Mine stopped working after three uses for smaller jobs.
It is an ordeal to clean it, but
I have done it multiple times, and it is easy now.
Two main reasons why this fails:
1) air leaks in, and the tool cannot create vacuum to suck paint out of bag.
2) small solid pieces of paint clog pump. That when pump/compressor inside sounds weird and different.
I cleaned everything first in cold water (rough cleaning)a and then in hot water with liquid soap. I take nozzle off and clean it. You can take filer off filter to clean but do not squeeze it. If you reshape the filter then air will easily leak in, and the tool will not be able to create vacuum, and paint will not flow in.
Do not squeeze very solid plastic frame where paint bag sits in. Be sort of gentle with it. Again, if you reshape/deform it even little bit, air leakage will prevent the sprayer from doing its job.
Most important cleaning process is using the sprayer to shoot out hot soapy water. This will melt any solid particulates that may be clogging pump, compressor, and what not inside. After cleaning paint bag and the plastic frame in hot water, add liquid soap and hot water in. Attach it to the sprayer and flip it upside down. When you flip it upside down you do not have to squeeze air out of the bag. I shake it little bit to see soapy bubbles as much as possible, and then sprayer should be primed on on the highest speed for 10 seconds, but I go little bit longer. Then, you just let it sit upside down for 5-10 minutes. I repeat this routine twice, and every time the sprayer works much better. Apparently, I often get solid pieces of paint to reduce flow of paint in the sprayer. Then, I repeat this procedure but with only hot water without soap, so I do not get soap and paint mixed on my next job.
Graco customer service told me about this cleaning trick with hot water and soap, and flipping the tool upside down.
The tool works very well, but everywhere where sealing has to be air tight, be very careful. Do not squeeze it, do not be rough with it. Solid paint will cause clogging problems, so I clean paint very well from all the parts I use. Do not have old solidified paint because it will get inside and clog pump/compressor.
Another problem that happened I would squeeze air out of bag, close the tip on it, prime the sprayer for 10 seconds at maximum speed, and the sprayer worked very well. However, if after priming, I climbed long ladder, the sprayer wouldn't work. It was a puzzle. What happened while I was climbing, the paint would go down by gravity and push air toward the sprayer filter, and air would prevent the sprayer sucking paint in. So, I have to squeeze air bag, and prime the sprayer just before using it even if I was on the top of ladder. After several times, it became sort of easy.
This tool is only for smaller shorter projects. I am spraying exterior house walls, but one by one, and it is going pretty well.
| Brand | Graco |
|---|---|
| Tank Volume | 25 Gallons |
| Color | Blue / White |
| Material | Stainless Steel |
| Item Weight | 3.75 Pounds |
| Product Dimensions | 5.2"W x 11.8"H |
| Style | TrueCoat 360 VSP Paint Sprayer |
| Power Source | Hand Powered |
| Included Components | 2 - .015 inch Reversible spray tips, 4 in. narrow and 12 inch wide, 4-42 oz FlexLiner Bags, Operation Manual and Storage Case |
| Model Name | 17D889 |
| Manufacturer | Graco Inc. |
| Part Number | 17D889 |
| Item Weight | 3.75 pounds |
| Item model number | 17D889 |
| Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
| Voltage | 120 Volts |
| Item Package Quantity | 1 |
| Maximum Pressure | 1500 Pound per Square Inch |
| Batteries Included? | No |
| Batteries Required? | No |
| Warranty Description | 1 year limited warranty |
