Line Marking Filters & Strainers

This is where pros separate themselves from the amateurs! Using the correct Line Marking Filters is one of the simplest yet most effective ways to guarantee a flawless finish and protect your equipment. Their main job is to catch any tiny bits of debris, dried paint flakes, or impurities in your paint before they reach the spray tip. Without a filter, this gunk will cause constant blockages at the tip, leading to frustrating downtime and messy, inconsistent lines with "tails" or uneven edges.

Think of it as the final gatekeeper for quality. A clean filter ensures a smooth, uninterrupted flow of paint, giving you those razor-sharp, perfect lines every single time. Regularly checking and cleaning your Line Marking Filters also reduces strain on your pump, extending the life of your entire sprayer. It’s a small component that makes a massive difference to your final product and the health of your machine. For the best results, always match your filter to your tip size

Getting this right is key to avoiding tip blockages! Choosing the correct Line Marking Filters is all about matching the filter's mesh size to the size of the spray tip you're using. It's a simple but crucial relationship: finer finish tips require finer mesh filters to catch smaller particles, while larger tips for thicker lines can use a coarser filter. Using a filter that's too coarse for your tip will lead to constant blockages, while a filter that's too fine can restrict paint flow.

For the intake strainers, you just need to ensure it's the correct one for your sprayer model. These are less about tip size and more about providing the first line of defence against large debris from the paint pail. Always check the product description or your machine's manual, but a good rule of thumb is to use a 60-mesh filter for tips up to .019" and a coarser 30-mesh for larger tips.

That's a vital question, because clean filters mean clean lines! Maintaining your Line Marking Filters is super easy but makes a huge difference. The best practice is to clean them after every single job, right along with your sprayer and gun. To clean the gun filter, simply unscrew the handle, pull the filter out, and wash it with the appropriate solvent for your paint (e.g. water for water-based paints, or thinners for solvent-based paints). Use a soft brush to gently remove any stubborn paint residue.

For the manifold filter on the machine, do the same. Unscrew the filter housing, remove the filter, and give it a thorough clean. Don't forget about your intake strainers, either! A quick wash will ensure it's not clogged for the next job. Never, ever use a wire brush or sharp object, as this can damage the fine mesh. Keeping your Line Marking Filters clean is a simple habit that prevents countless headaches. If a filter is damaged or too clogged to clean properly, it’s always best to replace it.

That's an excellent question, as knowing when to replace them is just as important as cleaning them! The most obvious sign is visible damage. If you inspect your gun or manifold filter and see any tears, holes, or warping in the mesh, it's time for a new one immediately. A damaged filter can't do its job, and you'll be right back to dealing with constant tip blockages.

Another clear sign is when you're getting frequent clogs even with a clean filter. Over time, the fine mesh on Line Marking Filters can become so embedded with dried paint particles that even a thorough cleaning won't clear them all. This restricts paint flow and will feel like you’re constantly fighting the gun. The same goes for your intake Strainers; if they are bent out of shape or permanently clogged, they need to be replaced. Don't try to get one last job out of a worn-out filter. a fresh one is a cheap and easy way to guarantee top performance.