Help, my AB won't do fine line work

Bad air valve due to soaking is restricting your air flow.  Replace it and all will be well.  Get the parts diagram off the Paasche website or look in the instructions on how to remove and replace.  Good luck my friend.

E

That's the one thing that I didn't pull because I couldn't see how to remove it...

I assume you mean the valve that the air supply hose screws into?

Did you remove the air valve before the soak?

E

I've done the lacquer thinner soak- it's after the first one those that it started to take a much longer time in pulling paint out of the bottle. 

Speaking of compressors, would any of those light-weight industrial jobs from the Home Despot or Lowe's work for an AB, or are too high pressure? 

Check the needle packing nut inside the airbrush body.  You don't want it too loose or too tight.  If that's good to go, then remove the air valve, trigger, nylon handle, needle guide and assembly, then soak the brush body, needles, and tips in lacquer thinner.  Then clean all air and paint passages as best you can.  Reassemble and see if the problem is cleared.  Additionally, make sure that you have enough psi to push the VL.  25-30 psi should work.  Let us know.  HTH.

E