Airbrush distance

You needle might be bent at the tip. I was having this problem with my Badger 150, so I sent it back to Badger and they put a new needle in it. It works great now. You should be able to buy a needle online or you try straightening it. Search on youtube about needle straightening and there are a few videos showing how to do it.

Thank you,, now that i think about it it does seem a bit bent

The best distance depends on the pressure setting.  With lower pressure you should be closer.  However, a rough, spattered finish is USUALLY from too great a distance!  Or, maybe too high a pressure or insufficient thinning ratio.  The normal problem with being too close is too rapid a buildup and runs.  Finding the proper distance is a practice issue.

Practice on scrap styrene (or, if primed, any scrap hard surface).  Find the appropriate distance for each pressure setting and thinning ratio.  Personally I run my Badger 200 at 15 psi for gloss finish, 20 for flats.  I thin new paints 1:1, increasing the thinner for older bottles of paint where some solvent has gone away.

Don, I am new to airbrushing so I am interested. When you say 1:1, you mean 50%, say acrylic, to 50% water? Thanks! Leigh

Custer7

When you say 1:1, you mean 50%, say acrylic, to 50% water?

1:1 = mix equivalent quantities - 1ml-1ml, 1 drop-1 drop

Though most modelling acrylics are soluble in water, in most cases, it's not the ideal medium to thin the paint. Unless specifically formulated to be thinnd with water, it will work to an extent, but the results are often below par. What brand of paint are you using?