theres the paint, the stencils, the beads, the issue of straining! Hats off to you veteran striper's. Sealcoating always seemed harder than striping but starting to have my doubts now!

I think you are going to be disappointed with a tip that has that small an orafice that would be the 12 in 412. the first number is the degree of spray pattern 3 for 30 degrees 4 for 40 degrees.I used a 213 once and it would get pluged up every 50 feet. I dont know what your going to be painting. parking stalls or road lines get yourself a 319. Stopbars 419 or 421.

Quoting Municman, May 29, 2005 (that post is not in this thread):

Congrats on landing the winning bid , i'm just wondering how the heck you figured how to bid the job if you know nothing about stiping Its called my buddy is the head of the city dept....PLUS I never said I didnt know how to bid a striping job I said I wasnt sure on the tips and stuff!

First, a 412 tip? Hopefully you mean a 421. If the lines are normal 4" parking stalls, why not use a 319, 321 etc? It has been my experience that the higher the gun the harder to hit the existing lines perfectly. If you are walking a 319 will work fine. If you have a LD or LL you may want to go to a 321 or even a 323. As far as the 2nd gun kit, it is a must for serious striping. You will never regret getting the 2nd gun.

With a 412 tip twelve inches off the ground you will be putting down an 8" line and very little paint at that. Like Kris said it's easier to paint with the tip closer to the ground. I use a 319 tip for a 4" line (actually I prefer closer to a 5" line) but since you are just starting out, I'd go with a 317 tip, because you will probably be walking very slow until you get the hang of it, and a 319 tip will put down too much paint. If you see ripples in the line, you're putting down too much paint. The first number of the tip size is the width of the line and the second two numbers tell how much paint you will be putting down. As far as the second gun thing, what type of work will you be doing for the town? Roadways with double lines are the only thing that comes to mind that would require a second gun.

Doing a "donation" job for a church in Jonesborough Tnn. from Charlotte N.C. We will drive up and back on 6/2/. Grandpa will pay for the gas and paint. My ? is Does anyone know where we can find wheel stops near by. Johnson City.? 61 spaces but can get by with 30 stops.Any help? Donations would be great.

use a 319 since you are relatively new to the striping end. Turn the pressure up until you have an acceptable line. To simplify things, I think the pressures you were told are probably a bit low. I'd run it at 2000 PSI ans adjust it up or down from there. Running the pressure too high will not adversely effect line quality so do not be too concerned there. It will still deliver high quality lines at 3000 PSI. Reduce the pressure as your confidence allows to eliminate undue wear on tips packings etc. At this point I would keep it simple and not worry about second guns, ball valves, etc. Put on the 319, walk at a comfortable pace, and build confidence. Note: Down the road: Putting a ball valve is not a bad idea provided you install it on the short hose. An alternative is to just have the second gun installed and only hook the hose when needed since the system has a plug/cap to seal the second gun fitting.