Badger Super Fine Detail Needle Problem

 My concern is you stated it wouldn't shoot food dye correctly which is usually as thin as water. Speaking of which, have you tried water or plain thinner to see how that sprays ( usually my go to test)? If not there is something else going on besides thinner ratio. Is this .35 needle set new to you ? I ask because I wonder if you have the right parts there, it's real easy to mix up needles. I've done it even with correct parts in stock so I physically slide the nozzle onto the needle off the brush to see how it protrudes out the end when slid all the way in and lightly seated. I know it's sad I get them mixed up but just saying it happens, never mind that you could get shipped the wrong pieces. Just something to consider. My Ganston brush is terrible to sort out because the tips are so tiny lol !! The Badger isn't bad and the Paasche is easy.

I have that Super Fine combination, bought it when they first came out. I never use it but didn't remember exactly why, it's been a while. :-) I just put it in my 105 and played with it a little. Now I remember. Too thin and it starts spraying the instant the trigger is moved and immediately blows out. Too thick and it won't start spraying till the trigger is halfway back. Thick and thin, I got tip dry. I was using AK Real Colors flat black, OD and sea blue. These were paints I had already thinned and sea blue is what I experimented with. Thicker, thinner and adjusting air pressure up and down. Anywhere from 10 to 25 psi. I never did find a really useable mix for up close and personal slow controlled spraying. AKA, fine line ;-) I did get to a point that I could spray a very fine line and keep it going but I had to move so quickly it wasn't useable and if I stopped and restarted I had to clean the needle tip. I don't know why it reacts this way but my guess is the nozzle. If you look inside there's a pretty immediate step down in size. The back of the nozzle is large enough to accept the diameter of the shank of the needle and then it steps down at the very front to the tip size. I have a Sotar and this Super Fine needle looks like a Sotar needle except it's a little shorter. But the heads and nozzles are very different. The Sotar can be finicky too but not to this degree. Sorry but I don't know what to tell you to do other than a o lot of experimenting. Polishing the needle might help.

Hi

 Gotta pipe in here as the product is going away as we speak. M.M. requires thinning for A/B work. Don't use the cup! Use the bottle! Thin by thirds. You shooting flat? Thin till almost a wash.

Got That Penny

I looked at the needle under a loop and everything looks straight. I'm spraying MM enamals.

Hopefully that additonal info will help those with experience more specific to your Badger and Model Master enamels to opine.

Greg

Needle/nozzle match was my first guess too.

Since that's not it, the next thing I do is inspect the needle under the finest magnification I have. Same for the nozzle.

If you don't have any magnification, you can pull the needle through your forefinger and thumbnail ....gently. If the tip of needle is bent or split, you'll probably feel it as it passes by.

Just last week a I dropped a nozzle on the floor. It's so light it is hard to imagine damage occuring, but under magnification the tip was rolled over and destroyed. Expensive fumble-finger boo-boo.

That said, you didn't mention what paint. I'd guess acrylic with dry tip being the issue, except you said problem remains with food coloring which is curious.

 

I looked at the needle under a loop and everything looks straight.

I'm spraying MM enamals.

Needle/nozzle match was my first guess too.

Since that's not it, the next thing I do is inspect the needle under the finest magnification I have. Same for the nozzle.

If you don't have any magnification, you can pull the needle through your forefinger and thumbnail ....gently. If the tip of needle is bent or split, you'll probably feel it as it passes by.

Just last week a I dropped a nozzle on the floor. It's so light it is hard to imagine damage occuring, but under magnification the tip was rolled over and destroyed. Expensive fumble-finger boo-boo.

That said, you didn't mention what paint. I'd guess acrylic with dry tip being the issue, except you said problem remains with food coloring which is curious.

Thank you

Yea I have the right nozzle. Thanks

Read this thread as it describes similar issues

 

http://cs.finescale.com/fsm/tools_techniques_and_reference_materials/f/18/t/185015.aspx

Do you have the right needle and nozzle installed, each needle has it's own nozzle. I assume you know that but well anyway.

My fine needle and nozzle is .25 for my Badger 200 and the .5 is a medium. Super fine is either 1.8 or 2.0 I forget which but I also don't own one.