SEARCH FINESCALE.COM

Enter keywords or a search phrase below:

Bubbling paint cup!!!!!

1475 views
19 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    July 2003
  • From: Bicester, England
Bubbling paint cup!!!!!
Posted by KJ200 on Sunday, November 27, 2005 12:25 PM
My Badger 100 SG is currently suffering from a bubbling paint cup, due I assume to a blockage somewhere in the tip assembly. Therefore it is sitting soaking in a jar of acrylic thinner, seeing as I only ever use acrylics, which should hopefully loosen any deposits.

My question though is, could anything else be causing the problem? I can see through the  tip OK. The needle is straight and clean.

Could I be missing something?

Thanks

Karl


Currently on the bench: AZ Models 1/72 Mig 17PF

  • Member since
    May 2005
  • From: Left forever
Posted by Bgrigg on Sunday, November 27, 2005 12:51 PM
Possibly, but I doubt it. Bubbling paint cups are almost always due to a clogged tip. You might be able to see through the tip, but can you see through where the paint travels? That will be where the clog is.

So long folks!

  • Member since
    July 2004
  • From: SETX. USA
Posted by tho9900 on Sunday, November 27, 2005 1:06 PM

Karl - I think Bill is probably right... if the acrylic thinner doesnt work some lacquer thinner will definitely do the trick... I usually put the tip in a shot glass cover it with aluminum foil and stick on an outside window ledge when I do use the lacquer thinner...

---Tom--- O' brave new world, That has such people in it!
  • Member since
    July 2003
  • From: Bicester, England
Posted by KJ200 on Sunday, November 27, 2005 1:24 PM
Thanks for the input guys.

I was pretty certain it was a blockage, as I've been painting the camo on a CR42 and using Lifecolour paint, which, how shall I put this....., it's like spraying cement!!Shock [:O]

Not quite up to the same standards as the Gunze I usually paint with.

If the acrylic thinner doesn't work I'll try the lacquer thinner

Are there any cleaning tools I should look at getting, bearing in mind I use the fine head on this AB?

Karl


Currently on the bench: AZ Models 1/72 Mig 17PF

  • Member since
    July 2004
  • From: SETX. USA
Posted by tho9900 on Sunday, November 27, 2005 1:37 PM
Karl - they make an airbrush cleaning kit but with a fine head I wouldn't be sure they would have a cleaning file small enough for you... I just use an old toothbrush and scrub at the end of the head to get any paint blockage pushed out... other than that if it looks like it might not have cleaned everything out I just dunk it right back in for a little longer.  Especially being acrylic I would expect either cleaner to cut through it fairly easily...
---Tom--- O' brave new world, That has such people in it!
  • Member since
    July 2003
  • From: Bicester, England
Posted by KJ200 on Monday, November 28, 2005 7:00 AM

Tom  I'll let it soak a couple of days and see what happens.

I usually use a piece of fine fuse wire to clean any blockages with, as it's soft enough not to damage the head, but hard enough to dislodge any debri.

Karl

 

Currently on the bench: AZ Models 1/72 Mig 17PF

  • Member since
    January 2004
Posted by Ali1kj on Monday, November 28, 2005 12:12 PM
Hey KJ200  

Its not the Lifecolor, they are regarded by those in "the know" as some of the best paints to spray. If they are thick, well what you do is Thin Them :). Blow them about 10/15 max psi.

Use distilled water (NOT TAmiya Thinner or any such mix, just water) to a milk like concistancy, then you will find out just why your using them. The results are fantastic with a really nice flat finnish

AJ

  • Member since
    June 2005
  • From: I'm here physically, but not mentally.....
Posted by MontanaCowboy on Monday, November 28, 2005 5:41 PM

 tho9900 wrote:
Karl - they make an airbrush cleaning kit but with a fine head I wouldn't be sure they would have a cleaning file small enough for you

Now, where would one purchase such a useful product? We don't brush our teeth or floss at our house. Cool [8D]

"You know, Life is like a Rollercoaster. Sometimes you just die unexpectedly." No wait, that's not it.
  • Member since
    July 2004
  • From: SETX. USA
Posted by tho9900 on Monday, November 28, 2005 6:51 PM
 MontanaCowboy wrote:

 tho9900 wrote:
Karl - they make an airbrush cleaning kit but with a fine head I wouldn't be sure they would have a cleaning file small enough for you

Now, where would one purchase such a useful product? We don't brush our teeth or floss at our house. Cool [8D]

Lacquer thinner might help for that too!  Wink [;)]

---Tom--- O' brave new world, That has such people in it!
  • Member since
    July 2004
  • From: SETX. USA
Posted by tho9900 on Monday, November 28, 2005 6:52 PM
 KJ200 wrote:

Tom  I'll let it soak a couple of days and see what happens.

I usually use a piece of fine fuse wire to clean any blockages with, as it's soft enough not to damage the head, but hard enough to dislodge any debri.

Karl

Karl - I usually just soak mine about 30 min or so in lacquer thinner.  If it is in acrylic thinner right now it might be ok to try it out.  usually (for me) it's not a lot of paint in there causing the blockage...

---Tom--- O' brave new world, That has such people in it!
  • Member since
    June 2005
  • From: I'm here physically, but not mentally.....
Posted by MontanaCowboy on Monday, November 28, 2005 8:45 PM
I had that problem with my badger 200 (siphon), until I bought a new seal (seel, I don't know, one of them's an animal) for the tip assembly.
"You know, Life is like a Rollercoaster. Sometimes you just die unexpectedly." No wait, that's not it.
  • Member since
    July 2004
  • From: SETX. USA
Posted by tho9900 on Monday, November 28, 2005 8:58 PM

oh MC - I can't find the specific kit I mentioned, but the one at micromark has things you can find at home.  It's at www.micromark.com and it's item 83046.

The one I saw had metallic probes to stick through the ports.  A welding torch cleaning set (available at welding stores and possibly lowes/home depot) has the tiny metal wires and probes I was talking about...

---Tom--- O' brave new world, That has such people in it!
  • Member since
    July 2003
  • From: Bicester, England
Posted by KJ200 on Tuesday, November 29, 2005 8:15 AM

AJ I've used both distilled water and Tamiya acrylic thinner with Lifecolour paints without any issues, however I have found that Gunze acrylics provide a far superior finish. It's just a question of preference.

Tom  I'm not planning on using the AB until the weekend, so no problem with leaving it soak for a couple of days. I must have cleaned it out about 4 times Sunday afternoon trying to get the patches on the CR42 done! Couple of times I managed to get rid of the bubbling, only for it to return within a few minutes.

Karl

 

Currently on the bench: AZ Models 1/72 Mig 17PF

  • Member since
    January 2004
Posted by Ali1kj on Tuesday, November 29, 2005 8:47 AM
NP and I understand that totally. It was just when you said "thick as" that my ears sprang.

AJ

  • Member since
    July 2003
  • From: Bicester, England
Posted by KJ200 on Wednesday, November 30, 2005 2:31 AM

Well, after 48 hours soaking in Tamiya acrylic thinner, and a little gentle prodding with some fine fuse wire, the blockage has been removed. And what a load of gunk there was too!!!!

Karl

Currently on the bench: AZ Models 1/72 Mig 17PF

  • Member since
    January 2004
  • From: USA
Posted by MusicCity on Wednesday, November 30, 2005 5:58 AM

Are there any cleaning tools I should look at getting, bearing in mind I use the fine head on this AB?

Karl, Badger makes a "Tip Reamer" that comes in handy from time to time.  Basically it's like a thin airbrush needle that has the tip milled to form a three-sided blade.  It will IMMEDIATELY get rid of any trash that is in the tip and if the tip has burrs on the inside will eliminate them as well.  You have to have a gentle hand though because it can turn a Fine tip into a Medium tip very quickly.

I occasionally soak mine in laquer thinner as well, as you have seen that does a great job.  Normally after soaking a few minutes I'll gently use the tip reamer to loosen everything up since a pipe cleaner won't fit into the 100 tips.
Scott Craig -- Nashville, TN -- My Website -- My Models Page
  • Member since
    July 2003
  • From: Bicester, England
Posted by KJ200 on Thursday, December 1, 2005 2:22 AM

Looks like my joy at removing the gunk from my 100 was somewhat premature. I used the AB again last night, and I still have a stream of bubbles coming back into the cup. The tip itself is as clean as I can get it, is there any other component I need to be looking at?

Scott I'll see if I can't pick up one of those cleaning sets.

I'll try dunking the whole lot in some lacquer thinner to make double sure, as it's only had a soak in acrylic thinner to date.

Karl

 

 

Currently on the bench: AZ Models 1/72 Mig 17PF

  • Member since
    January 2004
  • From: USA
Posted by MusicCity on Thursday, December 1, 2005 5:50 AM
Karl, be sure and remove the air valve before you do.  I'm not sure the o-ring in that is impervious to laquer thinner.
Scott Craig -- Nashville, TN -- My Website -- My Models Page
  • Member since
    July 2003
  • From: Bicester, England
Posted by KJ200 on Thursday, December 1, 2005 6:11 AM

Scott, I'll only be dumping the actual head assembly in the lacquer thinner, so should be OK.

Karl

Currently on the bench: AZ Models 1/72 Mig 17PF

  • Member since
    January 2004
  • From: USA
Posted by MusicCity on Thursday, December 1, 2005 9:08 PM
Scott, I'll only be dumping the actual head assembly in the lacquer thinner, so should be OK.

Karl, there is an air passage that goes from where the valve assembly screws into the body all the way to the head.  Look at the front of the body with the head off and you'll see a hole on the front right below the threads for the head about 1/2 mm in diameter.  Unscrew the air valve and you'll see where it comes out.  Also, paint tends to build up around the front of the needle seal.  I like to soak the entire body of my airbrushes occasionally to clean out those areas.
Scott Craig -- Nashville, TN -- My Website -- My Models Page
JOIN OUR COMMUNITY!

Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.

SEARCH FORUMS
FREE NEWSLETTER
By signing up you may also receive reader surveys and occasional special offers. We do not sell, rent or trade our email lists. View our Privacy Policy.