Graco Magnum X5 Review

Graco Magnum X5

The Graco Magnum X5 Airless Paint Sprayer will help you get the job done in even some of the most Challenging situations.

When you’ve got a job to complete, you don’t always know what the conditions you’ll be encountering. Maybe the job site won’t have any power. You might need a lot of flexibility in your movement.

It all begins with a redesign of the sprayer base. You’re given a working stand that allows the sprayer to be stable, but still portable, as you work.

Instead of working with a paint cup or a dispenser bag, Graco has given this model a flexible suction tube instead. You just stick the tube into your paint bucket, up to 5 gallons in size, and you’re ready to go to work.

There is an annual use recommendation on this model of 125 gallons, however, so think of it more as a personal DIY sprayer than a commercial or industrial model.

Highlights of the Graco Magnum X5

Here are the highlights of the features, which are included with the Magnum X5:

• A 25 foot DuraFlex airless hose gives you a maximum level of movement while working without disrupting the consistency of your application.  Need more?  Check out this 1/4″ airless hose that’s 50 feet.
• The design of this airless sprayer allows you to pump directly from either 1 gallon or 5 gallon paint containers.
• Automatic priming features allow even first-time paint sprayers to be able to use this equipment with ease straight out of the box.
• It will spray virtually anything you need, with the exception of lacquers or materials that have textures contained within them.

Graco makes a great 20 inch extension rod which is super useful when painting decks or ceilings.  Less bending means saving your back.

The included tip allows you to reverse it in order to clean out any clogging that may occur.

The automatic priming helps users clean out missed items from the last cleaning session and any debris, yet the PowerFlush adaptor lets you wash out your machine with just a garden hose if you prefer.

When it comes to ease of use, it’s tough to beat what the Graco Magnum X5 is able to provide on a consistent basis.

What Makes the Graco Magnum X5 So Useful?

The Graco X5 supports a painting hose of up to 75 feet. That means you’ve got plenty of reach for every project. Just mask off what you need to do and then paint until you’re done.

Cleaning Your Magnum X5

Then, once you’ve finished painting, cleanup is super simple as well. The sprayer is equipped with a PowerFlush Adapter from Graco, allowing you to connect a garden hose to the equipment.

Turn on the hose, pull the sprayer, and clean water flushes out the paint very quickly. There is no disassembly required for the cleaning process.

If you are storing your Graco over the winter, or don’t plan on using it for awhile, we recommend you protect your sprayer’s pump for storage with Graco Pump Armor.

Tip Design on the Graco X5

The SwitchTip design is another tremendous advantage. Let’s say that the paint gets clogged in the nozzle for some reason.

Instead of using a cleaning needle to remove the clog, the Graco X5 allows users to take advantage of a reversible tip. If it gets clogged, you reverse the tip and its instantly removed. Then put it back into place and start painting once again.

Magnum X5 Pressure Controls

Users are also given full control over the amount of pressure that is used for the paint flow at all times. You can work on any project, at any speed, and receive the same results every single time.

We particularly like the design of the stainless steel piston pump since you’ll get more life out of your equipment with it.

The double-stand mount is also a nice addition as it allows users more stability in difficult to reach areas.

On the whole, the Graco X5 paint sprayer is a solid investment option. Keep the pressure controls in mind to limit overspray and PSI levels for small projects and you’ll find large dividends are possible in the future.

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Limitations of the Graco Magnum X5

This Is Not Your Heavy Duty Project Buster

The Graco X5 is designed to be a light duty machine. It’s great for staining your deck or your fence. Bring it inside and you’ll be able to quickly use the Graco Magnum X5 on your interior to paint a ceiling without the mess a roller tends to give you.

Siding is ridiculously easy. Doing that day after day with this machine, however, will cause it to wear out. It’s more for the occasional handyman or homeowner than for a general contractor.

Despite that fact, you’ll have a high capacity use. It can spray up to 27 gallons per hour, which is more than 10% the output of other models in this brand.

X5 Tip Size Limitations

Tip size limitations are the one real concern that we have with this model. The Graco Magnum X5 comes with a 515 tip and higher sizes are not recommended by the manufacturer.

That means you’ve got to be careful when purchasing latex paint to use with this equipment. Most latex will work with a 515 tip, but not all will.

That also means you can’t use textured paint with the Graco X5 because of the tip size limitations.

Take some time to prime the machine properly before starting for good results as well. Running paint immediately can cause clogging. If you are looking to spray polyurethane, try the .13″ spray tip.

Overspray and the Graco X5

You’ll also want to be prepared for overspray, especially when you first start using this machine.

There is a learning curve that must be followed, but the included DVD can help to accelerate the learning process. If you want less overspray, try the Magnum X5 6-9 inch spray pattern tip.

Conclusion

If you have a consistent number of projects that need to be completed, then the Graco Magnum X5 has the power to get the jobs done.

It’s not for every day work, but we see it working just fine for the weekend warriors or light duty contractors out there.

This is one of the best sprayers we had the opportunity to test and would easily recommend it to anyone who has the need for this type of tool.  If you’re looking for a more budget friendly option, give the Graco Project Painter Plus a try.

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