Badger 200 thinning problem

Don Wheeler

The 200, like most internal mix airbrushes, will need more thinning than the 250.  The usual comparison is 2% milk.  ModelMaster enamel thinned about 50:50 with mineral spirits at a pressure of 15 to 20 psi should work well for general coverage.  Fine detail spraying will require more thinning.

Don

I agree with the first Don.  I use MM as my primary paint.  I also use about 1:1 thinning, and 15-20 psi.

Wilbur Wright

My go to AB is the Badger 250 general purpose.

I have a 200-3 which is a better gun. It seems like I have to thin the paint a lot more for the 200-3 to even get the paint (mostly MM enamels) out of the gun.

Today I thinned some enamel and tried to use the 200-3 as I wanted a smaller spray pattern....nothing came out...... I immediately screwed the paint bottle on my 250 and it worked perfectly albeit a larger spray pattern.

What gives?

FYI  pure mineral spirits fly out of the 200, so the brush is not broken.

I have a similar experience when upgrading from a Paasche H to an Iwata Eclipse HP-CS.

With the Paasche H, I was used to use 1:2 or 1:3 thinner to paint ratio (acrylic) and able to lay down a solid coat very quickly.

With the Iwata, I have to thin 2:1 or 3:1 thinner to paint. I have to use lower air pressure and spray multiple layer with fine, misty paint to get the same solid coating before. But the result is so much better, I have no regret having to re-learn the way I airbrush.

The Badger 200 has a 0.5 mm nozzle (vs. 0.35 for the Iwata). You may not have to go the extreme that I do in paint thinning. Different color requires different thinning even from the same brand of paint. You have to experiment to find the best ratio for your AB. A 1:1 thinning ratio is a good starting point.

Good luck and let us know how the Badger 200 works out for you. Most user like theirs very much.

The 200, like most internal mix airbrushes, will need more thinning than the 250.  The usual comparison is 2% milk.  ModelMaster enamel thinned about 50:50 with mineral spirits at a pressure of 15 to 20 psi should work well for general coverage.  Fine detail spraying will require more thinning.

Don