I bought an airbrush last week. The guy told me to put 3-4 bar of prssure on it. So I put it on my normal compressor and adjusted it to 3 bar but it only sprays for about 2-3 seconds and then just blows air without paint until I press the button again and so the cycle repeats itself. I have never seen air brushing before so I have no idea how they should work. Should I have it replaced or is it working correctly.
What kind of airbrush?
Does the button you are pushing down on also slide back? This controls paint flow if you brush has this dual lever action.
Paint could be too thick.
Also, could be too much air, or not enough. Mess around with it!!
GMAN
Hi
Can’t remember the make but the button does slide back releasing the paint. But the paint will only come out for 2 seconds till I push it forward and push it back again. What type of paint do you use.
Swifty, That same thing will happen on a normal spray gun too. It means that the paint is not flowing through the inner workings of your airbrush. Usually any paint straight out of the store has to be thinned. Thin it just enough to make it flow correctly. Too thin and you’ll lay down too much thinner (usually water) and not enough paint. Too thick and you get exactly what you got: the paint flows then stops. Water based acrylics can be thinned with acrylic thinner, or water (I use distilled water), and can be augmented with a squirt of Spitzer Spritzer: ie:Future Acrylic Floor Finish. Experiment till it works for you, and remember to spend time keeping the gun CLEAN. 90% of all problems with spray guns are caused by dried paint inside clogging things up.Doug
Paints too thick - for the applied air pressure.
I like mine a little thicker, so I always spray at 60-70 psi (4-5 barr)
Also sounds like you may not be mixing you paint thoroughly enough. I mix it then strain it through an old nylon stocking (panty hose, PO’s my wife big time) Doesn’t take much to clog the needle on an airbrush.
Honestly I never strain mine… and I use those cheap ‘Basics’ paint. Though if you’re having problems that is the first place I’d start. Actually second - first is to turn up the pressure until I see paint spray.
I do keep two bottles handy - one with some acetone, the other with water. As soon as I’m done, or in between colors… a brief spray with acetone, then full throttle with the water for 10-15 seconds.
I was having problems with my airbrush clogging as well. I started to strain the paint and use some extender to thin and it corrected the problem with the paint flow.
IF you’re doing fine detail work you almost have to strain your paint. All it takes is one “sputter” to ruin the artwork. Ask any experienced airbrush artists and they’ll have stories about ruining some great artwork when a big glob of paint splattered onto their work.
Well there you go… actually I’ve had a decent amount of ‘sputters’. Seems I adapted to it instead. I start my strokes off the board, because thats when the sputters usually happen, and fade in. Guess I should just quit being lazy and strain my paint.
For the rookies: don’t try to fix the sputters, you’ll only make it worse. Just go with it. (unless its on blank foam of course)
It sounds more like your technique than the paint if you get splatters at the beginning of your stroke (with double action brush). At the end of your stroke don’t just lift your finger off the button. This leaves a drop of paint sitting on your needle. When the air hits it, splatter. Instead move it forward so air flows out but no paint. Do the opposite at the beginning of your stroke. Hold down the button and slowly pull it back.