Another problem....

Umm, no paint? Pulsing spray? Lots of spidering? No air hose?

I give up! What is the problem you're having?

It is pulsing! It sprays off and on, I'm thinking bent needle.

If you are spraying straight off the compressor, that is your problem. The air coming out is coming out in pulses because that is how the compressor pumps. You need to get an airtank and spray off that. This allows you till fill up the airtank to about 40 psi, shut the compressor off, then spray off of it. When the tank gets too low, turn the compressor back on and fill the tank up. This allows a continuous flow of air to spray an even coat of paint with. If you look at some of the commercially available home compressors, you will notice most have small airtanks attached to them for this reason.

If your head assembly looks like the one in This Photo then the Teflon head washer (part no 50-055) has become flattened. It is a common problem with the 200 (I have one). Replace the washer, keep the head tight during use, and when you store your airbrush loosen the head to prevent the washer from getting flattened.

Yep, MusicCity is right on. I've had a 200 for some years and it is an excellent brush for general coverage. I have a spare 50-055 and also part 50-046 (teflon). I also have a set of "O" rings just in case. I always keep an extra because I think those parts are "wearables" and should be replaced every so often. I too always leave the head assembly loose until use.

Rich

I got a fairly cheap compressor from Sears when they were having a sale - I got one with a 5 gallon tank (150PSI) and regulated output for about $150, including a set of accessories. This way I can pump the tank up to about 100PSI, turn it off and spray in peace and quiet. I have yet to run the tank down in a session, and it only takes 5-10 minutes to pump it up, during which time I'm getting set up. Just be sure to empty the tank after you use it so that the water doesn't eventually rust out the tank and cause a spectacular failure.

I have not gotten a moisture trap yet, and so far I haven't needed it. Given that I've been using it in the humid NC summer that surprised me, but I have yet to have it blow water through the airbrush.

QUOTE: Originally posted by Ralph Marshall I got a fairly cheap compressor from Sears when they were having a sale - I got one with a 5 gallon tank (150PSI) and regulated output for about $150, including a set of accessories. This way I can pump the tank up to about 100PSI, turn it off and spray in peace and quiet. I have yet to run the tank down in a session, and it only takes 5-10 minutes to pump it up, during which time I'm getting set up. Just be sure to empty the tank after you use it so that the water doesn't eventually rust out the tank and cause a spectacular failure. I have not gotten a moisture trap yet, and so far I haven't needed it. Given that I've been using it in the humid NC summer that surprised me, but I have yet to have it blow water through the airbrush.

I have one like that. mines a pancake. I turn it on until it gets to about 80 psi and turn it off, before I spray every day.

Well, if you have a tank and are spraying with the compressor off you must have a different problem. If you just try spraying air out of the tank (with any sort of attachment), do you still get the plusing effect (it would be strange if you did, but not impossible)? If not then I think the problem is with the airbrush. If you know somebody who has either another compressor or another airbrush you could try to mix and match to see if you can narrow down the source of the problem that way.

Also, if you think that the needle is bent, just try removing it and spraying air through the brush - you should be able to tell if it is still pulsing or not, and if not you can just replace the needle - they're not that expensive. Good luck.

Based on you using a pancake compressor, I don't think it's a compressor problem either. If it were pulsing because of the compressor, you would be getting a regular type of pulsing from your airbrush. If you're getting an irregular pulsing/spurting effect, you probably have an air leak in the fluid supply to the nozzle. Make sure the seals in your airbrush are good, and that the pick-up tube in the jar isn't cracked. Also, make sure the vent hole in the jar cap isn't plugged.

Klaus

Thanks everyone It's probably the seals or the siphon.