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Tools & Materials

Painting Made Portable

The Titan ControlMax 1650 cordless backpack paint sprayer is handy for medium-sized projects like a shed.

By Noah Kanter Issue 328 - Dec/Jan 2024
Photo by Noah Kanter.

I recently tried out the new Titan ControlMax 1650 18V backpack paint sprayer on a few different projects. The first test was spraying two backyard sheds, about 500 sq. ft. in total. I sprayed the sheds with Sherwin-Williams SuperPaint using the 515 tip that came with the machine.

It pushed the product well, with an impressive lack of overspray thanks to the High Efficiency Airless technology. I easily found a nice fan pattern at about half-pressure, and it maintained consistent pressure even as I sprayed continuously for 10 seconds.

I also tested it out on two finer-finish applications. One involved spraying baseboard radiator pieces laid out on sawhorses. I used a Graco 310 FFLP tip to apply Benjamin Moore’s Scuff-X paint. The other project was spraying Benjamin Moore’s Multapply with a 310 TriTech tip on an entry door. The two non-Titan tips worked fine on the gun using the adapter that comes with the sprayer, and in both situations I was able to lay out a great finish.

Titan ControlMax 1650: Capacity 1.25 gal. • Price $650, includes T2 spray gun, 515 spray tip, two 2-Ah batteries, and charger. Photo courtesy of the manufacturer.

I only had a couple minor complaints: The out-of-level alarm seemed overly sensitive and basically beeped the entire time I used the sprayer in backpack mode. The gun is plastic, which makes me concerned about its durability, and the hose is permanently connected to the gun, so it can’t be swapped out without changing the hose too. But these aren’t deal-breakers.

I mostly used the sprayer in backpack mode and only set it down for a section where a shed was close to a fence. The 9-ft. hose gives you enough length to work with for these scenarios. The 1.25-gal. capacity is great for medium-sized projects like a shed.

This sprayer would also be great for smaller jobs where you only need to spray a quart of product. I can also see this unit being handy for spraying just water when wetting down popcorn ceilings. And of course, it is handy on any job where electricity is hard to reach or nonexistent.

The sprayer is powered by Bosch batteries. I sprayed over a gallon of SuperPaint on two sheds and cleaned the unit without depleting one battery. It cleans out quickly and without much waste. I think a good painter would make their money back on this sprayer pretty quickly.

— Noah Kanter; painter in Chittenden County, Vt.

From Fine Homebuilding 328

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  1. conehed2 | Dec 30, 2024 03:29pm | #1

    A better photo to advertise the sprayer would include having a plastic ground cloth on the ground for over spray. No matter the spray efficiency, airless leaves its marks. The photo depicts that over spray is in the grass.

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