badger 100 blockage

[Guest]

Hi all I have been experiencing a lot of dried paint on my needle when spraying I am using vallejo acrylics (not the air paints) and don't seem to get more than about 20-30 seconds of fine spraying before it dries and blocks then its take it apart and clean. I have tried using water to thin the paint down to 2% milk no luck, I have tried vallejo thinners no luck, i have tried both water and thinners no luck. thinning has been right down to water like viscosity (loads of thinner) I just dont know what i am doing wrong I clean the brush about 3-5 times when in use (because of blockages/drying) always clean after use and the cleaning involves taking the whole brush apart using vallejo airbrush cleaner and tiny brushes (pull through ones) even tried steradent then spirits to clean.

Is my brush just no good? Its not been used a lot and there is no damage or marks on it??

Please help can not afford a new one oh and it splatters from time to time aarrrrrrrggggggghh.

[Guest]

Does it do this with Vallejo paint only?

[Guest]

I have only tried vallejo paints through it, if I am really lucky I can sometimes get maybe 5 mins of spray time

[Guest]

Try adding some retarder and a little bit of highly deluded dishwater, and mix the paint thinner than milk. This will extend the time you have with proper paint-flow, but set your pressure as low as you can and be prepared to lay down some more layers than usual.

The best advise I can give you though, is to use a different paint altogether. The "Vallejo Air" variants tend to flow a bit better without drying too much on the needle, but Tamiya paints are the once I have had the best experience with of all when it comes to acrylics. The regular Vallejo acrylics never sized to cause me lots of trouble, both in terms of blockage and cleaning.

/Daniel

[Guest]

Thanks for the advice hopefully I will be out in the shed soon to carry on with the mutt, first though I will look for some retarder.

[Guest]

Yes, I don't like airbrushing "Model Color" it does tend to clog

You could try thinning with cellulose thinners or rubbing alcohol, Tamiya acrylics spray very well with these

[Ian M]

I use a well thinned paint with a drop of retarder in and have not had many problems with it. Next time you are spraying, have a dish of water and a cotton bud. If you start to clog up, use the cotton bud to clean the whole of the spray nozzle with as you can get build up of dried spray around the needle as well.

Look at it as a trade off with the fast drying time.

Ian M.

[stona]

Here's another vote for a drop of retarder in the paint cup. I use one from 'Liquitex',bought from a local art store.

Cheers

Steve

[Guest]

Just got my retarder in the post today winsor and newton not had chance to try it out yep.

The cotton bud technique is what i have been doing twisling it round and round on the needle tip, ah its a pain all I want to do is paint not clean oh well.

when I need to buy more paint I will try out some tamiya thanks for all the advice and ideas I was starting to think about getting a new airbrush drastic.

[stona]

You'll get it sorted,its a bit of hit and miss this thinning business.

It is worth checking that your needle isn't damaged,a little 'hook' will soon have paint drying in it. Same applies to a cracked nozzle.

Cheers

Steve

[Guest]

Punchy this is basic but I find it then eliminates a lot of possibilities.

Is this the first time you have used Vallejo model ? If so then the probability it is a paint & thinning problem. If this is the case I would get onto Vallejo help line & give them the problem encountered & what I had done to try & get over it. Recently did this for another matter & they answered in 2 hours. Hold a Model Air bottle in one hand & a Model bottle in the other & you will find the difference in weight so marked.

Tried airbrushing Model & found that one third paint & two thirds thinners was better. But it is a thick paint & does not airbrush as Model Air. Even with Model Air I 20% thin.

If you have used Model paint before & it has worked then as Steve has mentioned it could be a malfunction or problem with nozzle & needle. If I have a problem to eliminate I always try another needle nozzle & a different nozzle needle size to see if that helps. I would do this even if you think it is a paint problem as it then eliminates. Always think elimination is one step closer to the problem.

If on an extended airbrush sequence & if I have stopped for a short period I always give a good full blast on to a plastic bottle. Also tried with some success to squirt , with the airbrush compressor off, neat Vallejo Cleaner at the nozzle at the same time pulling the trigger back & forward finishing with, compressor on, a good blast on the plastic bottle.

Laurie

[Guest]

First time using an airbrush and yes first time with vallejo.

Does anyone know were to buy new needles from?

after i have finished with any colour and i am moving on to a different one i always blast water through then vallejo airbrush cleaner, I give it a right good going over (carefully).