Titan lists stains, lacquers, enamels and latex for the MultiFinish 440, latex, enamel and acrylic for the FlexSpray FlexFinish front end, and stains, lacquers and urethanes for the FineFinish front end. How thick the coating is decides atomization and tip choice, so check the data sheet and your manual before you try a new coating.
A fine finish sprayer is chosen for the coating as much as for the job. Stains and lacquers are thin, while latex and enamel are thicker, and the machine, the tip and the air or fluid pressure all have to suit the material. This guide sets out what Titan and its dealers say each machine is meant to spray, and then covers the checks that apply to any coating.
What each Titan machine is listed for
Coatings listed for Titan fine finish machines
| Machine | Listed coatings | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| MultiFinish 440 | Stains, lacquers, enamels, latex and other low to medium viscosity coatings | Listed as needing minimal or no reduction; air-assisted fine finish mode and standard airless mode |
| AirCoat | Interior and exterior coatings | Air-assisted or airless mode; Titan says its sealed hydraulic pump sprays delicate coatings without shearing |
| ED655 Plus | Finishing projects | A plain airless pump with a fine finish tip; no compressor |
| FlexSpray FlexFinish front end | Latex, enamel, acrylic and other heavier coatings | Titan compares the speed to a 413 tip; minimal overspray |
| FlexSpray FineFinish front end | Stains, lacquers, urethanes | For precise control; both front ends spray water- and solvent-based coatings |
The FlexSpray rows are for the corded Handheld. Always check your own model's manual for what it approves.
Titan says the Handheld's JetForce turbine is powerful enough to spray unthinned latex. That is Titan's claim for the FlexSpray, not a statement about every fine finish machine, so do not assume other models take unthinned latex. For the MultiFinish 440, Titan's listed range is low to medium viscosity coatings, with minimal or no reduction.
Viscosity and atomization
Viscosity is how thick the coating is, and it is the first thing to check when the spray comes out coarse. Titan's MultiFinish manual lists material that is too viscous among the causes of poor atomization, along with a worn or oversized tip, air pressure that is too low and insufficient fluid delivery. If the coating is too thick for the machine, the pattern will not break up into a fine mist, however carefully you spray.
Strain and stir the coating before it goes into the cup or pail. Thin only as the coating manufacturer allows, because the data sheet for that coating sets the limits. We do not publish thinning ratios or spray settings for named coatings, because those belong to the coating maker and the machine's manual.
Tip and orifice
The orifice size controls how much coating is delivered, and the fan angle controls the width of the pattern. Thicker coatings generally need larger orifices, and fine finishes use smaller ones. Titan lists a maximum tip size of 0.023 in. for the MultiFinish 440 and 0.017 in. for the AirCoat and the ED655 Plus, so stay within the maximum for your machine whatever the coating.
Tips for fine finish work are on the SC-6+ fine finish tips page, and the GM 3600 gun has its own: the 695-415 reversible tip and the 0526209 AirCoat tip ACF 9/20 on the flat-tip version. A worn tip has a wider orifice, so a good coating can still look coarse through an old tip.
Water-based and solvent-based coatings
Titan says both FlexSpray front ends spray water- and solvent-based coatings. The difference shows up at cleanup. The FlexSpray manual says to clean with warm soapy water for latex and mineral spirits for oil-based coatings, and never to clean the nozzle or air holes with sharp metal objects. For the pumps, flush with water for latex or the solvent the coating maker names, and follow your model's manual for steps.
For the FlexSpray, the needle kits match the front end: the 0529245 is for the Flex Finish (white) front end and the 0529246 for the Fine Finish (red). If you move between a heavy latex and a thin lacquer, check which front end you have on before you order either.
Two-component coatings
Quick-drying and two-component materials are the ones that cure in a gun, so the FlexSpray manual says to clean them out before they cure. True plural-component coatings such as polyurea, polyaspartics and epoxies belong to a different class of machine, the Helix proportioners, which are not fine finish sprayers.
Checks before you spray a new coating
- Read the coating's data sheet for thinning limits and cleanup solvent.
- Read your machine's manual for what it is approved to spray and its pressure and tip limits.
- Strain the coating and stir it, and confirm the filter suits it. The GM 3600's 0089959 filter is 100 mesh.
- Try a test surface with the tip you intend to use, and change one thing at a time.
- Plan the cleanup before you start, because the coating decides the cleaning fluid.
If you are unsure whether a machine suits a coating, call (713) 931-0006 with the model and the coating type. The manuals are on our manuals page, and the fine finish parts are on the Fine Finishing Sprayer Parts page.
Tips, needle kits and filters that go with fine finish coatings:
The Short Version
Match the coating to the machine's listed range, keep it strained and within the thinning limits on its data sheet, and choose a tip no larger than the maximum for the machine. Check the manual for anything the lists above do not cover.
Not sure a machine suits your coating?
Call (713) 931-0006 with your model and the coating type and our parts team will point you to the right manual or part.
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