AK Gen 3 issues.

[Meanstreak]

Decided to try AK products and immediately ran into this issue. AKG3 grey primer, AKG3 thinner, and s couple of drops of AK retarder. Started spraying and AB would sometimes spray paint and then stop. Look at paint cup and had a nice wad of grey snot in the bottom.
Two water separators, Talon TG, and .3 needle, about 15psi. Stirred, not shaken. I haven't checked spraying without retarder but the same thing happened spraying color last night. Any clues? Ideas?
Have not had this issue with Tamiya paints when I add a drop or 2 of the AK retarder.
The wisdom, knowledge, and even snark responses are welcome.

 

[urumomo]

That isn't a solvent acrylic so any alcohol , and probably ketone , sets off polymerization of the resin -- turns to snot .
No idea what is in that retarder -- those are usually only propylene glycol / water mixture ,, sometimes a dab of ammonia as a surfactant .

 

[Meanstreak]

That isn't a solvent acrylic so any alcohol , and probably ketone , sets off polymerization of the resin -- turns to snot .
No idea what is in that retarder -- those are usually only propylene glycol / water mixture ,, sometimes a dab of ammonia as a surfactant .

We will find out this evening. I will try both primer and color without retarder. I would think that all from the same manufactuer would work together but..... I have been wrong before (just ask my wife!). Will report back after I am done playing.

 

[Jakko]

Check the label to see if the AK retarder is intended for AK 3Gen or for AK Real Colours. The latter are lacquer-based paints, so anything meant for them is not going to work well with the water-based 3Gen.

 

[Meanstreak]

Check the label to see if the AK retarder is intended for AK 3Gen or for AK Real Colours. The latter are lacquer-based paints, so anything meant for them is not going to work well with the water-based 3Gen.

Check the label to see if the AK retarder is intended for AK 3Gen or for AK Real Colours. The latter are lacquer-based paints, so anything meant for them is not going to work well with the water-based 3Gen.

I checked, it's for Gen 3. I even checked the AK website and the part numbers match.
So the plot thickens (see what I did there?)!

 

[Meanstreak]

Solved my problem! Simple answer is make darn sure if painting lacquer then changing to AK Gen3 that there is no trace of lacquer thinner left in the Airbrush! Used lacquer, cleaned (disassembled) and dried airbrush, then AK without any issue other than settings and how much to thin.
Since I use lacquer thinner to flush after tamiya, I didn' even consider that. DOH!

 

[Jakko]

Ah, yes, that can cause trouble as well. I've been told LifeColor paint, for example, really doesn't like it when anything else remains in the airbrush, but I don't have enough experience with it myself to say if it's true.

 

[Rockin' Rob]

You know what's funny? I just took that AK third generation gray primer and mixed it with Mr color leveling thinner 400 half and half and sprayed it through my airbrush and cleaned it with lacquer thinner. Came out beautifully.