What The HECK is Wrong With My Airbrush????

Just a thought. Have you tried a different air hose? It may be registering 20PSI at the gauge, but a blockage in the hose may deliver far less at the brush end.

I, unfortunately, don't know anyone with a compressor.  I will have to go out today and buy one to give it a try

I have turned the regulator up to where I know for sure its more then 20 psi and it still happens.  But I bought a new AB yesterday to try that came with a hose.  I will give that hose a try and I will report back.

Here is the latest picture. Definitely an improvement.   In the picture it's hard to tell, but there is still a lot fo over-spray-splatter.    I'm headed out now to go buy a new air compressor.

I bought a new compressor and that did not help.  I have no idea what to do now, lol. I put my airbrush away for one month, I go to use it again and things are all cattywompus.

Mineral oil or compressor oil got into the compressor cylinder and/or is now leaking into the air chamber?? Worn compressor cylinder "rings" perhaps?

I'm admittedly tech challenged, but here's a shot in the dark. Could a compressor mechanical or seal failure, as Tom stated above, allowed contamination into your air valve assembly?. I doubt it would take much to put the valve out of sorts, then contaminants could continue trans-locating forward into the rest of the brush. Maybe a good clean and inspection of the entire valve area could give some clues.

I can't imagine your frustration, (well actually I can,) but I wish you the best of luck getting this one sorted.

Patrick  

Ok, so a new airbrush and a new compressor deliver similar results.

The next thing to look at is your paint. What paint are you using, what thinner are you using and how much of it (thinner) are you using? How old is the paint? Perhaps it has started to thicken and your normal amount of thinner isn't enough? Paints vary in viscosity and there is no "golden" thinning ratio.

Also, I'm thinking that 20PSI may be a little high for a Badger 105. Try dialling it down to about 15 and adjust the paint to suit and see how that goes.

patrick206:  Since I was getting the same results with the new compressor, I have ruled it out... sigh lol

Paint:    Model Masters enamel interior gree thinned with mineral spirits.   Tamiya acrylic  ( various colors) thinned with their acrylic thinner.  All paint is only a few months old.  When I was first getting these results, I tired over-thinning.  It because almost too thin to paint with and yielded the same results.

 Tomorrow night or Sunday I'm going to clear my mind and go back at it with a different paint.

I just want to finish my models!

Does the new compressor has a moisture trap?

The new compressor did not have a moisture trap,but I put my new moisture trap on it.    I live in Delaware. The humidity has been high outside, but inside it been  60-65%.  I'm not sure if that's high for painting or not.  But I do have that new moisture trap.

The moisture problem in airbrushing has more to do with the fact that condensation occurs when compressed air expands and cools than with the humidity.

No, it did not help.  Am I suppose to be seeing moisture in the trap? I have no seen any.     I flew to a fly in today so tomorrow I will give the airbrush a try again.  I'm dying to finish up a few kits. If my airbrush is still out of whack, I have no idea how I will finish them

From what I have read, there is nothing else to try.  You have a complete NEW setup: AB, compressor, and hose.  I'm at a loss for advice.  Hopefully others can help.  Good luck.

have you  tried adjusting the fluid control, very carefully/slowly  and the psi control very  slowly? - either one out of sync will cause unacceptable spray patterns. 

I know its "coals to Newcastle" but here is a how to; maybe it will give you an idea you can use, in solving this.

  http://www.ehow.com/how_7836462_adjust-airbrush.html

Isn't that for a single action AB?  I'm not sure I completely follow lol

Should I be seeing moisture in my new moisture trap?

Thanks for all that great information Blueline!    Yes, my compressor has a tank.  If you wanted to see what kind of compressor it is, you can look on this thread on page two.  I went ahead and posted of picture of it a few days ago.

Hmmm... maybe you ran out of air in the tank? That is if your tank needs to be refilled.

I went back and took a look at your compressor pic I don't know where your tank would be located. Inside? Maybe loose connections within your tank? I'm at a loss here as well.

About the only thing I've not seen you mention changing out are the connectors. I also am guessing that you have tried the new compressor, new airbrush, and new hose as a unit with the same results. That pretty much leaves the old connectors. I believe the quick disconnect may have O-rings in them. Perhaps one got damaged or perhaps some debris is stuck in one. Maybe connecting the hose directly to the compressor might work?

The tank is inside the plastic shell.  The tank is not empty.  It fills to 140 psi and when its falls below 100 or so it kicks back on and fills back up.    I drain the tank from the bottom when I am finished with it.  It lets any of the water out.    I will try replacing the connectors and try connecting the hose directly.   I don't plan on flying tonight so I will give airbrushing another try tonight and report back!

UPDATE!     Today I finally got around to trying my airbrush again.  I set up every as per usual -- including how I normally mix my paints. I am using my old airbrush with my usual compressor.  Everything basically flawlessly!  I had a tab bit of splatter for 30 seconds or so, and then is started spraying BEAUTIFULLY.   I am at a loss for words... LOL

You don't like your new AB and new compressor?

The new airbrush was fine (Badger 105 -- same as what  I use now), and the compressor I was not a fan of.  Since I was able to rule out my compressor going south and my airbrush being bad, I went ahead and sold them to a friend

Oh Good you fixed it (?)  

I bet "one" of us helped you figure out the problem and you don't want to hurt the other guys feelings, by singling me   er   that person  out. 

Seriously glad you got it fixed