Hello all,
Back in November I purchased a Graco 24F151 15:1 Merkur ES
The reason for the purchase is I have been asked a lot lately to repaint cabinets/built-in/trim, crown etc...
I don't really like to use my standard solvent based finish,so I like to use something more " user friendly" product like the BM Advance
It's a good product and if needed they can do any touch up in later time
I was told that the pump I mentioned will spray that product very well, however,I tried it and not really happy with the results
I get a better finish with a standard Graco X5 airless sprayer with a 208 FFRP tip
So I decided to use the sprayer to spray my solvent based primer/sealer
I tried it a couple weeks ago on some doors and turn out ok
I did have the pressure turn a little bit higher than normal
I was using MLC white vinyl primer
On my CAT pump I set the pressure around 35 psi but with the Graco I was about 50-60
But it did the job
Today was a little different
I have a refinish job I'm doing and when using that set up,I had to set pressure at about 50-60 (below that, nothing comes out)
So I was spraying vertical areas and I end up with a lot of sags!!
I mean a lot
So after first coat I sanded all those sags
For the second coat I use my CAT pump and everything was fine
Not a single sag
So I wondering if this pump I got is any good
Does anyone have experience with this pump?
I was thinking about selling it and get another CAT
Or maybe I can get a different spray gun.like the CAT bobcat?
Any help would be great
Thank you

if you are getting sags, the pump typically isn't the issue, are you using the same size tip? if the flow rates are not the same, that makes a difference.

also if the pressures you are spraying at are not the same even though the orifice size is the same , guess what , your flow rate is different

there is your starting point.

good luck,

herb j

Thanks Herb
The tip on the Graco is 412
I have a 411 on the CAT,so not much difference
However,when spraying WVP on the CAT I usually set psi on 35(14:1)
On the Graco(15:1) I need to set around 50-60!
If I set it lower not much is coming out
Maybe some wrong with the pump?or the spray gun?

is the pump double stroking or winking?
is one of the tips older, or is one of the tips not looking cat eyed the other fatter in the middle showing that it is worn
does one have a tip filter in it the black screen in the center

does one have a tighter filter screen than the other

all these can effect the flow rate coming out of the tip

Herb,
The pump is fairly new
I guess I'm not used to it
It does works different from my CAT
I have a lot of doors and drawer fronts to prime in the next couple days
I will use the Graco
Since I'll be spraying them flat I shouldn't have any issues with sags
Will report after I'm done
Thanks

I just had a spraying session today
Spraying MLC white vinyl primer
I think I need to take the pump to the place I got it from and have them check it out
First,I need to turn the pressure to at least 45 psi to start
With my CAT,just need about 20
Once primed, I need to turn pressure up to 55-60 psi
With my CAT I usually set it at 35
Now I know they are different machines but not by much
The CAT is a 14:1,the Graco is 15:1
Tip on my CAT gun is a 411
The Graco is 412
Also the Graco doesn't seem to keep up the "pumping"!?!
What I mean is when.starting to spray
Start to move,pull trigger, material comes out but then nothing and then the pump starts to work and material comes back
So it's not keeping up with constant pressure
I'm starting to regret this purchase unless there's something wrong with it and they can fix it I'll give it another chance
I'm not used to this specific pump so maybe just need to learn to work with it?

your pump sounds like it is double stroking, or skipping.

most likely, the common cause is a stuck lower ball check

it has been discussed on here on how to fix it many times. if you are doing primers, also very likely. should take you less than 15 minutes to fix it. gotta be 10 videos on you tube

i would do that first before i spent time leaving the shop if it were me

would also check gun handle filter, also with the higher pressures to get the pump to deliver more material only working on 1 stroke now makes sense for more runs and sages, your getting twice the delivery on one stroke, and no delivery one stroke not pretty situation

fwiw

good luck

herb j

Update on the pump condition

So I took it back to Sherwin Williams where I got it from
It's been about 4 weeks
I just talked with the supervisor and he told me that the fluid pressure is low compared to what pressure is applied to the pump
He told me that they ordered a part that needs to be replaced
But need to wait
He also told me that usually warranty does not cover fluid/pressure parts on a pump but because it is so new that they will cover it under warranty
So good news in a way but I need to wait for the part to come in and that can be a while!