Airbrush

[gary armstrong]

Can anyone tell me if they have used a Paasche TG-3F airbrush or a badger model 100?  I have an iwata br series and I hate it . This airbrush clogs so easy I spend mor time cleaning than painting.  

[BobP]

I've used Paasche and Badger airbrushes but now mostly use an Iwata Revolution BR.  I very rarely experience any clogging with the BR.  It has a .3mm tip that I consider perfect for airbrushing cranks using airbrush paints.  If yours is continually clogging, are you using airbrush paint (and not cheap hobby paint)?  If so, I suspect you may have a bent nozzle or needle, or dried paint in the brush that can only be removed by soaking the brush in airbrush cleaning solution.  It's not normal for this brush to clog.

[gary armstrong]

I do use createx paint. I guess this could be the problem. It is a water base . I paint in my basement that's why I don't use a lacquer paint. What brand of paint do you use?

Thanks 

Gary

 

[Chuck Young]

I have used a badger 150 from day one. It is the bottom feed type. I like the handiness of being able to premix a color and store it in a jar with a feed on it. It does everything I ask it to do.

I will say this about Badger. They really stand behind their product. I sent mine in to have a seal replaced. They totally restored the brush in no time at all. It had a new head assy, seal, needle with an extra needle and seals,  new trigger assy, a new paint cup, and probably some other stuff I can't remember. It cost me $12 for shipping and $10.50 for parts. I don't know of any other company that does that. 

[Chuck Young]

For reducing Createx paints, use the Createx reducer. Thin small amounts of paint just prior to use. Other solutions (including water) cause the paint to break down (curdle). It then plugs the airbrush EVERY time. Forget the floorshine / water mix. Forget windex. 

With a bottom feed airbrush, keep an adapter bottle of clean water. Between colors, empty the brush and keep touching and removing the bottle to the brush. It washes out all the paint. Final cleanup is done with Createx airbrush restorer. Finally I rinse with water and put the cap on the brush while spraying water into it. The bottle of water is left on the gun. Everything is ready to go next session. 

[BobP]

I only use water based acrylic airbrush paint too.  Createx and others including taxidermy paints.  And I rarely if ever thin it.  Plain water flush between colors.  Acetone flush after painting, take out and clean the needle.  Airbrush cleaning solution soak overnight when the mood hits me, usually quarterly.  Createx is popular because it is widely available and consistent in quality with finely ground pigments that shouldn't be clogging an airbrush.  My gut feeling is that your brush is either clogged with hardened paint in the tip or is damaged in the tip somehow.

[Chuck Young]

Laquer paints seem to clog way more than Createx. The solvent base evaporates quickly and the paint thickens in storage if any air gets to it. Then you have the solvents - totally unsuitable for inside spraying without ventilation. 

Some Createx colors store better than others after being reduced. Transparent and detail paints will last a while after reduction if stored in an airtight container. Pearls and fluorescent colors tend to curdle more once reduced and stored. I think the size of pigment has something to do with it. Maybe the larger pigment  acts like a catalyst to curdling , similar to the way rain droplets accumulate around dust particles.  Closely examine the paint you have been spraying, and you will likely see a grainy quality to it - esp on the bottom. This is the result of being thinned with the wrong material, or being stored too long in a reduced state. There is no way to restore this paint. It must be discarded. 

[SW Lures]

I agree with what has been stated already.

The tip, put the end of your needle between two fingers and turn it slowly. Feel for a bend in the needle. One of mine came bent......×$@%\&!

The brush in general, break it down and clean it totally. The mixing chamber could be gunted up.

Thinning paint, I'm like BobP and don't thin transparent paint much at all. Pearls, opaque's I will but only with Createx/Wicked reducer. I also have switched to Wicked paints which is much easier to shoot. Wicked is made by Createx also. Read up on the two paints and you'll see why. Createx itself is just fine, just my preference. Some paints will give you "dry tip" more so than others, reducing helps this. It does not take much reducer at all to do this.  I'm playing around with enamel, laquer paints now. You are not limited to water base paints, but caution must be taking with some of these paints for your health sake. Most of us use water base and we're happy, your fine with what you have. It just takes time to figure it out.

Good luck,

Dale

[gary armstrong]

Thanks for all the help.

[RayburnGuy]

Soaking your brush in Createx Airbrush Restorer will loosen any dried gunk that's gumming up your airbrush and with a proper cleaning will return your brush to a "like new" condition. Of course it won't fix a bent needle if that's the case.

Cut small squares out of a pair of old pantyhose and drape them over the neck of the paint bottle before screwing the lid back on and you've got yourself a built in paint filter. This will help keep your brush clean as well. 

If you don't develop a proper cleaning regimen you will just have the same old problems with a new airbrush irregardless of the brand.

good luck,

Ben

[SW Lures]

Ben.... I wish I could give more "likes" for your idea on the pantyhose.

Question tho, I would think that you have already looked at this but I have got to ask. Do you think that the pantyhose impede any pigments from going thru?

Dale

[Chuck Young]

I tried this when I had some bad paint (curdled). It didn't stop the brush from getting clogged; so I removed it.  It would work fine on big pieces though. Like if you accidentally  dropped some dried paint from the cap into the paint reservoir. 

[RayburnGuy]

The pantyhose is not something I came up with Dale. I read about it here at TU years ago. 

The way I look at it is that it's not going to hurt anything and if it helps at all then that's better than nothing.

Ben

[SW Lures]

I'll give it a whirl when needed.

Thanks

[Chuck Young]

Make sure you buy petite size. Queen size are too big for that little tube.