Hello all.

Im posting this just for the guy thats tapping all kinds of
stuff into google and other search engines trying to find info
or reviews on paint sprayers from someone who's just a regular
Joe. For you guys new to painting with a sprayer....thats me!
Im you!

Boy did I do my homework before I plunked down the dough to
get started spraying. So you know this is the ultimate forum
of info on painting and sprayers, the guys in here are very
good and probably forgot more about painting than I'll ever
know. So thanks to you guys for giving me the "heads
up" on sprayers.

OK, so which one did I buy? Well, first I gotta tell you that
Im not a pro, not by any means, Im a regular joe remember, so
the pro models are out....way too much $$$$ for my needs. I
hear a sigh coming from the collective pro's in this forum
because to the pro's the "consumer" models
"suck"! Right? Well, maybe for you guys they do. Im
just writing about my experience.

OK, so which one? Well it boils down to this: More than what
I bought the solution to the "which one" question is
simply this: Find the most expensive unit you can afford, and
then buy the next model up! Yes, buy one step up from what you
can afford. If its a consumer model you're talkin an extra
$100 bucks...it wont break you you're already spending several
hundred whats another 100 to make things easier, and get
better quality, or perks on the machine.

OK, what did I buy then? I bought a  Graco Magnum XR7.

For you guys typing in Magnum XR7 Review into google, here it
is! Its good. I have three houses that all of a sudden need to
be painted, ALL INTERIOR WORK. You'll read posts saying dont
use sprayers for interior or the hell other guys have gone
thru trying to use a sprayer for interior...all I can tell you
is its true you simply MUST cover everything, including the
the floors, even a slight opening on your floor will leave a
"mist" on it. I would only use a sprayer in an empty
room. BE ADVISED, the mist travels into other rooms too if
there's no door so beware. I didnt think I'd need them but you
really will need a respirator and eye protection, unless you
dont mind your eyes burning every once in a while like mine
did, at least I had a respirator though. I'll use eye guards
next time too. 

Ive picked up alot of knowledge along the way on sprayers and
spraying, again im not a pro or even close to it but without
going into detail on where I learned stuff I'll just tell you
some simple things about WHAT Ive learned:

The XR7 is worth it. It is worth the extra money to bump from
the 5 to the 7 if you are deciding between them.

I dont think Id try the smaller sprayers, they may work, but
I dont want to find out. Spend the extra bucks, just do it!

Get a unit that is mobile, one you can roll around with the
paint pail attached. If not you're gonna curse in front of the
kids trying to move that crap around like a mule, god forbid
you spill the paint. You'll hate your new sprayer for that
alone. You'll wont like having to move the thing by hand
without rollers.

Get AT LEAST a 50 ft hose. Because plugging the unit right
into the outlet gets better power to the unit. So you move the
hose, not the unit. If you must use a ext cord, it must be a
good one. Better though to just pull the hose.

Buy the handle swivle. Or, wrestle with the damn hose all
day, every day you use it! Your choice. It comes standard on
the XR9, I had to pay $24 to get it for the XR7...Worth it!

Use Mineral Spirits (ask the paint guy at the store) as the
storage solvent instead of the overpriced Magnum Pump Armor.

Buy the tip extension for high ceilings, forget the ladder.
Hell, use it then take it back to the store!!! ; ) If you
must! $30

USE THE SAFETY LOCK ON THE TRIGGER OF THE GUN WHEN ITS NOT IN
USE. Unless you want to visit a surgeon, or you'd like to
possibly be an amputee NEVER POINT THE NOZZLE AT YOURSELF OR
ANYONE!

Above all read and re-read the instructions, know your unit,
take care of your unit, and it will take care of you. When I
clean my unit I get ALL of the paint off of it, I clean it
unit I dont see any paint anywhere. Do you think its gonna
work next time for me? Hell yes.

And finally....I rationalized my decision to purchase based
on one final criterion. That is....Id rather put the money
into a sprayer than to a physical therapist or massuese to fix
my screwed up neck and back that I messed up trying to paint
with all that other crap! ; )

Good Luck!

Joe