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                        sick airbrush needs a doctor1

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                        36 replies
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                        Anonymous
                        • Member since
                          November 2005
                        sick airbrush needs a doctor1
                        Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, September 9, 2004 2:44 PM
                        Yesterday as i was putting the last coat of enamel on my blackbird i noticed the paache vl double action internal mix air brush, the pride of my workbench started spitting paint(problem no 1) I stopped what i was doing and cleaned it. I then ran paint thinner then water through it (all systems were go!) Once again as soon as the paint started through the brush it started spitting again, I decided to break the air brush down to give it a more thorough cleaning. (the paint was thinned enough to run through the brush thats not the problem) Now to add insult to injury as i was withdrawing the needle from the brush the trigger shot out of the top of the air brush to my dismay!( never happened before i have had it two years. problem no 2) After an hour of figiting i worked the trigger back into the brush however its not right, it sticks and doesnt release it keeps spraying but it only sprays water and thinner no paint and it doesnt stop! does anyone know what to do or where i can take this sick brush i cant live without it! Thanx for reading my novel.Sad [:(]Angry [:(!]Question [?]
                        Report Abuse
                        maddafinga
                        • Member since
                          March 2003
                        • From: Broken Arrow, Oklahoma
                        Posted by maddafinga on Thursday, September 9, 2004 6:16 PM
                        I've not used one of those airbrushes, and I'm far from the expert MikeV and some of the other guys are, but I'd say the spitting may well be a bent needle tip. As far as the rest of it, I have no earthly idea.
                        Madda Trifles make perfection, but perfection is no trifle. -- Leonardo Da Vinci Tact is for those who lack the wit for sarcasm.--maddafinga
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                        MikeV
                        • Member since
                          April 2003
                        • From: Hayward, CA
                        Posted by MikeV on Thursday, September 9, 2004 7:21 PM
                        I would check the needle as Josh already mentioned.
                        Is the tip in good shape? If it is split it will cause spitting also.
                        Also check that the head is not leaking too much air as that can cause problems with the VL's.

                        In regards to the trigger getting stuck, I am not sure what is going on there.
                        Did you get something in the airvalve that has caused this?
                        Could some paint have gotten in there? How did you clean it?

                        Mike

                        “Wisdom is the right use of knowledge. To know is not to be wise. Many men know a great deal, and are all the greater fools for it. There is no fool so great a fool as a knowing fool. But to know how to use knowledge is to have wisdom. " Charles Spurgeon
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                        Anonymous
                        • Member since
                          November 2005
                        Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, September 9, 2004 8:14 PM
                        Thanks for your replys i took the cone and needle out and soaked them in thinner for 5 min i then wiped them down carefully. I then changed the needle, i ran warm water through the brush at this time the brush was spraying like new( water) when i ran paint through it, it was spraying a light stream then cutting out like there was a break in air flow it was not doing this when i ran water through it. THE trigger popped out of the gun when i broke it down the second time, i got it back in but its not in right so i decided not to play with it untill i know how to fix it or where to take it. please help if you can.
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                        bstrump
                        • Member since
                          March 2004
                        • From: British Columbia,Canada
                        Posted by bstrump on Thursday, September 9, 2004 8:17 PM
                        Hi harbormaster. Mine does the same thing. It still sprays paint but at the wrong time an extra large "blob" of paint comes flying out onto the model! MikeV and maddafinger are right on; it'sa bent needle. And don't bother trying to straighten it either because you'll never get it perfect. My brush took a tumble a while ago and the tip and needle were both damaged. I managed to straighten it a bit but it's never been the same since.
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                        Anonymous
                        • Member since
                          November 2005
                        Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, September 9, 2004 8:25 PM
                        I replaced the needle the second time through its got a new needle its spraying like the paint is to thick but its not i have no clue.
                        Report Abuse
                        MikeV
                        • Member since
                          April 2003
                        • From: Hayward, CA
                        Posted by MikeV on Thursday, September 9, 2004 8:47 PM
                        Is the head of the airbrush on fairly tight?
                        Don't overtighten it or you will strip the brass.
                        If it seems like a lot of air is coming out around the head of the airbrush then try putting a little bit of Teflon tape around the threads and put the head back on.
                        Also, are you using a glass jar on the airbrush? If so, check to see if the vent hole in the cap of the bottle is clear. If it is plugged you will have problems like this.

                        Mike

                        “Wisdom is the right use of knowledge. To know is not to be wise. Many men know a great deal, and are all the greater fools for it. There is no fool so great a fool as a knowing fool. But to know how to use knowledge is to have wisdom. " Charles Spurgeon
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                        jdavidb
                        • Member since
                          August 2004
                        • From: Kennesaw, GA
                        Posted by jdavidb on Thursday, September 9, 2004 8:56 PM
                        Some things I'm wondering are: Does air leak out around the threads of the tip assembly? Have you held the nozzle tip up to the light to look through it to make sure there are no hardenend clumps of paint in there? Do you use a moisture trap?

                        About the moisture trap: one season a few years ago, I had a water sputter problem with moisture coming through the line. I was using only a Paasche H at the time. I bought a moisture trap. That fixed it. Only for a couple more weeks I was finding water in it. After that, I never had another drop of water in it. I have no idea what went on / why I had a mysterious water problem only for a very short time. Nothing was ever changed regarding the airbrush's environment or compressor.

                        Air leaking around the head assembly: I noticed thinner bubbling around the threads of the Iwata Eclipse during full assembly blowing thinner through it. I wonder if yours could be doing something like that to a much more severe degree.

                        Report Abuse
                        jdavidb
                        • Member since
                          August 2004
                        • From: Kennesaw, GA
                        Posted by jdavidb on Thursday, September 9, 2004 9:03 PM
                        Oh yeah you've got tip AND trigger problems.... is the sticky trigger problem still there, or did the new needle fix that?
                        Report Abuse
                        tho9900
                        • Member since
                          July 2004
                        • From: SETX. USA
                        Posted by tho9900 on Thursday, September 9, 2004 9:15 PM
                        ::making mental note to purchase extra med tips from badger tonight::
                        ---Tom--- O' brave new world, That has such people in it!
                        Report Abuse
                        MikeV
                        • Member since
                          April 2003
                        • From: Hayward, CA
                        Posted by MikeV on Thursday, September 9, 2004 9:45 PM
                        Regarding the trigger problem, did you pull the rocker back before inserting the trigger into the airvalve? If that rocker gets out of its slot and down into the airbrush at all it will bind and cause problems like you are having.
                        I think that might be your problem....I think. Wink [;)]

                        Mike

                        “Wisdom is the right use of knowledge. To know is not to be wise. Many men know a great deal, and are all the greater fools for it. There is no fool so great a fool as a knowing fool. But to know how to use knowledge is to have wisdom. " Charles Spurgeon
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                        Anonymous
                        • Member since
                          November 2005
                        Posted by Anonymous on Friday, September 10, 2004 4:31 AM
                        New needle was put in before the second cleaning so no the problem was not solved, Mike, that sounds like my problem how do i fix it? Remember fellas the brush shot water and thinner perfectly after both cleanings and i used different bottles too why did it have a problem with paint mixed 2 parts thinner 1 part paint this makes no sence. It was spraying paint like it had no preasure even when i had it cranked.Plus it was spraying in intervals (sputtering) I was useing model master paint like always!Banged Head [banghead]Banged Head [banghead]Banged Head [banghead]
                        Report Abuse
                        jdavidb
                        • Member since
                          August 2004
                        • From: Kennesaw, GA
                        Posted by jdavidb on Friday, September 10, 2004 4:37 AM
                        I'm also wondering if chunks of dried & broken air valve rubber got blown up into the body. You said it doesn't stop which I'm probably not imagining accurately, so I'm making another guess.
                        Report Abuse
                        MikeV
                        • Member since
                          April 2003
                        • From: Hayward, CA
                        Posted by MikeV on Friday, September 10, 2004 7:24 AM
                        QUOTE: Originally posted by harbormaster
                        Mike, that sounds like my problem how do i fix it?


                        Pull the trigger back out, then remove the handle of the airbrush.
                        On the back of the airbrush, rotate the piece # 20 in the diagram below and get that little tab to stick back up through the slot in the top of the airbrush where the trigger goes.


                        Once you have that tab sticking back up there again, pull that tab back (it is spring loaded) and hold it back while you insert the trigger back down into the opening in the air valve that it sits in. It is a little difficult to do since the trigger pivots and I never liked that feature of the VL. Use a bright light so that you can see in there.

                        Mike

                        “Wisdom is the right use of knowledge. To know is not to be wise. Many men know a great deal, and are all the greater fools for it. There is no fool so great a fool as a knowing fool. But to know how to use knowledge is to have wisdom. " Charles Spurgeon
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                        Anonymous
                        • Member since
                          November 2005
                        Posted by Anonymous on Friday, September 10, 2004 12:39 PM
                        Mike you are the man if you are ever in columbus ohio i owe you dinner! Trigger is fixed now. One more thing,( i know im a pain in the as# )its sputtering paint, water,thinner any ideas ive already changed the tip, the cone, and the needle (all new) and it sputters anything i try to run through it (it almost pulses) any ideas?(i also run with a moisture trap its not leaking air or anything) just thought i would give you all the info. thanks again i already owe you one!Big Smile [:D]Big Smile [:D]
                        Report Abuse
                        MikeV
                        • Member since
                          April 2003
                        • From: Hayward, CA
                        Posted by MikeV on Friday, September 10, 2004 7:26 PM
                        QUOTE: Originally posted by harbormaster

                        Mike you are the man if you are ever in columbus ohio i owe you dinner! Trigger is fixed now.


                        Great news Richard! Thumbs Up [tup]
                        Glad I could be of help.

                        Concerning the sputtering:
                        Are you using a glass or plastic jar? Did you check the hole in the cap of the bottle you are using?
                        If you press the trigger down without pulling it back, does the air pulsate?

                        Let's see if we can hopefully narrow it down. Wink [;)]

                        Mike

                        “Wisdom is the right use of knowledge. To know is not to be wise. Many men know a great deal, and are all the greater fools for it. There is no fool so great a fool as a knowing fool. But to know how to use knowledge is to have wisdom. " Charles Spurgeon
                        Report Abuse
                        tho9900
                        • Member since
                          July 2004
                        • From: SETX. USA
                        Posted by tho9900 on Friday, September 10, 2004 7:56 PM
                        thanks Mike... I am learning a lot about airbrushes just through everyone's daily problems/questions, and your answers! I can't help you harbormaster, if it were an Aztec I know what to do (torque that tip down tighter) but being new to 'other' airbrushes I wouldn't know.. that's why we have people like Mike around!!!
                        ---Tom--- O' brave new world, That has such people in it!
                        Report Abuse
                        Anonymous
                        • Member since
                          November 2005
                        Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, September 11, 2004 12:06 AM
                        New bottle Mike, still haveing trouble with pulseing and sputtering even full bore on the compressor. Its still as if there is a flow problem but i dont know where from. I should have named this subject sick airbrush needs Mike!
                        Report Abuse
                        MikeV
                        • Member since
                          April 2003
                        • From: Hayward, CA
                        Posted by MikeV on Saturday, September 11, 2004 12:24 AM
                        Richard,

                        Does the air coming out sputter without pulling the trigger back, or is it just the medium that's coming out of the airbrush that sputters?

                        Mike

                        “Wisdom is the right use of knowledge. To know is not to be wise. Many men know a great deal, and are all the greater fools for it. There is no fool so great a fool as a knowing fool. But to know how to use knowledge is to have wisdom. " Charles Spurgeon
                        Report Abuse
                        Anonymous
                        • Member since
                          November 2005
                        Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, September 11, 2004 12:28 AM
                        It starts to spray for a split second when you pull back the trigger then sputters, ill check to see if it does it without pulling back just pushing down please hold.
                        Report Abuse
                        Anonymous
                        • Member since
                          November 2005
                        Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, September 11, 2004 12:36 AM
                        It sputters no matter what i do to the trigger.Disapprove [V]
                        Report Abuse
                        MikeV
                        • Member since
                          April 2003
                        • From: Hayward, CA
                        Posted by MikeV on Saturday, September 11, 2004 12:45 AM
                        Richard,

                        Remove the head of the airbrush and shoot air through it and see if it sputters.

                        Mike

                        “Wisdom is the right use of knowledge. To know is not to be wise. Many men know a great deal, and are all the greater fools for it. There is no fool so great a fool as a knowing fool. But to know how to use knowledge is to have wisdom. " Charles Spurgeon
                        Report Abuse
                        Anonymous
                        • Member since
                          November 2005
                        Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, September 11, 2004 12:52 AM
                        It shoots air exactly like it did when it was new head off and on it just sputters when i run anything through it.Disapprove [V]Banged Head [banghead]
                        Report Abuse
                        MikeV
                        • Member since
                          April 2003
                        • From: Hayward, CA
                        Posted by MikeV on Saturday, September 11, 2004 1:53 AM
                        I am beginning to think it is the packing nut or washer which is parts #8 and 9 in the diagram below.


                        On page 3 of this link it tells you how to tighten the packing nut in step "F"
                        http://pmhansen.com/Information/VVJRVLVLS.pdf

                        Mike

                        “Wisdom is the right use of knowledge. To know is not to be wise. Many men know a great deal, and are all the greater fools for it. There is no fool so great a fool as a knowing fool. But to know how to use knowledge is to have wisdom. " Charles Spurgeon
                        Report Abuse
                        Anonymous
                        • Member since
                          November 2005
                        Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, September 11, 2004 12:26 PM
                        Everything is tight i took it out then put it back in the problem continues, could either one the nut or the washer be faulty i havent realy used it much just on models so i cant see anything realy going bad yet but thats not to say it cant happen i appreciate all the trouble shooting i wouldnt know this much without your help. if you have any new ideas im all ears thanks in advance RichCool [8D]
                        Report Abuse
                        MikeV
                        • Member since
                          April 2003
                        • From: Hayward, CA
                        Posted by MikeV on Saturday, September 11, 2004 12:37 PM
                        So with just air coming out, the airstream is steady with no sputtering, but with any liquid it sputters as it exits the airbrush correct?
                        You described it as "spitting" in one post and "sputtering" in another, so I am wondering if you mean it just skips the line you are shooting, or that it spits bigger particles out onto the surface?

                        Mike

                        “Wisdom is the right use of knowledge. To know is not to be wise. Many men know a great deal, and are all the greater fools for it. There is no fool so great a fool as a knowing fool. But to know how to use knowledge is to have wisdom. " Charles Spurgeon
                        Report Abuse
                        Anonymous
                        • Member since
                          November 2005
                        Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, September 11, 2004 2:36 PM
                        It started out as spitting (leaveing bumps on the aircrafts paintjob) thats what prompted me to clean the brush in the first place i usually keep it like new as far as cleaning goes the brush is treated like royalty. After i broke it down and cleaned it more thorouhly it started sputtering sort of a spraaaaaaaaay spray spraaaaaaaaaaay if that makes any sence there is a break in the strem of liquid that passes through the brush that isnt there when it just sprays air.
                        Report Abuse
                        MikeV
                        • Member since
                          April 2003
                        • From: Hayward, CA
                        Posted by MikeV on Saturday, September 11, 2004 4:06 PM
                        Rich,

                        A couple more questions:

                        What tip and needle are you using?
                        Is it the #1 (fine) set?
                        Do you have a #3 (med) set that you could try instead?

                        Mike

                        “Wisdom is the right use of knowledge. To know is not to be wise. Many men know a great deal, and are all the greater fools for it. There is no fool so great a fool as a knowing fool. But to know how to use knowledge is to have wisdom. " Charles Spurgeon
                        Report Abuse
                        Anonymous
                        • Member since
                          November 2005
                        Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, September 11, 2004 4:09 PM
                        Im useing the tinyest set i have right now but i will go through and try everything in my arsenal if you think it will help! I shall return.Big Smile [:D]
                        Report Abuse
                        MikeV
                        • Member since
                          April 2003
                        • From: Hayward, CA
                        Posted by MikeV on Saturday, September 11, 2004 4:17 PM
                        The reason I ask is because the #1 tip and needle can be picky about what paints will go through them reliably. The #3 would be a better choice.

                        Mike

                        “Wisdom is the right use of knowledge. To know is not to be wise. Many men know a great deal, and are all the greater fools for it. There is no fool so great a fool as a knowing fool. But to know how to use knowledge is to have wisdom. " Charles Spurgeon
                        Report Abuse
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