Help Request: Badger 155 throwing too much paint

Is it clean and assembled properly? Sounds like your needle was seated properly...all the way closed.

Like you suggest, it sounds like the needle may not be seated in the nozzle properly. I'm not familiar with the 155, but imagine its pretty regular - with the airbrush cleaned, loosen the needle chuck & gently push the needle forward to seat it into the nozzle, it may be worth rotating the needle when it seems to be fully engaged in the nozzle - this may give you an idea if there is some crud blocked in the needle & may also assist to remove it. When you get it all fully seated, tighten the needle chuck while still holing slight pressure on the needle (into the nozzle) & then try spraying with some water & see what happens.

Pressing down for air should not result in any paint flow unless there is a build up of paint on the outside of the nozzle or unless the needle / nozzle seat is not correct. An incorrect seat will either be dirt or a damaged nozzle.

Remember that when seating the needle not to use to much force as the nozzle side walls are quite delicate.

Thanks for the reply's guys.

I should have said that the airbrush is new and never used when it was behaving like this.  This was the fist use.  Now it could have been knocked in shipping or misassebled though, but it was new and clean when it was behaving like this. 

I will disassemble the brush and make sure all is well with it.  It was also very sudden with it's air release like a paint can all most.  The trigger was difficult to press and then would feel like it released and with it came a large volume of air and ALOT of paint.  In fact the paint can comparison s exactly how it felt...  very sudden and alot of paint all at once.

I'll go through the gun this weekend and follow the disasseble/reassembly instructions.  I hope it's not damaged in some way.  :(

I wonder if the brush is shipped with the needle shy of the nozzel to prevent damage during shipping?

The advice about the needle chuck is good.  You are used to the Aztek which is different than most airbrushes.  If you visit my website, I have a lot of information on the 155.  It shouldn't be hard to press the trigger.  I wonder how much air pressure you are using.

Don

Thanks everyone.  I'll be able to look more into this this weekend. 

Don, your website is amazing!  I just read the entire thing.  Thanks for steering my to it. 

One thing I noticed is that my needle does not stick out of the front of the gun the way your site describes Don.  It must not be set up correctly.  This seems strange to me as it's new.

Brainwashed

One thing I noticed is that my needle does not stick out of the front of the gun the way your site describes Don.  It must not be set up correctly.  This seems strange to me as it's new.

Then it's not fully seated in the nozzle. 

Try this:  Remove the head assembly and tip.  Be careful of the needle.

Loosen the needle chuck.

Grab the back end of the needle and try to push it forward.  There should be  some resistance, but not a whole lot.  If it takes much force to move it, then the needle bearing is too tight.  If this is the case, you could return it to Badger and they will fix it at no charge.  Or, you could remove the needle and examine the shaft where it goes through the bearing.  I had one replacement needle that was a bit rough and I smoothed it lightly with some super fine wet or dry paper and it worked fine.  A little metal polish on a paper towel might work as well.  You just don't want to overdo it or the needle bearing might leak.  In any case, Badger guarantees the needle bearing and will replace it free for life.

Thank you for the kind words about the web site.

Don

Thanks for the tip Don.  There is a small chuck at the back of the airbrush that was like a collar around the needle. 

I loosened that and was able to slide the needle forward and then lock the chuck collar back down.  The needle now is jutting out of the front of the brush like the diagram on your first beginner page of your site. 

I'm looking forward to testing the gun tomorrow! 

Don I forgot to respond with how much pressure I am using. 

I'm using 15lbs of pressure at the gauge of the compressor - and that drops to 14 or so when the gun is spraying.

As for material, I'm spraying Vallejo Model Color Acrilics thinned to roughly the consitency of skim milk via the Valejjo air brush thinner.  I think I can go a little thicker with the paint but went thin the first use since I don't know this airbrush yet.  I'll need to experiment once the needle issue is resolved.

That may be a bit low for a siphon fed brush. I use 20-25psi for my 150 and 200-20. 15 is about right for a gravity fed brush.

If pushing the needle in further doesn't help, I would suggest sending it back to Badger. They have a lifetime labor warranty, and if the part is defective they'll replace it for free.

Milairjunkie

I wonder if the brush is shipped with the needle shy of the nozzel to prevent damage during shipping?

I think you nailed that one.

Dr

Also make sure the back lever (part 50-042) is up against the back of the trigger as it can be pushed back and get caught in the slot at the rear of the trigger but you will notice that pretty easily as the trigger will have no tension.

Thanks to everyones help the airbrush is now working beutifully!

I thickened up my paint mix, upped the pressure to 20lbs and adjusted and disassembled and reassembled the airbrush and it is working great.  I have a good amount of control of the paint and now feel like I'm back to where I was with the old Aztek with my skills.  I'll need to get in some practice with the airbrush now to get the feel for it.

Thanks again for all your help!

Good to hear. I would say 20 psi is about as low as you should go with a siphon-feed airbrush.