Airbrush woes

[HighlandPark]

I use an H & S 2mm Infinity and an H & S 4mm Evolution CR+. Of late I'm having endless problems with BOTH blocking. I'm very particular about my a/b's and clean them out with Medea airbrush cleaner after every session and check the flow. I then go to use them the next day and both will spray a bit and then stop. Only yesterday I put a new 2mm nozzle in the Infinity and already it's stopped spraying. When I activate each brush I sometimes get a quick burst of paint or cleaner and then they stop. I'm at the point of binning both and buying new brushes but want to avoid that if possible. I'm tired stripping these down every few minutes and using a reamer on the nozzles to no avail. What am I doing or not doing that's causing this problem?

[Twokidsnosleep]

I saw the subject on FB as well and read some good suggestions there.
I just made two short videos of how I clean my brushes....maybe have a peek and see if it helps. One is an Apex and the other a H&S Ultra
Getting the nose cone off, out and flushed properly is a real key for me. Noses vary by manufacturer, but are all similar.

viewtopic.php?f=56&t=26754

your key spraying parameters include
*clean brush for paint and airflow
*thickness of paint and what you are diluting it with
*air pressure
*needle size
*paint brand...makes a world of difference. ?What specific paint brand are you having problems with??

[Kevthemodeller]

The issue is not the airbrushes, it is either the paint,thinner, cleaner you're using and how you're using them.

I've got exactly the same combination of airbrushes you've got and I've had very few issues, any that I've had have been due to the above stated. I would suggest you have a look at them and challenge you're cleaning regime.

[Twokidsnosleep]

The issue is not the airbrushes, it is either the paint,thinner, cleaner you're using and how you're using them.

I've got exactly the same combination of airbrushes you've got and I've had very few issues, any that I've had have been due to the above stated. I would suggest you have a look at them and challenge you're cleaning regime.

Nice Back up Kev
I made the videos as someone asked me for help and I don't think he was taking the nosecone assembly off to clean it.
I am a cleaning moron with my tools and make no bones about it. I NEVER PUT A DIRTY AIRBRUSH AWAY...always clean it.
The OP sounds like he is cleaning the A/B well, my bet is the paint itself

I always spray a bit of the appropriate diluent/solvent through my brush before I add the mixed paint...it is like priming a paintbrush bristle before brush painting.
If the diluent/solvent isn't flowing well, you likely have a clogging issue
Then add your properly diluted paint...like skim milk consistency. If it isn't spraying smooth now, you need to dilute more

You get a feel for this and I still screw up diluting paint, but know the second I do and add more solvent to fix it.
I can hear it in the sound of the brush when is it spraying right (or wrong) which is different for each type of airbrush I have.

[Kevthemodeller]

All very wise word Scott, I do much the same as you

[Twokidsnosleep]

All very wise word Scott, I do much the same as you

Ya once you get on top of the cleaning, you see how much different the paints all spray
Some just absolutely suck in the airbrush and others are a delight to spray

[MarkSzeman]

I can only concur with Scott, I had similar problems to what you described Jim. I switched to keeping my AB wet with some cleaner in the bottom of the cup when not being used, making sure to put thinner in the cup before adding paint, be it thinned or ready to use, and finding that right air pressure for your type of paint, otherwise you will always have these problems.
I'd be interested to hear what type/brand of paint you are using, it can make the world of difference, you may even be thinning it with the wrong thing causing the paint to curdle.

[HighlandPark]

Well, I've been doing most of what is suggested by you good folks but today I completely stripped the Infinity and following one of the excellent videos, gave it a deep clean using dental mini brushes. When I cleaned the nozzle there was a heap of crap on the dental brush! All assembled and Infinity working perfectly. haven't done the Evolution yet as I ruined the needle and a new one is on it's way from Martin at Air-craft.net. Thanks for your help guys

[Twokidsnosleep]

Well, I've been doing most of what is suggested by you good folks but today I completely stripped the Infinity and following one of the excellent videos, gave it a deep clean using dental mini brushes. When I cleaned the nozzle there was a heap of crap on the dental brush! All assembled and Infinity working perfectly. haven't done the Evolution yet as I ruined the needle and a new one is on it's way from Martin at Air-craft.net. Thanks for your help guys

Ha ho, good news

[Kevthemodeller]

Glad you got it sorted mate

[Hawkmoon]

Hi all

I use Iwata HP-C +'s one each for acrylic and oil based paints for general use and have a micron plus for finer work. Most of the oil based paints I use are Zero paints which come ready thinned so I have never had a problem spraying these paints. I also agree about super cleaning your airbrush to prevent clogging especially if your using acylics, My micron can be very touchy if not cleaned properly so clean it and clean it again you will be ammazed how much more gunk can appear.

I also agree with Kev about correctly thining your paint as this is the major cause of spitting and blockages. The main trouble is that each paint from each manufacturer needs thinning in a different way as each one needs either more or less thinner to get a good result every time. It may be best ti stick to one paint like Vallejo for instance until you get well used to thinning your paints.

Bent needles are a pain and I have had a few but the 'SharpenAir' tool I recently Purchased has given excellent results and saved a couple of spray sessions for me, link below-

https://sharpenair.com/

Picture of my Zero painted 1/12 MFH Cobra below.

Andy

[alextheblue]

Hey Jim, glad you got your problem sorted out. There's nothing worse than airbrush problems.

I have the same two airbrushes and I used to have the exact same problems. I lost count of the number of seals/needles that I tried in order to fix the problem. I was convinced that I was cleaning the airbrush properly. I invested in the needle seal tool from air-craft.net https://www.air-craft.net/acatalog/Need ... l#SID=2052 and it was the best eight quid I spent.

I will say though, it was changing how i thinned my paints that made all the difference for me. I always tried to follow the skimmed milk/cold coffee principle of thinning my paints, but I think with hindsight, I wasn't thinning them enough. I also started to use Mr Hobby's levelling thinner in paints other than Mr Hobby and I noticed a huge improvement in terms of my airbrush blocking etc. Plus, I started to use lower air pressures. I used to strip down my airbrush for a thorough clean after every two or three paint sessions, but I hardly do it all now. Couple of blow-backs with Ultimate cleaner, wipe the needle and leave the needle/cap etc to soak in a little pot of Ultimate cleaner and everything is good to go for the next session.

Airbrushing is a pleasure once again. Hope it's the same for you now!