Starts OK then clogs

[Spiv]

Hi

I have been having problems with my airbrushes spraying fine lines.

When I first start, the brushes work well. After a short time, I have to keep pulling the trigger further to get paint out, then it becomes almost unusable.

I believe this is due to paint drying on the exposed part of the needle as I work.

If I keep removing the head and wiping the needle this allows me to start again, but it soon clogs (and is a pain in the butt).

I am very careful to clean the brushes, and If I use water soluble ink (not acrylic) or food dye the brushes work fine.

I have trouble when using acrylic airbrush inks.
I have tried Createx airbrush colors and FW (Daler Rowney) acrylic ink.
I have tried watering both down until very very weak. I have also tried adding Createx retarder at various concentrations.
I have also tried regularly rinsing the head/needle - this helps a little, but the problem always deteriorates to an unusable state within a few minutes.

I have used various pressures and this also has no improvement.
I have also tried using a water repellent lube on the needles, again with no luck.

The airbrushes I am using are:
Aerograph Super 63 (A and E models)
Paasch VJR#1 (.25 mm)
Badger 150 IL

I know the Aerograph and Paasche models are for light inks etc and I think the thinned colours should be OK, but the Badger should easily handle these colours and I'm having the same problem.

I have run out of ideas - can anyone suggest anything else - or do you have the same problems?

Thanks for any help.

Glen

[PaulDaniel]

Hi Glen,
Sounds like your having one heck of time there. It's pretty common to have the problems that your talking about. Everyone that uses acrylic goes through it. I use a Paasche VLSTPRO and the design of the end cap makes it really simple to clean that build up off the end of the tip. I'm not familiar with the VJR but there are end caps that you can buy from blicks, Michael's, Hobby lobby or most any other art stores that sell airbrush equipment. as far as the other brushes you can always do what I did back before they decided to make the new end caps. grow out the thumb and index finger nails on you non-spraying hand enough to get to the tip easier. Becareful not to poke your self but be prepared....it's gonna happen. Another thing that I've learned to do to slow the build up of paint on the tip, dip the needle in some vasaline and wipe off the excess. Don't do this if your spraying on anything that you plan on clearing. It's a t-shirt trick. Hope I was able to help and good luck

[Spiv]

Thanks Paul, I'll give the vasaline a go and grow some nails!

[pitontheprowl]

welcome to the world of tip dry, i mean air brushing.
it will soon become natural for you to clean the tip without thinking about it.

[Spiv]

OK, I think I get the picture!
I'm a bit worried about damaging the needle with my nails - any useful hints or is it just a case of getting on with it?

[KDSilverBrush]

I always keep a soft wet cloth next to me , spiv, and I dap the needle tip on it every so often, but I also use my good ole fingernails too. It's frusterating to be going along blissfully in your work, and have to stop to clean the needle tip, but it's one of those things that ya just have to do. Just be carefull ya don't damage the needle tip when ya clean it .

[Spiv]

Thanks for the info, the big breakthrough was knowing that the problem is known as tip dry. I've done a search and found out a lot more about it. Importantly, I've found out that its not just me!

[fontgeek]

Rather than using you finger tips for cleaning the tip of the needle, try keeping a container of water on your work table, along with a denture brush.
Occasionally dip the head of the airbrush into the water, then use the denture brush to give the needle tip and the needle cap a quick scrub.
Unlike the tips of your fingers, the brush won't bend or damage the needle, and by keeping the needle cap clean, you also reduce the occurrence of the tip dry and splatter, while maintaining the performance of the airbrush(es).
I would avoid the use of the Vasoline, or any other foreign substance in your airbrush that might either damage the airbrush or have negative reactions with the paint. Like the air you use to spray with, anything you put on the needle will get mixed with the paint, and sprayed onto your work surface.

[Spiv]

Thanks for the advice fontgeek.