Air pressure question for Badger 150 users.

anthony and shaun,

The problem appears to be in the nozzle.  It doesn't appear to be cracked, and I know it isn't plugged, but I think that somehow it is stretched or damaged inside.

I have a Badger 100, but didn't realize that the only difference between the 100 and the 150 is that the 100 is gravity feed while the 150 is suction feed.  I checked the instructions and parts list on both and found that the nozzles and needles are both 1L's, the same part numbers, and are interchangeable.

I put the 100 nozzle on the 150 and it works nicely at 15 psi.  When I switch the nozzle back, I need 30 psi to make it spray.  Shaun, your comments led me to concentrate on the nozzle as being the guilty party.  Anthony, your experience with the 150 convinced me that it had to work a a lower pressure tnan 30 psi.

Thanks for your help.

Tom S.

 

Tom,

 While I don't have a a Badger 150 (I run an Eclipse SBS) I have had a similar problem in the past.  You shouldn't have to hike your pressure up that high to actually get flow, and the problem is most likely a tip clog that is feeding air back into the color cup, or the interface between the needle and the tip is damaged somehow.  

 When the end of the tip cracked on my SBS (making the needle fit incorrectly) I would get the same problem.  If the airbrush is brand new, this might be the problem.  Check the needle and tip for correct fit, and if the tip looks cracked or stretched out at all, then it will need to be replaced.  Try giving it a good strip down cleaning as well, and that may help.

 In my experience, when paint is properly thinned, your working pressure should range from around 15-20 psi, with 25 being the max.  Obviously, if you are spraying something extremely thick, then pressure will have to be increased. 

Hope that helps!

Shaun

When I use the XF needle and nozzle I turn my pressure down to 12-15 psi and thin the paint down pretty good,not sure but probably more then 50-50,I found that I get no overspray.A couple of things my compressor has a holding tank so the pressure evens out,but you have to turn down the pressure to avoid the overspray,experiment with the paint with thinner mixtures 40-60 or even 30-70 on cardboard,I am not an expert,hope this helps some.