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Aztek Sputtering

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  • Member since
    August 2004
  • From: Nowhere. (Long Island)
Aztek Sputtering
Posted by Tankmaster7 on Wednesday, November 24, 2004 1:25 PM
My Aztek is misbehavibng, as usual!!!! It keeps sputtering- not major, just here and there, enough to see it on a paint job... I think my paint thinning ratios is OK. Could it be that my nozzles are dirty? I HATE MY AZTEK!!!!! ME WANT BADGER 155!!!!!!! RIGHT NOW!!!! As soon as I have enough money this "airbrush" goes in the trash... Ok maybe not, just into a spare junk bin in my modelling room. please help with the sputtering thing...
Thanks a lot, Tank.
-Tanky Welcome to the United States of America, a subsidiary of Exxon Mobil Corporation, in partnership with Halliburton. Security for your constitutional rights provided by Blackwater International.
  • Member since
    July 2003
  • From: Pensacola, FL
Posted by Foster7155 on Wednesday, November 24, 2004 1:59 PM
I'll get sputtering periodically with my Aztec 4704 and it's usually one of three causes.

1) I didn't thin the paint enough for the pressure I'm using. Using MM enamels, I start with a 1:1 mix of paint and thinner and add thinner (or increas pressure) as needed until the flow is good. Note that if I'm trying to paint thin line with very thin paint, the pressure must remain low for an optimum pattern. This will often mean that I must thin the paint to the point where it is useless for normal spraying and is only good for detail work.

2) My adjustment knob (at the back of the AB) is set too lean and I'm trying to force out more paint than the brush can handle. I've found that this is particularly critical with MM Metelizers. By reducing the paint ratio and keeping the double action forward to further reduce paint flow, sputtering is eliminated.

3) Something has gotten into the nozzle assembly and is altering the paint and air flow. Before I started using a standard circular mesh filter, this would happen more frequently than it does now. I actually had one nozzle that had gotton so many "woobies" in it that I had to just chuck it and go buy another nozzle. Usually, a good soaking in thinner and then blasting the nozzle out with air will clear minor obstructions. Major blockages are a problem and a new nozzle (at only $7 or $8) may be the only solution.

Hope this helps...

Robert Foster

Pensacola Modeleers

  • Member since
    March 2003
  • From: Fowlerville, Mich
Posted by dtraskos on Wednesday, November 24, 2004 5:18 PM
Tankmaster
Do not think that a Badger 155 or any other model or brand will not spit and sputter. If the paint viscosity is not right, the needle is to small for the type of paint, the air pressure is not right etc. An air brush has two paths. One for air and one for paint. If either one of these paths or both are partially clogged it will not work properly.Your problem is most likely in the paint path.
I have looked in other model sites and seen photos of models painted with Azteks and they look great, None of the builders complained about the Aztek.I have about 8 airbrushes of 4 differant brands plus a no name one I bought at a swap shop for $5.00. They all work great.
The Aztek will work fine if it is clean, but from what I have read it is more complicated to clean then the others.
Also many airbrushes have oifferent size needles this has to be considered. If you use a small size needle for some coarse pigmented paint you will very soon get spitting and sputtering.
I think learning all the technical specs. and exactly how the brush works will go a long way in eliminating the problems.
  • Member since
    August 2004
  • From: Nowhere. (Long Island)
Posted by Tankmaster7 on Wednesday, November 24, 2004 8:25 PM
I think I am getting sputtering because of unclean nozzles. My aztek did work better when i first got it. However, cleaning the Aztek is a HUMONGOUS pain in the neck. Tha badger seems much much much easier to clean. Also, with the Aztek, I can't get lines that are too fine. I've been meaning to get a 155 for a wjile, and this recent sputtering just pushed me over the edge really.
-Tanky Welcome to the United States of America, a subsidiary of Exxon Mobil Corporation, in partnership with Halliburton. Security for your constitutional rights provided by Blackwater International.
  • Member since
    December 2003
  • From: Olympia, WA
Posted by wooverstone8 on Wednesday, November 24, 2004 9:13 PM
Same thing here. When I first got my Aztec it worked beautiful. Then I came across problems and I ruined a fair amount of nozzlesAngry [:(!]. I don’t think the airbrush caused most of the problem it was my lack of skill using one and cleaning it. After I started cleaning it more extensively I saw better results.
  • Member since
    September 2004
  • From: Australia
Posted by Bandha Boy on Friday, November 26, 2004 3:44 AM
I've occaisionally get splattering but I've also found it's just getting the thinning/pressure/back roller adjustment sorted out. I pull the nozzle apart & drop it all in thinner for 20' after every session now, it's not difficult to do & seems to prevent a lot of the problems.
Carl
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Monday, November 29, 2004 10:18 PM
What I find works to clean the bugger out, is to put some windex in a small clean paint cup and work it through, spraying on a blank paper or into a large empty margarine container until you have a clean flow. Then rinse with water through the paint cup (also cleans out the windex) and spray 'till clear. Then blow out with air, working the paint lever, until you have no moisture leaving the tip of the airbrush. So far I have found this to be a reliable way to clean your airbrush, no mater what make. Approve [^]
Have fun, John.
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Monday, November 29, 2004 10:32 PM
One problem I have found with all the brushes I used.
If you paint than put them down for a bit while doing something else there can be a thickening of the paint in the cup, especially if under a hot light.

Here is what I do now, bear with me as the example might be strange.
I build a lot of large scale figure kits and we need to paint many parts the same color(flesh), etc.

I mask all the parts, mount them on sticks for spraying and insert those into my painting turntable. In short I do ALL the parts in the SAME color in one go.

Next step is to take my pre-mixed color thin it and stir it with my paint stirrer, add the correct amount into the A/B and spray several test-patterns on a largish paper-palette, adjust mixture/settings if needed.

Now spray all the parts in one go while turning the painting table, even got a table that will hold car-bodies. Once the parts are painted it is time to clean the brush, parts remain either in the spray-booth or get moved with the stand(got 2) into the drying booth.

Alternatively you can hold each part paint it, return it to the stand and to the next one.
If you run out of paint, clean the A/B and thin a new batch from the pre-mixed color.

HTH.
  • Member since
    July 2003
  • From: Perth, Western Australia
Posted by madmike on Tuesday, November 30, 2004 3:57 AM
If you go to ARC

http://www.aircraftresourcecenter.com

go to discussion forums and tools and tip section, there is a great "how to", to fix problems with your Aztek, saved my bacon a few times!!

cheers

Mike
"I do not feel obliged to believe that the same God who has endowed us with sense, reason, and intellect has intended us to forgo their use." - Galileo Galilei
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