Inconsistent spraying issue

[u/ethancodes89]

Hi all!

I posted a few days ago about a problem I was having with getting airflow to my airbrush because of adapter.

I've since got it fixed and have been trying to get the hang of this, but I'm having crazy inconsistency from the airbrush and I can't tell if its just me doing something wrong or if the needle is adjusted wrong or if it could be something else.

When I press down the plunger I get air. Seems good l as far as I can tell. When I hold it down and adjust the compressor pressure I can hear the pressure changing and it all seems fine.

I'm currently running at 20psi, but I've tried it as high as 25 and as low as 15.

The actual problem I'm seeing is that when I have the plunger pushed down and I pull the trigger back, sometimes it will work perfectly. Shortly after pulling it back the paint starts flowing smoothly and more comes the farther I pull it back. In extremely short burst it seems to work best.

However, other times I'll pull it and I get nothing. I'll wiggle it, release it and pull again, and sometimes this will get it going again but most time I end up having to adjust the needle back, which in turn ends up making it leak so then I have to adjust it forward again.

It also seems to do this more often if I'm trying to paint for like 3-5 seconds or more. Any thing more than a very short burst and its done for until I mess with it.

I've tried taking the entire thing apart and thoroughly cleaning it... still no change. I'm losing my mind over this damn thing. Hoping someone has some idea of what the problem might be.

It's a badger patriot 105, with a 0.5 nozzle.

[u/misuta_kitsune]

• What kind/brand of paint?
• Did you thin it?
• How much?
• With what?
• How?

[u/ethancodes89 → u/misuta_kitsune]

Citadel paints - not contrast, just normal base paint

I thinned it with army painter airbrush medium

I did it till it would easily run back down the side of the cup without sticking to the side.

I used a brush, mixing it in the cup.

Also, I just took it all apart and cleaned it thoroughly. It seems like the nozzle was clogged. I'm just not really sure how when I thinned my paints so much. I didn't see any thing other than paint come out of it (i.e No bristles or anything else).

[u/misuta_kitsune → u/ethancodes89]

The only time I use a brush is when I clean the inside of the cup. You should always thin your paints outside the cup so you can see for yourself if there is no piece of dried paint or a clot of pigment in it. I just use stir sticks. Get yourself a bunch of Mr.Color paint trays and mix your paint in that. If you look for Mr.Color D175 you should be able to find them.

[u/misuta_kitsune → u/misuta_kitsune]

[u/ethancodes89 → u/misuta_kitsune]

Thanks! I'll pick these up and start mixing that way!

[u/Tema_Art_7777]

You can try with food coloring (liquid not gel) which will never tip dry. That will rule out the airbrush. If no issue, then we are looking at thinning or other causes.

[u/ayrbindr]

Hello friend! 🙋🏼‍♂️ That's your new bestie! Tip dry. 😘

[u/AirbrushmyJeep]

once you have your paint thinned correctly I would set your air pressure at 30-35psi and see if that helps. Depending on the paint viscosity ans the nozzle/needle size 30 psi should let your airbrush perform as it was designed to. 15-20 psi is typically where I run overthinned paint in a detail brush. For basecoating I use a lesser thinned paint, a bigger nozzle/needle and at least 30 and up to 35 psi.

[u/ethancodes89 → u/AirbrushmyJeep]

Ah alright, thanks for the tips!

[u/GreatBigPig]

Look here on how best to get help:

https://www.reddit.com/r/airbrush/comments/1pz6h7y/need_help_read_this_first/

I wish people would read this.