Graco Pro Xp – Electrostatic spraying

Here are a few photos from an in-house training session on electrostatic spraying. Various Graco low-pressure and high-pressure painters with electrostatic equipment were installed in our training room. In addition to the theoretical part, our team was able to try out the advantages of electrostatic spraying and the points to bear in mind when painting.

What is electrostatic spraying?

During the electrostatic spraying process, the paint is negatively charged using a high voltage. Generally between 40 and 100 kV. With the object to be sprayed earthed, the sprayed paint droplets are attracted as if by “magic”. This considerably increases the paint transfer rate, up to over 90%. This means that paint consumption is much lower than with other spraying processes such as HVLP, Airless or Aircoat. What’s more, painting is greatly simplified, because the product is spread evenly over the surface.

Metal bar uniformly painted in one pass

Graco Pro Xp electrostatic gun

Graco Pro Xp electrostatic gun

Various Graco Pro Xp guns were used for low-pressure and high-pressure applications. The structure and operation of the guns were explained to us.
There are already a few minor differences from conventional airless or aircoat guns. In addition, electrostatic guns are equipped with an air turbine and a cascade. As the structure was of particular interest to our team, we quickly dismantled a Pro Xp gun and examined it from the inside.

Graco Xp Pro guns

Graco Mini Merkur, Merkur & Triton

Of course, it’s not yet possible to apply the paint using just a spray gun, so a sprayer is also necessary. On site, we used the Graco Triton for low-pressure applications, the Graco Mini Merkur 30:1, a compressed-air piston pump, and the larger Graco Merkur model.

Graco Triton with Xp Pro pistol

Introducing the Graco Mini Merkur with rigid suction tube to suck paint directly into the bucket. Simply place the Mini Merkur over the paint bucket. No problem, because the model is lightweight and easy to handle.

Graco Mini Merkur with electrostatic equipment

Many thanks to Otmar Schulz from Graco’s Industrial Division for this very interesting training day.

Otmar Schulz from Graco’s Industrial Division