Here’s the problem. I’m trying to spray Model Master enamels with Aztec’s A470 double action brush. I’m using Testor’s airbrush propellent can. Before painting, I place the can in a jug of luke-warm water, and leave it there while (attempting) spraying.
The brush loses all pressure within 2-3 seconds of spraying. Let it sit for a few seconds, and it will spray agian, albeit only for a few seconds before losing all pressure. After about 2 minutes of this, I noticed the airbrush was getting very cold. I checked the can to see how cold it was. Funny this is, it wasn’t cold at all. However, soon the brush was spitting out ice. Obviously the propellent is freezing in the airbrush itself.
I’ve gone through 3 cans of propellent in the last week. (I’m painting a 1/16 Tiger I). Everything up to this point has gone smooth as silk, as long as I kept the can warm, the paint went on like a breeze. The airbrush never iced up, and only the can itself became cold.
i’ve never had an airbrushs pitting ice myself (sounds cool, you just made a freeze gun [:)]) but i was using an old badger single action external mix number when i had to deal with the cans. try getting a second tub of hot water and weighing down the air line to run through it to warm up the air. lame idea, i know but it might help.
Thanks for the suggestion GM, but I now think the problem is with the brush itself. After allowing ample time for the brush and line to thaw, I hooked it up to my compressor. I now have next to no pressure. Not even enough to shoot thinner. Durng the last couple of attempts with the can attached, I could feel and hear air escaping from the trigger. Must be an air line. I’m going to pull it all apart to see what’s up.
I myself have never heard of putting a propelent can in warm water. and used to own one of those old plastic blue AB when i was a kid. My dad said to try it without the propelent in the water.
Well, I’ve stripped the airbrush down, cleaned the hell out of it, cleaned the nozzles, put it all back together, and it still won’t spray.[banghead]Air is flowing through the nozzle, but it won’t pickup anything from the paint bottle, not even plain water. I didn’t notice any damaged parts, but then again, I’m not exactly an airbrush engineer.
Anyone have a spare brush they’d like to sell? [sigh]
Actually, Testors themselves recommend the warm water trick. It’s printed on the directions on the back of the propellant can. The warm water trick itself should have no bearing on freezing the airbrush.
That is to help keep the can from getting cold and losing pressure, so you spray at a more steady pressure.
I don’t have an extra A/B, but Squadrons ad in FSM said they had a Testors MM A/B for $50, came with a braided hose, a paint bottle, and a 13/4 oz bottle of gloss black paint. It was a single action metal body A/B
I have a small compressor. The reason I chose to use propellent cans this time, is that I’m working on a large project (the 1/16 Tiger I). I live in a condo, and the neighbors are willing to put up with the odd rattle from time to time, but it would probably drive them nuts (and me as well) having to listen to a compressor for the time required to paint the tank. I’ve split the project into a few painting sessions, but still…
Are you using a syphon feed bottle? If so, check to make sure that the little air hole in the top of the lid is clear…if there’s no way for air to get in, you won’t get any suction. Just a thought, as I’ve experienced something similar with a compressor before.
hook it up to the compressor, crank it on for a few seconds and see if the brush works then. the neighbores should be able to survive that. if no air comes out of the brush, unhook the hose from the brush and see if air blows out of it when the compressor’s on, etc. trace the problem. maybe it’s the part that actually attaches to the can and not the hose.
btw have you actually tried asking your neighbores if they mind if you crank the compressor on for a while? it shouldn’t be more than half an hour even if you’re painting something really big. a can wouldn’t last that long anyway and incidentally the canned propellant is toxic from what i hear.
I doubt the canned air is any more toxic than paint fumes. Its just Co2 isn’t it? If that is the case, it will take a while to get over exposure and when you do your going to get a nose bleed and a nasty headache from it [:D] but you have to be exposed to a pretty good amount before you get that bad!
the canned air contains subliminal messages to buy Testors products like paint, thinners, decal paper and Aztek brushes. Proof: i used the cans before and now i have an aztek. don’t try to avoid the brainwashing by buying non-testors bran canned air: the air is simply a re-labeled testors product.
seriously though, it’s probably not DDT or anything but i think it’s more than just CO2. My guess would be it’s the same stuff as a hairspray can minus the hairspray. technically you’re right, it’s probably no worse than the paint fumes but every bit helps the brain damage.
Very well could be hairspray (? Its not really hairspray without the hairspray is it? [:D] J/K) I seem to enjoy modeling the more brain damage I get? I don’t understand why everybody wants a spraybooth???
Did that test already, no change in the volume of air coming out of the brush. I bought a Paasche VLS last night, so I’m putting the Aztec to bed, permanently.
As far as the neighbors are concerned, I’ve previously received the odd complaint when the airbrushing session carries on for too long. (i.e. big project) I live in a condo, most people in the building are a lot older than me (at 36), and they expect a quiet atmosphere in which to reside. As I stated previously, I’m currently working on a 1/16 Tiger I. I guess I work at a pretty slow pace, because it takes me a hell of a lot longer than 1/2 an hour to lay down even one coat. I’ll usually set aside an entire morning or afternoon for such a painting session. To each his own.