'Pulsing' airbrush - Badger 150

There is a Teflon washer between the body and head assembly.  If that washer gets flattened, which is common over time, pulsation will occur.  That's the most common cause I've run across.  I usually keep a couple of them on hand for when that starts.

The part number is 50-065 and yo ucan see it right behind the head on This Illustration.  You can prevent it from flattening by loosening the head assembly prior to storing your airbrush.

I see the title and go "I KNOW THE ANSWER", but get distracted for five minutes. Enough time for MusicCity to come along and post first.

So I'm reduced to "What he said"

When you say needle and tip - are you referring to the entire head assembly or just the tip? 

If you mean the entire head assembly, it may be one fo several things.

1. There may be a hair line split in your paint tip.

2. Is your spray regulator completely snugged into place?

3.  It may be the internal teflon needle bearing (not likely if the other size needle and nozzle work properly)

4.  as indicated already it may be the teflon head seal has some disconfiguration, but that should not be the case on a new head asembly.

If you mean only the tip and not the whole head assembly you may have the fine tip and needle set up with the medium spray regulator.  If this si the case you will need to also change the spray regulator to the fine variation.

Additionally, I would recommend staying at leat at about 18psi., if at all possible.

If none of this solves your concern, please email me direct at kenbadger@aol.com for further direction.

 take air,

 ken

www.myspace.com/kenbadger

www.myspace.com/badgerairbrush

www.badgerairbrush.com

kenbadger wrote:

When you say needle and tip - are you referring to the entire head assembly or just the tip?  If you mean the entire head assembly, it may be one fo several things. 1. There may be a hair line split in your paint tip. 2. Is your spray regulator completely snugged into place? 3.  It may be the internal teflon needle bearing (not likely if the other size needle and nozzle work properly) 4.  as indicated already it may be the teflon head seal has some disconfiguration, but that should not be the case on a new head asembly. If you mean only the tip and not the whole head assembly you may have the fine tip and needle set up with the medium spray regulator.  If this si the case you will need to also change the spray regulator to the fine variation. Additionally, I would recommend staying at leat at about 18psi., if at all possible. If none of this solves your concern, please email me direct at kenbadger@aol.com for further direction.  take air,  ken www.myspace.com/kenbadger www.myspace.com/badgerairbrush www.badgerairbrush.com

Hey guys,

Thanks for the help and the insight.  Funny thing is, after you all mentioned that teflon washer, I realized that mine is... gone!  Perhaps that is contributing to the problem?  Now, the problem is where to get a new one...  Might have to run to the ol' LHS tomorrow or Thursday...

On a side note, Ken, I'd like to echo some comments I saw in another thread and say how great it is that you have joined this site and seem so willing to participate.  The fact that you took a minute to address my problem speaks volumes, IMHO.  So thanks, and I look forward to your insight and participation.

One final thing, just to answer your question Ken.  I was referring to the entire head assembly.  I thought at first I might have gotten the spray regulators mixed up, but I did have the correct one on.  I don't think (or, let's say, I HOPE I don't) have a crack in the head assembly, but I'll inspect that too.  If I am lucky, I'll get that teflon washer/ring/head gasket thingy (sorry for all the technical jargon...) and it'll work like a charm.

Thanks again!

let me know if you have any prob locating the teflon head seal (thingy #50-055)

my direct email is kenbadger@aol.com

Hey Ken!!! G'day, I have the same pulsating problem on my old 200. I have replaced the nylon washer and still the same thing. I tried to look as deep into the body as I could with muliple magnifying and the sorts and couldn't see anything out of the norm. I have hardly used it after over 18 years and I have an affection for this airbrush since it was my first one. Being a badger, I am NOT going to just buy another airbrush of some sort as my wife suggested. I want this one to work again, I miss using it. I have upgraded it to an EF tip, needle, and spray regulator. so the pulsating I believe is more internal than the tip area. Any suggestions?????? I will take a closer look at the head and see what I can find.

Cheers, simpilot34

simpilot34 wrote:

Hey Ken!!! G'day, I have the same pulsating problem on my old 200. I have replaced the nylon washer and still the same thing. I tried to look as deep into the body as I could with muliple magnifying and the sorts and couldn't see anything out of the norm. I have hardly used it after over 18 years and I have an affection for this airbrush since it was my first one. Being a badger, I am NOT going to just buy another airbrush of some sort as my wife suggested. I want this one to work again, I miss using it. I have upgraded it to an EF tip, needle, and spray regulator. so the pulsating I believe is more internal than the tip area. Any suggestions?????? I will take a closer look at the head and see what I can find. Cheers, simpilot34

Ken is really busy so why don't you email him directly at:

kenbadger@aol.com

Ohhhh !!!! Yes !!!!!

Finally !!

I have been going nuts with what sounds like the exact same problem !!!!!!!

I bought a very expensive Iwata HP-BC. First model 'season' , I could literally sign my name in script with the brush. I packed it away during the winter, and next time I tried to use it - pulsing all the way.

I keep the brush very clean, tried everything I could think of - nothing worked. I finally sent the brush away to Iwata in Oregon. I got it back saying 'nice clean airbrush, no problems found'.  Then I gave up.

Here are my exact symptoms, which sound similar to the original poster. 

1. press down trigger. paint flows for about 3 seconds.

2. if i keep holding down the trigger, i could open the air and paint wide open, not another spot of paint will come out. I can hold it up to white paper - NOTHING comes out of the airbrush.

3. release trigger and steps 1 and 2 repeat

I did notice that with water or mineral spirits the problem does not show up.

Crane wrote:

Here are my exact symptoms, which sound similar to the original poster.  1. press down trigger. paint flows for about 3 seconds. 2. if i keep holding down the trigger, i could open the air and paint wide open, not another spot of paint will come out. I can hold it up to white paper - NOTHING comes out of the airbrush. 3. release trigger and steps 1 and 2 repeat   I did notice that with water or mineral spirits the problem does not show up.

Nope, not the same situation.  You are either using acrylic paints and experiencing "Tip Dry" and/or your paint is not thinned enough.  If it's acrylic try adding acrylic retarder to the mix (available at any good art store). 

I agree with Scott 100%. 

E