Airbrush help...

[bhippy]

I'm new to using an airbrush and have been quite happily painting the Lancaster I'm building until recently.

The airbrush has started to "spit" for want of a better description... Sometimes it now doesn't send any paint out and when it does the flow is nothing like it was and, as I say, it "spits" giving me patches...

I've changed the needle for a new one and always clean it after use. It was working without any issues until a week or so ago. I can't think what can have changed to cause this. I'm using the same paint - Vallejo air brush acrylics.

Any ideas - or do I bin it and buy a better one? It wasn't overly expensive, so maybe it's just a rubbish one? (it's a SAGUD one from Amazon)

Any advice appreciated.

[Gary29]

Do you thin your paints? Sounds like it's too thick. It should be the same consistency as milk when it's in your airbrush cup.

Or your pressure is set too low.

I've made the assumption that the A/B is fully clean as you've described as this is another possible issue. The cold temperatures don't help either depending on where exactly you're spraying, in the garage etc.

Edited by Gary29 on Thursday 9th March 13:16

[bhippy]

Thanks for the reply.

I haven't been thinning the paints, I'd assumed as they were airbrush paint that they didn't need it. I'll try that.

As regards pressure, I've not changed anything - but I have to confess to knowing absolutely nothing about what pressure to use and why.... Maybe I'll experiment with it a bit.

As regards cleaning - after each use I clean the airbrush under a running tap then fill the cup with a mix of water and airbrush cleaner and spray that through it into a cloth. I've assumed this is correct, but again have zero experience so am just doing what feels right. Any advice appreciated!!

Many thanks.

[Eric Mc]

My cleaning technique for acrylics is -

empty the brush of any unused paint (dump or spray)
clean out paint cup with piece of kitchen towel
spray through some water
wipe paint cup again
add some airbrush cleaner (Sprayway or similar) and spray through
extract needle and wipe in kitchen paper
re-insert needle and flush through with water

All that takes about two minutes to do and usually ensures that the next spraying session should start with no issues

Every so often the spray head, nozzle etc needs to be removed and cleaned separately.

[lufbramatt]

Clean the inside of the nozzle (the bit the needle pokes through). Probably loads of dried up paint inside. Might need to soak it overnight in thinners and carefully drag the bits out with a pin.

[bhippy]

I'll try a thorough clean and see if that helps.

Any thoughts on air pressure - what I should be using and what happens if it's too high/low?

Also, needle sizes - I have the option of 0.3mm and 0.5mm. Just curious as to what you would use and in what situation? I currently have the 0.3mm in place as that's what it was delivered with....

Thanks everyone, very much appreciated.

[r159]

Vallejo flow improver helped me with spitty spraying.

[Starfighter]

Your nozzle is partly blocked.

Soak it in solvent and then get in with a pin or nozzle scraper to clean it out. I tend to remove the nozzle and leave it in airbrush cleaner between jobs. An old Tamiya jar is ideal.

Vallejo Model Air is pre the men’s for airbrushing but the flow improver does help. I just started to use this myself. A couple of drops mixed in the cup is enough. For longer jobs then also use the retarder as paint will tend to dry in the nozzle before you finish the job. I tend to use Vallejo product with Vallejo paints.

Vallejo Model Color can be sprayed but needs thinning.

[Gary29]

FWIW I don't get on with Vallejo paint in the airbrush.

I use Mr Color and Tamiya only. Lacquers and acrylics.

[bhippy]

Thanks everyone for the advice, it's very much appreciated!

I hope to get some time this weekend to finish off my model, so I'll let you all know how I get on!