The Graco Ultra QuickShot 20B473: How Electronic Triggers End Paint Spitting

For any professional painter or serious DIYer, the most frustrating moment in spray painting isn’t the prep work or the cleanup—it’s the “spit.” That dreaded, uncontrolled splatter of paint that happens the instant you pull or release the trigger, marring an otherwise perfect finish. For decades, this has been the accepted flaw of most spray systems. The Graco Ultra QuickShot Sprayer (20B473) is engineered almost entirely to solve this single problem.

This isn’t just another cordless handheld sprayer; it represents a fundamental shift from mechanical to electronic control. Understanding this technology is key to understanding its purpose and value.

The Core Problem: Why Traditional Sprayers Spit

In any airless system, paint is forced under high pressure through a tiny tip to atomize. A traditional mechanical gun, whether it’s a large contractor rig or a smaller handheld unit, functions like a simple valve. When you pull the trigger, you’re mechanically opening this valve.

The problem is lag.
1. Pressure Lag: It takes a fraction of a second for the pump to build to full, stable pressure (like the 2000 PSI in the QuickShot).
2. Mechanical Lag: The valve itself doesn’t open instantly.

During this “ramp-up” and “ramp-down” phase, the pressure is too low to properly atomize the paint. Instead of a fine mist, the gun ejects semi-atomized droplets or a stream—the “spit.” Professionals learn to compensate by starting their motion off the workpiece and “feathering” the trigger, but it’s an imperfect technique that wastes paint and risks runs.

The Solution: An Electronic Gun with Instant Response

The Graco Ultra QuickShot 20B473 replaces the clunky mechanical trigger with a fully electronic system. This is its primary innovation and the source of its precision.

Here’s how it works:

• Instant-Response Electric Trigger: The trigger is no longer a physical lever pulling a needle. It’s a digital switch. The moment it’s depressed, it sends an electrical signal.
• On-Demand Flow Control: This signal activates an advanced airless piston pump, which is designed to reach its maximum 2000 PSI of pressure almost instantaneously.
• Virtual Elimination of Spits: Because the system delivers fully pressurized, atomized paint from the very first millisecond, there is no “ramp-up” spit. When you release the trigger, the cutoff is just as sharp. The result is the cleanest possible start and stop, a feature previously unattainable with handheld units.

This level of control is what allows for true precision work on trim, cabinets, and detailed fixtures without the constant fear of blotches.

Deconstructing the 20B473 System

The electronic gun is the “brain,” but the rest of the system is built to support its precision and usability for small, professional jobs.

1. The Ergonomics: Separating Weight from Control

Unlike traditional handhelds that integrate the paint cup and pump directly under the gun, the QuickShot uses a “belt-and-gun” design.

• Lightweight Gun: The gun itself is incredibly light, as it contains only the trigger electronics and the fluid path.
• 6-Foot Flexible Hose: A 6-foot hose connects the gun to the main unit, which houses the pump, motor, and the 32 oz (1-liter) paint cup. This unit can be clipped to a belt or placed on the floor.

This design dramatically reduces arm fatigue. More importantly, it decouples the weight of the material from the act of spraying. This allows for unrestricted movement and better ergonomics, letting you easily spray at awkward angles (like inside cabinets or under furniture) without fighting gravity and a heavy, sloshing cup.

2. The Power: A True Airless Piston Pump

This is not an HVLP (High Volume, Low Pressure) sprayer, which uses air to atomize paint and often requires significant thinning. The QuickShot is a true airless sprayer with a powerful piston pump.

This is crucial because it directly answers the most common user question: Does it require thinning paint?

The answer is no, for most materials. The 2000 PSI pump is designed to handle professional-grade materials, including thick latex paints and primers, straight from the can. This saves time, preserves the paint’s intended chemistry, and results in a thicker, more durable coating in fewer passes.

3. The Finesse: RAC X FFLP Tips

The system is compatible with Graco’s professional-grade RAC X Fine Finish Low Pressure (FFLP) spray tips. These tips are engineered to provide a softer spray pattern and finer atomization at lower pressures, which reduces overspray and delivers a high-quality finish perfect for trim and cabinetry. The ability to use the same tips as Graco’s high-end contractor sprayers means there is no compromise on finish quality.

Real-World Application: From Trim to Treasures

The QuickShot’s design makes it an ideal tool for specific, high-stakes projects that are too large for a brush but too small or intricate for a large-scale sprayer.

• Interior Trim and Doors: The zero-spit electronic trigger allows you to spray right up to masked edges with confidence. You can start and stop cleanly on individual sections of trim without creating build-up.
• Cabinet Refinishing: This is a primary use case. The lightweight gun and flexible hose make spraying cabinet doors, drawers, and (most importantly) the interior of cabinet boxes far less physically demanding. The FFLP tips provide a factory-smooth finish.
• Furniture and Built-ins: The precision flow control allows you to apply thin, even coats to complex shapes like chair spindles, bookshelves, and mantels.

The Value Proposition: Speed, Finish, and Clean-Up

The high price tag places the Graco Ultra QuickShot 20B473 in a “prosumer” or light-professional category. Its value is not just in the tool itself, but in the time and materials it saves.

A significant advantage, noted by professionals, is the speed of cleaning. Because the system holds a very small amount of paint in its 6-foot hose and pump (far less than a traditional 25- or 50-foot hose), the flushing and cleaning process is exceptionally fast. For professionals who may need to switch colors or clean up multiple times a day, this time-saving is a direct increase in productivity.

Ultimately, this sprayer is a specialized instrument. It is engineered for users who cannot compromise on the finish and for whom the elimination of a single “spit” is worth the investment. It bridges the gap between the bulk of a full-size airless rig and the compromises of traditional handheld sprayers, all by putting a digital switch where a mechanical one used to be.