Aztek Questions

Ouch,

I own and use the 4704 as well, but I use MM enamels exclusively and therefore can't speak for the acrylics. However, the symtoms you're describing generally indicate inadequate air flow and/or paint that is not sufficiently thinned.

With MM enamels, I generally start with a 50% - 50% (1:1) mix of thinner to paint and rarely add more paint to the mix. I've found that I almost alway have to add more thinner to the mix - particualarly at lower psi ranges.

Try keeping all of your settings exactly the same, but spray straight alcohol or thinner through the brush and observe the spray. If it bubbles, you may have a more serious problem with the brush.

Also, what tip are you using?

Hope this helps,

I'm using the black tip for acrylics... I have the gray tip for solvents, etc but I plan on using that for my Metalizers and enamels, etc...

That's the proper tip. Have you tried spraying straight alcohol (water will work too)?

Yeah, at least water... I can't tell with the water, going to pick up some alcohol on the way home today and see. Could it be that the paint isn't thinned enough? I tried a 1:1 mix, and it seemed that the paint ran out the front of the brush, when I drew back the trigger to increase the paint flow, there wasn't enough air flow to atomize the paint.

indeed, try to spray straight thinner or water to see whether or not you have a proper spray pattern. If not, adjust your air pressure a little higher, until you can see a nice result with just thinner or water. Also, make certain that the tip is throughly clean.

It definitely sounds like 1) the paint is too thick for the selected psi and 2) the psi is pretty darn low.

Here's what I found over three solid days of practice with my 4704, compressor, gray tip, and MM enamels.

The lowest pressure that I can spray straight thinner AND get a consistent spray pattern is about 9 - 10 psi.

For every 10% paint I add to the mix, I have to increase pressure by 1 - 3 psi. It doesn't require a lot of adjustment for the first 10% - 30% of paint, but after that the required pressure increases dramatically.

The hight ratio of paint to thinner I can spray and get a good pattern is about 70% paint to 30% thinner at near 22 psi. 80% paint (MM enamels) will not go through my brush with the compressor I currently own (mini blue).

My best spray patterns typically occur with 30% - 40% paint mixtures and a pressure of around 15 - 18 psi.

Again, this took three days to learn and even today, I will experiment with various paint combinations to see if there are improvements I can make. I haven't even gotten into the fact that different colors of the same line of paints will act differently...that can get really confusing.

Good luck and let me know how things work out.

the new airbrush is a good choice... but if not, try increasing pressure

Thanks for the help I found that my needle had a slight bend in the tip (must've gotten caught on something) and I SLOWLY rolled it out on some 1200 grit sandpaper to get rid of the burr. I shot straight thinner through it at 20 psi with no spatter, and just a little on the "flow roller" at the back of the gun...

Even though it'll work for now, I just ordered a Badger 360 kit from a clearing house for around $40 after shipping... Should be here in a week or so... SO I'm stuck with the Aztek for a little while longer...

I have the Aztek set in the wooden box. I have found that the tips work a little differently than what testor's believes. If you are near a Hobby Lobby go and get the orange tip. I have used it to paint Tamiya and Gunze-Sangyo paint very well thinned 1/1. For Tamiya use their thinner for Gunze use alcohol. You also need to get about three inches or less away. The side gravity feed cups work better with acrylic too.

GREAT!!! Oh, wait, I'm in Virginia, the closest Hobby Lobby is 5 hours away... it may be worth it when they run the 50% off plastic models, though

I have the cursed aztek too. I had that exact same problem. I took care of it by screwing the tip on tighter, til it clicked. It sprayed pretty well then. My second solution was I bought an omni 4000G , that really solved the problem.

QUOTE: Originally posted by ewc2003 I just ordered a Badger 360 kit from a clearing house for around $40 after shipping...

Are you sure that is a Badger 360? The airbrush alone retails for $161 and the lowest I have seen it anywhere is around half the retail price.

Mike

This is the one correct?

That thing for only $40?!? Why, it looks like a beaut! Please tell us, where did you order that from? No, seriously, I think I'd like to get myself one if the real retail price is what Mike says... that's a fantastic bargain! You sure the clearing house is reputable, though?

After S&H it's running about $55 so it's a little more, and it doesn't have the air hose... but other than that it's a pretty good deal

Where ya order it from???

YES PLEASSSSSSSSE TELL US WHERE DID YOU ORDER IT FROM. Sorry but the cheapest I found on the 360 was 122 dollars from greatmodels.com.