Graco has become synonymous with quality paint sprayers. Solidly built, well-designed, and with consideration towards experienced painters and beginners alike, Graco is a reliable brand.
The LTS 15 airless paint sprayer is no different. Virtually the same as the X5, the LTS 15 is the Lowe’s exclusive model that features a lightweight plastic frame rather than the heavier steel found on the X5.
The Graco LTS 15 has been replaced with the Graco X5
The Graco LTS 15 can still (occasionally) be found for sale online, but stocks and spares are dwindling as it has been replaced with the updated Graco Magnum X5.
Check out our full review of the Graco X5 which offers the same performance, at the same price. Alternatively, take a look at its bigger brother, the Graco Magnum X7.
When buying a paint sprayer the LTS 15 is one of the best options for someone looking to take on medium level projects like interior walls and ceilings as well as outdoor work like housing exteriors, fencing and doors.
The sprayer comes with several unique features that make the LTS efficient and easy to work with.
These include a stainless-steel pump, a Power Flush adaptor, a PushPrimer button, adjustable pressure control, and a reversable tip for clog removal.
While the LTS 15 is not a perfect a tool and does have its issues, it is a fantastic sprayer to have for household maintenance. Let’s take a closer look.
The Basics of the Graco LTS 15
The LTS 15 uses a metal SG2 gun that feels solid and uses a full palm trigger for better control. It can be used with tips up to 0.015. “This model also comes with a 515 RAC IV tip which can eliminate clogs and is great for medium thick coatings with a pattern size width of 10-12.”
The motor is ½ horsepower which can pump up to 3000 PSI of pressure. When combined with the SG2 gun, this unit can spray an impressive 0.27 gallons per minute.
While the LTS 15 comes with a 25 ft DuraFlex hose, the pump can be hooked to up to 75 feet without affecting the quality of the spray or over-working the motor. The recommended annual usage is 125 gallons which should be just fine for anyone working with basic home maintenance.
Contractors who might expect daily usage should invest in the “Pro” series but with that said they might benefit from having this powerful little sprayer tucked away for emergencies.
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The Good
The materials are of high quality and well designed. The pump is stainless steel which makes the sprayer reliable both in quality of performance as well as its lifespan. With proper care, you should not have to worry about investing in another sprayer for a very long time.
Unlike its almost identical twin, the LTS 15 comes with a plastic rather than a steel frame.
The benefit is much lighter machine overall, but it is less durable and more prone to moving around at higher levels. This is fair tradeoff, however, since the LTS 15 is aimed more at medium jobs around the home rather than anything heavy duty.
Perhaps its most attractive feature is the PowerFlush adaptor. Anyone with some experience using paint sprayers knows that the worst and most time-consuming part is the cleaning process.
Furthermore, it can never be skipped if you want to extend the lifespan of your sprayer. The PowerFlush adapter makes this incredibly easy by allowing the user to hook up the sprayer to a garden hose for quick and simple cleaning. This can cut down a project’s time significantly.
Starting up any pump can be a pain when you want to get going on a project right away. The LTS 15 makes this simple with the PushPrime feature which allows the pump to be started with the push of a button. Priming is thus straightforward and much less of a hassle.
The adjustable pressure control located next to the intake tube is well-designed. It allows fine-tuning for any job with a spectrum of settings from “low spray” to “high spray” that gets up to 3000 PSI.
There are also cleaning and roller settings which is designed to get the best finishing texture on any job.
Lastly, the sprayer comes with both a manual and DVD that makes set-up and use a much easier experience for beginners. It is a thoughtful gesture that helps the process be much less intimidating and also allows any user to get over the learning curve that comes with a new paint sprayer.
The Bad
By far the most common complaint is that sprayer clogs very easily. Thicker materials seem bound to block up the machine. Thus, it is especially important to double-check that your desired materials will actually work well with the LTS 15. Graco makes a valiant attempt to solve this problem with the RAC tip.
This is simply taken off and reversed to blast out any blockages. However, the frequency of the clogs is still a frustrating process to do over and over.
The whole unit is very lightweight which makes moving and storage a breeze. However, when using the sprayer at top settings, the pump has a tendency to vibrate and move around a bit. When working with 3000 PSI or around there, it might be a good idea to brace it against something.
This is cumbersome but should not be too much of an issue for most projects.
While this machine has some dependable accuracy, overspray has been a reported issue. This can be remedied by covering and masking everything around the job. Be especially cautious with outside work by using smaller tips and take the time to practice and get past the learning curve.
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Conclusion
The Graco LTS 15 in terms of an airless paint sprayer is a fantastic machine. For anyone with interior or exterior jobs around the house, you cannot go wrong investing in Graco. Everything from the PushPrime button to the DVD, make setting up incredibly simple and hassle-free. While the performance is perfect for medium level jobs.
The LTS 15 is versatile in that it can handle most materials like acrylics, latex, and stains.
However, thicker, textured materials should be avoided as well as solvents. It is easy to clean, carry and store which again is perfect for projects around the home. It may be useful to professionals who want a simple back-up machine, but it is not designed to handle big projects.
For everyone else though, you really cannot go wrong investing in the LTS 15 or any of Graco’s non-Pro lines.
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