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Cheap Titan v Graco, + How to Paint Trim

GDH2 | Posted in General Discussion on September 20, 2009 09:56am

QUESTION 1 –

I need to buy an airless sprayer for very limited use. I am painting my house with Behr Ultra Premium solid stain (Consumer Reports rated their old 200 stain best) and plan on using Glidden Endurance Premium exterior latex for the trim. I may try using it occasionally (once every week or two) for painting some furniture.

I was planning on getting a $400 Graco X7 that they advertised on their web site but the store only had Titans and the corresponding model was
the XT290 ($400, 5/8 HP motor, .29 GPM, Maximum tip size 017). Are the consumer Titans better or worse than the Gracos? There are several positive review on the Gracos by amateurs like me but the Titans don’t have any reviews. It would cost about $300 to rent a pro model from Home Depot for a week.

QUESTION 2 –

My house was stained (cedar clapboard) and painted (trim) 18 years ago. I have thoroughly pressure washed the exterior (with bleach first and then a clear rinse). I will wire brush or scrape as required any remaining trim paint (the power washer removed a lot). I have replaced all loose clapboard nails with stainless nails.

Should I overspray the trim with the solid stain? And will the latex adhere without any extra prep?

THANKS

We amateurs really appreciate your advice. I do furniture repair and restoration, but I subscribe to both Fine Home Building and Fine Woodworking. I often spend more time reading Home Building than I do on Woodworking.

Doug
The Wood Loon
Acton, MA
Reply

Replies

  1. florida | Sep 20, 2009 09:58pm | #1

    I've got an X7 and for limited use it works just fine. Keep it cleaned, replace the filter in the handle and it will do a nice job on your house. You'll probably be able to resell it when you're done.

  2. paintguy | Sep 20, 2009 10:46pm | #2

    Doug,
    those are both good units but perhaps more than you need for such infrequent use.

    For stains outside I purchased a Wagner Paint Crew at Costco. I think it was $ 140.00 or there abouts. It works perfectly to apply stain or clear finishes like the Sikkens line.

    Ours is two years old and we use it on three to four houses per year. We also used it to apply stain and polyurethane to a clients floorboards before they were transported to their camp in the middle of a lake.

    I would paint the trim first then mask. Overspray is messy and unecessary.

    Good luck,

    Jon

    "There is no good answer to a stupid question"
    Russian saying
    1. barmil | Sep 20, 2009 11:11pm | #3

      My experience has been that anything Wagner equals leaks and messy clean-up.

      1. paintguy | Sep 21, 2009 12:18am | #4

        My other sprayers are both Titan, Impact and TS40. The Wagner is the one exception.I would not recommend the Paint Crew for any heavy lifting. Primers, Alkyd or some of the newer heavy bodied lifetime latex products for outside.The hopper style is easy loading and really easy clean-up. My 440 takes a third of a gallon of paint to get to the tip. My advice is for information only, as is where is.Jon
        "There is no good answer to a stupid question"
        Russian saying

    2. woodpeckers | Sep 21, 2009 10:42pm | #7

      would the wagner sprayer be good for latex paint  and how much do i have to thin it . i am painting a cedar railing prime first and 2 top coats, using california paint.

      1. paintguy | Sep 22, 2009 02:10am | #8

        The stains we have used have been pretty heavy bodied. It pumped them no problem with no thinning.You didn't mention what type or primer you were using. If it is an alkyd based type you may need to thin it. Jon"There is no good answer to a stupid question"
        Russian saying

  3. ponytl | Sep 21, 2009 03:22am | #5

    I'd look for a used Titian 440... it will do everything you need and more... around here i get them for about $250 for a good well cared for clean used one... I have never been able to kill one... I think they are about 1k new maybe a little less on sale... but you should get all your money back if you resell it after you are done... look on craigslist or ebay
    p

  4. larryb | Sep 21, 2009 06:17am | #6

    Gleem Paint Check out refurbished. I got one and I'm happy.

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