Titan's chart gives a tip orifice for each coating, from 0.011 in. for varnish and lacquer up to 0.031 in. for elastomerics and block fillers. Interior and exterior wall paint sits at 0.017 in., primers at 0.019 in. and dryfall at 0.023 in. Then check the sprayer's own maximum tip size: the tip you need must not exceed it.
Reading a three-digit tip number
Titan's airless tips use a three-digit size. The first digit times two gives the approximate fan width in inches, and the last two digits give the orifice in thousandths of an inch. A 517 tip makes a fan of about 10 to 12 inches with a 0.017 in. orifice. A 519 has the same fan and a bigger hole, and a 315 has a narrower fan with a smaller one.
The orifice is what controls how much paint leaves the gun. A larger orifice delivers more. The fan angle only controls how wide the pattern is. The coating sets the orifice you need, so that is where to start.
Titan's recommended orifice by coating
Orifice by coating, from Titan's chart (gun held 12 in. from the surface, 8 to 12 in. fan)
| Coating | Orifice | Tip number ends in |
|---|---|---|
| Varnish, lacquer, sanding sealer | 0.011 in. | 11 |
| Clear shellac, transparent stain, water sealer | 0.013 in. | 13 |
| Solid stain | 0.015 in. | 15 |
| Interior and exterior wall paint | 0.017 in. | 17 |
| Primers, commercial architectural coatings | 0.019 in. | 19 |
| Dryfall, one-coat primer | 0.023 in. | 23 |
| Pigmented waterproofers | 0.027 in. | 27 |
| Elastomerics, block fillers | 0.031 in. | 31 |
Titan's chart also lists 0.019 in. for field marking and 0.023 in. for pavement striping. The coating maker's technical data sheet always takes priority over a general chart.
From orifice to sprayer size
A sprayer is not sized by horsepower alone. Each model lists a maximum tip size, and the rule is simple: the tip you need must be at or below it. Titan's blog gives the flow for three orifices, and the same figures match the sprayers: 0.017 in. is 0.31 gpm, 0.019 in. is 0.40 gpm and 0.021 in. is 0.47 gpm.
Titan also advises buying a sprayer 10 to 20 percent more powerful than the tip you plan to use, because a tip's orifice grows as it wears. So treat a tip limit that exactly equals your tip as the minimum, not the target. Examples of maximum tips from Titan's model pages:
Maximum tip size, one gun, for a few Titan sprayers
| Sprayer | Max tip | What that covers on the chart |
|---|---|---|
| Impact X 410 | 0.021 in. | Stains, wall paint, primers |
| Impact X 440 | 0.023 in. | Up to dryfall, with no headroom at 0.023 in. |
| Impact 640I | 0.027 in. | Up to pigmented waterproofers |
| Impact 840I | 0.032 in. | Up to elastomerics and block fillers |
| Impact 1140I | 0.034 in. | Same, with headroom |
| PowrTwin 6900 Plus | 0.050 in. | Everything on the chart, and more guns |
Maximum tips fall when you add guns. Check the model page or manual for the figure with the number of guns you will run.
Light coatings and fine finishes
Small orifices belong to thin coatings: varnish and lacquer at 0.011 in., stains at 0.013 to 0.015 in. Titan's SC-6+ Synergy fine finish tips are built for this end of the range. Titan says they give a particle size up to 27 percent smaller and are rated for 5000 psi. The site lists the 671-310 and 671-510.
Small machines are matched to small tips. The ED655 Plus lists a 0.017 in. maximum tip, and the ControlMax HEA models run from 0.015 in. (1500) to 0.019 in. (1900 Pro). The HEA tips on those sprayers, such as 330-515A, 330-517A and 330-619A, are limited by the ControlMax tip chart: the 1500 takes tips up to 515, the 1700 up to 517 and the 1900 Pro up to 619.
Heavy coatings
Block fillers and elastomerics need the largest orifice on the chart, 0.031 in., so they need a sprayer whose max tip clears it. On Titan's Impact line the 840 (0.032 in.), 1040 (0.033 in.) and 1140 (0.034 in.) clear that figure. Titan's pages list block fillers for the 740 as well, but its 0.029 in. maximum tip is below the chart's 0.031 in., so read the filler's data sheet for the tip it calls for before you choose the 740. Titan also lists elastomeric for the 1140, and the Impact 1040T for smooth texture and abrasive coatings. Beyond Impact, the PowrTwin and Hydra X lines carry larger tips and more guns.
Tip types and care
- Reversible tips (SC-6+, TR1) turn 180 degrees to clear a clog, as the tip's instructions describe. Never put a hand over the tip.
- HEA tips are optimised to spray architectural paints and coatings at 1000 psi, with up to 55 percent less overspray per Titan.
- Replace a worn tip. The orifice enlarges, flow rises, the fan narrows, the pattern turns coarse and you use more paint.
- Replace the seals too. The 661-020 tip seat and seal kit is one example on the Titan seals page.
Browse tips by series
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Guards by thread and rating
Tip seals and seats
Tips and seals named in this guide:
The Short Version
Read the orifice for your coating off Titan's chart, then confirm your sprayer's maximum tip is at least that large, with some headroom for wear. Let the coating's data sheet have the final say, and replace tips when the pattern degrades.
Not sure which tip fits your sprayer?
Call (713) 931-0006 with your model and the coating you spray and our parts team will help you choose.
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