What to do with the big bucket

The new 6900 just arrived and was sporting a big 12 gallon hopper. Not wanting to miss an opportunity for improved productivity, I'm requesting input on how it could be utilized and still save time. Do you guys (and gals) clean them up after every use? I'm assuming the paint has to be poured from each bucket. Any quick ways to accomplish this? How much problem with spills? I'm struggling with how using the hopper would save us time.

I have a 15 gallon hopper for our Gracos, and the only time I use it is on long lines. Fewer starts and stops = better looking lines. I just poured the left over paint back in the bucket and let the rest dry in the hopper. Before the next use, I clean it out with a pressure washer.

Here is what ya can do. Put the big bucket in a big box and send it to me.

We have hoppers on all the machine but latex. We load them before or after the job so we know there is always 2-3 pails of each color on the trailer. Also, with the graco ones 3 pails of paint is a long time before fill ups. Plus with more weight the machine holds the road better for nicer lines. Jim

We only use them on big job's, do the same as Robert pour out whats left over and let dry power wash out. Jamie

Stripes, I use my often. I put a heavy duty trash bag in it. I then fill it with paint. Then a large rubber band around the top to hold it. When Im done I suck out the paint left in it into pails than toss the bag. no cleanup. Jon

I love the hopper!! I usually run ten gallons at the start of job,dont have to worry about paint spilling out of a 5 on rough ground getting to work area ,transports easy with no mess in trailer,on bigger jobs 15 gals. of paint goes far. As for Ken I dont think cleaning out applies,(we started useing more oil this year and do not clean up machines unless we are not striping in the next three days) pour in a 5er let air dry.

Ken, you take the 400 pails of traffic paint in your shed (you know, the ones with the punched hole and about a 1/2 gallon in the bottom) and you open them, pour the remnants through a pair of pantyhose into the hopper. Place a 10mil 55 gallon trashbag in it first and lock it on with a bungee, so you won't have to clean it. Then try to figure out what to do with the 400 empty pails and 400 lethal daisycutter pail lids. (I am so slow and old fashioned, I open every can*, pour it into the hopper and stack the empties. Then I leave them in the dumpster wherever I am working.) *Takes about as long as one of Dale Jr.'s pit stops

We just leave them on the machine with no plastic bag. I tried it with a bag, but the bag would tear. Ken, I'm not too impressed with the Titan hopper, but we still use it every day. The graco lid on their hopper is much easier to use. The Titan hopper's lid doesn't make sense to me. The hole is smack in the middle so when you go to refill you can only move the lid over less than half way, a mess waiting to happen..... so... we just use the standard lid that we've always used. The problem with that is the tube rests on the side and now the side is all bent over so even that lid doesn't fit right. After living with the new Graco 3900 for a year now, every time I use the Titan 4900 I get annoyed. How much does it cost to ship a 4900 to Texas?? I'm ready for a 200HS If anyone has a solution to the Titan lid dilemma I'm all ears (er.. eyes) Is this another Titan design foepah, or should I have used it as it was designed?

Re: Trashbags. Go to your local janitorial supply house and buy the heaviest mil thickness 55 gal (or whatever size you can use*) trashbag and use them to line the hopper. A case will run about $50. They shouldn't tear, unless your rock catcher is worn and has a wire sticking out. Get the brown ones, not the clear ones. (*we buy a pallet of bags a month and only use two sizes, so I don't know if a smaller size will fit)

Ken , I didn't think I would like the big bucket But after using it ,it's great. I have had white hotline in mine for 2 months and never cleaned it . Just keep pouring the paint in. Even after a week of rain down time I just circulated a minute and went back to work . The rubber gasket seals the lid and I add just a touch of water on top of the paint as this will keep the hopper clean . BTW ythe 6900 is real work horse I love it . DILLE

Thanks to all the input from everyone. Some of the info has me thinking of things to try. Chipper, You are right about the 400 cans ..... We are slowly but surely getting them combined as I write this. Thanks for your suggestion. What size pantie hose do you wear? Will any size work? Striping Fool Yes, Titan has some questionable designs. I just got thru chewing on Titan's tech dept about how they put the pump in the way of a LL hitch. They are clueless as to the degree Lazyliners are being used. He tried to talk me into the sulky attachment. I just chuckled. Also the humongous hose rack will do just that...rack your knees if you have a ride on attachment. I've already cut the hose hangers off and will reconfigure them when the new hitch gets here from Fineline Ind. Other than that, the new 6900 is tighter than the older models and has a fat tire in front. They also took my suggestion and started using the slide on "second gun bracket" instead of the welded on vertical bar. I can't believe the finally started listening to us out here in the field. I love the 4900s. Sorry you get aggravated with it. I'd be glad to take it off your hands. I get more aggravated when paint machines won't paint. You might talk to Wendy before you buy the HS 200. Dillie, Good to hear from you. Glad you are still perking. I'll give the big bucket a try.... I need to work out a way to get the paint from the 5gal to the hopper without having to open the ears of the bucket. Guess I'll have to come up with a different can opener. If it works OK like jpanz suggests, I may add them to all the machines, Cheney, We normally punch a hole in the middle of a 5 gallon can just a tad larger than the suction tube. It keeps accidental spills down to a minimum. Thanks for your suggestions. Thanks again to everybody. Really got my thinking cap on because of all the good info. I'll report back how it works out. Ken PS The Gray-Flo 4450 (combination of 3900 frame and Speeflo 5000 pump) The other 3900 is now being converted. Not sure if I already posted this but I'm taking the old Speeflo frames and converting them to carry a generator, hammer drill and other tools. The frames may be looks but who cares...they still roll. I'll go take a picture as soon as Scot comes back in from Dallas.

Ken, I forgot to mention you have to cut the bottom of the hose rack off. Titan was supposed to fix that, maybe like the older models. I open the pails and pour the paint into an empty pail to mix and then only have 2 half pails to pour into the hopper, that seems to work for me . I had to punch an extra hole in the lid so it didn't splash before I started opening pails. 6900 rocks! DILLE

how do you guys punch the hole in the lid? I use a 60gal tank for my setup and I get bad glugging when I'm working with full pails.

\\\STRIPES/// wrote on Aug 31, 2006:Go to #12

I need to work out a way to get the paint from the 5gal to the hopper without having to open the ears of the bucket. Guess I'll have to come up with a different can opener.

Ken, the hole punch will still work, just punch closer to the edg and make a smaller hole on the other side for air to get in, a lot like an old beer can.

BSDeality wrote on Aug 31, 2006:Go to #14

how do you guys punch the hole in the lid? I use a 60gal tank for my setup and I get bad glugging when I'm working with full pails.

If your pulling the ears up, you need to punch a hole so air can get in, just use a screw driver

We eliminated the need for punching holes by dumping from the normal opening but pour from that opening backwards (upside down?) from how you would think to pour normally. After dumping most of the paint out, it takes only a minute to lift the tabs with a screwdriver and drain the remaining paint from the pail. Like Chip, we let the pails stay on the job opened and mostly dry so they can legally go to a landfill. After dumping a pail or two into a hopper, a cup or so of mineral spirits on top keeps the sides and suction tube cleaner as the paint is used. Of course if using latex, that would be water in place of mineral spirits.

ahh good idea with flipping it up to the top. I will have to try that on Tuesday next time I'm going out.

I'm confused why you guys use the holes in the can to pour. Why not just take the lid off and pour. No gluging and faster. If you worry about spilling, just be carefull, it's a new challenge every time!!

Some people like Fiats, some people like Yugos, and SOME PEOPLE like Le Cars ('member that exciting piece of crap?). Ever'body gots dey ownlies methods. I've always just taken the lid off and poured. But SOME PEOPLE (snicker snicker) JUST CAN'T HANDLE THE TRUTH...er....A FULL PAIL. Of course I carry a tar paper tarp with me in case on the 80th or 90th gallon of the night I am a wee bit tired and spill a drop or two. Them pre-punched holes are a curse, as they WILL let water in, and they WILL pop out when the paint gets hot enough. I never take the inlet tube out of the pail until we are at the shop. That e-liminates the drips and drabs that populate many other stripers machines. I also use a plastic inner lid on that clips securely to the pail and eliminates splash damage. Leaving the inlet tube in also e-liminates the priming problems some people complain about, which is something I've never understood, as my Gracos will suck the chrome off a trailer hitch........ But you know, I'm old and cranky and set in my ways, and I learned how to pour 5 gallon pails into a 2.5 gallon pressure pot, so hitting a 5 gallon pail from another 5 gallon pail is a slam dunk. You don't have to do it my way, but you DO need to know there are lots of ways to accomplish a task, so use whatever method floats your boat.... Now it's Labor Day weekend and I'm going to watch Tropical Storm Ernesto recede into the far distance whilst consuming yet another Abita malt beverage. Happy Labor Day hombres y senoritas!