I have just unretired my old badger 200 and it is giving me grief. I have to nearly open the needle almost all the way to get any paint flow, when it does come out it comes out fast and wide and then trickles off. So I close the needle a bit and guess what, it stops again. I have taken it apart and cleaned it really well and still nothing, any ideas on what could be wrong with it? Secondly, should there be a washer between the head and the main body, I seem to remember something there but now I have nothing. I have checked the manual online but cant seem to find a part or number, however other entries on this form caution to not loosing one ( if there is one can someone give me the part# and location). Any help would be appreciated, thanks.
ICIT
Remember, dont lower yourself to the level of the fool for he will beat you with his exeperience everytime.
What type of paint are you using and how much are you reducing (thinning) it? It could be an issue with insufficient thinning of your paint or there could be some dried paint accumulated inside which is restricting the flow. With the 200 I wouldn’t go much lower than 18PSI either. Start around 22 and see how you go from there.
If your 200 head assembly looks like the one on this page, then you need a washer. It is the same part used on models 100 and 150, P/N 50-055, and Coast Airbrush sells it for $1.65.
I have the classic 200 with the wrong manual but now thanks to you I have the right one. I use Tamiya exclusively and usally dont thin the paint but I’m starting to reconsider that and I usally spray at 25-30psi. I’m also going to take it apart and replace the teflon washer and get a new needle, I’m very fortunate that the local hobby store has a whole wall dedicted to badger products. Thanks for the help.
You know what the first thing I’m going to say is, don’t you? [:)]
Thin your paint. Unthinned, even if you cranked it up to 40PSI, the best you could hope for is a few splutters and then nothing. It’s a recipe for instant “tip dry” too - paint leaving the nozzle will dry almost instantaneously on the needle/nozzle tip, causing a blockage.,
Use Tamiya X-20A thinner, Isopropyl alcohol or denatured alcohol, but thin your paint. Don’t use water or Windex though.
Start around 1:1 paint to thinner and adjust if necessary. Don’t be afraid to use more thinner as in my experience, it’s very difficult to over-thin Tamiya acrylics. I’ve gone 4:1 thinner to paint and beyond with a Badger 200. You will start to find the limits of Tamiya’s thinner at about 3:1 thinner to paint. Go much past that and it starts to behave like water, beading and running.
You will find that you get a much smoother and cleaner finish when you thin your paint, but you will need to experiment a little to find exatly how much thinning you need, depending on what you’re trying to achieve. Base coats, one to two parts thinner to one part paint should do the trick. For more detailed work, thinner paint and less air.
Good luck.
PS: I’m sure that someone will suggest using Tamiya Lacquer thinner too, but I would suggest leaving this for the moment and concentrate on getting the basic technique down first. Tamiya lacquer thinner will work and can be advantageous in some situations, but you don’t need to go there just yet.
Good advice from Phil (as always). Walk before you can run.
The 200 is a venerable airbrush, and I use a 200-20 “detail” one often. If you persist in having trouble, consider shipping it back to Badger for a tune up. They come with a lifetime warranty on the parts, and they often just replace the tip and needle with a new one and send it back no charge.
You absolutely need that teflon washer. Airbrush will not work worth anything without it. And you need to replace the washer frequently.
When the brush starts spitting, and a lot of flecks show up in paint, it is time to replace that washer. The washer is needed often enough, and that brush is so popular, that a lot of hobby shops carry the washer. Just ask for the Teflon washer for the Badger 200 and most will know what you mean. I keep two of them on hand, just in case I need one in the middle of a session.
Love that brush- mine is nearly thirty five years old- it is still my main brush.
Thanks to all, I have taken all that you’ve said and applied it. I was scared to use to much thinner but after changing the teflon washer and the thinning the paint, TA DA!!! it works like new.
