Airbrush beginner problems

[wrong_turn]

I bought this airbrush.

Unpacked, all seems good, nice quality feel to it. It seems to work as designed but the instructions are very lacking, clearly from two different companies!

After I connected it all up I decided to try putting some distilled water through it. Nothing came out but air, and a lot of bubbling in the ink tank which makes me think something is wrong...

I've removed the oil/water trap to eliminate that and tried various settings on the rear-most screw (flow amount?)

If I cup my mouth over the ink tank and blow, the water flows easily out of the nozzle, plus it's brand new so I don't think there is a blockage.

As this is completely new to me I'm hoping it's a schoolboy error. I have not tried changing the needles, I'm just using the stock 0.3mm it came fitted with, and been very careful not to bend anything.

It could be just fine and the spray is so fine that I can't see it on a carboard test piece using plain water?

Any advice appreciated, I'd rather not return it.

[audikentman]

What air pressure have you got at the compresser?

Have you tried blasting some thinners through it?

Is the needle going back when you pull the trigger?

[wrong_turn]

The needle does retract when I pull the trigger.

I don't have any thinners yet, but I can get some tomorrow if needed. I thought brand new kit + distilled water should be ok. If it's sounding like a blockage I can try the cleaning kit. Is bubbling in the paint tank normal? I don't think I've seen this on youtube videos.

The compressor claims 25psi.

[Explorer1959]

https://www.everythingairbrush.com/airbrush-troubl...

I get bubbling in the paint reservoir of my airbrush if the nozzle cap isn’t fully tightened

[r159]

Can you feel air coming out of the nozzle when you press the trigger?

The only time I get bubbles is when I block the end of the nozzle to back flush when cleaning

[wrong_turn]

Explorer1959 said:

https://www.everythingairbrush.com/airbrush-troubl...

I get bubbling in the paint reservoir of my airbrush if the nozzle cap isn’t fully tightened

Hmm, the lid on this is a press fit with a small pinhole which I presumed was to allow air in as the paint goes out. I'll try sealing it right up tomorrow. There is also no o-ring, just metal-on metal. It makes sense if the air is trying to pull the paint using a pressure difference, but is instead getting pulled out through the reservoir.

[wrong_turn]

r159 said:

Can you feel air coming out of the nozzle when you press the trigger?

The only time I get bubbles is when I block the end of the nozzle to back flush when cleaning

There is definitely air, enough to make my skin ripple slightly. Blocking the nozzle increases the bubbling, but the bubbling is constant.

[Explorer1959]

wrong_turn said:

Hmm, the lid on this is a press fit with a small pinhole which I presumed was to allow air in as the paint goes out. I'll try sealing it right up tomorrow. There is also no o-ring, just metal-on metal. It makes sense if the air is trying to pull the paint using a pressure difference, but is instead getting pulled out through the reservoir.

No - the nozzle is the part where the spray comes out. It’s the part with two knurled rings at the business end. Ensure this is nipped up tight otherwise air escapes and the brush will not work.

Also is the airflow control valve on the airline opened?

[louiechevy]

The nozzle is actually under the two knurled parts its the tiny cone that the needle pokes through, it should have two flat's that the little spanner you should have with the airbrush fits it should be tight and have a minute 'O' ring that seals it. If it's loose or the seal is damaged you will get air bubbles in the paint reservoir. Normally you shouldn't take it off as the seal is easy to lose as I discovered the only way I could get one was with a new nozzle.

[wrong_turn]

Thank you, one of those was the answer. I took all of pieces apart and checked the o-rings were properly seated, did everything back up as tight as I could and it's now spraying water, even without the lid on the reservoir (no bubbling).

There must have been a leak somewhere. I will order more o-rings if I can get the right dimensions as this seems essential, and they are so thin I don't expect them to last a long time.

All in all for £65 including everything I need, I'm very happy. I was concerned about the compressor not having an air tank but it seems fine. When you turn it on it pressurises the line to 25psi (or whatever, it's Chinese) and pumps as long as you expel the air. I'm looking forward to trying it out with paint.

[Explorer1959]

Excellent - have fun

[ottovonskidmark]

Good news. To prevent the air pulsing on a tankless compressor a longer hose should stop it.

Happy airbrushing.

[wrong_turn]

Thanks Explorer.

A longer hose sounds like a good plan, thanks for that tip. I suspect I've got quite a lot of trials before I actually paint something.

[louiechevy]

Have fun! Be warned I started of with a cheap airbrush set and then got a better one and so on,the last one I bought cost two hundred and fifty quid! It does spray well though.

[elanfan]

I’m looking for someone to do an airbrush paint job for me (40 70mm plastic bezels to be painted aluminium) Any takers.

Tx