Help with Paasche VL

1. It could be you still have dried paint somewhere in the works. Try soaking your 'brush in a mineral spirits bath for several hours, then try taking it apart.
2. Check the bottle your are spraying from to ensure paint hasn't clogged the siphon hose or tip where it attaches into the 'brush. I have had good success with cleaning nozzles, hoses, etc. with pipe cleaners. Cut 'em in half, put a few drops of thinner on one end and go to it.
3. Cleaning your 'brush with a mineral spirits thinner will add a little bit of lubrication that laquer thinner won't...unless you're spraying lacquer-based paints. You might want to consider changing. Lacquer thinner has the potential to be a bit more toxic, also.
4. Consider calling the company and getting their take on the problem.
Gip Winecoff

I'll try some thinner on a pipe cleaner. I can't imagine I would have dried paint left, as I ran almost an entire bottle of laquer thinner through it and it was blowing crystal clear at the end, but you never know. The siphon tubes is clean, I even tried a new bottle as that was one of my first thoughts. I am going to switch to mineral spirits from now on though.

I own both an H and a VL. Like you, I have run a lot of thinner through the brush until it's crystal clear. Then, I take a pipe cleaner and run it back and forth through the brush a couple of times, and you wouldn't believe all the gunk it loosens up...and I thought it was clean. Evidently, paint begins to accumulate on the inside lumen of the tubing, and then more and more until finally it closes off. Sort of like your airbrush having a heart attack....UGH!
Gip Winecoff

Here's the reply from Paasche I got:

In addition to flushing the brush clean you need to remove the needle and wipe it clean. If not the paint can dry and make the needle stick. You can pull straight back to break the paint seal. I have had to use a wrench in the past to get a good grip.

The thinner will not effect the seal so the above is most likely the problem

Thanks,
Brian

Yep, paint gets in the back and if left to dry will seize the needle. You can get away with blowing thinner through it in between color changes, but if you're done for the day, take the needle out and run a thinner soaked pipe cleaner up the core a few times. Wipe the needle off (careful not to damage the tip) and you should be good to go for next time.

Murray

QUOTE: Originally posted by johnrov You can pull straight back to break the paint seal. I have had to use a wrench in the past to get a good grip.

A better way to break a stuck needle loose is not to pull it hard straight back, but rather grab the needle from the handle end with a good pair of pliers and twist the needle to break the dried paint.

Mike

QUOTE: Originally posted by Murray Kish Yep, paint gets in the back and if left to dry will seize the needle. You can get away with blowing thinner through it in between color changes, but if you're done for the day, take the needle out and run a thinner soaked pipe cleaner up the core a few times. Wipe the needle off (careful not to damage the tip) and you should be good to go for next time. Murray

Use Super Lube and that will rarely happen.

Mike

Used pliers and got the needle out last night. Didn't have to pull very hard, just couldn't get a grip with my fingers. Yep, it was all gunked up, I cleaned it, went and bought some pipe cleaners, cleaned the housing and everything was fine. Do you guys put any oil or grease anywhere? What brand, where do I get it, how much and how often? Thanks for the help!

Mike recommends Super Lube, but I've never seen it around locally. Mike, could a guy just use some regular old 3-n-1 oil or something else like sewing machine oil that is easy to find??

Murray

QUOTE: Originally posted by Murray Kish Mike recommends Super Lube, but I've never seen it around locally. Mike, could a guy just use some regular old 3-n-1 oil or something else like sewing machine oil that is easy to find??

No! Oils like 3-n-1 and sewing machine oil will contaminate the paint and cause problems. Additives like Super Lube and Aero Lube will not contaminate any paints shot through the airbrush.
You can buy Super Lube from Dixie Art, or you can order some Aerolube from Coast Airbrush in Anaheim, CA. Better yet, take the kids to Disneyland and drive 2 miles down the road to Coast Airbrush and pick it up in person.
Some people use a really small amount of Vasoline petroleum jelly on the needle, but it too can contaminate if used wrongly and even if used right it is nowhere near as good as Super Lube.
Badger makes one called Needle Juice that is also supposed to be good though I have never tried it.

Mike

I'll have to order some from DixieArt because unfortunately Disnie World is a bit more than a quick drive from here! Thanks for the tip Mike.

Murray

QUOTE: Originally posted by Murray Kish I'll have to order some from DixieArt because unfortunately Disnie World is a bit more than a quick drive from here! Thanks for the tip Mike.

You are welcome Murray.

PS I said Disneyland not Disney World.
If you went to Disney World you would be about 4,000 miles from Coast Airbrush. Haha

Mike