What The HECK is Wrong With My Airbrush????

Tools, Techniques, and Reference Materials Painting and airbrushing
1

Hello everyone! I’m am extremely frustrated. Iv been trying to airbrush for over an hour now with the same results. I have tried Model Master enamel paint, and Tamiya acrylic. I am mixing and thinning the paint I have for years. No matter what I do it wont stop splattering! I have tried everything from cleaning the airbrush to thinning the paint even more then I always have. I need some help before I go insane…

Here is what I have prepared for you all:

2

OK first make sure its really clean, as your cleaning it check the nozzle, if its split that will cause splatter. While its apart check the needle isn’t bent either.

After that if there is nothing broken put it all back together carefully making sure everything is seated right and tight then try again.

At the moment my money would be on a split in the head as you’ve cleaned it already, use a magnifying glass too look as even a tiny split right at the end will cause a load of trouble

Phil

3

Damaged nozzle?

4

I just inspected the nozzle though the little magnifying glass and it is pristine… The last time I used this brush it worked flawlessly. Since then it was sat in its case.

5

Since then it has sat in it’s case**

6

And there is no burr on the tip of your needle? Run the edge of your finger nail up and off the tip from several sides and see if it catches anywhere on the tip. If you have another needle, try replacing it even if you don’t feel a burr. Have you used that paint before? Does the brush do the same thing with another paint?

7

Unfortunately I don’t have another needle. But I just put it over a black surface and ran my fingernail across it like you said. It seems to be perfect. I typically only use the two paints I tried today. Never have I have a problem…[:@] haha

8

Hello!

How about the air pressure - maybe it’s too low? Just a quick guess… Good luck with your problem

Paweł

9

Air pressure is at my usual 20psi (for the work I was doing) Thanks for the luck lol!

10

Subaroo,

My best guess is that there is dried paint in the nozzle even though the needle seems to be working. This happened to me when I got a bad bottle of Alclad black primer. Can you clean the INSIDE of the nozzle carefully with acetone/lacquer thinner and thin slivers of a toothpick (careful not to damage the nozzle). Took me almost an hour to get the gunk out but that was my problem.

11

This kind of splattering mostly happens with some problem with the nozzle or the needle. As Bick said, thoroughly clear the inside of the nozzle and see what happens.

A good way of cleaning the inside of a nozzle is (1) get a fine brush with long bristles, (2) soak it with lacquer thinner, (3) insert the brush bristles into the nozzle so that the bristles come out of the tip, and (4) rotate the brush.

12

OKAY. I just gave my airbrush another try. It is as clean as a whistle, and everything is as per usual and it is STILL splattering… Before I ran paint through it and make a mess, I tried running water with food coloring.

NOTE: When I press the trigger, a LITTLE bit of paint comes out. As you know, only air should come out when the trigger is not being pulled back

13

Maybe last time I cleaned the nozzle, I widened the top when I had a toothpick in it. All the parts looks perfect fine, even under a magnifying glass. Either way, I will buy a new needle and nozzle tomorrow – just to make sure. Sigh.

14

There you go. It certainly means that either the nozzle or the needle tip is damaged. More often than not, it’s impossible to detect an imperfection of the nozzle or the needle even with a magnifying glass.

15

What type of airbrush is it? I had some issues with my Badger 100. Turns out when i last cleaned it, i failed to seat the needle all the way forward before tightening up the nut.

Same issue - paint coming out as soon as the needle was pressed and poor spraying.

Surprised how long it took me to figure out such a basic error i’d made.

16

My Airbrush is the Badger 105 Patriot. I already did check to make sure the needle was seated already forward :frowning:

17

I’m heading out now to try and get the new parts. I’ll let you guys know the outcome!

18

Well now i’m starting to get really Pissed. I replaced the nozzle and the needle. It was still spitting. So I went out and bought a whole new airbrush. That one is spitting. What the heck??? I did managed to get the airbrush to spray a little bit of interior green okay. But then it started again. I have no idea what to do… Should I try buying a moisture trap? Even with the AC its still a little but humid inside the house.

19

It can not be your brush if the new one acts the same. Now is the time to troubleshoot the areas from the brush to the power cord on your compressor; step by step.(feel free to add to this list -it’s only a guide)

  1. is there an air leak at either end of your air line? make sure the fittings are fully seated; not cross threaded
  2. same as above but in the line itself? small holes may not be too noticeable
  3. when is the last time you drained your compressor? Even deserts have some moisture and the compression of air will force any humidity out of the air being compressed.
  4. * yes buy a moisture trap- cheap insurance for your brush
  5. check your pressure gage; can you adjust the pressure up or down? does the needle seem to follow the changes? and hold the new setting?
  6. the power cord; is it frayed or worn or the plug loose in the wall socket? these won’t solve your sputtering problem but heck its better to be safe than sorry.

Good Luck on your “quest”

20

I don’t know if I can help, but I have a TPC Global compressor, and I started having issues with my paint not flowing through the AB. I had to turn up my pressure, and the AB has worked fine. It puzzles me, because I had used the AB for almost 2 years at the same pressure setting with no problems (Iwata HP-CS). If you have not already tried, try experimenting with different air pressures.