Air brush problem

[Trev]

Hi apologies if this is already covered but I am having problems getting my airbrush to work properly. Have a reasonable compressor but think airbrush is at lower end of the budget scale. I have been on YouTube etc to try and get some tips but everything I try nothing works I have airbrush specific acrylic paint and still it gets blocked up. So thought I would reach out to all you good people/modeller's and ask for help. Is it that I need a better airbrush. Cheers

 

[urumomo]

The only issue you mention is " blocked up "
I assume you mean what is called " dry tip " where the paint begins to cure at the spray tip .
Are you using a thinner with the paint ?
All the airbrush thinners contain a retarder , always propylene glycol , that will mitigate dry tip .
I'd start there first .
Are there additional issues ?

 

[Trev]

Hi thanks for the reply yes that's the problem. I have tried retarder/thinners/water but just can't seem to get the correct consistency. I have tried using the psi ect is there an idiots guide to doing this or should I try a better airbrush?

 

[Trev]

Sorry I meant upping the psi

 

[urumomo]

What airbrush and needle size are you using ?
Which paints and thinner ?
air pressure ?

 

[RocketRanger]

People in my IPMS chapter have asked me about problems they've been having with their airbrush clogging or not spraying. I recommended using a tip nozzle cleaning reamer to remove dried paint from inside the tip. Everyone I've recommended this to had never heard of this tool and all said that it fixed their tip clogging/blockage problem.
This tool looks like a large hypodermic needle without the hollow that is inserted into the airbrush tip from the paint source side and is gently rotated to scrape off the dried paint and other gunk from the inside of the nozzle tip. Here are links to two examples of this tool that are available:
https://spraygunner.com/collections...products/harder-steenbeck-nozzle-cleaning-set
https://www.midwestairbrush.com/products/noclre

 

[Trev]

Hi thanks for replys using 0.5mm needle valleyo and army painter both air paints about 25 to 30 psi will have a look at the links from Rocket ranger cheers

 

[urumomo]

what thinner ?

 

[Trev]

Hi sorry it's valleyo airbrush thinner

 

[urumomo]

.5 mm needle with thinned airbrush ready paint @ 25 -30 psi supply air , and how long can you spray before the dry tip ?
I'd reduce the pressure to around 18 , 20 max .
I'm assuming the airbrush is clean and no visible damage to the spray tip and tip of the needle ?

Lets see if @Pantherman has any idea since he's a Vallejo guy .

The infrequent occasions I encounter dry tip , I just pull the air cap and wipe the tip with a wet paper towel or just my thumb and index fingertip

 

[Pantherman]

Hi sorry it's valleyo airbrush thinner

Hi, are you using vallejo air paint or just the standard colour? Pantherman

 

[urumomo]

He says it's all airbrush ready paint

 

[Pantherman]

He says it's all airbrush ready paint

I generally don't thin vallejo air, it's good to go straight from the bottle. Generally 15psi with a. 5 or. 3 needle.

I would strip down the airbrush, good clean, vallejo air at 15psi and see what happens.

If it still clogs then a drop of vallejo retarder. This will extend the drying time as well so don't overspray too soon. Pantherman

 

[urumomo]

That Vallejo AB thinner contains retarder .
His mix as given seems like not a candidate for dry tip issues ... unless it's the high airflow drying a film from the periphery of the opening into the needle tip

 

[Pantherman]

That Vallejo AB thinner contains retarder .
His mix as given seems like not a candidate for dry tip issues ... unless it's the high airflow drying a film from the periphery of the opening into the needle tip

I have never thinned vallejo air so your probably nearer the mark with high airflow. Pantherman

 

[urumomo]

Yeah , I can see that high airflow forming a ring of drying paint around the edge of the tip opening and just continually building up until it closes it off .
I too usually spray around 15 -18 ,, sometimes as low as 10- 12 with low viscosity mixes

 

[Pantherman]

Yeah , I can see that high airflow forming a ring of drying paint around the edge of the tip opening and just continually building up until it closes it off .
I too usually spray around 15 -18 ,, sometimes as low as 10- 12 with low viscosity mixes

Hey, it almost sounds like we know what we're talking about, who'd have thought........ Pantherman

 

[urumomo]

Haha , I'm not sure sometimes .
Hopefully Trev returns with some feedback .

 

[Trev]

Hi guys thanks for taking the time to give you help I will try over the next couple of days and get back to you. I must admit I never thought of the psi being to high thanks once again Trev

 

[Trev]

Hi guys further to my question. Have to do my airbrush work outside as the wife complains!!. So would the temperature affect the dry tip?