How to Use the Paint Gun Spray Template

We would like to offer our “print-it-yourself” paint gun spray pattern template which will provide you with a visual aid during paint gun “tuning” and will clearly show when those optimal settings have been achieved. By recording the individual gun settings, atmospheric conditions and paint mixture data on the Spray Pattern Template, the gun settings can quickly be repeated just by referring to the previously sprayed Templates.

Each paint gun has a specific “sweet-spot” in its performance resulting from several variables:

• Inlet Pressure – This is generally specified in the paint gun manual. If none is found, begin at 20-30 PSI with a regulator mounted at the gun air inlet.
• Flow – This adjustment controls the amount of paint being introduced into the air stream.
  More = wetter/heavier pattern, Less = drier/thinner pattern.
• Fan – Moving the Fan control outward will enlarge the “Fan” pattern as sprayed on the Template. This requires the most “trial and error” while tuning as more isn’t always better. The goal here is to achieve the finest droplet size possible with the largest fan possible. Note: the largest possible fan pattern rarely delivers the finest droplet size. Moving the Fan inward produces a small, round concentrated pattern which is most often used for spotting in smaller areas or covering door jambs and other tighter areas with minimal overspray.

Using the Spray Pattern Template

• Print out two halves on 8-1/2” x 11” paper and tape them together (on the back) to create an 11” x 17” sheet.
• Tape the Spray Pattern Template to a vertical surface with the Square Grid at the upper left and the Data Recording Block at the upper right.
• To record your optimal full spray pattern, hold the loaded spray gun completely perpendicular to and 10” from the Template and only momentarily squeeze the trigger without moving the gun. Observe the height and width of the spray pattern with the vertical and horizontal inch scale.
• Be sure to observe the droplet size and the width of the transition area at the edge of the Spray Pattern.
• To record the Small Pattern, hold the loaded spray gun completely perpendicular to and 6” from the Template and only momentarily squeeze the trigger without moving the gun. Observe the diameter and softness of the Small Pattern and record data.