I have a Badger 155 Anthem. Yesterday I was painting with MM Flat Black. While painting, I noticed that the airbrush would spray for a while, stop for a bit then start back up. I noticed that I had paint build up on the tip of the needle. What did I do wrong? Was it the way I mixed the pain? I usually use a 3:1 paint to thinner ratio, some times 3:1.5. I have also noticed that this usually happens when I am using the small metal color cup, not the glass jar. Any help will be appreciated. Thanks
Yup ive had the same problem with 175 i had to sok my color cup in laqure thinner and clean it out real good paint builds up in the siphon feed tube and acylic dosent stick to stainless steel vary well even when it drys and you add fresh paint it peels off and clogs the tip id sok the needle the tip and the cup for about 5 minutes clean them up real good hopefully that will help you out.
Brian - if it was MM Black Acrylic you did nothing wrong… that is one of the drawbacks to acrylics but it can be overcome!!! One recommendation is to get some needle lube. It’s about $5.00 for a small bottle that probably will last longer than I do… second, keep a Qtip moistened with acrylic thinner or windex nearby and wipe the tip everytime it gets to spraying wierd. (Pull back on the trigger before you wipe the tip, but DONT push the trigger down! [B)])
The other thing that works wonders is either use Tamiyas acrylic thinner because it has a retarder built in (reduces tip dry) OR go down to Michaels or Hobby Lobby or some other art supply store and look for Acrylics Airbrush Medium or Acrylic Airbrush Drying Agent. Liquitex, Goldens and Createx all have derivatives of it and it is only about $6 for a HUGE bottle of the stuff. It slows the drying time of the paint and helps prevent tip dry. Just a few drops in every cup of paint should do it…
Hope it helps and let us know if it doesnt!
P.S. not detracting from Acrylics. I use 95% acrylics in my painting, and once you learn their idiosynchrosies they are toe to toe, if not better than enamels!