AIrbrush problems

Don't want to sound like I am trying to teach you to suck egg's, but are you sure its cleaned properly. Other than that, are you sure there are not any lumps in the paint.

I clean every part of it every time I use it, paint shouldn't be, I have one of those electric mixers and stir it for a good minute or two before using. I may have found it, I think the jar is too low on paint so its sucking air up at times instead of paint since I seem to angle it when painting.

Yep, that will do it. But always handy to eliminate the obvious ones first.

Its still doing it, and the compressor is getting a lot of condensation build up even though there is a filter for it, going to clean it and let what I have done dry before starting again.

if you are using Acrylic paint, you might want to look at getting some Slo-dri and/or Flow Aid

Acrylic "tip dries" which is a form of clogging, if it is sprayed too thick or at too high an air pressure

using the Flow Aid lets the airbrush be set at a lower pressure,,,,and the Slo dri lets us spray a thinner color coat,,,,,,,,both of those keep the cotton swab full of airbrush cleaner away from the tip a bit longer during use (we can't fully eliminate it)

I agree with what the other guys have said.  You mentioned turning "down" the pressure.  That is going to make it harder to "push" the paint through of there are any issues.  I would test by turning the pressure to 25 psi and see if it sprays with the needle all the way back.  If it does, then slowly lower the pressure and then the needle travel until you see where the issue is.  That will tell you what is wrong.

If you have a real clog, I would think that it would not spray at any pressure (within reason).  Tip dry is a big issue with acryl paints.  I use a 50/50 mix of paint and a Golde airbrush medium  as it won't dilute the color like thinning can and it has a retarder in it for tip dry.  I still keep a cotton swab soaked in water and routinely clean the tip.  Check the tip with a magnifier to see if it has dried paint on it.

John

I'm using Model Master enamels thinned with Mineral Spirits.

I would clean it out thoroughly and then see if it will spray just water.  I doubt it is the airbrush.  They are pretty simple mechanisms.  If it is a siphon feed, make sure you have the tube well into the liquid.

Good luck.

John

pilotjohn

 They are pretty simple mechanisms.  If it is a siphon feed, make sure you have the tube well into the liquid.

Also, make sure that the breather hole in the paint jar cap isn't blocked.

A siphon-fed AB needs high psi to function properly, especially when the jar is less than half full (20 or higher).  You may want to use a cup rather than a jar so that you can use your AB sort of like a gravity-fed AB.  

Thanks guys! I'll try the cup today, the jar has always given me trouble, I figured it was my lack of experience with it.

I changed to a bigger nozzle and it seemed to help a  bit, and I remixed the paint/thinner. It helped somewhat but I will still try the cup today.

You didn't say what type of airbrush you are using, but many Badger models have a teflon washer that seals the spray head area.  A bad washer that needs to be replaced will cause the intermittant interruption of spraying.

I use a siphon feed Badger and use 15 psi as my pressure.  Never have problems picking up paint when brush is clean, and the washer is fresh.

I have a Paasche VL0408, I used the cup a few times since having the problem and it seems better. I'll do some testing before painting the camo on the tank.