Airbrush problem/backfeed?

[Marktastrophe]

Tightening that packing assembly seems to have done it.
The "non-essential" O-ring does make the brush more comfortable in hand IMO as well.

Just have to locate some lube now, because my air valve is sticking open.

 

[urumomo]

Did you clean the air valve ?
Blow-by paint will collect around the top of the valve and gum it up .
I've never lubricated the one on my AB . - It's never a problem unless paint gets by that packing gland .

 

[Marktastrophe]

Did you clean the air valve ?
Blow-by paint will collect around the top of the valve and gum it up .
I've never lubricated the one on my AB . - It's never a problem unless paint gets by that packing gland .

I did clean it. I think it was a combo of the trigger rubbing and the air valve sticking. Seems good now.

 

[BLT]

Tightening that packing assembly seems to have done it.
The "non-essential" O-ring does make the brush more comfortable in hand IMO as well.

Just have to locate some lube now, because my air valve is sticking open.

I use sowing machine oil... Garantied acid free.

I used an old Batcher copy of an airbrush for 25 years, I swear I never had it stick, gum up or anything... And it was seriously dirty. Then I went and got me a harder Steinbeck... Oh my, the walve got stuck, paint got everywhere and it gummed up on me constantly.

I guess my point is... We learn all the time. And me lesson is, an expensive airbrush doesn't make me a better painter, it does however require me to be a lot more diligent with my maintenence. LoL.

BTW I was thinking... A lot of guys spray with the tip bare, whitout the protective nosle so they can remove dry paint with the finger nails every time they stop spraying. Just a heads up.

 

[urumomo]

" A lot of guys spray with the tip bare, whitout the protective nosle so they can remove dry paint with the finger nails every time they stop spraying. Just a heads up. "

Huh ?

 

[Marktastrophe]

" A lot of guys spray with the tip bare, whitout the protective nosle so they can remove dry paint with the finger nails every time they stop spraying. Just a heads up. "

Huh ?

I do that already. I haven't had the "Protective Cap Crown" (part name according to spraygunner.com) on it since the first use.
That being said I found treasure!
At Grandma's I found:

After looking, it appears you can still buy 99% online, but still a fun find.

And in the box of stuff from an old coworker I found some Vallejo Flow improver!
I painted through 2/3 of a Vallejo Air jar without a single gum-up or tip wipe, even through refilling the canister 4 times. (This was after I said I don't think it's meant for this... but lets see what Tamiya Retarder does to Vallejo Acrylics... It made jelly, lol... then I got to use this 99% isopropyl!)

 

[urumomo]

There's really not much difference in 91% and 100% isopropyl when using it for AB cleaning purposes .
The 100% is made for cleaning electronic components or other items that can't be exposed to any water .
You can get 100% iso online , Amazon has it , but it's way more expensive for no advantage in this application .
You can use denatured alcohol too . Any alcohol .

I always have a needle cap on the air-cap ( crown or barrel ) -- if you drop the thing without it , the needle tip is toast .
Or accidently bump the tip against something ...

For me , the dry-tip clogging ALWAYS occurs at the needle / spray-tip , so removal of the air-cap is always necessary . The crown cap doesn't figure into it .

 

[Marktastrophe]

For me , the dry-tip clogging ALWAYS occurs at the needle / spray-tip , so removal of the air-cap is always necessary . The crown cap doesn't figure into it .

Before using this Flow Improver (keeping hopes high on it, lol) I kept the crown off, it is a dropping hazard, but I have a carpeted room and a brush hanger in my hood.

I would splash some airbrush cleaner on a t-shirt rag, and wipe the tip from the base of the cap to the tip as soon as I would notice it spit the tiniest bit, and that kept things moving. I may put the crown back on if I have a few more sessions of no need to wipe sprays with that improver though.

And the 99% bottle is more funny, it's pretty much like if you found a HEB brand bottle of alcohol sitting on an unexpected shelf. This bottle isn't THAT old though, expiration date of 2009 on it.

 

[Marktastrophe]

@urumomo Have you ever used the fan tip on your Talon? I used it for the first time recently. It's a large kit must for base coating sans rattle can.

 

[urumomo]

All the time .
Using it currently to clear coat a base for that Armored Core build .
I use it for larger , non scale model stuff too .

 

[Marktastrophe]

All the time .
Using it currently to clear coat a base for that Armored Core build .
I use it for larger , non scale model stuff too .

Adding it to my list of "Things I really should've been less reluctant to try after owning" lol.
Most stuff I do is small though, still laughing at my own stubbornness a little for it though.

 

[urumomo]

I think I'm going to buy another Talon - the whole setup with the 3 needles etc .
I bought the Badger Patriot thinking I would leave the Talon set up with the larger needle and use Patriot for smaller work , but I never use the thing .
I rarely use the smallest , 1/4mm tip for the Talon either .
So with 2 Talons . I can leave one set up with the .66 needle and one with the .38

 

[Marktastrophe]

I think I'm going to buy another Talon - the whole setup with the 3 needles etc .
I bought the Badger Patriot thinking I would leave the Talon set up with the larger needle and use Patriot for smaller work , but I never use the thing .
I rarely use the smallest , 1/4mm tip for the Talon either .
So with 2 Talons . I can leave one set up with the .66 needle and one with the .38

I would've gotten a second Talon, but I can't argue with free for the Badger. So far I've used the Talon for acrylics only, and tried to keep all of my solvent paints through the Patriot... but I may abandon that as I have a handful of spare O Rings and other spare parts now.
I may still keep the harsher stuff through the Patriot tough. I also had no idea what size needle my Patriot had since I didn't get the packaging with it . But yeah if you have preference for a .66 and .38 the .5 patriot kind of seems like a moot point.

.5 Can still base for most of the smaller scales/kits I work in. My biggest struggle is space to stage things for use since my workshop is my home office as well since COVID.

 

[urumomo]

One thing I forgot to mention is when I pull the spray tip , before I pull the needle out I push it far forward and flush more water thru the cup .
Just to minimize the amount of any coating being drawn back thru the needle gland .
In theory , the properly tensioned gland would squeegee off any paint ,, but ...

 

[BLT]

When I flush... My airbrush that is... I pull out the needle and flush all the way from the tension screw...

That is why I lubricate regularly. Not often, like every 20 time or something like that. I do add a lubricant to my airbrush cleaner.

 

[Elm City Hobbies]

Get yourself a bottle of Vallejo Airbrush Thinner, and a bottle of Vallejo Flow Improver.

Then get yourself and empty bottle, mix 2 parts thinner, to 1 part Flow improver. Call this "thinning sauce"

You then use that mix, to thin your Vallejo paints.

Model Air/Game Air 4 parts paint, to 1 part thinning sauce
Model Color/Game Color, varies from color to color, but usually the opposite. As per, thin until a milk like consistency.

 

[Marktastrophe]

Get yourself a bottle of Vallejo Airbrush Thinner, and a bottle of Vallejo Flow Improver.

Then get yourself and empty bottle, mix 2 parts thinner, to 1 part Flow improver. Call this "thinning sauce"

You then use that mix, to thin your Vallejo paints.

Model Air/Game Air 4 parts paint, to 1 part thinning sauce
Model Color/Game Color, varies from color to color, but usually the opposite. As per, thin until a milk like consistency.

Thanks for the info! I should pickup some Vallejo thinner, but my solvent free water based acrylic thinner from model master is only like 1/3 left, lol.

I picked up this brand based on proximity,but will go Vallejo when I resupply.

 

[Marktastrophe]

No issues using the flow improver with the Vallejo AB primer, right?

 

[BLT]

Shouldn't it be enough to just use the vallejo brand... I mean, even tho I know full well what the different lequids essentially are, or should I say, ought to be... I generally just go with the brand thinner... Tamyia, Mr. Hobby and so on. Granted I do mix my own air brush cleaner... But that's it.

 

[jmilesmusicman]

Hey, guys, very informative set of posts here. Thanks so much for clarifying some of the challenges with different AB paints. On a somewhat unrelated topic, what are the benefits of the various diameter AB needles? I usually use a .5mm but just bought another AB that has .2, .3 and .5 needles. What are each good for? TIA!