Line Marking Spray Tips & Guards

A spray tip is the single most important part for getting a professional result. Choosing the correct spray gun tips is all about control. The tip is what determines both the width of your line and the amount of paint that flows through the gun. Using the right tip means you can lay down a suitable, razor-sharp 100mm line every time, without wasting paint or creating fuzzy, unprofessional edges. It’s the difference between an amateur job and a pro finish.

Another significant benefit is extending the life of your equipment. A worn-out tip forces your sprayer to work harder, causing unnecessary wear on the pump. A fresh tip lets the machine operate at a lower pressure, saving it from strain and reducing overspray. It also makes your job safer, as a new tip works perfectly with the spray gun guard to prevent accidental injection. For a small investment, a new tip improves your line quality, saves paint, and protects your line marker.

Picking the right spray gun tips is crucial for getting a suitable line and it's actually easier than you might think. Tips are identified by a three-digit number, like 217 or 419. The first digit, when multiplied by two, tells you the width of the spray fan in inches when spraying 12 inches from the surface. For most line marking, you'll want a 4-inch line, so you'll look for a tip starting with the number '2' (2 x 2 = 4 inches).

The last two digits tell you the size of the orifice in thousandths of an inch (e.g., '17' means a 0.017" orifice). This controls the paint flow. A '17' or '19' orifice is suited to standard line marking paints. So, a 217 tip will give you a 4-inch line with a standard flow rate. Remember to always use the tip with the correct spray gun guard, as this ensures it seats correctly and operates safely. Making the right choice guarantees a crisp, professional line every time. For a great all-round option, you can't go past the LL5219 LineLazer RAC 5 tip.

That's an essential safety question. The spray gun guard is a non-negotiable part of your line marking setup. Its primary job is to act as a safety device, preventing your fingers or any body part from making direct contact with the high-pressure spray coming from the spray gun tips. An accidental injection of paint at high pressure is a serious medical emergency, and the guard is your first line of defence against it.

Beyond safety, the guard also serves a crucial function in holding the spray tip in the correct position. It ensures the tip is perfectly aligned within the guard, which helps create a consistent and uniform spray pattern for a clean, professional line. You should never, ever operate an airless sprayer without the correct spray gun guard securely in place. It’s designed to work as a system with your spray gun tips to deliver a great result safely.

Yes, there is a key difference. While they might look similar and fit into the same spray gun guard, dedicated line marking spray gun tips are engineered specifically for spraying downwards onto a flat surface. They are designed to create a spray pattern that produces the crispest, sharpest edges possible for a line. Regular airless tips, often used for painting walls, are designed for a broader, more "feathered" edge to help with blending one pass into the next.

Using a regular painting tip for line marking will often result in a "tailed" or fuzzy edge, giving you a less professional finish. For the best results—razor-sharp, clear, and defined lines—you should always use a tip specifically designed for line marking. These are often designated with an "LL" for LineLazer in the part number. It's a small detail that makes a massive difference in the quality of your work. To see tips designed for the job, check out our LineLazer RAC 5 SwitchTips.